this songs means everything to me
I met an Italian girl at the concert last week in NYC, she went on about how much she loved this song and wished they would play it. They didn't, but I made a new friend.
coincido con el medio!
This is about rampant Capitalism & it's role in the current out of control global economic/political problems & the ecological issues related to it. Stereolab, while never admitting to being Marxist, have written many songs about the obvious problems of the Capitalist system. This is a call of hope that the current situation of the ever strengthening grip of neo liberal capitalism can be deconstructed.
When I hear this song, I think of the toothpaste brand. Ahh! The refreshing mint exhilarations. As I am brushing I also ponder what @nthony has said below about capitalism. But I don't think Stereolab are THAT academic and serious. realitysoldier's comment below provides an important counterpoint. There is a satirical, sarcastic tone present in these words. How naïvely idealistic and pollyanna one must be to tout these lyrics literally. Indeed it is absurd to consider one individual, small group or movement could take on a global political and economic system with the intent to correct it, to reformat it, and even “to destroy it.” There are many historical examples where such attempts have failed miserably, only adding to the problem. I believe the events of 9/11 are one such example.
These lyrics sound like some kind of logical truth: if something can be built, therefore it must be able to be unbuilt. If you can add 2 things together, then we should be able to subtract one, right?. When applied to society at large, this view is so myopic–yet terse and concise like a haiku–that it makes me think Stereolab are just playing around with ideas to get people to think from a different point of view. I don’t think they actually believe it’s that easy or simple to just undo the global economic order. Nor do I think they believe there is nothing to be concerned/alarmed about in our world, ie. that “things are not all that out of control.” Question is: how out-of-control do things need to be to be that out-of-control?
Even though I'm sure it wasn't written with this in mind, I love to quote this song to global warming alarmists :-D
The song itself is certainly about/directed at alarmists or anxiety-ridden people of any kind.
@realitysoldier how does 2011 man miss the mark on the world's simplest lyrics
@realitysoldier how does 2011 man miss the mark on the world's simplest lyrics