Empathy in music

First, I begin with the lyrics. I really love listening to music, not only for the music, but for the lyrics. After all, lyrics are just poems and stories matched up to music. Even my husband noticed the other day that I sing along to a lot of songs. He was amazed at how many lyrics I know, right down to the infections. I don�t know how they stick to my brain (something to do with the fact that all learning is emotional, no doubt), but they do, from The Beatles to Celine Dion to Emimen. (My fave: �You better lose your self in the music, the moment you own it, you better never let it go. You only get one shot do not miss your chance to blow. This opportunity comes once in a lifetime yo.�)

However, my theory is that if a song even tries for empathic lyrics, it won�t work if the melody isn�t empathic also. Take 10,000 Maniacs� �What�s the Matter Here� is an example. Great song with strong empathic lyrics (she does a good job telling us about the child and how she feels about the abuse). But the melody doesn�t match the lyrics.

On the other hand, when empathic lyrics match up with an empathic melody, it gives me the tingles. I once heard Carlos Santana say it gives him tingles, too, to hear music that touches him. He feels it in his neck; I feel it in the cheeks of my face. Where do you feel it?

So, where do I find empathy in music? Five For Fighting�s �Superman� is probably my favorite example (when you go to the link, click on Superman (It's not Easy) to get to the lyrics). How brilliant: to put yourself in Superman�s shoes and ask �what would it be like?� The entire song is in Superman�s voice. I not only feel I�m in his shoes, I feel I�m wearing his cape, for pete�s sake! And the melody and pace! So empathic was this song, that it was used as a recurring theme for post 9-11 heroes. Wow. Combine empathic lyrics with empathic melody to an event that requires empathy and it can reach your soul, not to mention the collective soul.

Another example is the Eagles� "The Last Resort". This one is so powerful, my niece, Erica, when she was no more than three, looked up at me when this was playing and said, �this is a sad song.� She couldn�t have been more right, even if she wasn�t picking up the lyrics.

What do you think? What do you think about empathy in music; and do you have any examples?