The more i hear of TM, the more I want to place him in with Sondhiem - If "Beauty" isn't a real nice compliment to "Send In the Clowns" I don't know what is - Perhaps he is the next great musical composer to step up and more power to him for that.
This song can be perceived in so many different ways, from unhappy love, to the fact that beauty (visual beauty) seems to come the easiest for arseholes and bastards, to what it seems like it's really about, which many people in the comment field have already covered. This is yet another proof that Tim Minchin can not only write the most cutting satire, but also the most beautiful ballades.
tempted to write something very, very beautiful musically, he manages to carefully sidestep the pitfall which would compromise his chosen mission to amuse with up-beat satire and brilliant word-smithing, by indeed composing the prettiest and lilting, tissue issue of a song by accompanying it with lyrics which totally refute the very nature of the piece... and what does he achieve? All the emotions conjured from the listeners’ heart strings which are tugged
mercilessly by the melodic chords and soulful rendition, climaxing excruciatingly with “Beauty is a harlot; she will lie with any two-bit artist...” But, again, ironically, not just any two-bit artist could write something so beautiful...
Tim, it’s just as well you are not here to pander to souls, or toy with defenceless hearts, for I would have taken the bait, hook, line and sinker... and that’s just not dignified at my age!
And Portsmouth is still an island, last time I looked :D
@n20011892 The words are beautiful as they are! They mean different things to different people and to me its a very meaningful song in a lot of ways. I heard it at the Royal Albert Hall too and it was for me the highlight of the show, it left me stunned, more perfect as a song then most I've ever heard. The man's true musician as well as comic.
@n20011892 I think if the words were different it 'wouldn't' make me cry. As an artist, this is refreshing on every level. It is only slightly ironic I think; not about money or fame, but about the desire to reach farther creatively than what conventional and popular creators are satisfied with. Harmonically advanced, the melody uses difficult-to-sing suspensions and intervals, and the fact that it walks on the edge of tonality and what drives a melody (rather than a motif) is the real point.
@TheMoritati As a Music Student I agree that this song is incredibly refreshing. To me it does feel like it's about striving artistically. However I wouldn't read too much into the harmonic content. To me it feels like the poetry is as important as the setting in this case. And I don't agree that you can say this song walks on the 'edge of tonality' by any means.
@WhatADisasterpiece Yes,you are right. As far as the pop music world is concerned though, this might actually seem pretty out there tonally. I was saying that with the layperson (i.e. most people) in mind, not for, say, someone who has played Liszt or Ravel, let alone Schoenberg or Berio.
Because he says "it is a song about songs" and "it's a bit meta", I think that this is about how Tim sees writing cliched, vacuous but beautiful popular music as an "easy lay for lazy artists".
I think he is explaining why he always tries to be unconventional and edgy in his writing, even though he could likely gain more money and fame if he wrote simple songs with no real depth or intelligence to them, like many popular radio hits.
@L42yB i would definitelly agree to your opinion, just i always though of this song as being in itself ironic- he says he won't let beauty set foot on the stage, yet, everything he does is no less that pure beauty, unconventional- yes, but still beauty.. very well including this song..
@Sheytana13 Yes, I agree. There is a wonderful irony to this song. Pretty much everything about Tim seems ironic to me, from his smart clothes and bare feet to his over the top rock n roll image. I think it's a theme of his ;)
@L42yB I cried. I heard this live in Sydney, was silent in the opera house. The complexity of "words"..the layers of metaphor.....pure beauty..sorry..i just can't find the right words, anyway, I cried.
“When love and skill work together, expect a materpiece.”
I love the powerful Irony in this song!
SigiKlar 2 weeks ago 2
Goosebumps.
DIML94 1 month ago 4
At risk of irony, this song really is beautiful.
CharlotteAndRachael 1 month ago 7
The more i hear of TM, the more I want to place him in with Sondhiem - If "Beauty" isn't a real nice compliment to "Send In the Clowns" I don't know what is - Perhaps he is the next great musical composer to step up and more power to him for that.
kintz78 1 month ago 3
Oh Gods, I was completely poker faced and then the end came and I cried TT_TT
Vamp61616 2 months ago 4
If you look deeply enough, everything is about cheese...eventually. Haha Love Tim Minchin and all his songs :D <3
SurrenderMonkey20 2 months ago 7
I pray every night that Tim will sing this when I see him live in February :)
pacachomp9 2 months ago
This song can be perceived in so many different ways, from unhappy love, to the fact that beauty (visual beauty) seems to come the easiest for arseholes and bastards, to what it seems like it's really about, which many people in the comment field have already covered. This is yet another proof that Tim Minchin can not only write the most cutting satire, but also the most beautiful ballades.
lovetohate12 3 months ago 4
Dear Casper & Violet,
your dad's virtue & ability of self mockery has killed so many...
