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revelation
Song Analysis: Tool "Vicarious" - Subscribe
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Ok this song stresses alot of reasons why media is a downfall. Tool totally nails alot of my views of the media with this. It is Tool's "Vicarious". Here ya go! "I own the tv Cause tragedy thrills me Whatever flavor it happens to be like Killed by the husband Drowned by the ocean Shot by his own son he used to poison" --This verse is the truth. Humans love tragedy. We watch movies with killings, death, mayhem, etc. Especially the news. We will sit glued to the tv as long as the news is bad. No matter what it is.-- "And in his dream He kissed him goodbye That's my kind of story It's no fun 'til someone dies" --He's right movies, and what not are horrible unless someone dies. The movie sucked if someone didn't die.-- "Don't look me at like I am a monster Frown out your one face But with the other Stare like a junkie into the TV Stare like a zombie" --Don't look at me like I am monster... He is saying that, your thinking it, he's saying it. You know it to be true. No matter how much you want to deny it, we love violence and what not. We will stare at the tv with baited breath to see what we can find on it.-- "While the mother holds her child Watches him die Hands to the sky crying Why, oh why?" --Just a show of what kind of tragedy we enjoy seeing on the tv. Nothing too abnormal-- "Cause I need to watch things die From a distance Vicariously I live while the whole world dies You all need it too, don't lie" --Here is the honest truth lol. We love to watch tragedy as long as its not ours. We experience it second hand (definition of vicarious) while others suffer. And he tells you to not deny that you too love watching tragedy.-- "Why can't we just admit it? Why can't we just admit it? We won't give pause until the blood is flowing Neither the brave nor bold Were writers the stories told We won't give pause until the blood is flowing" --We can't admit it out loud how much we actually do like the violence. We only stop when the blood is pouring. It's very true-- "I need to watch things die From a good safe distance Vicariously I live while the whole world dies You all feel the same, so" --Chorus again-- "Why can't we just admit it? Blood like rain come down Drawn by grave and mound" --Another description of how much we are attracted to tragedy-- "Part vampire Part warrior Carnivore and voyeur Still have the transmitter Sink to the death rattle" --Vampire in the fact we love death and blood. Warrior in the fact that we fight to find something that makes us feel more like a vampire. The transmitter is the remote.-- "La, la, la, la, la, la-la-lie" --just sing along with this one =)-- "Credulous at best Your desire to believe in Angels in the hearts of men But pull your head on out Your head please And give a listen Shouldn't have to say it all again" --This line is pretty much just a slap in the face for reality to sink in. Everyone wants to believe that there is all good in some people. Tool says Bullshit. Pull your head out your ass, and take a look and view all the violence. Think about how we stare at the tv for anything graphic!-- "The universe is hostile, so impersonal Devour to survive so it is, So it's always been" --The universe is survival of the fittest. Kill or be killed. The law of the universe right there.-- "We all feed on tragedy It's like blood to a vampire" --Our day is not full unless we have consumed some form of death, decay, torture, punishment, etc.-- "Vicariously I... Live while the whole world dies Much better you, than I" --There ya go. Vicarious by Tool. A very kick ass song. Lots of meaning in what they sing usually. Expect more lyrical analysis from them soon.-- |
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3 Comments
Mood: vicious A Radical Dreamers journey through despair: whilst Vicariously watching the whole world die. |
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revelation
Rock music and why its bleeding. Mar 5th, 2007 2:48:41 pm - Subscribe
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So I got to thinking about rock music again today, yesterday, well I guess the other day. I think I have an idea as what the problem with rock music is today...Visuals. Rock, Metal, Hard Rock, Emo Rock, Punk Rock, all rock, is leaning over to trying to visually impress the audience. For example Slipknot. Some of you don't care for them but you like Stone Sour which I totally find hilarious, as it is pretty much the same band. When they first came on the scene they all wore masks, walked around wtih baseball bats, spike chains, and various other things. I couldn't take them seriously to be honest. Recently they have removed the masks. Which now I can stomach seeing them on tv. The thing is, I was so caught up in their visual style (which I hated), that I did not pay attention to the content of their lyrics. Yes Slipknot does yell alot, but looking past that; if you read their lyrics or listen to them in depth, they are