The other day, I commented to a friend about how in so many of the songs I’m hearing, the writers and singers are looking inward—they're examining their pain, mistakes, anxieties, joys, and frustrations. Many of these songs are beautiful (and are personal favorites), but I couldn’t help but wonder if all the navel-gazing implies a turning away from the larger world. A decision to disengage might reflect frustration and a sense of impotence as far as the amount of agency and effect we might have beyond our own selves and those close to us. Are these songs a reaction to a sense that politics, economics, and the world of broad ideas are hopelessly dysfunctional, beyond help? Is navel-gazing a sign of privilege or a first-world problem? My friend said no, that these songs are not that different from songs that recur in every generation; they are the product of folks asking who they are and how they fit in—or don’t fit in. Everyone, my friend said, has to go through it, so it resonates with everyone at some point. And navel-gazing is not entirely useless; in some ways, it is at the heart of religion and philosophical inquiry. Some listeners might find that these songs are sad, and there’s truth to that. But there is also comfort and balm in feeling and recognizing the feelings and questions we all have in common. -David Byrne | 
No comments:
Post a Comment