What
is the context?
Alex
Turner is the lead singer of the fast-selling UK band, the Arctic Monkeys as
well as being involved in numerous individual projects. In 2011, the song “Stuck on the Puzzle” was
released as part of a soundtrack for the movie Submarine, an independent film in which the protagonist deals with
both his and his mother’s love life. Turner was asked to create an exclusive
soundtrack for the film by his close friend and director of the movie. Turner’s
music primarily focuses on love and its subsequent effects. “Stuck on the
Puzzle” is perhaps the most popular song on the soundtrack. Turner has never
performed the soundtrack live and it is one of his lesser-known works. This
song is a step away form Turner’s usual style in the Arctic Monkeys. The
majority of his music is angrier and maybe even venomous. However, this song is
gentler and softer. Four out of the five songs on the soundtrack are acoustic;
meaning the only instrument in them is a simple guitar. This is far different
then Turner’s usual songs full of heavy drums and heady beats. “Stuck on the
Puzzle” is a truly memorable quasi love song that both captures and
differentiates the essence of Turner’s usual work.
What
is the artist communicating? How?
“Stuck
on the Puzzle” is the story of a boy completely enamored by his love for a girl
with great “magnetism”. Throughout the song, the male speaker is trying to
figure out the girl and is “stuck on the puzzle” that is her very being. One
theme communicated by Turner in the song is admiration. The male speaker is
constantly wondering just what makes this girl different. Another theme Turner
addresses is loneliness. The male speaker of the song is simply watching the
girl from afar. It is almost as if he knows his place and understands that he
will never be lucky enough to be loved by the girl. The simple beat playing in
the background of the song is reminiscent of a beating heart further showing
the speaker’s deep admiration and unwavering love for the girl he so admires.
Moreover, Turner’s soothingly single voice over the track emphasizes the loneliness
the boy struggles with and his feelings for a girl that will simply always be
out of reach. Furthermore, the slow rhythm of the song evokes feelings of serenity
while the lyrics contrast this with a tone of deep yearning.
Why
do you find it beautiful?
I
first heard this song in the movie Submarine
and was immediately struck by its uniqueness. The rhythm throughout the song is
soothing and slow but the lyrics stand out. When listening to a song, the first
thing I notice while listening to a song are the types of words used in the
lyrics. Turner’s interesting use of words such as “magnetism” and “puzzle”
appealed to me in a different way. “Stuck on the Puzzle” is my favorite song
and has been since I first heard it, which is quite a unique situation. My
music taste changes every week and I usually end up mildly disliking my once
favorite songs. I think the reason that “Stuck on the Puzzle” has remained my
favorite song for over a year is due to its lyrics. The song is beautiful
because it calls to my inner feelings. In four minutes, Turner is able to
create a story of yearning, loneliness, and admiration and there is definite
genius in that. In order for a song to be beautiful, it must mean something and
every time I listen to “Stuck on the Puzzle” I find different meaning in it.
The song caters to my moodiness or evokes sweet dreams of love. Simply put,
“Stuck on the Puzzle” is absolutely beautiful.
Until you introduced me to this song a couple weeks ago and said I had to listen to it, I had never heard of this track before. Considering the beauty of the song, it is difficult to believe that it is one of Alex Turner's lesser known songs. To me, the song evokes a calming feeling and I was especially compelled by the chorus, in which he states,
ReplyDelete"Fingers dimming the lights
Like you're used to being told that you're trouble
And I spent all night
Stuck on the puzzle".
Just as you said, I also have found different meanings in the song each time I listen to it. For example, after playing it a few more times, the song no longer felt particularly calming, but more depressing and pensive instead, but it still reflected beauty as much as ever because of these emotions he is portraying. Turner's vocals on the track are stellar and emit a raw sense of loneliness. I was extremely intrigued with your commentary on the song, well done Syeda!! :)
I hope it’s okay that I give my interpretation of the song, as it leads into the reason (or the main one at least) that I love this song...
ReplyDeleteI think the first verse is him describing himself and his ability to commit to a person. He’s setting up the story from the first verse by saying that he is not a romantic by default and that this is a personal choice, but she took him by surprise and for a moment he saw the possibility of another life path. She was something so unexpected that he momentarily saw things differently.
He’s saying that something about her intrigued him, he looked a little deeper and took a little more time than the other people, who left because somethings about her bothered them.
She intrigued him because she was so different and he wanted to understand her, she was a puzzle that spoke to him and he wanted to know why and what it was that drew him to her to the point that he saw things differently even if only for a second.
He is watching her, her beauty and energy is magnetic but he is intrigued by what cannot be seen, the essence of her that is misunderstood, but is the very thing that he finds beautiful and puzzling. He is rational and observant and he likes to i understand things in a sensical way and as he watched her it’s as if the more he sees and discovers the more puzzling she becomes.
He sees that she’s broken and that people tend to walk away because she is different, her uniqueness is somehow threatening to people. He can see that she is aware of what people think of her and that these thoughts and assumptions are usually negative.
And the man to who she surrendered, was a man who didnt actually see her and never would, as he didn’t drop the the hand who he was actually with, she was just a pretty girl and would be fun for the night.
He wants to know about the man because a part of him wishes it were him, but he is unable to change who he is despite his feelings for her.
And even though he held himself back, it was too late, because she would forever remain in his heart and he would always wonder about how she came to be the person that she was. So he’s caught between rationality and emotions and unanswered questions, but he knows he’ll never get the answers because he doesn’t believe in relationships, so he will continue being unromantic and alone/single