During my teenage years I used to listen to a lot of Howard Jones. The music may seem a bit dated now but the poignancy of the words still remain. Howard Jones is still composing and performing today continuing to push both musical boundaries and visual/technology concepts.
Two of my favourite songs of the time were:
‘What is love anyway?’ (1983) With its lyrics...(particularly the last verse)
“I love you whether or not you love me I love you even if you think that I don't Sometimes I find you doubt my love for you But I don't mind Why should I mind Why should I mind What is love anyway Does anybody love anybody anyway What is love anyway Does anybody love anybody anyway Can anybody love anyone so much that they will never fear Never worry never be sad The answer is they cannot love this much nobody can This is why I don't mind you doubting What is love anyway Does anybody love anybody anyway What is love anyway Does anybody love anybody anyway And maybe love is letting people be just what they want to be The door always must be left unlocked To love when circumstance may lead someone away from you And not to spend the time just doubting”
The second song was ‘Like to get to know you well’(1984). I think the words speak are still as relevant today: I’m not interested in small chat I want to have meaningful conversations and get to know the real you
‘Like to get to know you well Like to get to know you well Like to get to know you well So we can be one We can be one together, together
Together we can cast away the fear Together we can wipe away the tear Together we can strip down the barriers And be one
Don't want to talk about the weather Don't want to talk about the news Just want to get to the real you inside’
The second song "Like to get to know you well" and the lyrics about meaningful conversations and small talk ring true with me. Small talk is ok for starting a conversation with someone and in the past I have decided with certain people that's as far as I would like to go.
Some people are reluctant to go beyond 'small talk' for fear of revealing too much about themselves.
On the whole I would rather make a deeper connection and really get to know someone.