Musical Analysis #1 - Where I Belong/Vice Verses - Switchfoot
I have found that the songs that stick with me most are the ones ask or answer a question that I have a hard time putting into words. I have chosen a combination of these two songs, on after each other in their shared album, Vice Verses, because they each accomplish one of these things, and I feel that they belong together. I would recommend listening to Vice Verses (top) first, then Where I Belong (bottom).
Song Information
Both of these songs were written by Jon Foreman, and released in 2011 on the album Vice Verses.
Lyrics
I chose these two songs because they both contrast each other and deal with the same issues. Vice Verses explores attempting to understand life, with its ups and downs, and looking for purpose from a place of emptiness. The first two verses explore looking for meaning in life, while the third verse asks where God is in the hard times, "Where is God in the earthquake, Where is God in the genocide?", before the artist gets more personal: "Where are you in my broken heart? Everything seems to fall apart. Everything feels rusted over, tell me that you're there."
When asked about the lyrics to the song, the songwriter and lead singer of the band Jon Foreman said " "When we were finishing up Hello Hurricane was when I wrote that song. The first line of the songs is, 'Walking along the high tide line,' and that's where the song began. The high tide line - in the morning, you can tell where the ocean leaves its mark from the night before, and it washes up all the debris from the night before. So that's where that song begins, is kind of looking through the things that people didn't want, the trash from boats and beachgoers that they left behind for the Pacific to have its way with. And for me, I felt that it was a good place to start a song that's looking for meaning. So there wasn't one specific earthquake or one specific disaster in my life that inspired that song, but it was written out of a definite moment of frailty where you're looking for purpose and hoping to find it."
While Where I Belong continues the same theme of attempting to understand life, it seems to have a different perspective. Vice Verses is longing for any answer, while Where I Belong seems to explore that question while giving an answer: "Still looking for a home, In a world where I belong."
Where I Belong was also written by Jon Foreman, but the band's guitarist, Drew Shirley, had this to say about it: "There are so many things that are not right - broken - and we know in our heart and soul that it should be right, and should be true, and it's not in this world. Things should be just, and it's not in this world. This life should be joyful, and it's corrupted. It should be pure, and it's twisted. We have a twisted generation. That sense of unrest is something we've sung about for a long time. I think it's an Ecclesiastical thread where 'everything is meaningless.' What's this all about? There must be something more than this. We were meant to live for more than this. It stems from what is says in that Bible verse, that this world is not our permanent home."
Tone
As I said before, these two songs deal with the same issues in contrasting ways. This is reflected in the tone of the songs as well as the lyrics. Vice Verses has a longing, even sad feeling, while Where I Belong almost seems triumphant, as if the answer being sought for has finally been found. Vice Verses opens with a slow, rhythmic guitar riff that is carried through the song, where as Where I Belong, though more of a ballad, is carried by triumphant chords.
Structure
The structure of Where I Belong is Intro Verse, Verse, Chorus, Verse, Chorus, Bridge, Chorus, Outro, however, the words to the third Chorus are different. The unique structure gives the song an opportunity to build up toward that final chorus, then the outro brings the song to a slower finale. This pacing is a big reason that I love the song. Even the structure gives a feeling of resolution and coming to an answer.
Songfacts. “Vice Verses by Switchfoot.” Songfacts, www.songfacts.com/facts/switchfoot/vice-verses.
Songfacts. “Where I Belong by Switchfoot.” Songfacts, www.songfacts.com/facts/switchfoot/where-i-belong.
Hi Soren,
ReplyDeleteI like your deciding factor being personal clarity for music you like, music that doesn’t serve a purpose isn’t interesting. For me personally I look for a little more sound diversity in the music I listen to. I love hearing all the little sample sounds, percussion instruments, and bass. The second piece (“Where I Belong”), does have a few more instruments in it over “Vice Verse” but oddly I think I prefer the latter. This is because of how chill it is. When you say you prefer the pacing of “Where I Belong”, do you think it’s because you prefer more upbeat music, or just a faster pace? Nicely chosen songs and writeup!
Switch foot is a great band and I love the lyrics to this song! Lyrics that talk about pain and struggle are always very meaningful and even the listener can relate. I love how you contrasted both songs in how one of them was a cry to God and one of them was there cry being answered. Expanding song meanings to multiple songs is so interesting and always amplifies the album better overall because each song adds to the story.
ReplyDeleteHello, these two songs have deep emotional lyrics. They have great rhythms. The tone is set perfectly for sadness and way out thinking. The verse in the first song vice verses bridge together a great story. A great story is told by both songs and the dynamics are blended well.
ReplyDeleteHi Sorren! I really enjoyed what you chose for this weeks assignment. I haven't listened to Switchfoot in several years though I did really like them years ago. In a way, they remind me of 3 doors down song, "Away From the Sun." I too find my words in the lyrics of songs. I can sit for hours and get lost in my thoughts depending on how emotional the song might be and if it pertains to how I am feeling at the time. I also agree that Vice Verses gives off more of a sad sound to it.
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