Novelty Lyrics
i remember reading somewhere that this song was written about the 1970's punk scene coming to an end. basically all these kids who were into the punk scene were just following along in order to belong to the group hence the lines "Someone told me being in the know is the main thing. We all need the security that belonging brings" To me, it's about realizing that going along with the group just to fit in is never worth it and eventually the "Novelty" will wear off.
How come no-one's commented on this song yet, it's fabulous. Anyway, I'm guessing it's about being famous and how it could all be over pretty soon.
I like the music and "chorus" -whatcha gonna do when it's over, whatcha gonna do when the novelty is gone?- more than the whole lyric on paper. I like the punky feel of it.
Reading the whole song is different than when I've listened to it. Like other things I had my own idea/impression independent of the actual thing (in this case lyrics) and it's different. My idea impression before reading the lyrics... was confronting some neophyte about what will happen "tomorrow" or in the long run. It was criticizing/sneering at the aesthetes or even him sneering at himself.
I like all three versions, the first version is my favorite though. It had alot of different lyrics that affected my life very personaly.
i think the songs really about his affair and how the novelty of cheating on his wife wore off and now he has to face the consequence of violating her trust the person who he had the affair with might have been a mutual friend hence the line "You slap our backs and pretend you knew About all the things that we were gonna do" and now he's the only one to blame for it all
Children On Stun, I think he wrote this before his affair with Annik
It was written as far back at 77 so he didn't meet Annik by them.
mmm, the guitar in this song is awesome.
This song is a message to the punk rock movement, the words Ian directly addressing people in his audience, and his distaste with the guys in spiked leather who would spit on him from the crowd.
I read somewhere that Joy Division never intended their songs to have a unique interpretation.
I read somewhere that Joy Division never intended their songs to have a unique interpretation.
I think this song is full of bitterness and irony.
I think this song is full of bitterness and irony.
At first I thought it was a critique against the injustice, cruelty and craziness of a life lived by the rules of mainstream, conventional society and the system, a subject he also touches in Candidate ("We're living by your rules, that's all that we know."), in my opinion.
At first I thought it was a critique against the injustice, cruelty and craziness of a life lived by the rules of mainstream, conventional society and the system, a subject he also touches in Candidate ("We're living by your rules, that's all that we know."), in my opinion.
But the world "novelty" does not really fit. I agree it must refer to the punk movement (explosion) of his time and the novel tactics...
But the world "novelty" does not really fit. I agree it must refer to the punk movement (explosion) of his time and the novel tactics it used (situationism) to make itself heard. I think he was predicting quite justly that it would lose its power, once the novelty had passed, and would be alienated from its purpose by the consumerist system. Which it did, punk is widely considered just a music genre today focusing on its superficial characteristic, while its revolutionary and political content has faded.
So my (possible wrong) opinion is that he is describing the evolution of the punk movement, both with sympathy and criticism, and its reception and eventual defeat by mainstream society.
Definitely he's criticizing the idea of compromising your ideals to become part of a group for the safety it brings, I read these parts as completely sarcastic.
This is fast turning into one of my favorite songs.
I'm sorry, but you are grasping at straws and sounding like the biggest defeatist. As my paternal grandmother used to say, "Bite the Bullet" cause you only have one life and attitude means EVERYTHING. Punk is still alive. Members of the genre have, perhaps, watered down the messages, but that may have more to do with the state of affairs in countries such as Britian and the U.S. where life has become much more comfortable for everyone (compared to what it was during wartime; the depression; etc)
I'm sorry, but you are grasping at straws and sounding like the biggest defeatist. As my paternal grandmother used to say, "Bite the Bullet" cause you only have one life and attitude means EVERYTHING. Punk is still alive. Members of the genre have, perhaps, watered down the messages, but that may have more to do with the state of affairs in countries such as Britian and the U.S. where life has become much more comfortable for everyone (compared to what it was during wartime; the depression; etc)
Yeah thanks, I know you mean well, but I am a pessimistic person. Also sorry for double-posting, perhaps a mod can delete the second message?
Yeah thanks, I know you mean well, but I am a pessimistic person. Also sorry for double-posting, perhaps a mod can delete the second message?
I read somewhere that Joy Division never intended their songs to have a unique interpretation.
I think this song is full of bitterness and irony.
At first I thought it was a critique against the injustice, cruelty and craziness of a life lived by the rules of mainstream, conventional society and the system, a subject he also touches in Candidate ("We're living by your rules, that's all that we know."), in my opinion.
But the world "novelty" does not really fit. I agree it must refer to the punk movement (explosion) of his time and the novel tactics it used (situationism) to make itself heard. I think he was predicting quite justly that it would lose its power, once the novelty had passed, and would be alienated from its purpose by the consumerist system. Which it did, punk is widely considered just a music genre today focusing on its superficial characteristic, while its revolutionary and political content has faded.
So my (possible wrong) opinion is that he is describing the evolution of the punk movement, both with sympathy and criticism, and its reception and eventual defeat by mainstream society.
Definitely he's criticizing the idea of compromising your ideals to become part of a group for the safety it brings, I read these parts as completely sarcastic.
This is fast turning into one of my favorite songs.