The Music Court

This apparently defines punk. I do not believe that this is what Curtis, Iggy, Ramone, or The Pistols were going for.

I must declare ignorance. Before today, I had never listened to the musician who I am currently writing about. The post-punk genre was never my cup of tea and, therefore, this band and I never crossed paths.

I also must reveal that in no way was I intending on having two straight suicides on my list. Purely coincidence.

So, without any further disclaimers, let’s play attempt to guess the lyricist. You get three clues.

1.) His band was named after the “Sexual Slavery” wing of a Nazi Concentration Camp, as described by the novel “The House of Dolls”

2.) This lyricist, known for his reserved demeanor, opened up on stage into an odd epileptic like dance which stemmed from actual seizures he sometimes experienced on stage (and subsequently had to be helped off stage because of)

3.) This lyricist hanged himself at the age of 23 in 1980 (after listening to Iggy Pop’s The Idiot… I don’t think that was the reason why he did it)

Wow! That was depressing. Did you guess? Well, if not, do not worry about it, because, before tonight, I would not have been able to tell you either. But, now, from all of my recently learned knowledge I can safely tell you the man’s name is Ian Curtis, lead singer of the band Joy Division, and he is the #84th lyricist of all time.

Let us jump straight to some lyrics. No wasting time tonight folks. Hell, I already depressed enough of you. My favorite lyrics from Curtis come from Joy Division’s first album Unknown Pleasures, in a song named “New Dawn Fades.” I am going to give you the link of it right now and include the entire lyric below. Check out the song before you read into any commentary. I want you to form your own opinion on it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqUFbd8aAN0&feature=related

“A change of speed, a change of style
A change of scene, with no regrets
A chance to watch, admire the distance
Still occupied, though you forget
Different colours, different shades
Over each mistakes were made
I took the blame
Directionless so plain to see
A loaded gun won’t set you free
So you say

We’ll share a drink and step outside
An angry voice and one who cried
‘We’ll give you everything and more
The strain’s too much, can’t take much more’
Oh, I’ve walked on water, run through fire
Can’t seem to feel it anymore
It was me, waiting for me
Hoping for something more
Me, seeing me this time, hoping for something else ”

The message displayed in the song can be split into the two segments. In the first verse the message is quite simply time is moving, things are changing, and nothing can change what I did in the past. An over-simplification I know, but that is why I told you guys to form your own opinions first. The second verse is my favorite. The line that resounds the most is, “It was me, waiting for me, hoping for something more, Me, seeing me this time, hoping for something else.” These may be some of the best lyrics written in a song. The sheer truthfulness of Curtis’ poetry is shocking. Not many times do you have lyricists that come out and sing such a true and powerful self-reflection. Curtis describes how he is waiting for himself, hoping for something more…something else. All of this became more true on May 18th, 1980 when Curtis decided he would finally grasp for something else.