| David Bowie – I'm Afraid of Americans Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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So I brought this song to interpret together with a friend of mine for a language exchange. She had a very interesting viewpoint, being that English is a foreign language to her, but it definitely made for (in my opinion) an incredible interpretation once we were done with the lesson. Johnny's in America Low techs at the wheel What are low techs? What does this sentence mean? I myself was at a loss at first, but I think it means that people with very basic abilities can drive. Nobody needs anyone They don't even just pretend So here, it’s a statement that explains the independent nature of Americans. So if I extrapolate this with the previous sentence, perhaps it’s stating that even as beginners or at a young age, we learn how to be independent. Johnny wants a brain Johnny wants to suck on a Coke Johnny wants a woman Johnny wants to think of a joke So Johnny wants to be funny and smart. He wants to do normal, typical things like getting a woman and drinking a Coke. He wants to be involved with the status quo American culture. Johnny's in America Johnny looks up at the stars Johnny combs his hair And Johnny wants pussy and cars So here, Johnny’s looking up at the stars may signify that he dreams big. He has big, unreachable dreams. He’s very concerned about his looks, and he wants sex and cars. He has a very materialistic mindset. He’s a womanizer, a Casanova. I'm afraid of Americans I'm afraid of the world I'm afraid I can't help it I'm afraid I can't For the chorus, perhaps the spreading of American culture is what he’s scared of. God is an American God is an American Johnny's an American Johnny's an American So towards the end, we see a switch in wording. Johnny’s in America turns into “Johnny’s an American” after Bowie realizes that “God is an American”. Hmm. Interesting change, no? The Video! One of the most hilarious videos I’ve ever watched. Lol. Anywho, my friend kept asking things like “Is Johnny human? Is he not human? What is Johnny?” And it made me think….IS Johnny human?! I (we) think Johnny represents American culture. He’s kind of the embodiment of it. If you want to be American, you think like Johnny. That’s why David in the video runs away from him. He doesn’t want to be part of this pervasive American culture. Also, Johnny is the only one that just appears everywhere. He’s obviously in Bowie’s mind. As for the “violent” Americans, perhaps it’s this kind of violent gesture of shooting a gun that spreads the culture of America around. Bowie is scared of it while everyone else thinks that it’s a totally normal, mundane thing. Well, let me rephrase that…it’s not that these people are being violent. But in Bowie’s mind, having an American mindset makes him see Americans as always doing violent things. Did that make sense? That kinda didn’t make sense. So since “shooting others” kinda represents the passing on or spreading of the American mindset/culture, Bowie gets super freaked out in the taxi from the all pervasive Johnny that tries to win over his mind. And then when he gets out of the taxi, Johnny shoots him. Then what does Bowie say next? “God is an American” right after he was shot. Did he change his mind? Did Johnny manage to infiltrate his way of thinking after the attack? I mean look at Bowie’s face after this. Lol. It’s like a “Screw you. You got me.” Kind of face. So yea. Well long story short, I agree with RedDollShoes, lizey, warstrong, but I also like asher99 and aglorincz’s interpretations as well. They were well thought out. I also liked that davidbowiefan1 gave us some historical insight on how and when the song was produced and then remixed. It gives us an extra layer of possible interpretation to work with, I think. |
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| Sleater-Kinney – Good Things Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| Hey. I just want to say that I don't know exactly how you feel in terms of the context around why you feel this way, but I do understand your feelings as a whole. You're not alone in this. I can't tell you that things will get better. That's a choice that you have. I can't tell you to keep your head up or believe in God or whatever people think is a healing thing. That's your choice. And I think that so many people stay so depressed because they subconsciously realize that their happiness is solely dependent on themselves and it's an individual's responsibility to heal the individual. That's a daunting task, but far more rewarding than relying on people outside of yourself because that also takes power away from you. It's not impossible, but it is hard. I also won't apologize for not coddling you or giving you actual advice. I don't really think that's what you were seeking when you posted this. Perhaps you just wanted an outlet and you don't particularly care about the advice of others. That's ok, too. There's nothing wrong with that and there's nothing wrong with you unless you yourself make it so. Anywho. Good luck. | |
| Marilyn Manson – SLO-MO-TION Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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You’ve got your Hell’s teeth smiling at you. It keeps your brain safe, as it all eats at your face… Hell’s teeth is typically defined as an expression of surprise, anger or annoyance, akin to ‘for God’s sake’. Example: “Hell’s teeth! Don’t blaspheme!” Or something like that. I think MM is using this expression in a different way than that though. Since it keeps you safe yet eats away at your face, this is obviously something that people probably feel security from if they have it, even though it’s a misguided and not so genuine safety. And don’t worry, we’ll ‘blur it out’ and no one ever will know So the attack that this ‘Hell’s teeth’ is executing upon you will be blurred out so you don’t have to know about it. Blur it out so that you can remain in your sense of safety that you think these teeth give you. What exactly is Hell’s teeth? Is it a certain message from mass media? This is my beautiful show and everything is shot in slo-motion I really love the chorus. I think it’s