actually a pretty awesome band with great song writing for the most part (remember "Through The Glass" and "Bother" which are songs by Stone Sour, but the lead singer for SS is also Slipknots lead singer), you can't deny the guy has a great voice. Then we have one of my favorites, Mudvayne. They first hit the scene wearing paint all over their faces, not to mention the names (I don't know who comes up with names for band members, but its ridiculous). They yell alot too. However when you read their lyrics, you see alot of what they are saying. I'm a huge fan of 90's music honestly. Tool, Sublime, Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains, etc. And my point is this. None of those bands had a visual gimmick besides the fact that some dressed grungy... because they were considered grunge rock. Take for instance the band Tool. Great sound, make absolutely beautiful music. Lyrics are very in-depth. Alot of their songs are about flaws in Society. Schizm, the failure of communication. Vicarious, humans nature to be attracted to tragedy. The Pot, usage of narcotics and the finger pointings. The point being, the lyrics make sense, have a meaning of sense, and they avoid flashy visuals. Rage Against the Machine... Shouldn't have to say anything here, but I will. Tom F'in Morello. Quite possibly one of the best guitarist of our time, right there with Jack White of the White Stripes. Audioslave and RAtM have both broken up but Tommy boy can get another band if he so chooses and continue on his merry way. But back to RAtM. They didn't have masks, face paint, etc... Instead they had lyrics and an outstanding sound. You may disagree with what they stood for, but the fact remains that they were at least meaningful in what they sang. And you ask me around when rock music started bleeding? I would be bold enough to say Nirvana started killing rock. Kurt came along at just the right time, he inspired an audience of people who just loved hearing something made up of non-sense. Teen Spirit is the one song I can place the finger on at the moment that is proof. Kurt himself said that the song had no meaning or any linking to the words. You can tell. A mosquito, my libido...wtf? That was when we all learned, that anyone could grab a guitar, scribble down some lyrics, learn 2-3 chords, wail on the guitar, sing horribly into the mic, cut a record, make a few thousands. I like classic rock, but I don't idolize like all these other rock buffs. I could care less for Hendrix honestly, ok sure he could play, as could Clapton... but you know what. Their time has passed. They are music of generations before my time. I prefer to find the bands of our generation. Floyd is not my generation. Led Zeppelin, yep you guessed it, not ours. The Beatles, however great you think they are, are not in our generation. Classic Rock is good don't get me wrong. But I don't see me sanctifying music that is 40 years old. Thats not me. I am 21 years old. I grew up on Live, Pearl Jam, A.I.C., Linkin Park, Disturbed, Breaking Benjamin, Korn, Limp Bizkit, RAtM, and up. I want to have some 40 years from now saying the exact same thing I am about the bands of our time. I want to turn the classic rock station on in 30 years and hear some of these bands that I enjoy. I know we have nothing truly spectacular in our time, like Stairway to Heaven, but me personally, I grow tired of classic rock like the flu. And there is a much larger variety out today. I beg to differ when someone says all bands these days are just going for quantity not quality. Of the bands I listen to of now-a-days music, Breaking Benjamin - all most all 3 cds are awesome in their whole. Staind - I could listen to Dysfunction and Break the Cycle all day. Disturbed - anyone have a 3 disc cd changer? I could go on and on. I'm not downing Classic Rock, nor am I protesting all the bands that are about a visual gimmick... just saying the music we have right now, is not horrible; its just that the market is flooded right now with so much rock. Thus why we won't have any super huge selling bands. Alot of the song writers are great overall, and the music is on par right now... regardless whether or not they use a distortion pedal. Its not who is better because of what they do with less equipment (look at Jack White, arguably one of the best ever, he doesn't use a dist pedal. In fact he tuned down his guitar big time to do 7 Nation Army.) Sometimes the more equipment you have the tougher it can be. Thats my 2 cents on the world of music for the day. Flame it, enjoy it, whatever. -=No Current Sig=- |
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revelation
They and That, Them and this. Mar 6th, 2007 11:24:20 am - Subscribe
