The “Spotlight” Aesthetic
The most affective musical art is present in simplistic instrumentation, such as the acoustic guitar or a minimal beat. A song that is unadorned with excessive technological manipulations in a studio or unnecessary elements of composition is the purest form of musical art. Many of the most famous, top-rated songs of all time use the “spotlight” aesthetic, focusing on the artist’s natural talent alone, not gratuitous embellishments. In this way, the art of what is being done or achieved in the song is made evident in a clear way. Excessive instrumentation and production can be distracting and detract from the purpose of the music. The “spotlight” aesthetic is often present in songs that are written by the artists or groups themselves, and are sung with the emotion felt at the time of composition.
The “spotlight” aesthetic is demonstrated in many genres of music. I have found that it is particularly impactful in hip-hop and R&B as well as indie/alternative music. “Killing Me Softly” by The Fugees (1995), is a cover of “Killing Me Softly with His Song”, originally by Lori Lieberman. In 2008, The Fugees’ version earned the 25th spot on VH1’s !00 Greatest Songs of Hip-Hop and the 44th spot on VH1’s 100 Greatest Songs of the 90s. The simple backbeat of “Killing Me Softly” allows Lauryn Hill’s vocals to shatter the original and every other version of the song to the point where most people are unaware that it is not an original song by The Fugees. “Killing Me Softly” is a perfect example of the “spotlight” aesthetic because it was one of the first instances in which critics and audiences were exposed to Lauryn Hill’s role as singer, not rapper. Her somewhat hidden talent was used in this song to evoke its metaphorical quality. The vocal triumph of Lauryn Hill on The Fugees’ only album, “The Score”, translated to a successful solo album, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill”, which earned ten Grammy nominations and five wins. Hill’s success with The Fugees and as a solo artist is largely due to the fact that her musical art spotlights her natural vocal talent. Personally, I have always been able to relate to music that displays the “spotlight” aesthetic because music does not require complicated themes or instrumentation to be powerful and meaningful.
From the indie/alternative scene, two fascinating examples of the “spotlight” aesthetic are “I Will Follow You into the Dark” by Death Cab for Cutie and “Naked as We Came” by Iron & Wine. Both songs feature the lead singer backed by only an acoustic guitar. The quiet melodies of each song provide a more intimate atmosphere, a characteristic of the “spotlight” aesthetic, for the listener to explore the lyrics as they are lightly sung above the gentle plucking of the guitar. Both songs have been used in numerous movie soundtracks and television shows, demonstrating their mass appeal. Released on Death Cab for Cutie’s “Plans” in 2005, “I Will Follow You into the Dark” was hailed by Pitchfork Media as the album’s “quiet centerpiece” and praised for its “unexpected turns of phrase”. Both Death Cab for Cutie and Iron & Wine have used the “spotlight” aesthetic throughout multiple albums. The affect and authenticity present in the “spotlight” aesthetic make it one of the most appealing styles for songwriters to use.
Music that employs the “spotlight” aesthetic gives the listener an art form that is simplistic in nature, yet full of complexities that drive the individual to contemplate and analyze it in a way that would not be possible had other distracting elements been present in the music itself. The “spotlight” aesthetic is a more personal style of recording and performance that offers the raw emotion of the subject matter that influenced the song’s composition. Exposure to music using the “spotlight” aesthetic is important because it leads to reflection on the instrumental elements as they intertwine with the emotive thread of lyrics.
The Fugees—“Killing Me Softly” : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YAEWrnOtrY
Death Cab for Cutie—“I Will Follow You into the Dark” : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rePcHxFJIuU
Iron & Wine—“Naked as We Came”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nd-A-iiPoLg
