Turn your back on hope .

 

Go//blink 182//Blink 182//November 18th 2003

Blink 182 has this incredible ability to manage to leave listeners wanting more, by presenting short imagessongs with immense energy and depth. Go is such a song, it doesn’t play with you and gets to its message immediately. A song obviously aimed at domestic violence, the narrative perspective is what really manages to help listeners empathize. The song is sung from the view point of a young, helpless boy who wants to help his mother and seeks an escape for her, yet is limited by his own physical abilities. Told from the personal experience of the bassist, Mark Hoppus, it’s quite incredible to see how he has managed to concisely yet emphatically present an issue of utmost concern.

What I truly enjoy about this band is how they manage to make such succinct song full of emotions and effervescence. What really is the beauty of Blinkmarkieeee songs is that they are very forward and are usually written from their own experience, thus lending an authenticity to their music. It’s even more intriguing because Blink has always been this band that was about being punk in a way that made people laugh and think they were absolute nut-jobs. However, this album was seen as growth in their musical style, to something more experimental and deep. A song about domestic violence is not something a lot of bands could pull off, but the fast-paced guitar, matcb182hed with Travis Barker’s intense drumming manages to make the song match the intensity of the issue being dealt with. Another song that manages ro encapsulate multiple feelings in a short span of time is ‘Cynical‘ from the recent album ‘California‘. One of the reasons why Blink 182 is one of my favorite bands is because they don’t worry about limiting themselves to any kind of genre or lyrical style. Despite their songs having the common punk core, there is always some issue being address, maybe domestic violence or an abusive relationship or the implications of divorce or the onset of a new love or the failure of one. There songs manage to raise within their listener, a multitude of emotions.

I would recommend you to listen to their self-titled album because their sound is quite developed and you will never want to stop listening to them. I believe they are the true essence of the emergence of punk, atleast their style and sound. They’re not trying to send a political message to you or trying to change your life or experimenting with their sound. They’re here to make you laugh with their immense ability as goofballs and to make you feel less lonely. It’s always inspiring to hear their rag to riches story and to know that not every kid with a troubled childhood has to be traumatized by it. Some of them sing about and learn to bounce back from all that has ever hurt them. Listen to Go because we all sometimes feel hopeless and  limited by our own physical or mental capabilities. Just have the strength to carry one and use your shortcomings as a shield, so no one else can you attack you with it. Maybe we all truly are victims of opportunity,

The promises you’ll only make.

Between the bars//Elliot Smith//Either/Or//February 25th 1997

Finding solace in addictions is probably one of the biggest hamartias of our generation- be it, a person or drugs or alcohol. How I see this song is that it’s about an alcoholic, personifying his addiction as a lover, who’s singing to him. As we can see that the alcoholic is so immersed in his dependency that he is having some form of a schizophrenic episode where he’s being spoken to from the perspective of his own addiction, that is slowly killing him. I think it’s incredible how this song can stand as a love ballad or an episode of insanity, which are actually interchangeable terms. I have always loved the general atmosphere of the song and how such a pressing issue is being discussed in a sadistic, poetic manner. For the longest time, this used to be one of the songs that I could listen to and feel rejuvenated but as I started to analyze the general tone of the song, I realized it was about an all-consuming romance between an alcoholic and his drinks. Moreover, I realised how dangerous it was for these two things to be confused for each other, seeing that love is much more socially accepted than being an alcoholic; but have you ever, genuinly, thought about how each of them have equal amounts of negative effects? If not, love is even more destructive because it slowly kills your soul, your will to live while also giving you incredible highs; alcohol only damages the liver.

We see how addiction is poetically establishing it’s own negative effects on the alcoholic, stopping him from doing things that could help him live upto his potential. Yet, his addiction also begins to entrap him by promising to take his pressures away and the ‘images’, which are obviously irking the alcoholic. This song reminds me of a quite similar song, regarding drug abuse, named Uncle Johnny by The Killers, by stating that sometimes we use our addictions to give us a temporary escape, despite knowing that the aftermath is going to be much worse. It’s also about the whole aspect of trying to be someone we can’t be when we are sober because alcohol seemingly helps us ‘loosen up’ and be someone we’ve always yearned to be. I have always been called an introvert who takes some time to open up to people and I understand the pain of wanting to be someone else; this song depicts the true struggle between wanting something and knowing that it will probably destroy you at the end. I mean, most addictions seem right to us, don’t they? When nothing is going right, they help us feel happier; who cares about its implications in the future? I think this song very correctly addresses the problems one faces when they are so immersed in trying their own vices through quite drastic methods. Sometimes we don’t realise that something is destroying us, because we are so lost in that moment of transient happiness, that it’s only when it’s all over, we realise that it takes away a portion of us. Kind of like falling asleep when you’re drunk, your head spin,  you feel invincible and so incredibly ecstatic; but you always wake up with a horrible hangover.

