Where to begin with this beautiful piece of art… Arcade Fire continues to amaze with their both musical innovation and progressive lyrics.
My interpretation is developed from the lyrics and coupled with the music videos. The "reflection" alluded to is created from confirmation bias we create when searching for our salvation. The song begins with “Trapped in a prism, in a prism of light”, the individual feels alienated. The individual then believes they have found the answer while they begin a journey with love, or with religion, or whatever the object of their affective is. The individual then has the epiphany “I thought I found the connector It’s just a Reflektor (It's just a Reflektor)”. The “connector” is not love or religion, it is just an illusion created by our own perspective. My interpretation is that Arcade Fire is pleading for the audience to lift the veil or ignorance. Pleading to understand that our own perspectives alter the way we see the world. Even so far as the god or salvation we create for ourselves is ultimately just the reflection of who we are. The line with David Bowie “Thought you would bring me to the resurrector, Turns out it was just a Reflektor (It’s just a Reflektor)” creates this belief.” While this interpretation may appear to create a discomforting or sad song, I belief Arcade Fire is celebrating the realization of our own illusion. In the video a celebration takes place towards the end of the song and the chords become much lighter. They are urging us all to “break free” from this prism and appreciate the world for what it is. We can find peace in accepting each other for our differences because we understand that we are all innately human.
The genius of Arcade Fire is further demonstrated from the irony that our own perspectives create a reflection of this song. The interpretation I just provided may be more reflective of me and my beliefs than of the song itself.
Nice catch with Bowie, Arcade Fire seems to constantly homage various acts in their recent albums, I heard Brian Wilson/Beach Boys in Suburbs, and even Violent Femmes with Normal Person, it feels as though, like Bowie did with Dylan and countless other rockers, James Murphy seems to shamelessly and unapologetic-ally reflect his knowledge and place in time (instead of, like many modern acts, pretending that past music and influences never happened).
Nice catch with Bowie, Arcade Fire seems to constantly homage various acts in their recent albums, I heard Brian Wilson/Beach Boys in Suburbs, and even Violent Femmes with Normal Person, it feels as though, like Bowie did with Dylan and countless other rockers, James Murphy seems to shamelessly and unapologetic-ally reflect his knowledge and place in time (instead of, like many modern acts, pretending that past music and influences never happened).
This whole album is far more critical and spiritual than the previous, part of me wonders if the influence of Haitian music goes beyond mere sound and drum...
This whole album is far more critical and spiritual than the previous, part of me wonders if the influence of Haitian music goes beyond mere sound and drum beats, perhaps recognizing the power of polytheism and the way traditional African/Native American religion survived the Catholic church. There are some aboriginal beliefs, such as the camera stealing your soul, and the idea that heaven without music doesn't make any sense (as it wouldn't for African cultural spirituality).
Also, like the Bowie song in Ziggy Stardust, there are all kinds of love, reflecitons of love, and I think Murphy is presenting the same sentiment: I thought I was this kind of spiritual, but now I find I'm this other kind, I thought I was in love with this girl when I was younger, but are we still even friends now? Great album, great song.
Where to begin with this beautiful piece of art… Arcade Fire continues to amaze with their both musical innovation and progressive lyrics. My interpretation is developed from the lyrics and coupled with the music videos. The "reflection" alluded to is created from confirmation bias we create when searching for our salvation. The song begins with “Trapped in a prism, in a prism of light”, the individual feels alienated. The individual then believes they have found the answer while they begin a journey with love, or with religion, or whatever the object of their affective is. The individual then has the epiphany “I thought I found the connector It’s just a Reflektor (It's just a Reflektor)”. The “connector” is not love or religion, it is just an illusion created by our own perspective. My interpretation is that Arcade Fire is pleading for the audience to lift the veil or ignorance. Pleading to understand that our own perspectives alter the way we see the world. Even so far as the god or salvation we create for ourselves is ultimately just the reflection of who we are. The line with David Bowie “Thought you would bring me to the resurrector, Turns out it was just a Reflektor (It’s just a Reflektor)” creates this belief.” While this interpretation may appear to create a discomforting or sad song, I belief Arcade Fire is celebrating the realization of our own illusion. In the video a celebration takes place towards the end of the song and the chords become much lighter. They are urging us all to “break free” from this prism and appreciate the world for what it is. We can find peace in accepting each other for our differences because we understand that we are all innately human. The genius of Arcade Fire is further demonstrated from the irony that our own perspectives create a reflection of this song. The interpretation I just provided may be more reflective of me and my beliefs than of the song itself.
Nice catch with Bowie, Arcade Fire seems to constantly homage various acts in their recent albums, I heard Brian Wilson/Beach Boys in Suburbs, and even Violent Femmes with Normal Person, it feels as though, like Bowie did with Dylan and countless other rockers, James Murphy seems to shamelessly and unapologetic-ally reflect his knowledge and place in time (instead of, like many modern acts, pretending that past music and influences never happened).
Nice catch with Bowie, Arcade Fire seems to constantly homage various acts in their recent albums, I heard Brian Wilson/Beach Boys in Suburbs, and even Violent Femmes with Normal Person, it feels as though, like Bowie did with Dylan and countless other rockers, James Murphy seems to shamelessly and unapologetic-ally reflect his knowledge and place in time (instead of, like many modern acts, pretending that past music and influences never happened).
This whole album is far more critical and spiritual than the previous, part of me wonders if the influence of Haitian music goes beyond mere sound and drum...
This whole album is far more critical and spiritual than the previous, part of me wonders if the influence of Haitian music goes beyond mere sound and drum beats, perhaps recognizing the power of polytheism and the way traditional African/Native American religion survived the Catholic church. There are some aboriginal beliefs, such as the camera stealing your soul, and the idea that heaven without music doesn't make any sense (as it wouldn't for African cultural spirituality).
Also, like the Bowie song in Ziggy Stardust, there are all kinds of love, reflecitons of love, and I think Murphy is presenting the same sentiment: I thought I was this kind of spiritual, but now I find I'm this other kind, I thought I was in love with this girl when I was younger, but are we still even friends now? Great album, great song.