Edward’s Diary Entry 131: What, More "Feelings?"

Let’s take any well-known song and analyse it. All you need is a catchy tune, a nice arrangement, and some schmaltzy lyrics and you’ve got a hit song. “Feelings” was originally written as “Pour toi” by Louis Gasté in 1956 and then adapted to English and made popular by Albert Morris in 1974, peaking at #6 on the pop charts and #2 on the Adult Contemporary charts in America. Just about every singer who was anybody did a version to this song – all except Julie Andrews, who is stated as saying it was too difficult for her to sing because it had no meaning behind it!

Dame Julie has a point there. We can see that there is lots of confusion in this singer’s head and heart. The whole song is about “Feelings”, although they are classed as “nothing more than” feelings. That’s quite a confusing start – if they’re so important, why belittle them that way? Or does he mean he's is only feelings (no thought!). The singer is trying to forget these “feelings of love”. He’s crying about losing a girl. He has felt these feelings “all his life”, which is also quite silly, as he was once a baby, a boy and a youth, and didn’t have these feelings at that time. So “all his life” means since he was aware of his hormones reaching out to this girl he supposedly loves. Now he wishes he’d never met her, but at the same time, there is nothing like her, and he wants her in his arms again, in his heart again, in his life again. Sounds like he's in quite a mess!

Feelings, nothing more than feelings, Trying to forget my feelings of love. Tears drops rolling down on my face, Trying to forget my feelings of love. Feelings, for all my life I'll feel it. I wish I've never met you, girl; You'll never come again. Feelings, wo-o-o feelings, Wo-o-o, feel you again in my arms. Feelings, feelings like I've never lost you And feelings like I'll never have you Again in my heart. Feelings, for all my life I'll feel it. I wish I've never met you, girl; You'll never come again. Feelings, feelings like I've never lost you And feelings like I've never have You again in my life. Feelings, wo-o-o feelings

Despite an official time of 3:46 and various verses, there is “nothing more than” this short summary in the lyrics of this song. It’s just a repetition of the same. So what we have here is a prime example of “Me, me, me… oh woe is me!” Feeling sorry for oneself, feeling bad, sad, wishing something hadn’t happened and then wishing something might happen again. There is no thought, or mention, of the actual “girl”. Why did she leave him? What happened? It’s pretty obvious – he was probably only thinking about himself, and she got fed up with it. Maybe she wanted more attention and didn’t get it. Or wanted more fun and entertainment than what this melancholic, introspective, confused character was capable of giving her! So it’s no wonder she left!

And instead of getting back into his "present moment", searching his own soul, and finding out why his relationship ended, and how he can be happier in the future, he just sits down and mopes, writes a confused mess of “feeling” words, and continues to cry about his bad luck. What a muddle! And the wonder of it all is that such a mess, set to a nice arrangement, could connect to so many people in the world and become such a big hit. Quite appropriately, the B-side of this hit song was actually entitled “This World Today is A Mess!” Curious, isn't it?

Songs like these are just not fair to us poor humans. Why do we have to listen to stupidities like this, however nicely arranged? We are brought up not to control our thoughts, and not to control our emotions, so it's easy for the music industry to prey on the human heart. There is neither intelligence nor depth in the lyrics of songs like these. No teaching or human betterment is happening. A sad song reflects our confusion in the world, because someone did something supposedly unkind to us. But I maintain our characters are weak enough without all this help from confusing songs, lyrics and intentions. And it's no good just weeping first and then, after the sad songs and the bad feelings, stting down to an inane sit-com or comedy show to cheer up again. That's a vicious circle, and won't do us any good. 

Dewlling on pain is even more stupid than creating the pain in the first place.