stay beautiful
aunt
simplerachel11 4 months ago 7
best human on earth..
simplerachel11 4 months ago 5
Wow. Just... wow.
danib81 5 months ago 12
This one made me cry. It would be so easy to discount this man's immense talent by writing him off as "just a comedian". He is so much more.
faeriefirefly917 5 months ago 4
This is an exquisite example of Tim’s genius and irony...
goldenfinni 5 months ago 5
tempted to write something very, very beautiful musically, he manages to carefully sidestep the pitfall which would compromise his chosen mission to amuse with up-beat satire and brilliant word-smithing, by indeed composing the prettiest and lilting, tissue issue of a song by accompanying it with lyrics which totally refute the very nature of the piece... and what does he achieve? All the emotions conjured from the listeners’ heart strings which are tugged
goldenfinni 5 months ago 5
mercilessly by the melodic chords and soulful rendition, climaxing excruciatingly with “Beauty is a harlot; she will lie with any two-bit artist...” But, again, ironically, not just any two-bit artist could write something so beautiful...
Tim, it’s just as well you are not here to pander to souls, or toy with defenceless hearts, for I would have taken the bait, hook, line and sinker... and that’s just not dignified at my age!
And Portsmouth is still an island, last time I looked :D
goldenfinni 5 months ago 6
This song is beautiful. I heard it for the first time live at the Royal Albert Hall and you could heard a pin drop. It was just gobsmacking.
Yes I get the irony and it makes me smile but if the words were different it would make you cry.
That is why I love Tim Minchin.
n20011892 6 months ago 36
@n20011892 The words are beautiful as they are! They mean different things to different people and to me its a very meaningful song in a lot of ways. I heard it at the Royal Albert Hall too and it was for me the highlight of the show, it left me stunned, more perfect as a song then most I've ever heard. The man's true musician as well as comic.
MuffinWithAnAxe 5 months ago 4
@n20011892 I think if the words were different it 'wouldn't' make me cry. As an artist, this is refreshing on every level. It is only slightly ironic I think; not about money or fame, but about the desire to reach farther creatively than what conventional and popular creators are satisfied with. Harmonically advanced, the melody uses difficult-to-sing suspensions and intervals, and the fact that it walks on the edge of tonality and what drives a melody (rather than a motif) is the real point.
TheMoritati 4 months ago 5
@TheMoritati As a Music Student I agree that this song is incredibly refreshing. To me it does feel like it's about striving artistically. However I wouldn't read too much into the harmonic content. To me it feels like the poetry is as important as the setting in this case. And I don't agree that you can say this song walks on the 'edge of tonality' by any means.
WhatADisasterpiece 2 months ago 2
@WhatADisasterpiece Yes,you are right. As far as the pop music world is concerned though, this might actually seem pretty out there tonally. I was saying that with the layperson (i.e. most people) in mind, not for, say, someone who has played Liszt or Ravel, let alone Schoenberg or Berio.
TheMoritati 2 months ago 3
@n20011892 "If the words were different..."? It makes me cry as it is...
Vamp61616 1 month ago in playlist Favorite videos
Thank you sooo much for posting this!! Been searching for it on here for aages! Love it so much
hanpantay 7 months ago 2
Because he says "it is a song about songs" and "it's a bit meta", I think that this is about how Tim sees writing cliched, vacuous but beautiful popular music as an "easy lay for lazy artists".
I think he is explaining why he always tries to be unconventional and edgy in his writing, even though he could likely gain more money and fame if he wrote simple songs with no real depth or intelligence to them, like many popular radio hits.
Anyone else have a different view on this?
L42yB 7 months ago 32
@L42yB i would definitelly agree to your opinion, just i always though of this song as being in itself ironic- he says he won't let beauty set foot on the stage, yet, everything he does is no less that pure beauty, unconventional- yes, but still beauty.. very well including this song..
Sheytana13 7 months ago 26
@Sheytana13 Yes, I agree. There is a wonderful irony to this song. Pretty much everything about Tim seems ironic to me, from his smart clothes and bare feet to his over the top rock n roll image. I think it's a theme of his ;)
L42yB 7 months ago 15
@L42yB oh yes! very true indeed.. And that's why he is the most wonderful performer there is :)
Sheytana13 7 months ago 6
@Sheytana13 I believe the song's supposed to be ironic about itself because the tune is BEAUTIFUL. Though I can also understand your point. :)
BladeSatoshiX 6 months ago
@L42yB I cried. I heard this live in Sydney, was silent in the opera house. The complexity of "words"..the layers of metaphor.....pure beauty..sorry..i just can't find the right words, anyway, I cried.
“When love and skill work together, expect a materpiece.”
― John Ruskin
simplepianist11 2 months ago 4
tarr so much for putting dis up one of his songs dat require tissues and emo thinking
hyperbeanify 7 months ago