The Song Remains the Same: 800 Years of Love Songs, Laments and Lullabies |
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| Author:
| Ford, Andrew
Heino, Anni |
| ISBN: | 978-1-76064-011-8 |
| Publication Date: | Dec 2019 |
| Publisher: | Black Inc.
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| Imprint: | La Trobe University Press |
| Book Format: | Paperback |
| List Price: | AUD $36.99 |
Book Description:
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An illuminating history of the song for every kind of music lover Often today, the word 'song' is used to describe all music. A free-jazz improvisation, a Hindustani raga, a movement from a Beethoven symphony- apparently, they're all songs. But they're not. From Sia to Springsteen, Archie Roach to Amy Winehouse, a song is a specific musical form. It's not so much that they all have verses and choruses - though most of them do - but that they are all...
More Description An illuminating history of the song for every kind of music lover
Often today, the word 'song' is used to describe all music. A free-jazz improvisation, a Hindustani raga, a movement from a Beethoven symphony- apparently, they're all songs.
But they're not. From Sia to Springsteen, Archie Roach to Amy Winehouse, a song is a specific musical form. It's not so much that they all have verses and choruses - though most of them do - but that they are all relatively short and self-contained; they have beginnings, middles and ends; they often have a single point of view, message or story; and, crucially, they unite words and music. Thus, a Schubert song has more in common with a track by Joni Mitchell or Rihanna than with one of Schubert's own symphonies.
The Song Remains the Same traces these connections through seventy-five songs from different cultures and times- love songs, anthems, protest songs, lullabies, folk songs, jazz standards, lieder and pop hits; 'When You Wish Upon a Star' to 'We Will Rock You', 'Jerusalem' to 'Jolene'. Unpicking their inner workings makes familiar songs strange again, explaining and restoring the wonder, joy (or possibly loathing) the reader experienced on first hearing.