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I give up with them. Them. They. Whoever I thought they are. They are the same as them. They were them who I once thought were they. But I found out they are actually them. Them? you who ask who they are. Not they. I do not like them. They were just figments of my inner thoughts. Them are real. I wish them would stop being hypocritical. They don't know how to stop them, nor do I. I don't know what them want. They are those I like. Them are those I do not. They are becoming them. They always turn into them. Everyone is them...it seems. Never will them become they again. I wouldn't mind having that. But I am stuck with this. This sucks. Thats great. This is hell. That is a far better thing than this. This can can only get better. That is what better is. I don't care for this. I only want that. I can't have that, instead I am stuck with this. And this purely sucks. They want me to have that. This is all I am receiving from them. They don't like this one bit. That is them being afraid of me losing this. I am comfortable with this, but I wouldn't mind experiencing that which they have to offer. What happens if I let them go and get rid of this? Do they come to me with that? No. They are weaker than them, but that is stronger than this. How does it happen? Blowing them out of my mind seems the option to stop this. Opening the door so they can bring that in, is step 2. It all comes down to me so they can stop them, eliminate this for that. Does everyone else battle them? Or have you always been on the side of they? |
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revelation
Philosophical Revelation. Mar 7th, 2007 1:42:35 pm - Subscribe
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Why do we live? I mean really. Why do we live? We were chosen to live. Like a lottery before being born was played. And we were picked to be born. Why? What for? There are no winners in life. We don't get out of life alive. We all have the same result...death. Stalin, and dorothy from gundam wing, said it best, "One should not fear death. Death is merely the end result given to you at the time of your birth. The death of one is a tragedy, but the death of many is a statistic". The people who have a hard time grasping the fact that all life dies, have never experienced death. People worry about death because they feel they did not live life to the fullest. Yes you did. Your life was a rat race to nothingness. An episode of reality t.v. all in futility. A radio broadcast on an empty station. You hear people discuss how "Before I die I want to see such-and-such". Why? Your memory will not carry on with you when you are gone. No one will care if you saw it, nor will you be around to argue with them about this. So I ask again "Why do we live?" I like to think there was life before I was born. As in there are people alive that will never be born. We managed to be born. We will reproduce more of the chosen ones to live, and so on and so on. All we do in life is bring more life into this world, and attempt to impart knowledge upon them. That more than likely they will not follow. The human race is in fact a dying breed. Well not necessarily dying out, but a race with no true future. Immortality will never occur. All we can do is prolong this life. Again I ask Why? What you do will not alter the future for anything but a time. Time is something we do not have much of. I also like to think that we only make improvements in life so it won't be so hard for people to get to death. Advancements in medicine just so we can be healthy enough to die of old age. So I leave you with the question for you to answer... "Why do we live?" or maybe its "Why do we struggle in vain?" |
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revelation
March 20th revisted. Mar 20th, 2007 7:12:12 pm - Subscribe
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We are back again. A year since I posted my most important blog ever. And as stated before, we are back for the 9th year. This year was different than the last. I had a lot of changes in this year. So without further adieu, lets get this started. P.S. This blog will have lyrics mainly from Staind and Shinedown, some various other artists may appear. "Your eyes tell the story of your pain. Severity of your disdain. In a world that doesn't care." - Staind "Reply" This year I learned alot more people suffer through the hardships of life. How have I been so ignorant not to see that people around me are suffering. They are suffering just the same as me, but in different ways, for different reasons. Was I fool to not see this? Maybe, maybe not. People didn't know I was till I spoke out. So therefore people can not read minds. If you are in a hole, speak out. Someone will listen. "Someone save me if you will and take away all these pills. And please just save me if you can, from the blasphemy in my wasteland." - Shinedown "Save Me" I learned alot more people in life have or are taking anti-depression pills. Some far greater doses and some that quit taking it all together. Me, I will take mine till they are done. I don't want the end result for me to be a "happy go lucky person". I want them to get me back to me. A person happy with himself. If I can get back there, I will be very ecstatic. "So where were you? When all this I was going through. You never took the time to ask me just what you could." - Staind "Fade" I