No They Don’t
In an era where everything is rated and scored out of ten, music hasn’t escaped the scale. We call songs “10 out of 10”, “no skips” or even “perfect,” but if perfection were truly in the music itself, wouldn’t we all feel the same way about certain songs? For example, if a song is called flawless by someone but someone else disagrees, wouldn’t it be subjective?
When we call a song perfect, we aren’t measuring it against a universal standard, but against ourselves. It’s not about measuring objective quality within the track itself, but how that track speaks and connects to an individual. Whether it be memories, moods or expectations, the idea of a perfect song says more about the listener than the music; therefore, there are no perfect songs.
Moments in Music
Some songs or albums that feel untouchable in certain moments — the right slow track at 2 a.m., the right bubbly 2010’s pop album during a long drive with friends or even the right lyrics when they’re needed the most. In those instances, they feel perfect. However, remove that moment, and the feeling often fades. If our idea of perfection shifts with our mood and context, can it really be attributed to the music itself? The idea of a 10 out of 10 is a personal truth, not an absolute one.
When asked about perfection in music, second year Biomedical Science major Nirman Mukherjee mentioned a multitude of factors that play into personal taste, affirming that emotions play a factor.
“Again, it’s up to people’s personal taste, and there are so many factors to it,” Mukherjee stated.
“Like, what kind of music you grew up with, what’s your ideology, and how does a certain genre or style of music fit that personal ideology?”
While that music might not be considered a classic or critically acclaimed, it can be comforting nonetheless, based on the context in which it’s being listened to.
Time, Environment and Tracks
Even my own “perfect album” shifts depending on the day. Sometimes it’s “KIDS SEE GHOSTS,” the seven-track collaboration between Kanye West and Kid Cudi that I consider to be some of their best work. Other times, it’s “Fancy That” by PinkPantheress. Both feel essential to me, yet not perfect. They aren’t some untouchable perfection; there are tracks I return to constantly and some I only revisit when listening front to back. My attachment to these albums isn’t built on objective flawlessness, as it’s instead dependent on my environment. The albums are a snapshot of my interests and emotional state at a given time.
Many great songs and albums could contend for the title of “perfect”, but even then, that’s still entirely subjective. Sure, an album can be held back by instrumentals, vocals or even mixing, but maybe a perfect song or album doesn’t need to exist. As Mukherjee put it, music should be viewed like other art; some may see it as “chicken scratch with no meaning,” while it might be life-changing to another. Second-year biotechnology and molecular bioscience major Ashley Picado added that there are factors that form opinions of songs or albums, but they aren’t objective.
“I think there are things that can make a great song, things that can make okay songs, or bad songs, but no such thing as a perfect formula,” Picado stated.
What is called a 10 out of 10 isn’t some kind of universal truth; it’s a snapshot. A record of who we were in a specific moment and what resonated with us. Mukherjee best put it as “…something that grows with you and grows with time.” The music doesn’t change nearly as much as we do, and that’s why the best song and album debate never settles.
Yes They Do
Music is the pinnacle of mankind’s art. The ability to express any sequence of emotions, events or thoughts through abstract sounds is truly special. A guitar makes a distinct sound, but so does a tree falling over. So, in a world full of sounds, how does a combination of instrumentals and lyrics still hold so much meaning and expression to our minds?
Our unique perception of sound and the ability to convert it into meaning and expression is special, and that is why music stands above anything else humans can make. When analyzing the idea of a “perfect song,” one might reason that perception is the only relevant barometer. However, music has an abstract and identifiable skill behind it.
However, specific and technical skill is not what makes a song perfect. Plenty of technically complex songs fail to capture the depth of emotion and the human experience, falling short as a result. However, songs and albums are scalable if grouped properly within their respective genres. Of course, when comparing any one song to another — or in fact to any sound in the universe — the only thing that discerns these is our minds. The universe exists to us because our minds have a limited capacity to perceive and process data.
When setting a scale of perfection, however, one must root this scale in a human field of perception, not a universal standard, because our perceived universe is not an absolute in itself. When establishing this scale, one can identify a wide range of genres that music encompasses. In doing so, one needs to omit smaller sections, for this would only lead to endless subdivisions. However, in their respective genres, songs and albums can be identified as perfect, many of which act as catalysts that established those very genres.
First year Mechanical Engineer Ryan Park, when asked about the existence of “perfect songs”, believes that flawless songs exist, but he is unsure whether they could be labeled perfect.
“I think a song like ‘Winter’ by [Antonio] Vivaldi is a flawless song, but it might be high praise to call it perfect,” he said.
According to second year Mechanical Engineering student, Christian Mueller, “perfect” music is like approaching the speed of light; we can get closer to the goal, but it is always improving.
“There are some songs that are the best that humans can produce, at least for a while. But they can always be overcome. For me, one of my personal current perfect songs is “Spirit of the Radio” by Rush,” said Park.
Of the genres I have experience with, I can identify perfect songs. In this way, I would not argue that anyone would find them appealing to listen to. It is simply that their technical skill with their genre-defining arrangement set an example that none will ever reach.
In progressive rock, there is no greater band than Pink Floyd. Tracks like “Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Pts. 6-9)” on “Wish You Were Here”, “Time” on “The Dark Side of the Moon” or “Dogs” on “Animals” are shining beacons for which anyone venturing into progressive rock would aim. In “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” a melancholy instrumental encapsulates the loss of a close friend to drugs. On “Time,” the legendary lyrics ruminate on a fleeting feeling of life and the inevitability of death. With “Dogs”, guitarist David Gilmour delivers one of Pink Floyd’s most sincere yet powerful guitar solos. These songs all encompass such incalculable genius and emotion in themselves and in relation to the album as a whole that they can be considered perfect. Further examples like “Lola” by the Kinks, “Achilles Last Stand” by Led Zeppelin and “Behind Blue Eyes” by The Who are also perfect in their respective genres.
There does not need to be one “perfect” song; multiple can exist. There are distinctly unique traits attributed to perfect songs in some genres that will never be achieved again. They do not need to be enjoyed by all at any given time; they have inscribed their place in humanity’s greatest art form for all to see.