so beautiful. But whose show is this? Is this MM’s beautiful show that’s shot in slow motion? Is it the people’s show who are so reliant on the smile of Hell’s teeth? And does it need to be in slowmotion? Why is it so? Pump in the laughter of dead-audience applause and TEENAGE RAPE candidates I think we got ourselves a ‘real hit’ The audience of this show gives a dead applaud. Teenage rape candidates aren’t laughing either. So one must add it in so that it can become popular. It’s all fake. It’s all a show. Don’t we wish that we had something more than hate and morbid panic? Morbid panic. Hate and morbid panic? So the show shows that there is so much hate and panic in this world and the need to add in the laughter is because we wish we had something more. I’m the host with Vaseline I hide behind bulletproof glass and I can feel your tits with my brand new camera (equipped with a flash) So there’s a host to this ridiculous show that needs laughter added to it. The host with the Vaseline? Well what exactly is he lubricating? Does he get off on deceiving people when he manipulates the genuine sounds of the crowd. He feels the need to hide behind bulletproof glass. Perhaps someone will be angry at him for his actions and he’s scared of reciprocation. Also, how does one feel someone’s tits with a camera? Perhaps this implies that he’s fine with interacting with people from behind a glass, behind a camera, and never actually being up close and real with people. fast-food-nude I hate you all but somehow you find me… incredibly charming So the host of the show hates all fast-food-nude. Perhaps “art” that’s pumped out with no real purpose? But then isn’t this entire line hypocrisy since his own show is fake and manipulative? But maybe that’s why they still find him incredibly charming. Now let’s take apart the video and perhaps that will also clarify some of the meanings to this song. The Bubble First, in the video he starts off in a bubble. He takes it off and smoke begins to surround him. He’s also wearing surgeon’s glasses. Was he trying to keep his brain safe? Perhaps the glasses represent the voyeuristic nature of society? The Syringe Then there’s a shot of a syringe in his hand, then it’s in his teeth. Then random glow-in-the-dark liquids are flowing out of his mouth. Is this simply alluding to a drug addiction? Or is it something more? Why do we only see this syringe in the very beginning of the video? Perhaps Hell’s teeth is a mind-numbing drug – which can be something mind-numbing like TV. The Small Girl It cuts to a scene where two men are walking (MM and Twiggy); MM has linked arms with a girl that has her breasts exposed and she looks quite small and young. In every scene that includes her, they’re simply just walking. What’s the purpose? To show her off? I also want to point out that the men are completely clothed while the girl is exposed. The epitome of objectification? Artificial Tit Man This guy is everywhere in this video. Why does he pop up so often? Is he the essence of what entertainment is? A silicone mask? The Group Then he goes to show a group of people with the lines “This is my beautiful show” but there is something ugly about each person in some way, whether it’s on the outside or the inside. Nobody loves you. Rape. Imperfection. Dirtiness. Distortedness…Why would it be a beautiful show when these people would be considered ugly by society? Or perhaps all people are ugly and it’s the media that makes them seem so perfect. Forced Guy In another scene, of the group, a guy looks like he’s being forced to suck on an artificial tit. If Artificial Tit man is the embodiment of the fakeness of mass media, we are here to suck it up. Morbid Panic When he says “Don’t we wish we had something more than morbid panic?” That scene shows MM with a very panic-stricken face, and the girl behind him is holding onto him as if he’s supposed to be guiding her somewhere. It seems like she has a mask on but I can’t be exactly sure. But if MM is acting as the host to this show, perhaps he’s a leader of how people should think and people blindly follow and rely on him…but in reality he’s terrified and panic stricken himself. Maybe that’s why he’s compelled to add the humor in his shows. The Welcome Room Then MM is coming into some room with that masked man and the small girl. He kind of welcomes MM in. Do you think that he’s welcoming the host of this show to join him in the entertainment business? Perhaps he’s the guide, showing him how to objectify and make those teenage rape candidates famous. Fast-Food-Nude When he says “Fast-food-nude I hate you all yet somehow you find me incredibly charming,” he gives the middle finger. If MM is the host in this story, is he giving mass media the finger? And once again I ask, wouldn’t that be hypocrisy since his own show is filled with fake? Is everyone just as hypocritical and fake? Shot A lot of times in the shots where he’s just singing, he’ll point fingers to his head like a shot gun. This becomes an increasing trend as the video evolves. Then he ends up with a real gun in his hand at the end. At first he’s kind of walking around with it, unsure of what to do or perhaps he’s anxious or has anxiety. Then he aims at someone on a bike on the sidewalk and prepares to shoot. It’s like the idea came to his mind at the beginning, but grew with increasing intensity throughout his entertainment career. But who does he end up shooting in the end since the real gun wasn’t pointed to his own head? So overall, I think this song is telling a story. Is it MM’s personal story about his role in the entertainment industry? I don’t really think he’s been very fake in his art. Long story short and imho, I think it’s simply a criticism of cinema nowadays. But there are still a lot of unanswered questions… |
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| Nine Inch Nails – Deep Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| What an amazing digestion of the song and video! You put so much thought and effort into understanding it. Thanks so much! I totally agree with you. It's hard not to when you've been so thorough in deciphering the intricacies of this piece. Kudos! | |
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