Cultural sensibilities

[blandine]

Hello all!

I was wondering. Sometimes I feel very lacking in some sensibilities to interpret Owen's lyrics. As same-language fans, if you guys do dig the Man's lyrics (besides the wonderful, wonderful music), I guess you must have things in common with him. Maybe?

Many times when I'm getting to show my English-speaking friends some of Owen's work I feel they are wondering which is the connection between me and that. I know there's a lot of symbolism and poetry (I assume I don't get most of it, I mostly enjoy how the words sound) but I also know there's a lot about sexuality, philosophy and religion (or the absence of).

As of me, I was raised in a fairly conservative environment. I have grew ultratolerant (I have a lot of swishy friends, I do, I do-da-do). I don't drink, I don't do drugs, and I've been a stranger on the nest always for this considering that I live among musicians. I have the same girlfriend for six years. Am I such a stranger to Owen's music for that, or just because I don't get complex stuff in English? What about you guys?

[Deleted]

Any specific songs or lines you are having trouble understanding?

[vestenet]

Owen is a very good and, consequently, very difficult lyricist. I mean, I technically have an education in English language and literature, and even I have difficulties with "getting" a lot of his lyrics (although I dislike the connotations associated in saying that one "gets" or "understands" a piece of text, since it seems to imply that there is a singular correct interpretation, which is often untrue). I still find myself wrestling mentally with Heartland, which I definitely consider a Text with a capital "T." I know Owen considered the album a piece of music first and a "concept album" second, but I think that distinction is precisely what makes Heartland succeed as a piece of art, dense with interesting ideas and mysteries.

Anyway, I am straying somewhat from your questions. I tend to pay attention to music first and lyrics second, but Owen is definitely an artist whose lyrics I enjoy hearing and thinking about. In regards to issues about sexuality, philosophy, and religion--sure, they are subjects that are touched upon, but Owen's lyrics never explicitly proselytize or preach about anything. For instance, I've read some reviews that pigeonhole him as a "gay songwriter," either positively or negatively, but I've never really found his sexual orientation to be a major theme in his lyrics. If he's gonna write about a love interest, then sure, he's gonna write about a male, but that bears all the significance of an analogous straight songwriter having a female be his love interest. In fact, "The Ballad of No-Face" seems to poke fun at this, but, again, that is one of many possible interpretations.

Before I ramble too long, I think it's possible to enjoy and appreciate Owen's lyrics no matter what your background is. I guarantee everyone on this board has a different story to tell about where they come from and what Owen's music means to them, and, indeed, one of the great pleasures of literature and poetry and the like is that everybody has different experiences and perspectives to share. And if you have any specific questions, a forum full of nerds (i.e. here) is the best place to ask them!

[blandine]

Thanks for offering explanations, mhmm and vestenet! Actually, I wasn't necessarily looking for them (though I will probably come back with questions). What I was looking for the most was to know how much proximity was necessary to the lyrical content of Owen's music to enjoy it to the most. I'm not surprised to hear you say the musical content comes first for you.

There is this quote from Wikipedia. He believes his work is implicitly influenced by his sexuality, saying, "As far as whether the music I make is gay or queer, yeah, it comes from the fact that I'm gay, but that doesn't mean I'm making music about it."

You know what's interesting? I might be wrong about this, but I've had friends who were excellent musicians, would have tastes in music similar to mine - and thus every reason to love Owen's music. But then they'd mysteriously reject it. I wonder if a possible slight homophobia of their part could be responsible.

I don't know - sometimes it feels to me as if Owen's music could only come from Owen as he is, sometimes it feels to me as if Owen's music is music that could only be done by a very sensible, artistic and sincere man, unhindered by the need of displaying an alpha male attitude, unhindered by rock and roll - already going against the current, aware of its own fragility.

Heartland is catching me more and more with time.