Blog #1: My HONEST Review of our Choir Songs
Today, I’m going to be reviewing a bunch of songs that we are currently singing in choir to perform our concert on January 17th.
Dislaimer: My intent is to purely give my input, not to bash these songs or their respective authors.
This song is composed by a man named Lowell Mason, who had a great love for music, being a leading figure in American church music. Therefore, it is understandable that Mr.Mason really loved music, hence the lines
"O Music, sweet music, thy praises we will sing.”
Unfortunately, this song sounds like it would be better placed as a quote on a music blog, or sung in a kindergarden classroom. Although it’s lovely, it really sounds unprofessional in a high-school choir.
This song is an ancient ballad from Yorkshire, Great Britain. A lover asks his previous lover to do a number of tasks, all of which are unachievable. This song is written well, but it sounds more like a story than a song at any rate. I applaud the composer of this song to coming up with very interesting and meaningful lyrics, but I don’t think it’s really made to sing. However, the lyrics do have poetic value, as seen from an except I read on Wikipedia(and yes Wikipedia does get it right sometimes):
Parsley has been used as a digestant, which should take the bitterness out of certain comestibles. Some medieval physicians used this herb in a spiritual manner.
Sage is renowned as a symbol of power.
Rosemary represents fidelity, love, and remembrance and is therefore often used in traditional wedding customs. Rosemary for remembrance.
Thyme symbolizes courage and thus found its way into heraldry.
Another interpretation is that the four herbs are being used in charms to ward off the evil eye.
This song, a Japanese piece laced with English lyrics, is probably one of my favorites out of all the songs we are singing. That might not be a huge merit though, owing to the fact that I don’t love any of the songs we are singing particularly. This song, through my interpretation, is talking about how it is “lonely to be alone” and how two people should be together. This song also talks about cherry blossoms, which hold significant value for the Japanese, and talk about their importance in new beginnings and a fresh start. I, for one, think that’s a lovely and applaud-able(is that even a word) message. Furthermore, this song is beautiful to hear, and flatters our voices as a choir, unlike O Music.
Whoa! This song has a pretty perverse meaning, which is not at all clear when singing it to the audience or to those singing it. A lady who has green sleeves is someone who has "rolled around in the grass." Ouch. She doesn't look so innocent anymore.
Well, this song is pretty funny when you look at it from that view. I can't really take this song seriously anymore, and I don't like its lyrics either. Now that's a bad combo.
This is probably one of our coolest pieces, as it is in German. This is, to my understanding, a song about a ladybug. The individual singing it warns the ladybug that her house is burning, and her children are crying. However, the song does get better, and happier towards the end, suggesting that the ladybug has moved on from her loss. I think this song is pretty hard, especially on my bad vocals, as it has unfamiliar pronouciation. However, I’ll just have to suck it up and get used it. This isn’t that bad of a song either, but it wouldn’t be my first pick.
All in all, that’s my review on our songs. I hope that for our next concert, we can sing some songs that are relevant to us, or that we actually know. I’m a bit jealous that chorale gets to do “Just the way you are.” Well, maybe it’s because our choir is sort of at that primary stage, and needs a bit of work.
