Simple Plan

There's just something about it... I just can't get enough of Simple Plan's music. Now before you decide not to read this entry just because you think the music you like is so much cooler than "emo" stuff, I just ask that you open your mind a bit.

So what if Pierre Bouvier has whiny-sounding vocals? And of course it's also important to look past some of their "complainy" songs (Worst Day Ever, God Must Hate Me). Once you do that and really listen to the content of some of their music... well, that's when it might start to make sense.

There are two particular songs by Simple Plan that are so filled with emotion, so meaningful, and just so powerful... Crazy and No Love. The first one is from the album Still Not Getting Any from four years ago, and the other is from this year's self-titled album (which is highly recommended, by the way).

Let's start with Crazy...
This song has to be one of the best descriptions of the world today. The song starts out, "Tell me what's wrong with society..." and goes on listing all the things people think are important rather than love for yourself, love for your family, and love for those less fortunate. The song has the typical whiny vocal sound, but I guess in this case it's okay because I think the trends of the world are actually worth whining about... at least he's got his head on straight and is raising the awareness of others somehow. Kudos.

Then No Love...
From the new album, this song is actually directed toward what seems to be some abusive relationship. He starts by saying, "Staring out into the world across the street, you hate the way your life turned out to be," which I think many people can relate to. That's the beauty of this sort of music... sure, it's whiny, but at least it helps people to know that they don't have to feel alone with so many of their issues in life. Then a portion of the chorus, "There's only hate, there's only tears, there's only pain, there is no love here," although quite basic on the surface, has so much emotion in the recording of the song. The song actually gives me such a "hit home" feeling to know that there are so many people out there who feel so terrible with their life situation, whatever it may be, yet they haven't made any changes just because of their fear of what might happen. No, I'm not in the relationship situation Pierre described in the song, but another thing the song does is make me want to be in one that is the exact opposite. In time...

There's a whole lot of good music out there... whether it has awesome drums, sweet guitar, a good horn section, amazing vocal skills, or whatever, there's a lot worth listening to. My favorite "good music", though, has so much more to do with the lyrical content, meaning, and the emotion put into the music than anything else.