(Photo Credit: David James Swanson)
After Jack White's last few albums not doing so well, it's lovely to see his music topping alternative music charts. Many critics point to the fact that Jack White is just doing what he wants now. Yes, he released this album with no fanfare. In fact, my family and I visited Third Man Records in Detroit just two weeks after the release. I am a huge Jack White fan, but I didn't even notice the record until an employee politely pointed it out to me on the shelf.
But, I argue...he always has done what he wanted to when it came to music. I believe the reason he is still in music is because he finds ways to use music as an art form of expression within his own music and by empowering others' music, and now is as good a time as any for the message of this particular song -- "That's How I'm Feeling".
Let's dive in, shall we?
When it's cold outside
I need the strength to stay alive
And when I'm in my home
I need the strength to be alone
That's how I'm feeling
That's how I'm feeling right now
That's how I'm feeling
That's how I'm feeling right now, yeah
Yeah
Oh, oh yeah
Oh
And when I see you at night
I need an electric light
And when you call me at home
You only hear a dial tone
When it's cold outside, I need the strength to stay alive
And when I'm in my home, I need the strength to be alone
That's how I'm feeling
That's how I'm feeling right now
That's how I'm feeling
That's how I'm feeling right now, yeah
Oh, oh yeah
Oh, oh yeah
Oh, oh yeah
Oh, oh yeah
And when the demons arrive (I need the strength to stay alive)
I need to walk towards the light (I need to walk towards the light)
And when I'm feeling this way (I shouldn't have to be ashamed)
I shouldn't have to be ashamed
Because that's how I'm feeling
That's how I'm feeling right now
That's how I'm feeling, feeling
That's how I'm feeling right now, yeah
Oh, oh yeah
Oh, oh yeah
Oh, oh yeah
Oh, oh yeah
Okay, fans of Jack White know the many bands White has been a part of over the years, but of course, the most famous, and arguably the bluesiest was The White Stripes. Inspired by his favorite artist Son House, the repetitive lyrics paired with raw chords, beats, and vocals. This song is a throwback to those roots. I think many fans, and maybe White himself, feel a cathartic vibe from this most recent album.
The lyrics themselves are a much cooler, but effective version of what I like to call the "Twilight effect". Yes, the Twilight book series. When they hit the popularity lotto, many English majors sat down and analyzed them to the point of no return. They had to know why something so...unsophisticated could take the literary world by storm.
It came down to this -- the main character -- Bella -- was so generic and non-descript that any girl around her age could easily put themselves in Bella's shoes. Edward Cullen wasn't in love with Bella. Not really. He was in love with any girl who had enough imagination throughout the series.
Now, what does this have to do with songwriting and Jack White? Well, while I was in the Third Man Record store, much of the merchandise was gearing up for the election that we just went through. A huge hater on President Elect Trump, Jack White had a lot to feel conflicted about.
Lyrics like "And when I see you at night I need an electric light" or "And when I'm in my home I need the strength to be alone" showcase the confliction of two different feelings. Many Americans can relate to this before and after the election. The polarization in American politics has led to estrangement in families, friends, and colleagues. In this song, Jack White is showcasing in every stanza two conflicting emotions, and the timing of a song that both goes back to a nostalgic time for fans and during a tenuous time in American politics has a lot of potential to be just as successful as we have seen.
So, when writing lyrics, pay attention to YOUR experience and the world around YOU. You never know how many people need to hear what you are experiencing.
Until next time.
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