Stray Italian Greyhound - the Scrapbook lives!

[roofboy179]

Any idea what the latin is between the second and third verses?
mmm ~smiles~ Or what the significance may be.....

This piece is cinematic, a landscape in itself.

There's latin in there? Where?

[TaliaMuse]

Sorry about my mistake there!!!

Stray Italian Greyhound struck me as a metaphor from the beginning, but I didn't feel like it was what most might consider the "obvious" metaphor - a relationship song, where one is too stubborn to be in a relationship and just when they are ready to consider life to be a steady gray, this burst of color arrives and the walls come down. (not meaning to reference other songs lol)

I liked the dog interpretation, the stray that changes your life, but I also had a hard time believing it was actually ABOUT that as opposed to alluding to it in terms of another metaphor, a deeper, truer layer. I just couldn't figure it out.

I have to say, the day before I arrived home (the day the album arrived in the mail!), I found a small stray west highland white terrier, no collar, no tags, no microchip... huge scratches on his precious little head, large scab on his belly, healing, and favoring his back left leg, where the lesion on his belly was. Sweet as heck, potty trained, and the best little passenger, I drove home with him in my lap, wondering what the hell I was doing. I knew if one of my beloved dogs were to escape without a collar and tags somehow, I would search night and day... I would be heart broken. But I also know that I would rather someone take them in and give them or find them a good home, off the street, where they are safe rather than hungry, cold, lost, in danger of being hit by a car, getting in fights with other animals, getting diseases, ... anything. This perspective terrified me and I resolved to getting my beautiful girls microchipped this summer when I'm home, (though it turns out that scanners are not universal? What is up with that raging intelligence?) Anyhow, I found a home for the little one, now known as Rudy, and was surprised by how hard it was to give him up. I couldn't have another dog - I have 2 coonhounds, both shelter rescues, one 3 year old angel and one 1 year old hellion, adopted this past summer. I adore their sweet faces, their loving personalities, their enthusiasm, intelligence, and grace... but I'm still at college. My mother recently had her leg amputated... it just doesn't make sense to have a 3rd dog right now. *laughs* I also have a cat I rescued that lives in another city because my dad is deathly allergic to cats! Basically, between them and the chinchilla, (Menagerie!) yeah, keeping Rudy wasn't an option. That's why I didn't pick that name, my neighbor did. We called him everything from Winston to Simon to McGiver, (ahem, I even heard Fluffy? lol). Now that he has a home, a woman who needed him, it seems, I think everything has worked out for the best... but man, did I identify with this song in a literal sense this weekend... Rudy was the perfect little low maintenance, sweetheart dog to bring into any small dog person's life. Mr. Right.

Then I found the promotion video for Inland Territory - turns out this song is actually about Obama! Hope for the future of our country, even our world, through politics, no matter how set you are on being glum or pessimistic... suddenly there is this hopefulness... that cannot be denied. Vienna certainly captures that... and it was a relief to have the metaphor make a little more sense.... with something that really FITS. I love the layers and integrity to her sense of musicality. What do you all think?

[murlough23]

Wow. If it's really about Obama, then I'm glad it's hidden deep in the layers and metaphors. Not because I dislike Obama or anything (I voted for him), but because I'd want the song to still be meaningful in 2017.

[tanthalas]

Wow. If it's really about Obama, then I'm glad it's hidden deep in the layers and metaphors. Not because I dislike Obama or anything (I voted for him), but because I'd want the song to still be meaningful in 2017.

It may be written about Obama but that shouldn't restrict other interpretations. Almost all of Vienna's songs have some form of "original meaning" but they typically evolve over time into many different things.

For example, even though I knew this song was about Obama from the start, to me it's about being jaded/cynical about relationships and the L word, but here comes along this perfect girl who still manages to get to you.

[murlough23]

It may be written about Obama but that shouldn't restrict other interpretations. Almost all of Vienna's songs have some form of "original meaning" but they typically evolve over time into many different things.

