Hard Advice / That Made Me Stronger

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by nicole21290

Yeah, the picture/s of her in the aiport with a doll are bad enough but for me, eek...

See, I don't like it when they have their eyes closed. Instead of looking like they're asleep, they look rather corpselike.

Michele

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by StreetAngel86

nah i meant more like she concealed the fact TO Tom that it was ABOUT Tom

I think he probably does believe she had (maybe still has) a thing for him. Michele

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by UndoingTheLaces

Actually, in the early part of the song she sings "Saw a life-size paper doll of you
In a record store" so when he later says "don't buy that doll" you can assume he's talking about that doll.

Yeah, I agree. I don't think she'd be referencing two different types of dolls in the same song.

Michele

[PenguinHead]

Originally Posted by StreetAngel86

are these songs about Lindsey?
I mean they were written circa Twisted ...

I would have said the rehab dude ala For What It's Worth... but he's not a singer is he?

and every song that's not about Lindsey is about Joe W right?
when was the last time Stevie had anything proper to do with him?

seriously, who are these songs about?

Who is Joe Wright?

[PenguinHead]

Originally Posted by vivfox

I can't say it is a fact that both of you are wrong because all her songs are meant to be interpreted in our own way. I believe she sings about many different subjects within the context of the song, and may be full of it for all I know. I think Tom is telling her to stay out of music stores because he knows other people's music can interfere with a writer's thought process in crafting a song. That's why he advises her to turn off the radio. But I firmly believe when he says not to buy that doll he is referring to the lifelike ones she was so fond of at the time and not the lifelike paper doll in the record store. BTW, I can't even bring myself to sing the word DOLL when I'm singing that song. I find it so silly. So I always sing, "don't buy that car."

Your perceptions and insights are enlightening. Thanks Viv! It's kind of creepy that Stevie collects these dolls, and even more unsettling that she travels with them. Freud would have a field day studying her peculiar proclivities.

[StreetAngel86]

Originally Posted by PenguinHead

Who is Joe Wright?

that says Joe W (SPACE) right (asking a QUESTION)


Viv, love your interpretation!
i hate ALL the doll mentions in this song ugh

[PenguinHead]

Originally Posted by StreetAngel86

that says Joe W (SPACE) right (asking a QUESTION)

Sorry you didn't get the joke!

I just find it curiously entertaining -- the yearning endeavor fans have the to crack the code of who or what her songs are about, as if there is very specific subject. As Viv duly noted, Stevie mostly writes in a diffused manner, with a montage of personal references. Through the years she has ascertained different meanings to certain songs. I think that's because she's addressing/focusing on just one facet of a song.

Her influences are more random and emotional than narrative. Her writing style is in a similar vein akin to Federico Fellini. He was an Italian film director and scriptwriter who was known for his distinct style that blends fantasy and dramatic images with earthiness. Some suppositions fans have about the subjects/meanings of her songs are likely spot on. But those are, for the most part, only pieces of the puzzle.

[welcomechris]

The music is amazing, but the lyrics stink

[michelej1]

And one thing about the song Paper Doll and the doll referenced in Hard Advice or about doll references in general are that they stand for childhood. Childish pretense. Fantasy. Make believe. Delusion. It's about letting go. It can be letting go of past that was never real anyway or just letting go of things that are gone and irretrievable.

Pursuant to Corinthians, when you become an adult you are supposed to put away childish things. And if you're still clinging to dolls or a desire for dolls, you're holding onto the past and onto beliefs in things that aren't real or realistic.

So, in that sense, I don't think the "don't buy that doll" line is an absurd one at all. I mean, for me, it doesn't even rank in the top 20 or 30 or 50 of silly Stevie lyrics. I think it's a rather clever way of saying, "let go of that fantasy. Stop playing make believe. Grow up. Let that dream die."

As for Paper Doll I think of the transient and it makes me sad. You can feel so passionate about something. It's wonderful, golden, all-consuming but then you just grow up. Your needs change. You become fascinated by something else. And in a sense leaving something behind by your own choice hurts as much as losing it involuntarily, because you wish you could be that person who was delighted but you aren't anymore.

Michele

[Fannymac]

Originally Posted by StreetAngel86

this is gross. but that's what i thought initially too.
except why would she go TO him ...

he's the only one i could think of who would legit be worthy of a "doll" lol

She asked him to write songs for her.....he basically said "You're a song writer...write your own songs!" Hard Advice......and Strong Medicine!

[StreetAngel86]

Originally Posted by Fannymac

She asked him to write songs for her.....he basically said "You're a song writer...write your own songs!" Hard Advice......and Strong Medicine!

yes i know that.
but we're not talking about asking him to write her songs
we're talking about the guy she's in love with that she can't have

[dontlookdown]

But musically how do we feel about them?

I like the production/sound of Hard Advice better.
But That Made Me Stronger has a better groove.
Lyrically, they're both dogs. Sloppy and in need of a little more craft.

Stay out of record stores. Don't buy that dog.