A lyric sequence can be best understood as a collection of individual lyrics, or poems, that interact and build upon one another to portray an overall theme or unified greater meaning. This week we have encountered this in the form of sonnet sequences in lyrical poetry; however, lyrical sequence can be found in certain music albums as well. Understanding songs as lyrics and the album as the lyric sequence, I decided the album I want to discuss is "Recovery," by Eminem. This collection of songs chronicles the past struggles, inner demons, raw emotions and true feelings of the narrator, Eminem himself. The entire album is delivered as a first hand narrative. Each song tells a unique story, or isolated perspective, that reveals his feelings about his experiences with drug addiction, rehab, fatherhood, love, fame, depression, loss, and hip-hop.
Each individual song enhances the listeners' understanding of the emotional journey that the album is expressing. The overall tone is critically self-reflective, yet reassuringly resilient. We are given an insight into the introspective thoughts of an artist's reaction to his struggle with hip-hop and his invigorated spirit for where he is in his life now. Some songs are highly focused on explaining his struggles with addiction and depression, while others are declarations of his reclaiming the throne to rap. All of these songs are united, however, with the common theme of overcoming his demons and feeling ready to take back control over his life and career.
The first song I want you to listen to is Going Through Changes. This song was written while Em was still deep in his depression and struggling with the lack of control he felt over his life. There is a line in the middle of the song that signals the changes he will show to make in his near future, and will in turn be reflected in most of the other songs of the album: (Starting at 1:50)"But dwellin' on it only makes the night worse/ Now I'm poppin' Vics, Perks/ And Methadone pills/ Yeh Em tight verse- you killed it" He's being sarcastic and showing that he's tired of that lifestyle and wants to make a change.
The next song I want you to listen to is Talking to Myself. In this song Em discusses how he felt while he was out of the rap game and struggling with addiction and depression. This song shows a distinct change from the state that was in reflected in Going Through Changes.This is an incredible example of the intense self reflection, and overwhelming growth, he expresses throughout the lyrical sequence of this album.
The last song I want to highlight is 25 to Life. This song features Em rapping directly to what one would assume is a past love (for those who are familiar enough with him..his ex-wife Kim) and expressing the struggle he's had being in that relationship. What he so masterfully disguises until the very end, however, is that it is not an actual person he is passionately lamenting about, but actually "Hip-Hop" as a whole. The recurring theme is seen in his obvious growth and certain conviction for ensuring a better life for himself. If this album was written in sonnet sequence, I see this as being a song break in between the other sonnets that comprise the overall sequence.
Thanks for this post, Allison. I enjoyed reading this example of a lyric sequence that is as much about life as about love (not all lyricists can be as sappy as Astrophil, right?).
ReplyDeleteWow, I don’t usually like this type of music but I have high respect for people who can put themselves out like that (Going Through Changes) and talk about all they’ve been through. It’s rather empowering to hear someone give themselves a pep talk and snapping themselves out of whatever it is they’re going through because they know there’s someone else they need to live for and love.
ReplyDeleteEninem lyrics are so raw. As Eminem points out " he just says the stuff we say behind closed doors with our intimate friends. He just says it out loud" how true.
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