Week_6_02/19/2016_Some Where Only We Know

Keane, a well-known UK band, created one of the many songs that forever had a special place in me. The song that I will be talking about today, and its cover version by Lily Allen is "Somewhere Only We Know". Keane brought in a stronger tone, delivered a more powerful sound along with many different type of instruments. In contrast, the cover version performed by Lily Allen gave us a smoother vibe with only the sound of the singer and piano. Although both versions used the same lyrics, the song meaning stayed unknown and never been revealed by the band members, a person will be able to draw the image of their own, based on each individual's memories of the past, all just by listening to the music and the voice of the singer.

The debate for the actual meaning of "Some Where Only We Know" goes on and does not seem to come to an end. With that being said, the majority of people all agree that the song meant to revive an old memory and remind the listeners the purpose of their life. Keane started the song softly, with slowly pedaled notes and only block chord created from piano in the background, playing a trademark tone of the band, pulsing beat. The song utilize diminuendo at the beginning, led us to our own special place and the bond we had created with that place. Following the memories is the imploration of going back to the past, or realizing our purpose in life with the perfectly usage of crescendo. Phrases such as "I walked across an empty land, I knew the pathway like the back of my hand" perfectly illustrated the song's meaning. In this phrase, the "empty land" with "pathway" that the singer is very familiar, which metaphorically describes a place that holds a special bond in each and every one of us. Another phrase that perfectly describes the mood of wanting to find a reason and a purpose in life that the song tried to deliver is "I'm getting old and I need something to rely on", this line alone can pretty much sum up the second half of the song. Sometimes in life, you forget your purposes, values, and reasons, people often forget their past and what made them the way they are. The message here is simple, by thinking back to one's old memories, a person can once again wake up from the dilemma and depression caused by the struggle brought by this cruel world we live in.

The cover version of this song, which was performed by Lily Allen for the 2013 John Lewis Christmas Advert. Even though the lyrics are kept the same, the soft and slow melody used in Lily's cover altered the meaning of the song. This cover consisted of a piano solo in the background with a fast pace and the voice of the singer which can be heard as one note higher compared to the original. The reason behind the alteration of the song meaning is unknown, but as you listen, you can interpret that it got a happy ending instead of an unfinished flashback. The lyrics had been heavily emphasized in Lily's cover, showing that originally, this song was meant to target an audience focusing more in the singer's voice over beat and instrumental sound. Phrases that distinguish the song such as "I knew the pathway like the back of my head" are more realistic rather than metaphorical.

There is no specific audience for this song, it can be listened to by anyone. With that being said, the song would only be remembered by those who can relate to it. Having a sorrowful tone throughout the 3 minutes and a half run time, the song would fit better to those who have a tragic past but overcome it and are in search for a purpose in their life.

In conclusion, it is amazing how the same song with the same lyrics can be performed in many different ways by different artists. Nevertheless, each singer possesses their own unique way of performing the song. A song can either focus more on the beat and voice combined, such as Keane's original version of "Some Where Only We Know", or delivering a soft, yet powerful vocal such as Lily Allen's cover. Each artist has a different interpretation in understanding the meaning of the song and through that, deliver different meanings towards the lyrics for the listeners.