My world in six songs: Part five, religion.

Part five of a six-part series inspired by Daniel Levitin’s book “The World In Six Songs”, which describes his theory that music is core to being human, and how six types of songs enabled the social bonding necessary for human culture and society to evolve. These song-types are: friendship, joy, comfort, religion, knowledge, and love. See part one here.

I grew up in an atheist household, which doesn't mean I was taught to not believe in God, but it does mean I was taught to question everything about him. In the end, I opted to go atheist myself, so as I sit here and contemplate religious music, I do it from the point of view of a non-believer. Here goes:

Amazing Grace, lyrics by John Newton, music by Who Knows, because more than any other song I can think of this is the one that truly feels spiritual, save for the lyrics, which start out great, but go quickly downhill after the first line. One of the things about the Christian religion that really bothers me is that we're all a bunch of losers until we believe in god. I just can't get behind that.

Jesus Gonna Be Here, by Tom Waits, because this is one of the few songs about Jesus I can not only tolerate, but I actually really like. Still, the message is troubling: sit around and do nothing and wait for God to show up and save you. Somehow, I think Tom is aware of the fact that Jesus, might not come, and if he does, he will be a fake, and gives it away with the line "hollywood be thy name".

Jesus Gonna Be Here - Tom Wait...

O Come All Ye Faithful, lyrics by John F. Wade and others, music by Wade and others, because to me this song is Christmas.

Gregorian Chants, by history's monks, I think, because to me these ARE church. Put one of these on, close your eyes, and you are in a cathedral. Moreover, in every cathedral I've ever been in, just the sound of people murmering is like a chant, rerverating off the walls and filling the air with voice.

The Opening Riff to Jumpin' Jack Flash on Get Your Ya Yas Out, by Keith Richards (some say Bill Wyman), because whatever a deeply religious person feels when listening to a hymnal, I feel when I listen to this riff. It sends chills up and down my spine. Moreover, the riff itself was a Holy Grail of sorts for me, and I searched far and wide for instructions of on how to play it. Just a few years ago, I finally found out!

Jumpin' Jack Flash ((Live)) - ...

Next up, love.

My world in six songs: Part four, knowledge.

Part four of a six-part series inspired by Daniel Levitin’s book "The World In Six Songs", which describes his theory that music is core to being human, and how six types of songs enabled the social bonding necessary for human culture and society to evolve. These song-types are: friendship, joy, comfort, religion, knowledge, and love. See part one here.

When Daniel Levitin writes of knowledge songs he means exactly what you think he does: songs that contain knowledge. He cites how studies have proven the brain’s capacious power to remember vast written passages when these passages are set to music. In the old, old days, before we had the bright idea of writing, most knowledge it seems was passed down through song. And despite what might think (the game telephone comes to mind and how even one sentence can get mangled by caller six) song was a very accurate way to capture and pass on knowledge. I, of course, grew up armed with pencils, pens, paper and now computers, so the thought of having to remember much of anything puts the fear of god in me. Can’t do it. Even songs don’t help much; I mean, I can’t even remember my own lyrics! So given my generation and my own memory deficiencies, which songs have played a role in helping me to know stuff?

The Alphabet Song, by who the hell knows, because to this day it helps me remember the alphabet.

Jingles, by various ad agencies, because even now, decades on, I remember “two all beef patties”, “have it your way” and “plop, plop, fix, fizz.

Ohio, by Neil Young, because it chronicles how many college students were shot and killed by the US government as they protested shooting and killing.

If You Fall In Love, by Steve Earle, because it tells people exactly what's going to happen if they fall in love.

Pop & Rock Songs in General, by mankind, because this is one of the primary ways with share with others what we have learned.

Next up, religion (Christ!).

 

My world in six songs: Part three, comfort.

 

Part three of a six-part series inspired by Daniel Levitin’s book “The World In Six Songs”, which describes his theory that music is core to being human, and how six types of songs enabled the social bonding necessary for human culture and society to evolve. These song-types are: friendship, joy, comfort, religion, knowledge, and love. See part one here.

Yesterday’s rain has passed here in SF, leaving behind blue skies shrouded in white clouds pushed by warm winds. It’s perfect weather to write about comfort, which is the third song-type discussed in the World In Six Songs. Strangely, though comfort is a hard category for me. Nothing really leaps to mind, but here goes:

12-Bar Blues, by mankind, because the most comfortable and comforting thing for me to play on the guitar is a 12 bar blues in E. I can do this endlessly.

