Stories That Resonate Across Genres and Years
by Nancy Sackheim
Why do some novels and the stories they tell resonate across genres and years? Ryan Leas in his 2016 Stereogum article, ''I Can't Make You Love Me': A 25th Anniversary Oral History" provides an elegant answer as he writes about the backstory of this modern standard recorded by Bonnie Raitt and released as a single on 10/22/1991.
Here's the thing about 'I Can't Make You Love Me' .... It goes beyond its exact circumstance and era. It's written in a way where you can reduce it to one instrument and vocal, and it still works; which, in turn, means you can adapt it into almost any genre, and it will still work. In the mold of old pop standards, it's malleable, universal, and enduring because of that—and because it's a song that resonated (and continues to resonate) with a ton of people, no matter their age group or musical predilections."
Why do people around the world still read A Tale of Two Cities or Huckleberry Finn or Charlotte's Web? The same reason they listen to music that transcends its exact circumstance and era. These books, and countless others, have universal characters, themes, experiences, emotions and perspectives that continue to be relevant.