If there’s something this song tells you, it’s that our addictions can get so out of hand that they begin to dictate our lives. As the addiction eulogizes his own actions, making himself seem like the alcoholic’s saviour, it is quite evident to the listener that all of this is merely a facade which would destroy the alcoholic. Despite the sadistic undertone of the song, we can’t help but empathize with the alcoholic and try and understand what he might be escaping from. We all have something that dictates our life in a toxic manner and maybe we try to justify this toxicity. I think it’s an incredibly unprecedented song and I think it’s the point of view which really adds a certain beauty to it all, because sometimes the addiction thinks they’re saving the alcoholic; there’s never any true victim or villian in a story.

We will always have the chance.

Aurora//Foo Fighters//There is Nothing Left To Lose//November 2nd 1999

This isn’t you average love song that talks about the quirks of  romance. It’s about the one who got away and how to remember them fondly instead of tarnishing the memory with one’s own childishness. As humans, we tend to degrade and demean all that ever leaves us, which is why I love the idea of remembering something with grace. I still remember the first time I heard this song and midst of every love song I’ve heard, this one stuck to me. Dave Grohl 2015foofighters_em__017140115has always struck to me as this incredible musician, with not only his ability as a skilled drummer AND adept guitarist, but also, his incredible abilities as a lyricist. He’s not the kind of innovative musician who likes to play mind games with his listeners, although he always allows his songs to be open to interpretation. For one of Foo Fighters’ popular songs, Everlong, Grohl refused to give any backstory and wanted the meaning of the song to remain a mystery. I like the idea that one such song can be looked at a million different ways by million different people. For me, Aurora is the song that talks of a form of unrequited love but not one that lacks in intimacy; perhaps a friendship in which one feels differently for the other. Maybe, the same song could mean something entirely different, a song about a lost love which could be rekindled at any moment due to the unfinished nature of the feelings.

I believe that the reason why this song is just so exquisite is because it presents love in a very humane yet ethereal manner. The simplistic way in which Grohl has compared the feeling of being with one’s beloved to spinning the sun around doesn’t seem pretentious. There’s this authenticity attached to the adoration with which the beloved is being viewed, something that is compared to dancing in heaven with the stars. I think the slight undertone of a theme of escapism depicts how Grohl views the hope in his lover’s heart with an odd kind of delight. I don’t know if it holds true for everyone buirpmlt I’ve always been the kind who finds the inherent sadness in someone’s disposition to be quite an irresistible trait. A sad yet hopeful heart is so easy to love because they don’t see themselves for all that they are and can be exceedingly down to earth. This song is subtle in it’s preachings but it taught me a lot about how to love people, who perhaps can’t love us back in equal amounts due to their own shortcomings. It’s about seeing the beauty in someone who can’t see it for themselves and filling them up with happiness that no one else can.

Like any other layered song, you need to listen to ‘Aurora’ multiple times to fall in love with its true essence because it may seem like a love song at the first shot but it’s more than that. What I find most elusive about the song is the line “I just kinda died for you, you just kinda stared at me” because it establishes this inequality in the wy both of them felt for each other yet it is overwhelming how gracefully Grohl accepts the unrequited love and continues to empower his beloved. I think this song taught me a lot about letting go with grace and understanding that holding onto something wasn’t always a sign of weakness; if something is worth it then one must hold on tight. Because despite what we believe, there isn’t always somewhere better than this. However, despite everything this songs speaks about, I hope you never have to wait for anything as long as I have.

 

 

If I could be who you wanted.

 

Fake Plastic Trees//Radiohead//The Bends//March 13th 1995

Radiohead never fails to depress and impress, all at the same time, with their magnificently presented lyrics. This song is all about trying to suffice with the artificial nature of whatever we have despite knowing of it’a true nature.  We live in a world that is full of many fake things and so we see how much this affects the subject of the song as the ‘rubber’ nature of her town slowly ‘wears her out’. I think it’s important to note that all of us, in a certain time in our lives, get dejected with it’s monotony  but we also feel the need to go along with it, so as to adjust; this may feel as if we are disowning a part of ourselves. The implication of words such as ‘rubber’ can be a metaphorical representation of the falsetto nature of most of the things around us and how nothing is truly authentic. It is also understood that something that once began as a form of escapism is now ‘wearing out’ the subject. As a society where everyone uses alcohol or drugs to relieve themselves of stress, hangovers can be a form being worn out. Sometimes we don’t realise that running away from our problems can tire us out even further.

