As Albert Einstein said "creativity is intelligence having fun", which is one of the core identities that Soundbrenner strives to keep. We are featuring a few fun pieces on the topic of pop culture and music composition - exploring why music is the way it is.
In this first entry, we will briefly explore music that has been inspired by pain. Here's how we believe suffering is sometimes a necessary component of music.
Pandemic Blues
Humans have always tried to make sense of confusing and troubling times through the arts, namely, music. It's what separates us from our animal counterparts, gives us hope and represents shifts in world history - whether it be the emancipation of slavery or a global pandemic.
Pandemic may seem like a buzzed word as of now. However, back in 1918, the Spanish Influenza shook the world, killing between 20-50 million victims worldwide. The song “Influenza 1918” by Essie Jenkins, paints a bleak picture of the effect of “Spanish flu” regardless of class with “kill you rich or poor”. It uses blues and an English hymn style of composition for its arrangement.
“Tainted Love” cover by Soft Cell is another example relating to a viral outbreak. This song took on a whole new meaning during the AIDS and HIV crisis than its 1964 original by Gloria Jones. Most recently, although not all that highbrow, a remix by iMarkkeyz takes a sample from Cardi B saying “CORONAVIRUS!”. This became a viral song, giving people a well needed - albeit comical relief from whichever lockdown they were experiencing.
War (What is it good for)
So what about other types of collective trauma?
No matter what side you were on, hundreds of songs were written to either boost morale and quell homesickness. Think "We’ll meet again” - Vera Lynn written during WW2. Trying to make sense of the horrors they’ve witnessed through music can be cathartic for both the listener and the musician.
Heartbreak, perhaps the most relatable form of pain, has inspired a mass of artists. Several artists have even made it their whole brand. I’m not naming names…Adele. “Greensleeves'' is an old example of a 16th century folk song about love and loss-a song. It was supposedly written by the infamous Tudor King, Henry VIII after being repeatedly rejected by Anne Boyln. Being heartbroken or in pain alone has influenced some of the most powerful music. So, that’s one good thing that comes out of it.
Slavery and then the black rights movement have birthed a multitude of genres that have been fused, mixed and even stolen, to create a rich tapestry of sounds we enjoy so much today. “Oh Freedom” (1865), an anthem of the Civil Rights Movement and made popular by human rights activist and singer Odetta, is one of many examples. The composer and writer of the song remains unknown. Despite the lyrical context of this song, it has the ability to communicate its ideas in a transcendent way. My personal favorite is “A change is gonna come” by Sam Cooke.
So, next time there’s an event that shakes the world or even a heartbroken teen from a small unimportant town, know that not far behind any of these events, an artist will be brewing a song in the background. A song that captures the sounds of the moment, where pain and music intertwine to form a poignant narrative. This song will channel the raw emotion of the experience, weaving together the threads of anguish and hope into melodies that resonate deeply. It will be given to the world so we feel less alone, and more understood, as the harmony of pain and music creates a universal language of empathy and connection.
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