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wake up, your bird
can sing
"And Your Bird Can Sing" is on Revolver--early Beatles . . . the similarities got me thinking about how the Beatles managed to write fine songs, and get the message across in . . . well, a lot less time than 4:38 (the time it takes to "Wake Up")! Believe it or not, the longest two songs on Revolver clock in at 3:01; and the two shortest tracks (including "And Your Bird Can Sing") are an astounding 2:01 long. Doesn't it figure that my two favorite "new" songs on 3CG were "Pictures" and "Stories?" It would just be interesting (I think) to see what Hanson could do with an effort towards trying to create "gems" instead of "epics"--I can always hope that they'll do a re-edit of "Wake Up" for The Next Album. My very first impression of "Wake Up" was: "Hey, that doesn't even really sound 'like Hanson'--could have been any band from what I like to call the MTV Shuffle School . . . Matchbox 20 or the GooGoo Dolls, maybe, or lately even Bon Jovi or Aerosmith" . . . and it makes me wonder, what it is exactly that lets you know you're listening to Hanson? However, within a few bars of "Wake Up," you know it's a Hanson song: the "oh yeah" from Taylor, the it-could-only-be Hanson "twang," and eventually, at least 2 phrases where even the veteran fan has to go: "What the heck is he saying?" I put the song on continuous repeat and two facts about this kind of immersion:
So under the heading "everybody wants to be a critic" the problem with this song--Hanson seems to be thinking if one hook is good, then two or three in one song must be even better! They tend to take a good thing and flog it to death. I mean . . . 4:38 . . . This is terrific if you're the Grateful Dead and you make your mark playing live to half-stoned fans. Hanson is too good at songwriting to resort to this. They should at least save this too-long version for concerts--maybe when they're introducing "the band." If I were producer (a secret ambition (c;) I'd cut out the second-time-through bridge and chorus, and replace the "doo DOO dah" break with a horn section, maybe, instead of voices imitating a horn section . . . Anyway, my favorite part of "Wake Up," both for its vocal harmonies and "best phrase" in the second half of the second verse (the first half is where I can't figure out what they're saying!): "Will it matter . . . when you stop and smell the breeze?" OK, so I can also see how Laura at Bright and Beautiful could call that very same phrase the song's Token Ridiculous Lyric--still, it's not as bad as the other TRLs she cites from the other tracks . . . I just thought that on first listens, that line stood out, as in "now that's an original way to combine "stop and smell the roses" with "wake up and smell the coffee." Also thanks to Mel and Belle (through HansonHouse), who managed to pry what I agree must be the true lyrics from the beginning of that second verse:
Video Concept: Guy bolts upright in bed, suddenly awake, sees girl sleeping peacefully next to him . . . sequence of her waking up suddenly then, and he was just a dream . . . her dreaming of him dreaming of him with her, her with somebody else, thinking about him--dream within a dream within a dream--could throw in lots of fairy tale images: Cinderella and slipper, kissing a frog . . .ends with the princess and the pea where she finds the real something that she needs under the 20 mattresses . . . Note: A huge thanks to Ann for her perceptive contributions to this page. It's a privilege to have a reader of her quality at the site, much less someone who is willing to have her writing associated with it. Whoa! I think the Hanson "twang" is punctuated by the fact that I detect even more of the band's southern accent unveiled in this number than even on TTA. Just an opinion. (c; . . . and now jackie's thoughts on "wake up" Mixed emotions. I was on a personal crusade to make my life more complicated by debating the merits of spending an album-sized amount on a single song. I reasoned, this is not without precedent. "I Don't Know" shipped all the way from Australia was worth it . . . still listed on my most favorite song list. And "Smile?" That's right! Of course . . . But "Wake Up" presented a new dilemma for me as I wrestled snobbery (No offense intended, but The Princess Diaries soundtrack listing threatens to re-enforce stereotypes of the band that only the most ardent supporters can deflect without breaking a sweat). I have recently emerged bruised, but not beaten. Hence, my take on "Wake Up?" Another crusade that has probably bored most of you involves my perception that Hanson's songwriting indirectly addresses their relationship with celebrity . . . a way of processing the circus that results from their brushes with madness that is a product of their fame. I mean, they told us they wrote this song during the This Time Around tour! Of course, this perception is a dangerous result of having once been an English major in college, so it's completely unfounded. Proceed with caution. But first, the melody is so completely like that feeling that follows the announcement, "there's more dessert if anybody wants some." What? How is it possible that the band keeps finding the most unexpectedly delicious tastes and putting them to music? It's made with the freshest and richest whipping creams. Yummy! Then the lyrics. "You make believe the face, just to try to fill the space." I'm shaking my head in confirmation. Don't you see? It's so obvious! Okay, but then if you read it this way as a message to fans and not as the plea to an unrequited love to "wake up and see that I'm the one who really cares" . . . well, it just doesn't make sense. So, I think too much. But you already knew that. So just go, enjoy the song on repeat as I am telling myself to do right now. ::smile:: later. . . More on "Wake Up": Someone questioned me about a recent analysis of the lyrics regarding a potential deeper meaning for this song . . . possibly a call to fans to consider what role Hanson plays in their lives. "Don't you ever wonder who you're looking for?" She wondered if she was crazy in applying this to her life as she considered maintaining significant relationships with family and friends. It made me think of songwriters like Seal and Pearl Jam who purposely de-emphasize the "real lyrics" to their songs, allowing listeners to be indirectly involved in the composition process. How many times have you "misunderstood" lyrics and then realized that your own interpretation meant more to you than the published ones? Well, Hanson are certainly no strangers to the "deeper than you might think" category (Subject A: MMMBop). Plus, the most recent "Making of" video snippet on hanson.net entertained me greatly. In a conversation with Laura, I expressed, with amusement, my skepticism about Zac's whole-hearted endorsement of The Princess Diaries project. I mean, I know I'm basing this on a public reading of this drummer's personality, but I just could not picture him entering dialogue surrounding an involvement with the movie--with a straight face. More like a secret smirk. Then, lo, this hanson.net video surfaces--in fact, is published by the band themselves--which seems to confirm Zac's skepticism about the melody and a general reticence about its recording. With Taylor's prompting, Zac takes to the mic . . . and we have "Wake Up"! Whew. ::grin:: |