Wordles

Further to digital sketching, I anticipate producing more digital doodles/minimal sketches, but I recently created a list of ideas that involve denoting song lyrics - and boy are there a lot, so look forward to that! I have done a couple of these so far, and whereas the picture accompanying the lyrics doesn't necessarily convey the songwriter's original idea of what the song is meant to infer, it is at least a fun opportunity for me to interpret them in my own way, and to play around with art against text.

I love music, all kinds, but sometimes lyrical music sticks with me due to a certain set of words, either because the cadence of the melody and words fit so perfectly, or the lyrics themselves hit something in me, as they may with you.

In general, certain words might be used that remind me of the power and impact they have. It always sends a chill when I hear of a judge in a courtroom referring to the accused of a heinous crime as being 'wicked'. There is a lot that can be taken from this word and when spoken in this context invokes a great deal of passion and describes in just one word the degree of the act committed. Or you might hear a word used so rarely in vernacular, that holds sensationalism behind it, maybe it is an archaic word from the English language, or as mentioned before, contains a multitude of descriptiveness.

One of my favourite words is 'Friend': its nice to say and describes someone important to you, so simple, yet there is a certain richness to it. Though we can use it quite nonchalantly at times, if you are using it to refer to someone close to you, who looks out for you, who you have a lot in common with, who supports and loves you, as if you were a relation, well what a beautiful concept. I can't say I have a lot of them, but then again, if you have just one close friend, who inhibits all the above mentioned attributes, what a wonderful find! I have a very close friend I've known since school, who despite our different paths and interests, we seem to hold something that has indeed kept us remaining close friends for so long. I also consider my husband to be my friend, someone who along with a mutual attraction to one another, we also enjoy one another's company, share common interests, laugh a lot and seem to fit well together. Aw, friend!!

Back to words and music though, one of my favourite songs, predominantly due to the 2nd part of the song lyrics, is Nina Simone's 'Ain't Got No (I Got Life)':

Got my hair, got my head

Got my brains, got my ears

Got my eyes, got my nose

Got my mouth, I got my smile

I got my tongue, got my chin

Got my neck, got my boobies

Got my heart, got my soul

Got my back, I got my sex

I got my arms, got my hands

Got my fingers, got my legs

Got my feet, got my toes

Got my liver, got my blood

I've got life, I've got my freedom

I've got life

I've got the life

And I'm going to keep it

I've got the life

What I love about this is the simplicity of what she is saying she has. Despite a lack of riches, prospects, or possessions, she holds a lot of things we may take for granted, and despite their seemingly simple nature, can give us happiness, hope, freedom and joy. Health is something not everyone can say they have going well for them, but if you do, count yourself lucky and be thankful, and take time to consider the plight of others. My dad always says there is always someone worse off than you, and it is very true.

Though tonal, music can aid us in creating visions in our mind, the flow and rhythms perhaps adding colour, but lyrics providing visuals. Why create a music video to go with a song? As many have shown, it can add to the artist's creation, what they are trying to convey, the message they are trying to send and enhance a song. Sometimes what I imagine against a song is completely different to the actual music video, so it is interesting to see the interpretation of art in that sense.

Therefore, music and art is yet another avenue of the medium I simply must harness! Watch this space you lucky lot!! : )