Sometimes a Detail Makes the Art

I admit it - I'm an eclectic when it comes to music, but very little modern pop (even when labeled indy!) finds its way into my auditory canals because I just don't listen to anything but NPR or my own music in the car.  But I recently saw this video for Tegan and Sara's Call It Off, and I think they might be interesting enough for me to check out.

Music is one of those funny things, so subjective that sometimes we can't even say why we love a song, artist or band.  Yes, I'm that girl, the one who cries because the words or the music or even the voice is so beautiful that I can't contain my emotions.  I've fallen in love with songs because they make me feel like a badass, and I've hated songs because the artists sounded like they were whining or singing through their noses.  I can't stand anything by Willie Nelson for just that reason, although I'm sure he writes beautifully.

And I've noticed a trend in my own choices lately, sparked by a road trip with my husband, in which he played DJ and chose stuff from his music player instead of mine.  He tends to choose male singers and bands, while I generally opt for female vocalists.  I'm not sure if this relates to my ability to sing along, or if I just feel a stronger connection to other women.  For him, I know a lot of it has to do with the technical and intellectual side of things, the composing, the arranging and so on.  As a classically trained pianist, I can appreciate that side of music, but it can leave me cold.  As with other forms of art, a musical piece can be written very well technically and still have no soul.

One day this week, however, I saw this video and I fell in love, not because of the music, not because I have anything in common with these two young women, not because I thought the lyrics were  particularly outstanding.  To be truthful, I really couldn't understand what they were saying the first time I watched.  No, I probably wouldn't have even listened to the entire song had it played on the radio because it wasn't what I heard that got my attention.

I fell in love because I was so entranced by the way her mouth moved while she was singing.  I can't explain it beyond that, other than to say she just seems so earnest.  That's what I love about art.  One little detail can zap you so completely that all the other details making up the whole fall by the wayside because they only exist to showcase the one that took hold of your heart.

Thank you, Tegan and Sara.  I'd forgotten how beautiful something so simple could be.