stand at a crossroad of manhood and boyhood. This relates not to my mom and sisters, nor my friends, but more my family. As a boy I held animosity towards my family because I felt they were not there. As a man I have restrained that feeling and I see things clearly. As a boy I would bitch about how you never call to check in on me. But as a man I see both sides. I never made an attempt to reach you, how would you know I needed you to reach me? I do not think me foolish, for I was just a child till now. For when I was a child, I spoke as though I were a child. "I can't live in the past, and drown myself in memories." - Shinedown "In Memory" I think what has started to be the thorn in my side, is my memory. I can remember what people say, but now all my memories of him are fading. I try to go back to see him in my mind... but alas its like in the movies where people are faded in pictures and you can't see them. I know he was there, but I can't picture it too well now. I have 2 photos I keep above my computer that reminds me of the trip to Canada. He is in the pictures, and that helps me remember what he looks like. I can remember his arm that wears the watch I do now, but his face is fading. "How did I get here? And what went wrong? Couldn't handle forgiveness, now I'm far... beyond gone." - Shinedown "Save Me" I buried the hatchet recently. I didn't want to face forgiveness for feeling as though I were a bad grandchild. But that was a time when I spoke as a child. I went and seen my grandparents from my dads side today. They were shocked to see me. I know this is true. They seem to be doing well. I do believe they took it quite hard, just as much as I. Maybe even harder. I remember one thing my grandpa said that has always stuck with me "Fathers shouldn't have to bury their sons." I agree, but then again thats a tough thing to say. I used to believe this whole-heartedly, but that too, was when I spoke as a child. It's not your decision who buries who. Who am I to wish to trade one for another? Just like me. I miss him alot, but I would not have traded myself for his life. He would not want that. I was young and still have a lot more living to do. Not saying he had done all his, but I know he wouldn't want me to say that. "How bout a better version of me? The way I look, the way I speak. How bout a better version of me!" - Shinedown "Better Version" After speaking to my grandpa, I realize there is a lot more shit in my life I have to do before I am even half the man my dad was. He got into a story with me about my dad and why he joined the navy, and how he came to obtain his job in the power plant. And all he wanted me to remember was that "Your dad was sharp. He had a mind of his own. He could entertain himself if given the chance." and he also told me "Your mom said that anytime I needed something done around the house... I tried not to always ask him, but your dad was always trying to get time off to come help." I am not the smartest man in the world. I do think I have a bit of his intellect though. And I wish I was more of a go-to person like he was. My other grandpa felt the same way about my dad. My dad always helped both my grandparents when they asked, and he never complained about it. In fact I think he loved it. I didn't get much time with my dad, but looking back now, I see everything they say is true. "I feel like there is no need for, conversation. Some questions are better left without a reason." - Shinedown "Burning Bright" Me and my grandparents don't say much. But it was nice to see them again. Both sets of grandparents took care of me when I was young. I used to play used car salesman with my dad's dad. I would go over there with my matchbox cars and play those with him, and we would bargain and what not. Thats one of my fondest memories of my childhood. The trips out into the woods in the truck, and then to the "haunted farm house". My cousins know about that lol. "Everything changes if I could, turn back the years." - Staind "Everything Changes" Yea I don't live with regret, but if I could turn back the time, I would have stayed in more contact with that side of my family. I alienated myself from all my relatives, except my immediate family. I don't know if it was because of my childish fears or the thoughts of them hurting by seeing me. It makes you think that kind of stuff when you grandparents and his brothers and sisters say "He looks alot like Chris". I felt a bit like that was causing them some pain. But now I see, that maybe it was a comfort to them to see me. "Down in a hole. No self control. Feeling so small. I'd like to fly but my wings have been so denied." - Alice In Chains "Down In A Hole" Today always puts me in a rut. I only worked a half day today. I had taken some sleeping pills I was prescribed 2 months ago last night. And they were making me feel shitty at work today, plus I wanted to see my grandparents and go see the gravesite. "Falling is easy. It's getting back up that becomes the problem. If you can't believe you can find your way out, you've become the