There aren’t too many things that carry emotional weight like music does. In fact, music is something people often rely on to help process their emotions. Music helps with this in a number of ways— lyrical relatability, instrumentation and production to name a few. Each aspect in a song brings something different to the table, allowing for the listener to create meaning out of the song in a variety of ways. Perhaps the most impactful of the emotional elements in music is the addition of string sections.
I have been around music since I was very young, and the first music I truly grew to love was classical. In elementary and middle school I played the trombone, and while I might not have played the most advanced music, the collaborative effort of a group of people playing an array of instruments to create one massive sound captivated me. At the age of 12 I was listening to the likes of Bach, Debussy, Beethoven and Stravinsky, which simultaneously alienated me from my peers and made me feel like I was way cooler than them.
There was one major difference between the music from those iconic classical composers and that of my middle school band (yes, I am comparing my middle school band to Johann Sebastian Bach): we didn’t have a string section. And while I enjoyed the music of my middle school band greatly, listening to classical music with a full string section made me feel things I didn’t know I was capable of.
At the time, I knew strings added a necessary layer of depth and substance to these songs, but I couldn’t quite figure out why. That was until Titus Young, a recent UO graduate with a master’s in cello performance, articulated it perfectly. “Strings have an amazing breath of articulation, vibrato, bowing, etc. that gives them a very unique identity that few other instruments can match,” Young said. “Add onto that the differences and nuances of great musicians and the world of string playing truly expands into something awe-inspiring.”
As I grew older, pop and rock music slowly but surely trickled its way into my everyday rotation of music. Initially, the thought of incorporating string sections into accessible pop and rock music sounded sacreligious. Those genres were to only consist of synthesizers, guitars, drums and keys. No more. Through this initial disdain for the inclusion of classical elements into popular music, I stopped listening to classical music entirely.
However, as my music taste began to mature, I warmed up to the idea of blending strings and popular music. Bands like Radiohead, Electric Light Orchestra and The Smashing Pumpkins helped me come to this realization. While lyrics can hold much emotional weight, strings almost always elevate the impact of the lyrics.
“I think the big thing that strings add is long sustained notes especially with vibrato. Vibrato is something that the normal instruments in pop music can’t really do easily,” Young said. “I find vibrato can greatly enhance most melodies. In addition, strings can produce sustained notes indefinitely thanks to the bow. These two things can quite easily evoke strong emotional reactions to the sound it produces.”
With a newfound appreciation for genre-bending, I can now claim a plethora of pop and rock songs I love for their inclusion of strings.
“Spectre” by Radiohead
This song just does it for me. It was originally written as a theme song for a James Bond film and ended up getting rejected, which was a poor choice by Sam Mendes because this is undoubtedly one of my favorite songs ever created. Thom Yorke’s angelic falsetto delivers each line with intense anguish, and on top of that, Jonny Greenwood’s slow-churning, haunting strings further enhance the power of each line. “The only truth that I could see / is when you put your lips to me / future’s tricked by the past / Spectre, how he laughs,” is the final section of the absolutely crushing first verse, followed immediately by an utter explosion of borderline terrifying strings that take over as an instrumental section in the middle of the song. Radiohead proved their genius once again.
“10538 Overture” by Electric Light Orchestra
“10538 Overture,” the debut single from this iconic 1970’s band, essentially shaped the sound they would go on to master. It’s an ominous piece about a man with no name, which is enhanced by the inclusion of cellos. Roy Wood ended up layering his cello part six different times, which gives this song a warm edge despite its overall ominous feel. The cellos dominate the mood of the song with repetitive staccato melodies that make the song’s five minute run time feel like the emotional rollercoaster provided in a whole orchestral suite.
“Lonesome Tears” by Beck
On Beck’s 2002 release “Paper Tiger,” he writes primarily about the recent divorce between him and his wife. Lyrically, nearly every song is jam-packed with tear-jerking lyrics, but what really completes each song’s emotional punch is the production from Nigel Godrich, who grew to fame through his production work with Radiohead. “Lonesome Tears” is the best example of that, as Beck is uncharacteristically direct with his lyrics. “Lonesome tears / I can’t cry them anymore / I can’t think of what they’re for / Oh, they ruin me every time.” Each line in this song is densely textured with long, sustained violins that gradually increase in both volume and pitch which makes the lyrics send shivers down your spine.
“Disarm” by The Smashing Pumpkins
One of the things that separates The Smashing Pumpkins from their grunge peers is their use of strings. Lead vocalist Billy Corgan’s vocals can be a bit abrasive at times, but his songwriting is some of the most authentic any artist has to offer. In their 1993 song “Disarm,” Corgan’s poetry is brought to life by a beautiful string section. The song is rather dark, as it was written about Corgan’s desire to literally kill his parents. However, the lyrical content of the song is devastating, and the strings only make each word feel more heartfelt. “Send this smile over to you / The killer in me is the killer in you,” Corgan sings repetitively as a collection of violins and violas provide sustained, high-pitched melodies to really make you feel the words Corgan is saying.
“19th Floor” by Joy Crookes
Joy Crookes is an artist I’ve written about before, and there is a great reason for that. She is an incredibly talented songwriter and musician, which couldn’t be more evident than on her song “19th Floor.” A song written about her grandmother and her immigration to London, each lyric is made to be felt with ferocity by another gorgeous string section with sustained, high-pitched melodies. “Lost the tower where my heart is / Cinema skylines that I don’t recognize / Strip the life out of these streets / It’s a daylight robbery,” is a section of the song that’s gifted a warm bed of vibrato-tinged strings and gives me the chills everytime I listen to it.
Strings are breathtaking instruments that don’t get enough credit for the value they bring to music. They are some of the most versatile instruments, ranging from pop to classical to even jazz. Some of my favorite songs of all time are dominated by string sections, and it is safe to say my love for music would not be the same without them.
