Across the Universe was dreadful and only likable to shameless fans, but despite writing some of the most insipid lyrics ever they are given the Shakespearian treatment by the film; meaning every line is delivered as if it were the weightiest gold. The soundtrack does nothing by draw out the songs, slowing them down to octogenarian Southern Baptist Hymn speed. I suppose because they are sacred.
But being forced to hear these lyrics I realized their most famous songs are simply blaise heretical thought. Consider:
“Nothing’s gonna change my world”
“All you need is love”
“Let it be”
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February 13, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Melton
I agree that Across the Universe was crap. The only real “moments” the movie had were because of someone else’s (The Beatles) art. It tried to be trippy, it tried to be sentimental, it tried to be sad, it tried to be happy. It succeeded in none of those.
But taking potshots at the greatest band of all time is a bit much. Nice going taking their lyrics out of context, though. And yes, they are a bunch of pagans. What of it? That’s not a groundbreaking observation, you know. Regardless, I know your thoughts on the fab four, and I say whatevs in a big way to that crap. You know I love you, though.
February 13, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Remy
Just saying, Eminem, Vanilla Ice, and Blonde Teenybopper of the Week are the better lyricists.
If you think of songs as sung prayers then us walking around telling God to “let it be” is a bit crazy, don’t you think?
February 13, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Melton
I don’t think of ALL songs as sung prayers. By that logic, do you ONLY listen to Christian music? How do you justify all the Radiohead lyrics you sing to yourself? That’s a bit ridiculous, Remy.
I’m not even going to argue with you about the lyricists comment. Taking their whole body of work, you find some really great lyrics, among some dumb, some drab, and some mediocre. The way it is with pretty much all songwriters. But whatever.
February 13, 2008 at 5:59 pm
bennettcarnahan
Don’t back down, Rems. I haven’t had the misfortune to see Across the Universe, but the Beatles, as lyricists, were definitely lame sauce. Their catalog reads like a day spent at Hallmark. Greatest pop band of all time? Maybe. Best? Hardly.
Melton: The context for those quotes only makes Remy’s point more strongly.
On a side note, the very first time I heard Audioslave’s “Be Yourself”, I thought “this is great!”, until the chorus started, at which point I thought “Let it Be”. For whatever that’s worth.
However, I must confess that I, like Josh, am a little lost on the whole ‘songs are sung prayers” thing: explain yourself?
February 14, 2008 at 2:46 am
Remy
Being Christians we live before the face of God and I believe He takes great interest in what we say; in that sense all songs are prayers. Perhaps I should say that words shape you. If you are saying things you are teaching yourself how to think about the world. Singing “Let it be” is to tell yourself not to take an interest in the world, to leave it alone. Saying this in the presence of the Lord is essentially undoing the Lord’s Prayer.
I started thinking this way in the early 90s when I found myself singing along to No Doubts “I’m just a girl in the world”. That does things to your head.
February 14, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Melton
So am I to understand that you have stopped listening to any music that has any kind of pagan lyrics whatsoever? How about Metallica? Remy Zero? PLEASE don’t tell me that you ever curse. That teaches you how to think about the world…
Singing along with the artist, you are singing THEIR words, not your own. Sometimes, they just groove along with the music, the focal point of the song. And that’s all there is to it. I’m not going to argue with you any more about this, because there is so much I could say, it all just seems pretty pointless. I’ll defer to you to have the last word if you wish.
February 15, 2008 at 12:36 am
Remy
I don’t know what you mean by pagan lyrics.
I don’t listen to Metallica. No scruples about it, I just don’t listen to them.
I like to think I curse well, when I curse.
I wouldn’t want this to be a burdensome principle, I’m constantly evaluating lyrics, constantly trying not to say stupid things, and despite all this I still say stupid things. But it taint for lack of trying.
February 15, 2008 at 2:10 am
Melton
Pagan, as in not-Christian. If they’re mundane, boring, not poetic, unGodly, blasphemous, etc. ad nauseum, then they violate your “sung prayer, in the ears of God” rule. Anyway, not trying to argue, that’s just what I meant.
I asked specifically about Metallica, because we have had conversations about S&M, which you used to listen to. If you’ve had a change of heart, that’s fine, but you still listen to numerous bands like Remy Zero, who aren’t Christians, and have non-Christian lyrics, right? I understand you not wanting to have a burdensome principle, but I’m taking your logic to its conclusion, and you can’t have it both ways.
February 15, 2008 at 2:11 am
Melton
I’m sorry to have commented again after I promised not to, just trying to clarify some of your questions/answers.