Running head: A MUSIC PERSPECTIVE STUDY OF BLINK-182 Stowman !

A Music Perspective Study of blink-182’s, “Adam’s Song”

Carter Stowman
Messiah College

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Introduction

There are a variety of reasons to believe that music plays a major role in every persons
life, but while you may not realize it, music saves lives. As listeners, music provides us with
pleasure and hope when we hear major chords. Music has the power to lift our spirits and
change how we feel. This is something most of us take for granted everyday. On top of making
us feel a certain way, listening to music can be much more than just a leisure-time activity. Many
current artists have been using rhetoric in their music to send certain messages both obviously
and subtly. While not everyone is comfortable engaging in a difficult conversation, a major topic
in recent years has been the effects of mental health issues in both men and women of all ages.
Through a popular song titled Adam’s Song, American rock band blink-182 has provided a song
that helps address one of the biggest mental health problems; depression.

Depression is a condition of mental disturbance. Like many other mental health issues,
more and more cases are revealed every day. Over the years, people of all ages have tended to
look to music for advice or comfort during difficult times, specifically those with mental
conditions. By writing this song, blink-182 addressed a significant and difficult topic through
music and has shed light on the problems faced by many people. By using the real words of
someone suffering from a condition, they were able to bring comfort to family and countless
others who may turn to this music in times of need.

The meaningful artifact created through the composition of Adam’s Song is at the center
of this presentation. Sellnow states that “an artifact is (whether intended by the creator or not)
something that is widely shared by an identifiable group” (Sellnow, 2014, p. 171). The music of
blink-182, and more specifically Adam’s Song clearly meet this criteria based on the sheer
numbers of their regular listeners as well as the overwhelming numbers of those who have turned
to this music for comfort.

The music perspective of rhetoric allows us to communicate with or without lyrics, and at
the same time can send any kind of message. As explained in chapter eight of The Rhetorical
Power of Popular Culture, musical rhetoric “refers to persuasive arguments conveyed through
music that reinforce or challenge a taken-for-granted belief or behavior” (Sellnow, 2014, p. 171).
In this case the problem is mental illnesses and the identifiable group is anyone troubled by, or
suffering from any of those mental illnesses.

I will be examining rhetoric in Adam’s Song, how it was received by the public, and what
differences it made as a result. I plan to look into different studies about the music’s effect on
mental illnesses and, within that, how rhetoric works within that same music. Keeping all of this
in mind, I pose this research question: With mental health issues becoming more prevalent, how
is rhetoric in music helping cast a light on mental illness and how might it provide help to people
suffering from those issues?
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The Artifact

Since blink-182 was a popular band with a lot of listeners at the time of this music’s
release, this song received a great deal of attention. Around since the early 1900s, blink-182 is
still a popular American punk rock band. With their seven studio albums, three video albums,
twenty-two music videos, and additional live performance accomplishments, it is easy to say that
this group is prominent in the musical world.

Adam’s Song is a song written by blink-182 released in 1999. This song was inspired by a
letter the band received from the father whose son committed suicide. The band’s guitarist at the
time was Tom Delonge. He, along with bassist Mark Hoppus, composed the song together after
receiving the letter. The writing resonated with them and they were inspired by some of the
loneliness they themselves felt while playing on tour. While this song was meant to inspire
listeners that were dealing with depression, arguments against the songs surfaced when a student
at Columbine High School committed suicide in 2000 while playing the song on repeat
(Olinger). The song itself was inspired by a letter sent to the band via email. The letter was an
actual suicide note written by a boy named Adam to his parents. The song’s lyrics are actual
quotes from the letter itself.

Analysis

The message intended to be sent throughout this song is inspiration and hope but first we
must listen through the pain and darker times. At first, we hear tragic lyrics which give us a sense
of hopelessness:

“I never thought I'd die alone

I laughed the loudest who'd have known?
I trace the cord back to the wall
No wonder it was never plugged in at all
I took my time, I hurried up
The choice was mine I didn't think enough
I’m too depressed to go on
You’ll be sorry when I'm gone”
(Hoppus & DeLonge, 1999)

These lyrics are obviously more depressed and dark. Phrases like “I never thought I’d die
alone” and “I’m too depressed to go on,” clearly illuminate the person’s state of mind. The
music that accompanies these words supports the text for each section of the song. Along with
these repeating verses, we also hear release patterns. These patterns involve slower tempos and
notes that are held out longer. The melodies also have the tendency to be more melodic and
legato. It will also be noted that during these sections the dynamics and overall feel of the song is
much softer.
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Later in Adam’s Song we are able to experience the chorus which make great use of
comic lyrics. These are words used when the composer wants to send an optimistic message.

