Writing 015

I know it sounds very old fashioned, but I’m yet to find a better sitcom than Seinfeld. I have some friends who complain that the show is confusing and that they don’t get the point of it. However, the brilliance of the show about nothing stems from its simplicity. Seinfeld episodes are often meaningless, revolving around small quirks in real life and social tensions. This is true for most people as well; most viewers don’t have overarching narratives dictating what goes on in their day-to-day lives. Through all of this, the characters came to represent the worst in humanity and somehow still came off as loveable and relatable.

Seinfeld also broke boundaries with its opening music. Almost all major TV shows before and after Seinfeld have a song with words or a lengthy musical piece to start the show. Seinfeld’s theme was a seemingly random assortment of popping sounds There are clear guitar plucks and some piano keys mixed in, giving the piece something of a funky, jazz vibe.

I’m not sure if this is the sound I’ll use for my sound study, but I have some questions about the origins of such a peculiar theme song and the impact it has today. Specifically, I’d like to know who the designer was, what he wanted the theme to achieve from the outset, and why he didn’t choose a traditional theme song for the show.  

I also wonder if there’s any scientific explanation for why the sound fits so well with the show and if the technical aspects of the sound, like the spacing between the “pops” and their arrangement, have anything to do with the full auditory experience.

I’d also like to determine how closely people associate the song with the show and if it inspired any shows after Seinfeld to play around with their musical choices.

 

I like to close my eyes as if I’m meditating and gently nod along to the notes of the piano, waiting for John Lennon’s soulful ballad to begin. When it does, I readily accept his simple challenge to the audience—”Imagine.”

My first reactions to “Imagine” largely fall in line with Chion’s description of semantic listening; I immediately try to make sense of what the song means. I don’t normally pay close attention to the lyrics of a song I’ve never heard before, but I remember parsing through the words of “Imagine” when I first heard it. It’s hard not to pay attention to the contrast between the soothing piano introduction and Lennon’s clear voice urging people to think radically. The explicit message and descriptions of a hypothetical world make it easier to soak in the weight of the words. I use Lennon’s ideal as a stepping stone to think about strife and want, in my life and in the world at large. As bold as his lyrics may be, I find it reassuring to consider what our world has the potential to be.

Over time, though,  I’ve gained a greater appreciation for the effect of the music on how I feel when I listen to the song. In particular, the rhythm of the piano and the progression towards Lennon’s high notes put me at peace and build up a sense of hope and positivity within me. In more practical terms, I subconsciously tap my fingers and rock back and forth to the rhythm of the guitar and the drums. This isn’t to say that I ignore Lennon’s words when I listen to the song now. The music is less a distraction and more of a framework for the lyrics and my thoughts.  If anything, I love “Imagine” because it appeals to different parts of me, allowing me to truly experience the song instead of just hearing it.