i know regina has said her songs aren't autobiographical. so why is it that upon listening to "making records," it seriously feels like i accidentally got a glimpse of a day in the life of regina spektor? i also see a lot of regina in "8th floor" and of course "rockland county." as much as i love all the characters she creates in her songs (see "come into my world" thread, haha), it's also cool to see when reg puts herself into the songs a bit more. so my question to you: in which do you feel you see the most of regina herself? discuss.

yeah, she creates fiction, wonderful fiction. but whether she does it on purpose or not, her life is a part of her music. The lives and experiences of any artist of any kind are bound to sneak their way into the art.

I, too, definitely think Rockland County is the most obvious one.

Also, someone said to me once that One More Time With Feeling might could be a story/metaphor about her surprising and rising status. And when I listened to it after that conversation, I could definitely see it.

But as Regina intends it, we should all take the art our own way and make it our own, rather than one universal meaning.

quote:

Originally posted by rawin:
yeah, she creates fiction, wonderful fiction. but whether she does it on purpose or not, her life is a part of her music. The lives and experiences of any artist of any kind are bound to sneak their way into the art.

I, too, definitely think Rockland County is the most obvious one.

Also, someone said to me once that One More Time With Feeling might could be a story/metaphor about her surprising and rising status. And when I listened to it after that conversation, I could definitely see it.

But as Regina intends it, we should all take the art our own way and make it our own, rather than one universal meaning.

I've always thought that about One More Time with Feeling

Yeh when I heard making records I also thought that straight away.

It is impossible to write a song, as fictional as possible, that does not have a part of you in it.

common sense right?

because you, in fact, HAVE WRITTEN IT. which in that case there is no way to have no influence to your life/

The emotion that regina brings via characters and stories are what drives the song.. not the cool name or person. That is what is real, whether mentioning her own life or that of a sailor.

So her 'lyrics' may not be autobiographical, per say, but the songs are.


ya knowwszzz?

not to mention there might be a few actually autobiog. songs she has written. just MOST are fictional

quote:

Originally posted by Stepped On A Syringe:
It is impossible to write a song, as fictional as possible, that does not have a part of you in it.

common sense right?

because you, in fact, HAVE WRITTEN IT. which in that case there is no way to have no influence to your life/

of course. i agree 100%. but in my original post, i meant "autobiographical" in a more literal sense, where her lyrics actually mention her life.

i'd say bear spektor is another good example :P

I do believe that Rockland County & a snippet from That Time are the only things she's confirmed to be based on real events. The rest are veiled behind, as legend tells it*, Regina "writing her music without being very conscious of it".

Though if you care to theorize, some songs are perhaps just too personal/emotional for her speak of (and even play live). Such was speculated when Chemo Limo had not been played live for a VERY, very long time. There were even rumours about it's origin that I won't perpetuate here, but it still isn't played much, which makes one wonder. Perhaps such examples lend more poignancy as to why we should let sleeping songs sing, instead of talk.

Anyway, even if there were simple songs that she could easily 'translate' for those that claim a "NEED TO KNOW" a song meaning - she would never do it. No artist ever should. It would risk alienating those who interpreted something differently, and also open the doors to more personal songs being prodded at.

Alas, speculate away. Just don't speculate anything inappropriate or hurtful. It's art after all, which is the best thing our species has ever put on this earth.

*Regina = Legend

I've always heard a little autobiograpy in Lucky Penny.

Similarly, I think she finds rocks interesing. They come up a lot.
Lucky Penny
Boaboabs
GOCF
and now Woolen Gloves

And why not? Geology is fascinating. Plus, pet rocks are the best. Low maintenence and they never die. And they make a delicious soup.

and they don't slap you when you lick them.

I've always wondered how autobiographical Dusseldorf is...

Half the fun in listening to Regina's music is figuring out which parts are fictional and which parts reflect her and her life, for me anyway I don't know about you guys.

quote:

Originally posted by Crispy Crispy Benjamin Franklin:
I've always wondered how autobiographical Dusseldorf is...

definitely the part about a boy in montpellier who climbed into her bed and knew no boundaries =P

dentistgirl: the flowers also mentions stones! i'm surprised you missed that one because you said something about stone soup as well.

quote:

Originally posted by kandi:
definitely the part about a boy in montpellier who climbed into her bed and knew no boundaries =P

Love that line.