“I never conquered, when you came

Tomorrow holds such better days
Days when I can still feel alive
When I can't wait to get outside
The world is wide, the time goes by
The tour is over, I've survived
I can't wait ’til I get home
To pass the time in my room alone”
(Hoppus & DeLonge, 1999)

Unlike the previous verse, this section of lyrics that form the chorus is much more
positive and forward-looking. We can see this where the writer changes the lyrics from “I
couldn’t wait ’til I got home” to “I can’t wait ’til I get home.” The lyrics here change from past
tense to present tense. This subtle yet powerful difference is telling us that nothing bad has
happened yet and that you still have a chance to live your life. When the composer of this song
writes the lyrics, “I couldn’t wait ’til I got home” he was also using poetic illusion, the idea of
looking back at the past, more specifically a resolved past. Building off the same idea, when the
lyrics are changed to “I can’t wait ’til I get home,” the song changes from using poetic illusion to
dramatic illusion, the idea of looking forward to an unpredictable future (Sellnow, 2014, p. 172).

Along with the “comic lyrics” during the chorus of this song, we encounter intensity
patterns or feelings of tension. These tense moments involve an increase in tempo, and shorter
accented notes. The singer also becomes more enthusiastic and excited during these sections and
the dynamics also increase. All of this being said, the paralanguage in this song, the nonverbal
cues that send an emotional message, is what makes this song so successful in sending its
message. A person does not need to be a trained musician to understand the feelings that this
music generates. The change in energy created by the excellent pairing of sound and text allows
the listener to have a musical experience that exceeds the reading of the text alone. This reaction
to music is affirmed in the words of jazz legend Ray Charles who stated “music was never meant
to be heard, it was meant to be felt.”

Adam’s Song is a great example of a song written with congruency and congruent
interaction. Congruent interaction is defined as a song “where the emotional meanings of music
and lyrics reinforce one another, making the argument abundantly clear and poignant” (Sellnow,
2014, p. 176). The opposite of this would be incongruent interaction, a song “where the
emotional meanings of the music and lyrics contradict one another, which tends to alter the
meanings that would have been conveyed via either lyrics or music alone” (Sellnow, 2014, p.
176). Adam’s Song maintains congruent interaction, and congruity in general because throughout
the song comic lyrics are set with intensity patterns, and tragic lyrics are set together with release
patterns.
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Method of Analysis

Music as rhetoric is explained through three key terms: Musical aesthetics, music as
communication, and musical rhetoric (Sellnow, 2014, p. 170-171). However, before we learn
about these a short introduction to the music perspective or rhetoric is necessary. Within the
music perspective, there are different types of symbols and how those symbols function.
Discursive symbols are words and numbers with certain associations. The opposite of that would
be non-discursive symbols which are “all symbols beyond the realm of words and numbers that
humans use to create meaning. For rhetoricians, these symbols range from nonverbal body
language and tone of voice cues accompanying words in a speech to musical sounds and visual
images” (Sellnow, 2014, p. 169). Finally, non-discursive rhetoric is “the study of how these
symbol systems function as persuasion regarding taken-for-granted beliefs and
behaviors” (Sellnow, 2014, p. 169).

When we talk about music as rhetoric we are actually talking about the idea that music
communicates information with or without lyrics. This is essential to recognize because the
whole idea of rhetoric in anything is the idea of communicating an idea or several ideas to a
specific audience. Specifically relating to music and rhetoric in music, musical aesthetics is
defined by Deanna D. Sellnow, as “the appreciation and evaluation of musical form or design.”
She goes on to say that some people “argue that music appreciation is achieved if one simply
enjoys listening to the music” (Sellnow, 2014, p. 170). Music as communication “refers to the
individual and unique meanings each of us might attach to a musical work. In other words, music
as communication functions for us individually as signs but not for groups collectively as
symbolic artifacts” (Sellnow, 2014, p. 170).

As previously stated, musical rhetoric “refers to persuasive arguments conveyed through

music that reinforce or challenge a taken-for-granted belief or behavior. To be an artifact, the
meaning (whether intended by the creator or not) must be widely shared by an identifiable
group” (Sellnow, 2014, p. 171). What this means is that a musical artifact, in this case Adam’s
Song, needs to have a common audience for the message it is attempting to send.

Implications and Contributions

Susanne Langer’s “The Illusion of Life” is designed to help analyze the function of music
and lyrics working together rhetorically. Sellnow states that “the illusion of life comes from
Susanne Langer’s explanation of non discursive symbolism” and that “she uses this phrase to
account for what occurs when human beings symbolize life experience through music” (Sellnow,
2014, p. 172). A more important point made by Sellnow is when she states “music does not
cause or cure feelings. Rather, music represents them. Essentially music offers itself as an
illusion of life by sounding the way feelings feel” (Sellnow, 2014, p. 172). This is extremely
important with Adam’s Song because that is what listeners or searching for when they listen to
this song. They want to experience that connection to the lyrics. They want to be able to agree
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with the pain and depression and at the same time get turned right around and inspired by the
comic lyrics at the conclusion of the song.

