Song Lyrics through the Lens of the Simile, Metaphor, and Symbolism - Essay Example

Section/# Examination of Song Lyrics through the Lens of the Literary Devices of Simile, Metaphor, and Symbolism Although ascribing profound meaning to pop music lyrics has long been something that individuals the world over have done, the fact of the matter is that such a practice is infinitely engaging and common within the minds of individuals due to the strong level of literary devices that are used within these lyrics as a means to provide the listener with powerful imagery. Whereas the beat and the melody of the song is an attractive component to helping it achieve a degree of notoriety, the fact of the matter is that songwriters risk a great deal if they cannot incorporate imaginative lyrics into their songs that seek to engage the listener with innovative and interesting ways to tackle a very limited subject matter; a subject matter that is almost invariably dealing with love and/or loss. As a means of understanding one current highly successful song that is currently experiencing a great deal of radio airtime, this particular analysis will consider Rihanna’s single “Diamonds” within the context of its use of simile, metaphor, and symbolism. As a function of understanding the ways in which these literary devices are utilized within the given song, it is the hope of this author that a new level of appreciation for the means by which songwriters seek to engage the listener with new and exciting means of describing something that has been relayed an infinite number of times before will be realized. With regards to simile within the given song in question, the very first lines of the song state: “Shine bright like a diamond” (Rihanna 1). In this way, the immediate use of simile is utilized as a way to engage the listener with the powerful imagery of a glistening diamond as reflective of the way that new love glistens and seems as something wholly and entirely unique within the realm of human experience (Gabrielsson 15). Of course the simile in this particular instance acts as more than just as simile, it provides a degree of symbolism in helping to represent the embodiment of love within the song as something akin to a rare and precious stone that radiantly proclaims itself wherever it exists. Further examples of simile in the song exist within the repeated lines “We’re like diamonds in the sky” (Rihanna 1). Such a use of simile reinforces the idea of comparison to the richness of the love that the songwriter attempts to convey to the listener (Palmer 39). In much the same manner metaphor is used as well within the line “You’re a shooting star I see” (Rihanna 1). Naturally, such an expression of comparison to something as rare and unique as a shooting star in the sky helps to represent symbolism that the love is something that is passionate, flaming brightly, and perhaps even to convey a sense of short-lived happiness as a result of the intense passion that exists within the context of the relationship that is being described. Again, the use of metaphor helps to add to the sense of symbolism that the previous effective usages of simile have done (Gibbs 141). Ultimately, the use of simile and metaphor share but one unified goal within the context of this particular song; and that is to engage the listener with the sense of the symbolic and powerful nature that the love which is described has. Rather than simply stating that it is powerful and special, the songwriters have chosen to engage the reader with a high level of symbolism that relates to the cosmos, rare gems, flaming light, and burning passion. Says one line of the lyrics, “Feel the warmth we’ll never die” (Rihanna 1). As such, this exemplification of a type of immortality that is given by the nature of the affection and love is something that again points to the symbolism of the supreme uniqueness that is exhibited within the given type of love that is described. As the symbolic nature of the cosmic nature of the love, the song states, “At first sight I felt the energy of the sun rays” (Rihanna 1). The lyrics go on to state, “Palms rise to the universe”; representing and re-emphasizing the fact that a type of oneness and victory has taken place(Rihanna 1). This level of victory and the symbolism thereof is further reinforced by the line repeated throughout the lyrics which states, “I choose to be happy”. As such, the symbolism of the love as both a type of victory over the impossible, an exemplification of a cosmic struggle, and the resulting choice that makes it all possible are all brought to the mind of the listener. As has been stated, although popular music lyrics are often not given their due credit as a result of the fact that they are mass produced and intended for but a brief moment in the limelight before being forgotten, the fact of the matter is that many if not most of the lyrics contain many of the same mechanisms of literary development that more formal literary works have. As such, whether or not the topics may oftentimes be predictable and even sometimes silly, the fact of the matter is that songwriters seek to engage the listener with new and exciting means to present subject matters that the listener has doubtless heard many hundreds if not thousands of times already. In such a way, it is interesting to note that the means by which such an effect is achieved is invariably to utilize the same literary devices that help to make good literature stand the test of time. Though the lyrics of many pop songs are indeed disposable, understanding that the very same mechanisms that have made many works timeless works of art are employed within something as simple as the lyrics to a pop song helps the listen to ascribe a new level of appreciation to an art form that would otherwise receive little to no recognition in such a way. Works Cited Gabrielsson, Alf, and Rod Bradbury. Strong Experiences With Music: Music Is Much More Than Just Music. New York, NY US: Oxford University Press, 2011. PsycINFO. Web. 26 Jan. 2013. Gibbs, Raymond W., and Josephine M. Bogdanovich. "Methaphor In Idiom Comprehension." Journal Of Memory & Language 37.2 (1997): 141. Communication & Mass Media Complete. Web. 26 Jan. 2013. Palmer, Peter. "Lost Paradises: Music And The Aesthetics Of Symbolism." Musical Times 148.1899 (2007): 37-50. Academic Search Complete. Web. 26 Jan. 2013. Rihanna. "RIHANNA - DIAMONDS LYRICS." LYRICS. N.p., 20 Dec. 2012. Web. 27 Jan. 2013. . Read More