That makes sense. One thing inspires her to write a song, but as she's writing it, she realizes it's really about something else, or she blurs the interpretation of it on purpose. I once asked her about the two possible meanings of "Between" that I had come up (a love triangle, or a couple growing apart after having a child) with and she told me that she had both interpretations in mind when writing the song and left it purposefully ambiguous. Or something like that.

For example, even though I knew this song was about Obama from the start, to me it's about being jaded/cynical about relationships and the L word, but here comes along this perfect girl who still manages to get to you.

So then it's the opposite of "Unwritten Letter #1". Girl meets girl, girl is of the right sexual orientation!

[Fred]

Wow. If it's really about Obama, then I'm glad it's hidden deep in the layers and metaphors. Not because I dislike Obama or anything (I voted for him), but because I'd want the song to still be meaningful in 2017.

She mentioned the Obama connection in her show Friday.

[abfdrumz]

Favorite song on the new album so far: so melodic, and so dynamic, between the delicate verse and the big stringy chorus and then that adorable bridge. Now that's how you write a monster pop song...or at least, one of the better ways to go about it.

Lyrically, it reminds me a bit of roughly every third or fourth Imogen Heap song with respect to being emotionally in way over one's head, to the point that it's both exhilarating and scary as hell. (Imogen's canonical example to date being "The Walk": lyrics at http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858546343/)

...which is not to call Vienna derivative in the least, even given that we know she's an Imogen fan.

Can't wait for the Oakland and Santa Cruz shows next weekend!

[TaliaMuse]

The way Obama is making history I don't think you have to worry about it having meaning in 2017... or 2109.

People will be celebrating for a long time, I hope. Celebrating Diversity, celebrating unity through our differences.

But meanings do change over time, for whoever takes the time to absorb and re-absorb, for any song that stays with you for more than a single period of your life. Any of these songs have that potential for anyone who has anything they are passionate enough to think about, or even have a glimmer of recognition for something subconscious. Though music may be "accessible" to musicians in a special way, Music is universal. There is a power within the chords Vienna writes and sings about (I always love her references and analogies to music) that move the human soul. Given a tiny space to bloom, there will be wildflowers.

And some meanings can sometimes be the last thing we expect to unfold...

[murlough23]

The way Obama is making history I don't think you have to worry about it having meaning in 2017... or 2109.

Perhaps not, but if I heard a really good song from the 60's and it turned out to be a veiled hero worship song about John F. Kennedy, I'd be a little disappointed. Wouldn't change what the song meant to me, but I don't know, I'm just not a big fan of songs that gush about politicians.

[TaliaMuse]

mmm.

If I found out a song was a veiled ...um, tribute? with many potential meanings, but inspired by John F. Kennedy, I think it might give me a sense of history.

Things that mark the passage of time, in a way, carry with them a sense of timelessness.

I know I undervalue politics, but there is still gratitude for the gifts we've been given.

There is a Freedom From (oppression, free speech, pursuit of happiness, etc. etc.) which our country "tries to protect," (or says so)

and then there is a Freedom For - a chance to do what is right, because of what is right within us, the unbridled freedom to choose abundance because of the essence of Life within that choice.

I guess if I feel disappointed about something, its because of my own preferences, or because I choose not to find the beauty in it. Sometimes its hard to find beauty, with or without retrospect. I find it refreshing that "Stray Italian Greyhound" isn't another traditional love song. on the contrary, it is non traditional, musically, and in its inspiration, and its not so obvious that you're going, "what?" Our government has its downfalls. Well sure, but the song even acknowledges that. Clever.

How about this - what do YOU want the song to be about? *grins*

Not trying to be preachy. Its late and ya'll got me thinkin, is all

and then I do have the natural propensity to talk myself in circles

Peace, empathy, beautiful harmony and a lovely night to all...

[murlough23]

Sheesh. I got it the first time. I didn't need a dissertation.

[TaliaMuse]

Like I said, just thinkin' - please don't take it personally!
Probably talking more about myself than anything.

There's a lot of upbeat music on this album, but this one seems to be the most hopeful of the upbeat ones... makes me want to dance!