The World’s Your Oyster
A song about Love is, or appears to be, the classic subject for a song.
But if we think about the dawning of the modern pop age, and the commercial possibilities that opened up after the second world war, particularly in the USA, then it might not be so surprising how this has come about.
Music became something that could, in effect, be advertised to everybody on national radio stations. And so it became increasingly POPular, and The Kids had money now, and they wanted it.
And when I say “it”….
….well, the biggest preoccupation (if I can remember that far back) for teens and young adults, is of course romance, sex, finding a partner, dancing with a partner, getting dumped by a partner! In other words, LURRRVVVE (and all of its detrius).
So, although historically songs were also written as celebratory anthems, cultural history, tales of adventure, horror stories, and much, much more, love became the subject that every songwriter who wanted a piece of the action wrote about. It made money. It was sexy baby.
And Love still dominates the airways in 2023. But it is getting harder and harder to write something new on the subject. Writing a love song for people you love who are in love is the main way I manage to go about it these days, without it starting to feel stale and old.
But in reality there are a million subjects to write about. And some of those subjects are as important, or at least almost as important as The Big One. A lot of wide open space out there for anyone who writes songs. Honestly, The World’s Your Oyster. And I don’t mean that in an aphrodisiacal songwriting sense!
Meanwhile, for those who listen, and are a little bored with hearing I Love You over and over and over again….well, why not spread your wings.
ps. Next Fee Comes Fourth song is called Song To The Tick…which, on reflection, although definitely about the subject in its title, is also heavy with, um, innuendo…which, to be fair, qualifies it as a love song. Hmmm. I’m going to call myself a hypocrite before you do.