We are also introduced to another problem that is a man who burns and crumbles, signifying his nature of being plastic, who ironically was a plastic surgeon for women in  the 80s. This irony has been further explored through the lines “gravity always wins”, which is a reference to women who get botox jobs done but their age always manages to catch up with them. It can be seen that even the man is worn out due to the plastic nature of his life, which helps us draw a parallelism between the girl in a rubber world. These references are not only regarding lack of authenticity but can be seen, more literally, as the implications of commercialism and perfection which was temporary, since it was against the inherent laws of nature,

In a world where everything feels so fake, the nature of love is also being questioned as it is referred to “looks like the real thing”. We are known as the generation which has terrible issues with commitment and low patience, which really tests the patience of those who tend to feel more deeply. It is quite interesting to note that the subject wants to ‘blow through the ceiling’ and ‘turn and run’, showing the need to escape from the world in which everything was the same. I think as adolescents, most of us would relate to this; unless of course you’re one of the rubber.plastic people. We feel disappointed with ourselves due to our inability to fit into what is considered normal because all we wanted was to be like the rest of them, to feel satisfied with living a shallow and meaningless life. I relate to this song because I often feel as if my divergence in terms or behaviour and  likings from my peers makes me more awkward, which sometimes brings me down because when I try to be like the rest, it wears me out. This song isn’t preaching the listeners about accepting our differences and flaunting it; instead it highlights that it’s okay to feel out of place because none of us really know where we belong, and this life is just part of our eternal search for identity. Don’t drown in the inadequacy of your fake plastic love.

 

I’m Not Like Them, But I Can Pretend.

I am sure everyone of you is having an incredible week, after all Fall is approaching! In this week’s post, I will start off by answering certain questions and comments that someone put forth, regarding my last post. Firstly, I am glad that we can agree that mass shootings have become more of a cry for fame rather than some form of psychological disorder or dissatisfaction.  I think such genres of music are very significant in terms of being sensitive to social issues because they address a lot of problems we go through, in terms of being in the general society. Secondly, I realised that I didn’t connect the song to myself too much, primarily because I don’t connect to the lyrics; it’s just a song that teaches me about an issue that is quite sensitive at the moment. I guess the reason why so many people might find the song interesting is because of the ‘Kairos’ element; it’s been released during a time when everyone is unsure of how to deal with such an issue. Thirdly, my favorite Green day song is also the song that really changed my life- it’s named ‘Jesus of Suburbia’. It is a 9 minute rock opera which explores various phases of growing up in adolescence, while touching upon mental disorders, implications of commercialism and wanting to break free. I think you should give it a chance, you’ll never even realised that 9 minutes passed by!

Dumb//Nirvana//In Utero//September 21st 1993

This song is one that I have been addicted to this week and is a somewhat an underrated song with the primary theme of how ignorance may cause happiness in a human, Various other themes are also explored in the song, such as a loose identity which,  instead of causing a crisis, makes the singer happy. The song preaches something that we, in this age of cynicism, have forgotten- it’s very much possible to be in touch with your roots, yet, not be afraid to fly a little high. One of Nirvana’s signature styles, in terms of lyricism, is the minimalism and random use of phrases. Their music is a perfect example of acquired taste, that can only be attained if you have experienced rage regarding anything in your life. In a world where people are always blamed for not being “true to oneself”, the song speaks about the happiness one gets from just being like ‘them’, despite having to pretend. Although, one may complain of the artificial nature of such a lifestyle, it’s not really about authenticity; it’s about trying to fit into a society whilst still knowing one’s actual self. I have often felt like I do the same, because despite wanting to remain true to myself, I also enjoy exploring new things and perhaps engaging in things that I may not particularly enjoy, yet, are quite significant to pop culture.

However, it’s evident and important to note that Cobain’s expression of happiness is one induced by consumption of alcohol and drugs, brought out through the use of the word ‘hangover’, establishing the period of sadness that overcomes once the ecstasy is over. We all tend to drink our sorrows instead of actually trying to rationalize or fix them. The song continues to dissuade the listeners from such a method of relief as he says “lesson learned” but it’s obvious that Cobain isn’t going to make an effort to change his ways of feeling happy and fitting into the society he lives in. I think that is the kind of behavior has been presented with complete legitimacy since Cobain was very well known for his tendency to act against what general situations expected of him. The use of ‘glue’ to not only mend  hearts but also to be inhaled  which ,again, brings out the theme of escapism through use of drugs and alcohol. I think this element of the song makes it quite inappropriate since it describes something that is highly dissuaded; one is always told to never attach any form of emotions to alcohol or drugs, since it may cause addictions.

