Self-Awareness in music

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Is first person narrative sort of a literal hypnotism in which the listener comes to identify himself as the first person subject? Or, to put it another way, when an artist sings in the first person does it have the same effect as when "you" are the subject?

For comparison: "I been around the world and I-yi-yi..." vs. "You've been all over, and it's been all over you".

"I can't stop loving you" vs. "You know you're gonna have to face it, you're addicted to love."

Bad examples, I know, but I'm trying not to be inflammatory in any way.

Also, is self-awareness a good thing or is it getting boring? Are abstract songs often better or usually harder to relate to?

― Buddy Epstein, Friday, 27 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

one month passes...

As Tom said elsewhere, this is a great unanswered question. The trouble is, I don't know where to begin. I said in the cruellest songs thread that it strikes me that it's an almost inescapable fact that lyrics are self-serving. It's maybe not the songwriters' fault: that's just the way the songwriting idiom works. One is forced to identify with the singer or reject the song entirely (or ignore the lyrics and rub your chin at that g-rreat production work). At least that's the way I listen to music.

I think the 'stalker pop' thread was an amusing get-out with this. I mean it's great to say "Did the police get involved" to Sting when he goes on about watching some poor woman's every breath. But that would be an example of a song I reject entirely.

― Nick, Wednesday, 30 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Sorry, that wasn't supposed to be a police pun.

― Nick, Wednesday, 30 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Yes you did, Nick. Just admit it already, you're trying to rile up the whole board with your ludicrious questions and Police puns.

To answer the question, I actually kind of like it a lot when the song uses "you" because I feel like they're accusing me of something, and I can get angry with the singer for accusing me of things. "I'm responsible? Fuck you, YOU fucking are!" etc. When I listen to songs with "I" as a subject and I like the song, I start getting all mopey and depressed and I think about what the song means and how it affects and describes my life, and quite frankly I'd rather be angry.

― Ally, Wednesday, 30 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I do the exact opposite, Ally. When they sing "you" I empathize with their anger. I wonder what this sez about the general manner in which various people listen to music.

― Sterling Clover, Wednesday, 30 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Before I say anything, a question for the thread creator ... by "self- awareness," do you include "self-referential"?

― Tadeusz Suchodolski, Wednesday, 30 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Why is thread proving so unpopular? Is it because it was started by the heybuddy man? Where are you anyway, the heybuddy man?

― Nick, Thursday, 31 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

1. Clearly Nick is on the button. It's sad, isn't it?

2. Ricky Ross / Lorraine McIntosh, c.April 1989: when you hear a great Springsteen song you don't imagine he's singing it to Mary / Janey / Bobby Jean / whoever - he's singing it to YOU.

― the pinefox, Thursday, 31 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

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