Exploring the Context of Photography Through Song Lyrics
As time passes, the memories in our minds gradually blur into indistinct images. However, photographs preserve special moments, allowing us to revisit them. Each photograph encapsulates a multitude of personal narratives, which is why the very word "photograph" carries an inherently poetic resonance for us.
This feature examines how references to photography are contextualized within song lyrics.
Paul Simon “Kodachrome” | The Wonder of Encountering Color Photography
©︎ Lomography
The Japanese title for Paul Simon’s song is “Boku no Kodachrome” (My Kodachrome). Kodachrome refers to Kodak’s color reversal film. While the title may sound like a commercial jingle, there is no direct affiliation with Kodak. Historically, Kodachrome was the only reversal film to continue the earlier external process, maintaining a devoted following throughout the 1960s.
Today, film has largely been supplanted by digital technology. Yet, when Kodachrome was discontinued in 2009, headlines such as “The Legendary Film Immortalized by Paul Simon Bids Farewell” appeared in the news, underscoring the nostalgia it evokes for generations who cherished it.
The lyrics convey the awe of a young boy encountering vivid color photographs for the first time.
Kodachrome,
Kodachrome,
they give us those nice bright colors
they give us those nice bright colors
Gives those greens of summers
Gives those greens of summers
They make you think that all the world's a sunny day
They make you think that all the world's a sunny day
Well I've got a, a Nikon camera
Well I've got a, a Nikon camera
I love to take photographs
I love to take photographs
Ed Sheeran “Photograph” | Photographs as Metaphors for Love and Memory
©︎ Ed Sheeran “Photograph” on YouTube
Ed Sheeran’s “Photograph” is also renowned for its music video, which takes the form of a mini-documentary reflecting on his life from infancy to age 24. The song was inspired by Sheeran’s own experience with a long-distance relationship. The message is about preserving unwavering love and memories through a photograph—a theme that resonates deeply.
We keep this love in a photograph
We keep this love in a photograph
We made these memories for ourselves
We made these memories for ourselves
Where our eyes are never closing
Where our eyes are never closing
Hearts are never broken
Hearts are never broken
Times forever frozen still
Times forever frozen still
In “Photograph,” the image serves as a symbol of love and memory, emphasizing emotional connection. The metaphor of the photograph is essential in expressing the song’s profound sense of longing and sentiment.
As an aside, it is said that after a breakup, women tend to delete photos, while men are more likely to keep them.
Gen Hoshino “Film” | The Photographer’s Perspective in Gen Hoshino’s Lyrics
©︎ Gen Hoshino “Film” on YouTube
Gen Hoshino, acclaimed for his multifaceted musicianship, opens his second single “Film” with the following lyrics:
Smiles abound, yet the world is full of complexities
How much of this beautiful scenery is truly real?
In the film behind our eyes
How much of what we’ve lost can we still see?
Even when people smile amidst beautiful scenery, a range of emotions may be concealed beneath the surface. What we choose to capture and perceive as reality is preserved in the film behind each of our eyes. From the outset, Hoshino’s lyrics reveal a photographer’s sensibility—his words invite us to imagine the unseen through what is visible.
The Inspiration Evoked by the Word “Photograph”
At times a symbol of an era, at others an emblem of love or memory, or a manifestation of perspective—photography is a multifaceted theme. Yet, it is also a word deeply rooted in our daily lives, resonating with many on a fundamental level. Precisely because photographs convey meaning beyond words, they continue to inspire artists in their creative endeavors.