So I'm writing this blog because I've always thought how it was sad that a lot of people listen to a song and like it because of the music without realizing what the message is. When Jacob Lusk from American Idol said he can only sing songs that have meaning, and can't sing songs just because they sound good, I was screaming inside how FINALLY someone felt the way that I did. Music is not just about how it sounds, but how it feels - and lyrics are a HUGE aspect which gives the song its meaning. Singing songs with meaning and actually feeling it makes all the difference between GREAT singers and GOOD singers.

Take for example the song "Big Yellow Taxi" first sung by Joni Mitchell, but made famous by Counting Crows. Most people think it's a love song, but it's not. Funny how almost every song is thought of to be a love song. Now I'm sure everyone is familiar with the chorus:

Listen, late last night, I heard the screen door swing,
And a big yellow taxi took my girl away
Now don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you got till it's gone
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot

It's repeated countless times in the song, and really overshadows the true message of how our planet earth is being destroyed due to human selfishness.

If you read the beginning half of the lyrics, you'll understand.

The next song I want to bring up is Kelly Clarkson's "Because of You".

I really don't think most people take the time to understand what she was trying to convey, but sing along to the song anyway. She wrote the song about her own heartache and pain watching her parents go through a divorce, and seeing the abuse her father inflicted towards her mom. There's actually two parts of the lyrics - one targeted towards her dad, one towards her mom.

This part of the lyrics are spoken to Clarkson's father:

I lose my way
And it's not too long before you point it out
I cannot cry
Because I know that's weakness in your eyes
I'm forced to fake, a smile, a laugh
Every day of my life
My heart can't possibly break
When it wasn't even whole to start with

This part is for her mother:

I watched you die
I heard you cry
Every night in your sleep
I was so young
You should have known better than to lean on me
You never thought of anyone else
You just saw your pain
And now I cry
In the middle of the night
For the same damn thing

Lastly, a very famous song written by the great Diane Warren and sung by Celine Dion - "Because You Loved Me" IS a love song (which is why it's commonly used in weddings). The only difference is that Warren wrote it as a tribute to her father for always standing by her, believing in her, and encouraging her in her endeavors. Diane Warren said that her mother wasn't supportive of her dream of a songwriting career, and told her to take a secretarial job.

I'm posting a condensed version of the lyrics because of how much this song means to me:

For all those times you stood by me
For all the truth that you made me see
For all the joy you brought to my life
For all the wrong that you made right

For every dream you made come true
For all the love I found in you
I'll be forever thankful, baby

You're the one who held me up
Never let me fall
You're the one who saw me through
Through it all

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me

Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'cause you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me, ooh, baby

You gave me wings and made me fly
You touched my hand I could touch the sky
I lost my faith, you gave it back to me
You said no star was out of reach

You stood by me and I stood tall
I had your love, I had it all
I'm grateful for each day you gave me

Maybe, I don't know that much
But I know this much is true
I was blessed because
I was loved by you

You were always there for me, the tender wind that carried me
The light in the dark shining your love into my life
You've been my inspiration through the lies you were the truth
My world is a better place because of you