Aug 23, 2012
MaggieQuale joined My Stranger Face
Aug 23, 2012
MaggieQuale joined My Stranger Face
Aug 23, 2012
MaggieQuale commented on Pop Punk Puberty.
Oh man. Can't believe I got pulled into this conversation but here goes.
Megan - Your article is good. I say that both as a writer and a long-time Screeching Weasel fan btw. Obviously it pissed off the band. But that's ok too. Whatever. The thing is, it's pointless to debate the "intent" of lyrics because most artists know that the majority of people either don't a) really listen to them or b) understand them.
The reality is that what you're looking for you're looking with. You were an insecure 13-year-old (like all the rest of us) and you loved the music. But the music is going to give you whatever message you're searching for. You *could* have taken away the empowering, the independence, the fuck you part. And you probably did to some extent.
But if you're a pre-teen girl trying to derive self-worth as a female from ANY band's lyrics, you're gonna be messed up. Period. We aren't emotionally and psychologically capable of carving up the healthy parts and dumping the rest. You're brain can't even distinguish between the two at that age.
So I guess what I'm saying is that it's not the songs' - or the bands' - fault that you resonated with those particular lyrics. It's like looking through the bible for 3 passages against homosexuality and then ignoring the other 500 pages on loving all equally. The whole picture is much different than your personal snapshot.
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Megan - Your article is good. I say that both as a writer and a long-time Screeching Weasel fan btw. Obviously it pissed off the band. But that's ok too. Whatever. The thing is, it's pointless to debate the "intent" of lyrics because most artists know that the majority of people either don't a) really listen to them or b) understand them.
The reality is that what you're looking for you're looking with. You were an insecure 13-year-old (like all the rest of us) and you loved the music. But the music is going to give you whatever message you're searching for. You *could* have taken away the empowering, the independence, the fuck you part. And you probably did to some extent.
But if you're a pre-teen girl trying to derive self-worth as a female from ANY band's lyrics, you're gonna be messed up. Period. We aren't emotionally and psychologically capable of carving up the healthy parts and dumping the rest. You're brain can't even distinguish between the two at that age.
So I guess what I'm saying is that it's not the songs' - or the bands' - fault that you resonated with those particular lyrics. It's like looking through the bible for 3 passages against homosexuality and then ignoring the other 500 pages on loving all equally. The whole picture is much different than your personal snapshot.
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Megan - Your article is good. I say that both as a writer and a long-time Screeching Weasel fan btw. Obviously it pissed off the band. But that's ok too. Whatever. The thing is, it's pointless to debate the "intent" of lyrics because most artists know that the majority of people either don't a) really listen to them or b) understand them.
The reality is that what you're looking for you're looking with. You were an insecure 13-year-old (like all the rest of us) and you loved the music. But the music is going to give you whatever message you're searching for. You *could* have taken away the empowering, the independence, the fuck you part. And you probably did to some extent.
But if you're a pre-teen girl trying to derive self-worth as a female from ANY band's lyrics, you're gonna be messed up. Period. We aren't emotionally and psychologically capable of carving up the healthy parts and dumping the rest. You're brain can't even distinguish between the two at that age.
So I guess what I'm saying is that it's not the songs' - or the bands' - fault that you resonated with those particular lyrics. It's like looking through the bible for 3 passages against homosexuality and then ignoring the other 500 pages on loving all equally. The whole picture is always different than your personal snapshot.