The band was originally formed in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1990 by friends Merritt and (percussionist/pianist/vocalist) Claudia Gonson. While 1991's Distant Plastic Trees and 1992's The Wayward Bus (now most easily available together as a compilation, The Wayward Bus / Distant Plastic Trees) are sung by Susan Anway (b. 1951 - d. 2021), all subsequent albums are principally sung by Merritt himself.
Longtime members include: Gonson, (cellist) Sam Davol, and (banjo player/guitarist) John Woo. Contributors include (but are not limited to) the singers Susan Anway, Dudley Klute, Shirley Simms, and LD Beghtol, and the accordionist/writer Daniel Handler (famous for writing the childrens' books A Series of Unfortunate Events under the alias Lemony Snicket).
Their most popular and best-selling album to date is 69 Love Songs issued on Merge Records as a triple album filled with many fairly short songs that are reminiscent of early Beatles productions.
The album is notable for its employment of many unorthodox musical arrangements and downright impressive quantity of material presented. Instruments used on this album include the ukulele, banjo, accordion, cello, mandolin, piano, flute, xylophone guitars, various percussion instruments, and a standard setup of synths and effects. It features several guest vocalists on several different tracks. The album is a three CD set, released in the US as three separate albums (also available as a boxed set) and in the UK as a triple album.
The album i (2004, Nonesuch Records) continues Merritt's fixation on the concept album, with each of the 14 songs beginning with the letter (and often the pronoun) "I".
The album Distortion, was released through Nonesuch on the 15th January 2008 and introduced noise pop to the array of styles utilized in their music. The album's release was followed by a sold-out U.S. tour starting in February. Additional albums followed in 2010, 2012, 2017, and 2020.
Stephin Merritt is involved in several other musical projects: The 6ths (featuring different guest performers on every track), The Gothic Archies (songs dealing humorously with dark themes) and Future Bible Heroes (with music written by Chris Ewen)
http://www.houseoftomorrow.com/
Love Is Like Jazz
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Really know the song but you don't and you never will so you flaunt your
Mistakes and you make them until they were you Love is like jazz the same
Song a million times in different ways "Strange Fruit" with and without
Wind chimes It's divine It's asinine It's depressing and it's almost
Entirely window dressing but it'll do
The Magnetic Fields's song Love Is Like Jazz is a poetic representation of love, comparing it to the improvisational nature of jazz music. The lyrics suggest that love is something that cannot be fully understood, but it can be enjoyed and experimented with. The lines "you make it up as you go along" and "you act as if you really know the song but you don't and you never will" capture the uncertainty and ambiguity that often come with love.
The lyrics go on to describe how love can be played in different ways, like a song that can be performed a million times with varying arrangements. The reference to "Strange Fruit" with and without wind chimes suggests that love can be made in different ways, sometimes beautiful and sometimes painful. The lyrics also acknowledge that love can be both divine and asinine, depressing and yet still appealing.
Overall, the song portrays love as an unpredictable adventure, one that requires us to embrace our imperfections and try new things. Love cannot be fully understood, but it is nevertheless something worth experiencing.
Line by Line Meaning
Love is like jazz
Love is a complex and improvisational experience similar to the genre of music known as jazz.
You make it up as you go along and you act as if you Really know the song but you don't and you never will
In the midst of love, you can't predict what comes next, you just pretend to know. But in reality, you will never truly understand the intricacies of love.
So you flaunt your Mistakes and you make them until they were you
Mistakes are an inevitable part of love and defining experiences that help shape you and reinforce your identity.
Love is like jazz the same Song a million times in different ways
Love is similar to jazz in that the same basic elements and emotions are repeated in countless variations and interpretations, making each experience distinct and unique.
"Strange Fruit" with and without Wind chimes
Love can take on many different tones and moods, from haunting to delicate, aggressive to gentle, and may be accompanied by a variety of embellishments as in the song "Strange Fruit."
It's divine It's asinine It's depressing and it's almost Entirely window dressing but it'll do
Love may elicit a range of sentiments, from heavenly to ridiculous, emotional to numbing, and be perceived as superficial but is accepted and persists regardless.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Stephin Raymond Merritt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind