This song, "Sylvia Plath," is off of Ryan Adams' album Gold. What are your thoughts? As readers of Sylvia Plath, do you think he gets the image of "a Sylvia Plath" right? Do you like or dislike the song?
I enjoyed the song and I think that he picked up on some of the key scenes from "The Bell Jar." However, it seems to me that the song misses the pain that is a key part of both Sylvia Plath's and Esther (who seems to be a reflection of Plath herself)'s pain. The Sylvia Plath referenced in this song seems to be free and blithe in a way while the Plath who's book we have been reading. While the singer did mention her suicide attempts saying "Maybe she'd slip me a pill" he did not touch upon the internal anguish that led her to suicide.
I love the song musically, and although I do think the lyrics make Sylvia's life seem carefree (lacking the sadness/pain like Becca said), I think the painful undertone comes from the instruments, especially at the beginning of the song.
I do think that the song does show how Sylvia lived her life. Although this would not be a song that I would go buy on iTunes, it is a well written song with a good tune. It does have lyrics that describe Sylvia in some ways, like how the singer references her suicide attempts with the pill. In the end, I have to agree with Becca that it shows some of the important parts of "The Bell Jar", but does seem to be missing some of the pain that Sylvia and Ester experienced.
I agree with all of you that the song is missing a bit of pain. However, it seems to me that the song isn't written from Esther/Sylvia's point of view. He talks about how he "wishes he had a Sylvia Plath," so I think the song is looking more from the outside in. It seems like the character in the song is in love with the Esther/Sylvia character and wants to be with her despite her depression. So I think he kind of romanticized Esther and her issues for the song.
I enjoyed the song and I think that he picked up on some of the key scenes from "The Bell Jar." However, it seems to me that the song misses the pain that is a key part of both Sylvia Plath's and Esther (who seems to be a reflection of Plath herself)'s pain. The Sylvia Plath referenced in this song seems to be free and blithe in a way while the Plath who's book we have been reading. While the singer did mention her suicide attempts saying "Maybe she'd slip me a pill" he did not touch upon the internal anguish that led her to suicide.
ReplyDeleteI love the song musically, and although I do think the lyrics make Sylvia's life seem carefree (lacking the sadness/pain like Becca said), I think the painful undertone comes from the instruments, especially at the beginning of the song.
ReplyDeleteI do think that the song does show how Sylvia lived her life. Although this would not be a song that I would go buy on iTunes, it is a well written song with a good tune. It does have lyrics that describe Sylvia in some ways, like how the singer references her suicide attempts with the pill. In the end, I have to agree with Becca that it shows some of the important parts of "The Bell Jar", but does seem to be missing some of the pain that Sylvia and Ester experienced.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of you that the song is missing a bit of pain. However, it seems to me that the song isn't written from Esther/Sylvia's point of view. He talks about how he "wishes he had a Sylvia Plath," so I think the song is looking more from the outside in. It seems like the character in the song is in love with the Esther/Sylvia character and wants to be with her despite her depression. So I think he kind of romanticized Esther and her issues for the song.
ReplyDelete