It’s all in the La-La-Las

We kick this weekend off with a new tune from Sigur Ros. It’s called “Gobbledigook” and it includes several sections where the words are just la-la-la. I just couldn’t help myself, I was singing along almost as soon as I heard the piece. We’re also playing “Henry Lee,” an older duet from Nick Cave and PJ Harvey. It also has la-la-las, but in this case they’re a bit sinister – not quite serial killer crazy, but I’d be watching my back.




All this got me thinking about why there are times when we leave the words behind in a song and just go for some nonsense syllables. Sure, it makes it easier to sing along, but there seems to be a barrier where words have to stop, so the stronger emotions can take over. In “Death By Ninja (A Love Song),” Woodpigeon tell us about all the horrible ways they can kill (metaphorically speaking), so they can move in on the object of their desire. But then the words disappear and we get a strange chorus of la-la-las as the courtship ensues. Veda Hille uses ah’s in “Book of Saints,” Born Ruffians try La-da-da in “Red, Yellow and Blue” and Jorane, well, she goes for something closer to “oh” in most of her vocalizing for the soundtrack to Je n’aime que toi.

I am more of a composer, than a songwriter, so I do have a habit of getting carried away with the notes and not always catching the words. I have to admit that I thought the Destroyer song we have on Saturday night was “Introducing Ninjas,” when it’s really “Introducing Angels” – big difference, even if some Angels have a habit of fighting.

It’s a real challenge for anyone combining music and words. At times you want to appeal to the higher brain functions with slick word combinations. I like how Timber Timbre uses references to classic songs like “Twist and Shout” to pull all kinds of memories and emotions out of us – just by repeating a simple phrase that’s so well known. Owen Underhill brings together words from over a millenium’s worth of writers in his “World of Light.” But then he uses the orchestra to create sound visions based on those ideas. I don’t know if we should consider that a lower brain function, but the more powerful emotions seem to grow out of a place where the best we can do is sing is la-la-la.