Music Forum / Listener's Point of View

Listener's Point of View
I can't make any damn sense out of this single which is part of study in music theory. Can anyone comprehend it? Whatever, just hep me answer the questions below:

-How do you interpret this song?-What does it mean to you?
-Is the message of the song clear?Do these words make sense to you?
-What do you think "hooks" people to this song?-What makes this song a hit?Price to Play
Fail to see how destructive we can be
Taking without giving back til the damage can be seen
Can you see? Can you see?

The more you take, the more you blame
But everything still feels the same
The more you hurt the more you scream
The price you pay to play the game
Then all you see and all you gave
And all you step on will know shame
There are no rules, no one to blame
The price to play the game

Empathy, the chosen way to be
Blindly look the other way
While you waste away with me
Can you see? Can you see?

The more you take, the more you blame
But everything still feels the same
The more you hurt, the more you scream
The price you pay to play the game
Then all you see and all you gave
And all you step on will know shame
There are no rules, no one to blame
The price to play the game

What you pay to play the game
What you pay to play the game
What you pay to play the game
What you pay to play the game

The more you take, the more you blame
But everything still feels the same
The more you hurt, the more you scream
The price you pay to play the game
Then all you see and all you gave
And all you step on will know shame
There are no rules, no one to blame
The price to play the game

What you pay to play the game
What you pay to play the game
What you pay to play the game
What you pay to play the game

Well first of all, what makes the song a hit doesn't have anything to do with the song itself so much as Staind's last album being very popular. If you sell a lot of albums you're pretty much guaranteed at least one popular single off your next album no matter what. People just want to hear new Staind. When more singles come out, then you can start looking at the songs themselves. If you wanted to pick any 'hooks' I'd just say that the melodic rock the band plays is very popular right now. That holds true for any Staind song though, which is why I would say the only draw at this point is that it's new and it's by a popular band.

I think the song is about what it takes to be successful. Our society is a capitalistic survival of the fittest where being successful often means pushing other people down. Taking without giving and all you step on are direct refrences to the selfish me-first attitude that permeates American society. The song basically says that such things may make you succesful, but they'll also make you empty or cold and distant (waste away with me). That's the price you pay to be succesful. The price you pay to "play the game", the game being a reference to the competitive nature of a capitalistic society. Pretty simple really, Staind isn't one of the deeper bands out there lyrically.

There's more to a song than that, otherwise artists like Whitney, Matchbox Twenty, and 702 wouldn't have boomed on their comeback albums.

I'm not saying that's all there is to it. Ultimately this album's success will be dependent on how good it is but the first single is more of a carry over from their past popularity. Even if the album is total shit they're guaranteed their first single will get airplay just because of their last album. That doesn't mean that's all there is to the song I guess but come up with a better reason why this song is played on big radio stations.

Ok, to eliminate that theory, lets me list one of the other three songs from my assignment. One you that is not worth mentioning, but here it is:Intuition by Jewel
Listener's Point of View
I can't make any damn sense out of this single which is part of study in music theory. Can anyone comprehend it? Whatever, just hep me answer the questions below:

-How do you interpret this song?-What does it mean to you?
-Is the message of the song clear?Do these words make sense to you?
-What do you think "hooks" people to this song?-What makes this song a hit?

Honestly, Jewel is full of it, here melody sounds like Annie at the opera and I have no idea why this song is a hit.

I really have no idea what exactly you're asking, so I'll just tell you that Staind, while once a pretty good band, has now fallen into the abyss of teen-angst nu-metal. The lyrics are utter shit and probably don't mean shit. And their "hooks" can be played by a guitar newbie. So...okay.

Staind, while once a pretty good band, has now fallen into the abyss of teen-angst nu-metal. The lyrics are utter shit and probably don't mean shit.

They've always been like that... right from the start

Honestly, Jewel is full of it, here melody sounds like Annie at the opera and I have no idea why this song is a hit.

Exactly. It's a hit because it's on the radio. Why is it on the radio? Because it's Jewel, no other reason.

I hate the radio, I've given up on it, overplayed pop every 20 minutes, filled in with hours upon hours of commercials about condoms and night clubs.

Staind, while once a pretty good band, has now fallen into the abyss of teen-angst nu-metal. The lyrics are utter shit and probably don't mean shit.

They've always been like that... right from the start

Completely true. I bought Break the Cycle because my dad liked it too and I thought it was good. That wasnt a bad album actually, but my music tastes have changed from that shit and I would never dream about buying 18 shades of grey.

Staind is awesome. I can't wait to get there new cd the 20th.