The power of story comes through in song - #lakewoodnews

What was the last song you heard that really told a story?

Scrolling through the radio these days, the vast majority of songs are about feelings --; usually love, or lack of --; or songs addressing a particular person. None of this is bad, per se, but some of the most affecting songs bring the listener into a different world and tell a story.

Unfortunately, for those of us who find ourselves in little turns of phrase or scenes from these often-long tracks, story songs appear to be falling by the wayside in a pop climate that prizes inclusivity over nuance and bland sentiments over real storytelling.

There's a transformative magic about the specificity of language and detail in what are now referred to as a story songs, more familiarly known as ballads, an art that traces its history to Medieval times. They foster connection between the musician and the listener, even if you've never experienced what the song is about.

Consider songs like The Shangri-Las' "The Leader of the Pack," Bob Dylan's "Desolation Row," Johnny Cash's "A Boy Named Sue" or Eminem's "Stan." These kinds of songs have the power of empathy --; allowing the listener to relate to an idea or emotion by avoiding generalities, and going deep.

I started thinking about this while listening to Car Seat Headrest's hilarious and heartbreaking "The Ballad of Costa Concordia" in the car on the way home from work. The 10-minute opus is from his 2016 album "Teens of Denial."

The Costa Concordia was an Italian cruise ship that sunk in 2012, claiming 32 lives. The Car Seat Headrest song doesn't chronicle events leading to the crash --; instead, it focuses on the many mistakes we make in our 20s as we try to figure out our lives.

Singer Will Toledo details a litany of his mistakes --; to emphasize how he is still learning. Check out the questions:

As the song goes on, Toledo starts identifying with the captain of the Costa Concordia, which is where the power of story kicks in. Toledo projects himself into the mind of someone who messed up royally, not because he was evil, but because he made a crucial error.

he howls, before the song crashes into waves of guitar and reverb.

By focusing on details specific to his experiences, Toledo invites the listener to remember his or her own mistakes and frustrations, before providing the vital moment of catharsis.

To feel the full force of song, a listener has be engaged. That's what storytelling does --; pulls us into the life of someone else.

Talk about power.

from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.comhttp://lakewoodsentinel.com/stories/The-power-of-story-comes-through-in-song,234044?branding=15