problem." - Staind "Falling" Falling into this consistant mudhole is my problem. I know today has put me in a rut that I will get a bit up the hill afterwards and slide back into again eventually. I am close to believing I can get out of it. I'm not giving up on it. It's always darkest just before dawn. If I can survive the night, I can basque in the day. "Have you ever felt lost inside, so unloved within that you almost died. Have you ever stepped out of the light and realized, theres a stranger inside." - Shinedown "Stranger Inside" I fit both of those statements. I don't feel like I love myself like I should. Like right now I am drinking some whiskey while I type this. I know thats not good to do, and it's bad for me, but whats wrong with crutching yourself one day a year? I have stepped out of the light and I know there is someone in me I don't like much. Its the extremist. It swung me from being unselfish, to selfish in .002 seconds. I don't like the guy thats living within me. He is a fool. He won't be staying much longer. I think I have remembered who "me" is. But first... "All my faith is gone. You think I couldn't find it. Pieces falling down shattered, nothing behind it. In my mind alone, lost here I'm separated. Crawl deeper in my hole, safe here from what I hated" - Staind "A Flat" (My All time favorite song possibly) My religion seems to be coming back a bit. I am going to stop saying "GD" from now on. If I do say it, I will slap myself. I have both a St. Christopher and St. Michael necklace. I do believe in them though I am not devout Catholic. But it is faith in something, and what better than watchful guardians deemed from Jesus himself? I am not going to become a recluse, but I am going to start keeping things to myself a bit more, a bit more protective of my feelings. Because when you put everything out there on a line of fishing wire, the line can break. Thats not to say I'm not going to tell someone when I do slip back into a deep depression, just I am going to stop throwing everything into the wind for people to take a swing at. "And I'm staring down the barrel of a .45." - Shinedown ".45" Been there before (figuratively) not going back there again. That place sucks. Thats not me. I am by nature cynical, sarcastic, humorous, anxious, and various other things. Those are not defining of depression. I can be those things again, which is the Justin I was comfortable with and others were in agreement with. "In some ways, I failed you. But I just ran out of time" - Shinedown "Someday" I have failed some people with some of things I have said and done, but I don't think I have ran out of time yet. And if there is a time limit, I am sorry if I didn't make the cut. Jessica I am sorry for not being quite as understanding of your situation as I should have been. Again I spoke that day as though I were a child. I should be more mindful of my friends and their problems. I know I was a bit outlandish sometimes. I was there for some, but not there for others. Some were there for me, and others were not. Unfortunately I was not there for the ones that were there for me. "So I speak to you in riddles. Cause my words get in my way. Smoke the whole thing to my head, and feel it wash away. Cause I can't take anymore of this, I want to come apart" - Staind "Epiphany" Alot of what comes out of my mouth makes no sense to some people. But know this, its a convoluted message I'm giving you sometimes because I can't find the proper way to express it. I think sometimes I am just going to let it drift to the back of my mind and have that clear it out. I can't take the weird looks people give me sometimes after I say something in that state. "I dare you to tell me to walk through fire. Grab my soul and call me a liar. I dare you to tell me. I dare you to!" - Shinedown "I Dare You" I dare someone to say I haven't been through anything in my life. Or to elaborate why I have. Anyone who has been through hardships (which should be damn near everyone) should stand up in this way. No one should ever make you define why you think something is bad. If you have the conviction for it, you shouldn't have to explain it. However if you come off flighty, you obviously don't know. "You. Understand my pain. From this I gather strength. That we are the same. So thank you for, the letters that you thought you wrote... in vain. And for... the times you chose to stand out in the rain and wait... The life I live would never be the same without...you here" - Staind "Reply" To say nobody understands what I am going through is both a fact and fiction. No one will ever go through a situation like you do, but at the same time they have been in a situation similar to yours in their own way... we all have. And I want to thank everyone who gave me insight to their hardships. It was well worth knowing how you got out of your rut. I may or may not ever get out of mine, but if I can get back to being who I was before everything started happening... I will be a happy person. Again thank you to everyone. Peace, love, and the pursuit of happiness... Justin |