My 100 Favorite Songs of 2014 1. Kira Isabella — Quarterback (Sony Music Canada) In early 2013, Id taken one gender studies class, which I hadnt quite enjoyed—mainly due to my professor, who contributed to my skepticism of white feminism—and was set to have an English-Journalism double-major, the liberal arts equivalent of a Business-Marketing double-major. Despite my growing interest in feminist issues, I wasnt sure it was something I wanted to study. Then, the verdict to the Steubenville trial was announced, and I was enraged. I cant believe these two scumbags will be out of jail before Im out of college, I said. One of my friends said, Maybe you should major in gender studies if youre this passionate about it. Nearly two years later, Im a gender studies major, and I owe it all to the heartbreak and anger that I felt, knowing that, in life, victims are made to suffer again and again while the oppressors not only get light sentences, if they get sentences at all, but also gain sympathy from a society thats taught to feel for everyone except for those who need it. Now, Quarterback comes along and makes me feel all of that all over again. Quarterback hits me personally, but its not just that. Theres lots of songs about social issues, but this is something different. Its a masterpiece of music, lyricism, song structure, and production. Its effectiveness is due to all of these elements, but its extra effective just because of the heaviness of its subject matter. I cant see anyone who felt anything while the real life case unfolded not feeling something when they hear this song, because it doesnt merely describe a Steubenville-like case, it uses its mastery of pop structure to bring you back to the actual Steubenville case. For example, in between the second and third verse (i.e., the rape and the aftermath), theres a string solo, during which Isabella lets out a long ooh that sounds beautiful but, stuck in the middle of all this tragedy, takes on an entirely different meaning. Then, in the final verse, there comes a line that Im sure many survivors can relate to: He had the school and the whole town too/And she had nothing but the truth inside. Can you love a work of art that makes you feel awful? Not merely appreciate it, but truly love a song, book, movie that makes you flustered, angry, depressed, and turns you into a sobbing mess? Last year, when the Breaking Bad episode Ozymandias aired, I suggested it might be the greatest T.V. episode ever. A friend of mine replied with something along the lines of, Sure, if you think of great art as something that makes you feel terrible. Quarterback makes me feel terrible, and I may need long breaks from it from time to time. But, every now and then, Ill play it, just to remind myself what Im fighting for.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Dec 2014 01:24:30 +0000
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