In addition to Susanne Langer’s “The Illusion of Life,” there are many other reports and
studies being conducted that study rhetoric in music and its effect on listeners with mental
illnesses. In Music & Wellbeing by Garrido et al. (2016) a study was completed to see how
music effects the psychological health of individuals with severe mental illnesses. During this
study twenty six people were brought together, thirteen with severe mental illnesses, to have a
choral singing rehearsal for one hour every week. This study concluded “performing musical
activity specifically choral singing (one hour a week) with [severe mental illnesses] along with
other people without mental problems promotes social integration” (Garrido et al., 2016). This
study also concluded that music brings a higher quality of life to those who listen to it, play it,
compose it, or interact with it in any way. “Music activity can have effects that improve the
psychological health of individuals. These improvements refer to modulation of emotion,
neurocognition, and behaviours” (Garrido et al., 2016).

Judy Tarling also wrote a brief article titled Are You Being Rhetorical Enough? about
rhetoric in music. Although this writing is more about music being played, I still felt it was
appropriate because it still applies to listeners. Tarling states that rhetoric in music was mostly
present in music between 1500 and 1800. While Beethoven was one of the most rhetorical
composers of all time, even without lyrics, modern composers still use rhetoric to provide their
listeners with hope, inspiration or to send other messages. “Once rhetorical principles are
understood, they can be applied to any musical performance, and a logical plan for delivering it
can be formed, making the communication more effective” (Tarling, 2017).

Building off of Tarling’s article, Maria DiMedio also agrees that music is a great way to
communicate saying “music is probably one of the most effective ways of getting your point
across in a rhetorical way” (DiMedio, 2012). It is rare to find a song in which the artist wrote it
without a specific message in mind. Adam’s Song was written to give hope and inspiration to
anyone suffering from depression or suicidal thoughts. “Song are written for specific purposes.
They touch on people’s pathos and use appealing beats and catchy lyrics to get people on their
side” (DiMedio, 2012).

Within music, messages sent from artists to listeners can also be used again and again.
People with depression often have trouble making friends or socializing. A study by Nedim
Hassan concluded that “leisure activities such as listening to music… can become crucial
resources for social bonding for people with disabilities” (Hassan 2016). This study alone proves
how effective music can be at bringing people together and overcoming illnesses through
rhetoric.
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Conclusion

Rhetoric in music will always be present and it is far more important than we know.
Music has been using rhetoric to send messages since it has been created and that is not going to
stop any time soon. Music is written to deliver a message through sound that could never be
delivered by text alone. There is so much more to the average pop song than simply sounding
good. Composers and Songwriters have much more in mind than writing a catchy tune when
they create music. Adam’s Song sends the message that there are hard times and we all struggle,
but at the end of the day we can go home, get some rest, and look forward to a fresh start the next
day. Music is without a doubt one of the most popular and effective ways to communicate a
message.

Those among us that suffer from any form of mental illness such as depression, or
suicidal thoughts are even more in need of this message than the rest of us. And whether or not
the listener realizes that these messages are being delivered through the use of things such as
comic and tragic lyrics, intensity and release patterns, congruency, paralanguage and much more,
the fact remains that the message is delivered in an important way. For those who are fortunate
enough to move through life in an un-compromised fashion, music provides a way to express our
feelings and even represent the way we feel. For those not so fortunate, who are struggling to any
degree, music can provide comfort, hope, and a sense of peace when nothing else seems to make
sense. Perhaps the words of Martin Luther are more appropriate in this context than ever before,
“He who sings, prays twice.”

This project was intended to display how rhetorical concepts in music contribute to
sending a message through song. For many, this may simply be an interesting phenomenon
regarding how we function on a daily basis. It may provide an entertaining look at how our
brains process information, and how we enjoy things like the sounds of our favorite bands. For
others however, it may actually be the difference between life and death.
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Works Cited

DiMedio, M. (2012, September 26). Use of Rhetoric in Music. Retrieved April 21, 2017, from
https://sites.psu.edu/dimedio1213rcl/2012/09/26/use-of-rhetoric-in-music/

Garrido, G., Camps, L., Herrera, I., Guillamat, R., Vallés, V., Sanz, M., & Martínez, J. (2016).
Music & Wellbeing. International Journal Of Integrated Care (IJIC), 16(6), 1-2. doi:
10.5334/ijic.2734

Hassan, N. (2017). 'Putting music on': everyday leisure activities, choice-making and person-
centred planning in a supported living scheme. British Journal Of Learning Disabilities,
45(1), 73-80. doi:10.1111/bld.12178

Hoppus, M., & DeLonge, T. (1999). Adam's song [CD].

Olinger, D., & Devlin, N. H. (n.d.). Columbine High School News. Retrieved April 22, 2017,
from http://extras.denverpost.com/news/col0506.htm

Sellnow, Deanna D. (2014). The rhetorical power of popular culture: considering mediated texts.
Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.

Tarling, J. (2017). Are you being rhetorical (enough)?. Recorder Magazine, 37(1), 4-6.