There are very few songs that truly preach the nature of finding happiness despite being in a situation that goes against such odds. The reason why I like this song is because it is about how to trying to remain optimistic and I feel like we all need hope in our lives, I think the personal struggle of Cobain also lends an legitimacy tone because he was known to be struggling with himself. I suppose the song wouldn’t have had the same effect on the listeners and maybe in today’s age, the song doesn’t have the same significance as it did when it was released. Despite the relatable lyrics, the fashion of it’s presentation is not appealing to listeners, who prefer sentences that are more complete and less random in arrangement. However, the element of pathos is what led to the true revolution created by Nirvana and the fact that they put forward emotions in it’s true and raw form, instead of sugar coating it. What makes this song so exemplary is that it is an accurate description of Cobain’s own lifestyle and can be related to many adults who would rather suppress their emotions, through induced means, rather than embracing the sadness they are undergoing. Perhaps, as readers, you can try and understand what you feel instead of bottling it up (pun intended). At the end of the day, I think we’re all more dumb than we’re happy, so it should be alright!

I love a lie just like anybody else.

Bang Bang//Green Day//Revolution Radio//October 7th 2016

Green day is very well known for their abstractness and eccentricity in the music they produce. They have been accused of being pop punk due to their mainstream success but it is still quite evident that they are far from being pop. I would like to discuss the relevance of their music and how it addresses some form of social form or the other. An example would be there new song ‘Bang Bang’ which establishes the ego-maniacal nature of a certain serial shooter, who sees himself as a martyr fighting for a good cause.

Green day has this amazing ability to match a catchy guitar riff with incredibly fast paced lyrics that may seem to be random, until you give it a hear the second or third time. I think what makes Green day different from most band is the ambiguity of their lyrics which allows the listener to take multiple perspectives. Bang Bang could easily be about any psychopath, it could be a resentful teenager. Regardless of the perspective, the message is clear that the person is someone who sees himself quite differently than what the rest of us see him as because he justifies his actions as a scream for fame.

I think it is quite important to understand the mindset of a psychopath because they exist all around us and we don’t realise that sometimes they act out due to feelings of egocentrism which may co-exist with feelings of being disregarded. There is something quite gruesome about the excitement with which the shooter says,’You’re dead, I’m well fed.’ It gives the impression of a person who feeds off the excitement he gets from shooting people. It’s not only enough that the shooter sees himself as ‘Mommy’s little soldier’, he’s also well aware that he is ‘Daddy’s little psycho’, which presents him as not someone who has a simple mental disorder but has quite the malicious agenda.

The phrase ‘semi-automatic lonely boy’ presents the shooter as extremely dangerous because his psychotic nature is not completely due to his general disorder but that he chooses to be lonely and scheming. The fact that the lyrics are so broken and scattered present the shooter in a better light, representing the fragmented nature of his thoughts. His aspirations are quite similar to those of any person, as he wishes to be ‘the leading man in his own private drama’. This stands for how much the mind set of criminals has changed from an uncontrollable desire to kill due to some kind of cry for popularity.

As always, Green day has established the implications of commercialism on the mind of a psychopath and how times have led to change in priorities. I think it is quite possible that anyone can relate to the want of the shooter to attain fame in any way possible and how our desires seemingly cloud our judgement of ourselves. There is also an underlying sexual theme as the shooter compares to the rush he gets from killing someone to oral sex (Give me death or give me head). This, again, establishes why the shooter is a psychopath because he gets a very unusual rush from killing and the unnecessary media attention for all the wrong reasons. He thinks of himself as just another entertainer who is ‘the hero of the hour’.

Thus, with this incredible single, Green day has managed to touch their roots with the catchy drumming and riffs, yet, also retains it’s ability to remain relevant by talking about issues which have become important in today;s era. There are too many shootings and due to the sensitivity of the issue it may get hard to actually speak about it without getting opinionated. However, as we see in the song, the shooter is just a psychopath who is a victim to commercialism, like most people, but has found quite a divergent method to release their shortcoming and need to be significant, Which is why BANG BANG give me fame, shoot me up to entertain!