Three Little Birds, by Bob Marley, because, like the blues, reggae music comforts me (though I can’t play it well at all).

Für Elise, by Beethoven, because it is a melody I feel I’ve known all my life and as such it grounds me, like freshly baked bread does.

La Grange, by ZZ Top, because there’s just something about the groove of this song that makes me feel gruntled. Maybe it’s the sound, maybe it's the tempo, I dunno.

Mariachi music (but not too fast or loud), by Mexico, because I love sound of it, of the guitars, the voices, the harmonized horns and because I never no what a song is about, so there are no lyrics to ruin the mood.

Next up, songs of knowledge.

My world in six songs: Part two, joy.

Part two of a six-part series inspired by Daniel Levitin’s book “The World In Six Songs”, which describes his theory that music is core to being human, and how six types of songs enabled the social bonding necessary for human culture and society to evolve. These song-types are: friendship, joy, comfort, religion, knowledge, and love. See part one here.

San Francisco is awash in rain today, with deep dark skies, heavy winds and water, water everywhere. The rain has me in a down mood, which makes no sense because I like rain, but a mood is a mood is mine is glum. So perhaps it’s oddly appropriate that today I will attempt to list songs I most associate with joy. After all, these are the songs that lift my spirits, put a smile on face, make me feel glad to be alive.

Barbara Anne, by the Beach Boys, because it’s a fun song being sung by a band that is clearly having a lot of fun.

Ode To Joy, by Beethoven, because the only part I know, the BAH BAH BAH BAH BAH BAH bit, is one of the most uplifting melodies I know, and the instruments behind it, could not be more right.

YMCA, by the Village People, because when this song comes on, I don’t care who you are, you smile.

I Want To Hold Your Hand, by the Beatles, because who doesn’t want to experience what this song is about?

I Feel Good, by James Brown, because when you hear it you do. 

Next up, comfort.

 

My world in six songs, part one: friendship.

Daniel Levitin's most recent book, The World in Six Songs, describes his theory that music is core to being human, and how six types of songs enabled the social bonding necessary for human culture and society to evolve. These song-types are: friendship, joy, comfort, religion, knowledge, and love.

Levitin is a neuroscientist, so the book goes far deeper than mere musing. In my opinion, he convincingly argues that evolution rewarded the "musical brain", showing how musical ability could be a crucial advantage as we came up from the muck and then down from the trees. Good stuff.

After reading the book, I got to wondering: what is my world in six songs? What song do I equate most with friendship, with joy and so on? In the coming days I will do my best to answer for all six, but I confess, there is no way I will be able to identify only one song for each song-type. Is a limit of five okay? Hope so. (I know, I should do six, but lists are arbitrary, so I'm going with an arbitrary number.)

First up, friendship, which is what the book opens with. Levitin initially focuses on battle and how a group of early humans bonded in song could overcome a group that was not. Those with song had a beat and some sounds, most likely, that served to coordinate efforts and make them more fearsome sounding than they maybe really were. Not having ever been in battle – even in sports really – I can’t speak from any personal experience from this perspective. But, obviously, there have been times when music has affected me and whatever posse I happened to be riding with at the time. So, without further ado, here are my songs of friendship, the songs that get me ready to grab my club and go after a mammoth.

Bad Moon Rising, by Creedence Clearwater Revival, because the opening three chords are the musical equivalent of the word GO.

Jumpin Jack Flash, by the Rolling Stones, especially the Ya Ya’s version, because I have personally witnessed the opening riff of this tune get more people more excited more faster than anything else.

Ride of the Valkyries, by some lunatic named Wagner, because I saw this scene in Apocalypse Now…

The Star Spangled Banner, by Francis Scott Key, because despite its unsingable melody, awkward lyrics and lack of a any groove whatsoever, the Banner packs a lot of emotional wallop.

Alright Now, by Free, because for better or for worse this song is THE RALLY song of my generation.

Well, that’s it. As with every other list I’ve ever made, this one feels incomplete, not as good as it could be, and I am convinced I have forgotten a critical song or two. So, I reserve the right to make a few changes down the road!

Next up, joy.