Listening Blog: After the Ball
After the Ball by Charles K. Harris was written in 1984, it was considered to be the first "mega hit." Five million copies of the sheet music was sold. The story of After the Ball is that of an uncle talking to a little girl who asked why he doesn't have someone in his life to love. He tells the story of his sweetheart. One night he meets up with his love at a ball and tells her that he needs to get some water. When he gets back he sees his supposed sweetheart kissing another man. He is upset and heartbroken. His love tried to explain but he would not listen. Many years past and he never remarried because he was "true to my love lost." He explains that his love is dead. He later receives a letter from the man that he caught his sweetheart kissing and it explains that he is her brother. "That's why I'm lonely, no home at all. I broke her heart, pet, after the ball."
I think that the story of the song is very interesting. First off why is she kissing her brother?? Kinda weird right? But who even knows. Maybe that was a thing back then. It does show how much he loves her so I guess that cool. The music didn't really fit the story. Unless they took it as a joke. It is actually a pretty sad story. But waltz was very popular for that time so I'm assuming that is is the reasoning to the way that the music is written. There is a part of the song that she starts to talk and not sing and it brings a different feeling to the song, The piano sounds like it improvises a little which adds another layer of texture. It is a good song and I enjoy the story and the emotion in it.
I understand your point in how the lyrics and story the music is telling doesn't really fit the light and airy feel of the music. I feel like that happens semi-often or at least to the point where it isn't very uncommon because we have also viewed examples of this is in "Soldiers Joy" and I find many examples in modern music too.
ReplyDeleteI personally would never kiss my bother. Especially in a manner where it would look like I was cheating on my husband. I feel like that is so weird. I think those two need to figure out their weird relationship they have. I bet the guy feels really stupid tho thinking that after finding out it was just her brother. but I do understand the little girl. I would be concerned for my uncle too. I was for a while when my uncle didn't have a wife for many years but now he does and is very happy.
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