Music with a message
- Thread starter Karisse
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I love Flobots and I think Fight with tools is an excellent album. However, I think handlebars has the weakest message on the entire cd. Maybe I'm missing something, but I've almost cried when listening to "Anne Braden", but always felt uplifted by "We are Winning" and "Stand Up."
I just watched the video for Handlebars, and I can see a message there. However, with just hearing the song, it sounded like a typical "I'm a badass and I can do anything big or small" song with a hint of "you can do it too."
I understand why Handlebars is the radio hit for Flobots. It's comparatively safe. Unlike every other song on Fight with Tools, it's not blatantly political, but for me, that fact weakens it.
I just watched the video for Handlebars, and I can see a message there. However, with just hearing the song, it sounded like a typical "I'm a badass and I can do anything big or small" song with a hint of "you can do it too."
I understand why Handlebars is the radio hit for Flobots. It's comparatively safe. Unlike every other song on Fight with Tools, it's not blatantly political, but for me, that fact weakens it.
This is really daft, since ALL songs have meaning to them, whether it's simple teeny-bopper "I wanna be your girlfriend" or a Metallica rock epic like One (seriously though guys, you're looking to Metallica for deep meaningful lyrics? I mean, Metallica are great and all but Hetfield's lyrics ain't exactly poetry,) or the angsty expression of Radiohead.
If you mean songs that have a message like 'save the world', 'don't trust your government', or 'look at the hypocrisy of X' then these are my choices:
Bullet In The Head - RATM. Quite possibly the best song ever written about television.
God Save The Queen - Sex Pistols. Antiestablishmentarianism anyone?
Del Amitri - Nothing Ever Happens. A lovely ode to urban loneliness, alienation and the harsh realities of life.
If you mean songs that have a message like 'save the world', 'don't trust your government', or 'look at the hypocrisy of X' then these are my choices:
Bullet In The Head - RATM. Quite possibly the best song ever written about television.
God Save The Queen - Sex Pistols. Antiestablishmentarianism anyone?
Del Amitri - Nothing Ever Happens. A lovely ode to urban loneliness, alienation and the harsh realities of life.
So What would be prime contender for that one. Sample Lyric:conqueror Kenny said:
"I've done Skank, I've done speed, I've jacked up until I bleed, So what? So what? So what you boring little ****?!?"
Poetry, clearly.
Dr. Stein by Helloween, one of my favorite songs ever, is a clever allegory for parental neglect. On the surface, the lyrics are sort of goofy, but on that other level, you can find a reference to the issue in every line of the song. Plus it has one of my favorite main riffs (during the verses) ever. Listen to the live version, though. It's a lot better than the studio recording.
Another good one (in the opposite sense) is Rise of the Morning Glory by Edguy. On the surface, the lyrics are about breaking free from societal constraints and hurrying up to enjoy life, but they actually (and the lead singer has publicly stated this) refer to waking up with a hard-on.
I'm glad no one's mentioned Wonderwall or Viva la Vida yet. Let's keep it that way.
Another good one (in the opposite sense) is Rise of the Morning Glory by Edguy. On the surface, the lyrics are about breaking free from societal constraints and hurrying up to enjoy life, but they actually (and the lead singer has publicly stated this) refer to waking up with a hard-on.
I'm glad no one's mentioned Wonderwall or Viva la Vida yet. Let's keep it that way.
A lot of their songs are artfully done but thematically simple. What's the nuanced, multi-layered message of "Wherever I May Roam"? How about "Nothing Else Matters"?conqueror Kenny said:
Are you going to sit here and tell me that "King Nothing" is a better, more nuanced song about the futility of wealth than, say, Pink Floyd's "Dogs"?
Most musicians who really stand the test of time have sort of "deep meaning" in their songs. It's ridiculous to pick one band -- especially a band that does, realistically, has about five or six thematic elements that they like and do well and has been recycling them for twenty years -- and say they're geniuses without equal.
(It's the same elements that every metal band sings about, pretty much, really.)
-- Alex
I'll only be moved by music if something sad is happening to me, like splitting up with a girlfriend or someone close dying. Especially the latter, I'll hear songs that remind me of them and it can stop me in my tracks.
Huh, I didn't know that. Who did the original? Cos though it may be a bit shallow, it's damn good funArkhon Xa said:
