Reflection on Geroge Micheal’s “Careless whisper.”
Low pitched beats slowly accompanying the low toned male voice sends a cold feeling in the air. The weary, tired and shallow voice brings a clear sense of the pain he is going through. The song begins in kind words of comfort of a good friend, but the confronting low tone of the singer’s voice and the singer’s deflecting words creates an irregular tone that emulates the singer’s fear and sadness. The names, ‘There’s no comfort in the truth, Pain is all you’ll find’ (Micheal 5-6), confirms the doubt of the fear and pain behind the low tone. It creates a scene of a good romantic relationship that is being destroyed by the hidden truths. The unsure natures of the changing tone and unwinding lyrics create a scene of a dramatic relationship. As the low tone continues, the fears grow bigger as the tone continues to fall – I feel so unsure, and all is sad goodbyes (8-13). The rising tone of the singer’s sharp voice rises sharply – I’m never gonna dance again- (14) contemplates the idea of heartbreak and pain. The low tone with low guitar and sharp piano beats in the background creates a sad atmosphere as words of remorse echo in the air- So I’m never gonna dance again, The way I danced with you- (20-21). The remorse creates a picture of the man alone on the dance floor, where they once danced together. The sharply increasing tone depicts anger and pain – Pain is all you’ll find- (27). These words confirm the lonely soul’s pain and sadness as he reveals the truth that his unfaithfulness led his lover to go. He says in a low tone, – I should have known better than to cheat a friend- (34). Towards the end of the song, the tone is irregular, and his repeated words emphasize the reason for his pain – Now that you’re gone; Now that you’re gone; Now that you’re gone- (60-63). The story finally concludes that the man cheated on his wife, but the truth surely came up, and he lost his love. The loneliness, remorse and regrets reveal his sadness as he sings in a weak and emotional voice.
The song seemed boring at first; the irregular beats and low toned male voice sounded boring and unpleasant to listen to. I listened curiously as I waited to get more information from the music itself. The tone of the male voice and the lyrics created a string of confusing moments of his love life. At first, in lines 8-9, I was confused because I didn’t understand why he lived in fear. However, as the song continues, he mentions that he was pretentious and unfaithfulness. At this moment, I understood his fear. At this point, I realized why his lover was leaving him alone in pain. He explains his unfaithful ambitions and how he underestimated her ability to understand what was going on. I felt sorry for his lover because he was unfaithful to her. But his sadness and the anger and pain in his voice as he continues to regret made me feel and understand his pain too. As he stands on the dance floor, he cannot dance; he even notices that the music was too loud to dance to. As I listen to the song ended, the irregular tone and the dying beats, I surely understood that although he realizes that cheating on his lover was wrong, it is too late because she is already gone. I learned that being pretentious and unfaithful is not the right course for any relationship. It leads to heartbreaks, pain, loneliness and sadness.
Works cited
Micheal, George. “Careless whisper.” 1984. London: Sarm west studios. https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/32868688/George+Michael/Careless+Whisper