2. History:
• The song was originally written by a band called ‘Ednaswap’
comprised of musicians: Anne Preven, Phil Thornalley and
Scott Cutler; and featured on their debut album in 1995.
• The version of ‘Torn’ recorded in 1997 for the album ‘Left of the
Middle’ by Natalie Imbruglia, is the most well known cover of
the song.
3. Lyrics – what is the song about? The first lines
describe the
beginning of a
relationship that
seemed to be going
Her partner well. She was
now has I thought I saw a man brought to life impressed by her
become He was warm, he came around like he was dignified partner.
unrecognisabl He showed me what it was to cry (Important use of the
e as she past tense).
notices the
Well you couldn’t be that man I adored
negative traits You don't seem to know, don't seem to care what your heart is for
he has. But I don't know him anymore
Ending There's nothing where he used to lie
relationship She admits her own
has affected My conversation has run dry
feelings as a result of
her badly but That's what's going on, nothings fine I’m torn the break up and
she is possibly how she
reassured by I’m all out of faith, this is how I feel was deceived during
remembering the relationship. She
his bad I’m cold and I am shamed lying naked on the floor has now “woken up”
points. Illusion never changed into something real from a delusion but
I’m wide awake and I can see the perfect sky is torn feels hurt. The
You’re a little late, I’m already torn experience may even
affect future
A similar relationships.
concept to the So I guess the fortune tellers right
chorus – she Should have seen just what was there and not some holy light
understands To crawl beneath my veins and now She implies she
her partner was would have rather
no good but I don't care, I have no luck, I don't miss it all that much not experienced
can’t forget him There's just so many things that I can't touch, I’m torn this relationship
easily. compared to the
impact it has had on
her when trying to
move on.
4. Lyrics – what is the song about? The word “naked” is
symbol of vulnerability
and suggests she feels
stripped of self-worth
through her failed
relationship. “Lying on
I’m all out of faith, this is how I feel the floor” implies she
Suggests any future I’m cold and I am shamed lying naked on the floor feels inferior due to
relationships she has Illusion never changed into something real her bad judgement
will be affected by her I’m wide awake and I can see the perfect sky is torn whilst dating this man.
negative experiences
from this one. You’re a little late, I’m already torn. torn.
There's nothing where he used to lie She continues to list
This is a My inspiration has run dry his many faults that
disturbing That's what's going on, nothings right, I’m torn have justified ending
image where the relationship.
she wants us to
picture her as I’m all out of faith, this is how I feel
being helpless. I’m cold and I am shamed lying naked on the floor
The alliteration Illusion never changed into something real
draws further
attention to the
I’m wide awake and I can see the perfect sky is torn
phrase and I’m all out of faith, this is how I feel
both words I’m cold and I’m ashamed bound and broken on the floor
suggest she is You’re a little late, I’m already torn, torn.
in this state
because of him.
E.g. Broken as “Bound” either suggests his
if he has played treatment has restricted her of
with her like a entering other relationships/
child would moving on. Or it could mean she
with a toy and has tried to “mend” herself but it
then left it there still broken.
after it breaks.
5. Narrative:
• The song is written in the first person.
• The listener is located as a subject of the song as the singer sometimes refers to them as
“you”. However they are sometimes refered to in the third person as “he” because the
singer is expressing her previous feelings for this person in the form of a monologue.
• Arguably suspense is created by the singer as she changes from refering to the subject as
first or third person. Furthermore the tense in which the lyrics are written also changes
which creates an element of mystery to the concept. On the other hand, the singer seems
to be very open in the song about her experience she refers to and therefore this defeats
the object of there being suspense.
• There is only one viewpoint presented in the song as essentially the song itself could be
considered as a monologue.
• The way the song begins seems to “set the scene” as a verbal equivalent of an
establishing shot of a film. The way in which the song ends clearly concludes her story as
we believe she has accepted her situation.
6. Structure and form:
• The structure of the song conforms to that of most mainstream songs. The
song is formulaic and has the form of opening-verse-bridge-chorus-second
verse-bridge-chorus-instrumental-bridge-chorus-second chorus-outro.
• The song also fades out at the end which is common for most pop songs as
they focus mainly on the artist or group’s voice(s) unlike perhaps rock music
where all the musicians either strop playing abruptly at the end or one by one
which enhances the musical texture of the song.
• The language in the lyrics is simple in order for the song to be understood by
the widest possible audience (off different age groups) and in order for the
lyrics to rhyme. The words of the chorus are repeated four times in which the
word “torn” is featured which is significant as it is the title of the song and
lends the piece a sense of identity. The repetition of the chorus has the impact
of familiarising the listener with the lyrics and the melody of the song which
encourages its popularity as a media product through being easily recognisied
by the public.
7. Voice and tone:
• There are many emotions expressed in the singer’s voice, the main ones
however are sadness and shame. As the lyrics of the song actually comprise of
the singer describing her feelings throughout, it is important for the singer to
express these emotions through her performance which is convincing.
• The vocals are relatively distinctive as the singer has a very clear female
soprano voice with an impressive vocal range.
• The voice of the singer does create an impact on the listener as we are drawn
into the song through the way in which it is sung. At the beginning of the song
it feels as though she is telling the listener a personal story as she is quiet but
then becomes more emotional as the story unfolds and the dynamics of the
vocals increase to accompany the expressive tone in which the song is mostly
sung in.
