Great songwriters can bring forth from a series of notes and letters some of the deepest emotions of our lives. If our lives a just a series of waking, eating, working, sleeping and repeating then so be it but just stop and listen to a piece, any piece, of Les Miserable and try not to moisten in the eyes - go on - i dare you. But let me break that down a bit.
Good song writing seems to be made from the juxtaposition of the personal with the global. let me expand. A favourite song of mine is 'A Great Day for Freedom' from 'The Division Bell' album. In this song the writer pulls together the idea that great divisions in nations (walls?) can be broken down and new days dawn wherein people can see new light and freedom. the writer in this piece also directly compares that great nationwide breaking down of barriers with his own personal insights into intimate emotional re connections.
The story of Les Miserables follows the journey of one Jean Valjean a poor retched creature who seeks redemption from his poverty and crime in revolutionary France. The songs in the musical adaptation speak of despair, revenge, revolution, friendship, forgiveness and finally, redemption. but all of these emotions are set against both a personal journey as well as a national upheaval. You see - we can all measure our own journeys through and within the journeys of our our societies.
so, when a great song brings tears to ones eyes is that just a rhythm creating a biological reaction or are we as humans attuned to feel deep and heartfelt meaning to words and music?
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