While S.O.A.D. is on an indefinite hiatus, Serj recently embarked on a mission to release a solo album titled "Elect The Dead". The entire album was written, performed, orchestrated, and produced by Serj in his home studio. My review: Frickin' awesome.I've always been a fan of music that does more than make me want to tap my toes or hum. I like my music to really make me think or to give me new perspectives or paradigms. Granted, I think we all gave our guilty pleasures , or 'fluff' music (Leslie and the LY's) that we enjoy, but my list of true favorites either makes me think deeper or tap into some primal emotions. Korn, Marilyn Manson, System of a Down, Linkin Park (especially their recent album); all of these bands have an exterior that many people never see beyond. Once you get past that and listen to what these people are saying, it is fascinating.
Getting back to Serj's new album, even the title has a profound meaning. He is saying that our current leaders do not have the strength or will to run this country and care for it's best interests. He is saying we need to elect the living, functioning ideas of dead leaders from our past instead of going with the dead, broken ideas of our living leaders.
The underlying message which runs throughout "Elect The Dead" is also very, very eye opening.
Our civilization is failing. Every day, our population grows at a more rapid rate and our resources to survive decrease at an equal pace. Human Society is not sustainable and will eventually collapse. We as a species need to decide what to do to survive. We, as intelligent creatures need to look at ourselves and say, "Okay, this whole civilization thing didn't work out. What do we have to live for. What do we have to do to continue on?"
Serj elaborated in a recent interview that 'civilization' has existed for about 10,000 years. Before that time, humanity still existed indigenously and was in touch with the Earth. They had relationship with it. Once civilizations blossomed and began rapidly expanding the relationship became all about taking from and exploiting the planet and losing that relationship with it. This behavior is scientifically destined to fail.
I have been chastised for taking an interest in 'doom and gloom' scenarios, but I truly find Serj's message frightening and astounding all at the same time.
The problem is so immense and far-reaching that it seems like all one can do is just watch the events unfold.
Below is Serj's video for "Empty Walls", the first single from the album. The video carries some very interesting messages about our (George Bush's) current war. I think the 'empty walls' has several meanings in the context of the song. I think it signifies the ignorance of our administration to see what is really happening. They're living behind safe comfortable walls apart from the turmoil. I think it also signifies the American peoples (lack of) understanding of the war and how it's only shown to us through the filters (walls) of the media. I think it signifies how we all tend to not see the bigger picture because we spend most of our time trapped inside the walls of our own minds.
The thing with Serj is, while he has his own messages and thoughts to convey in his songs, he likes to leave everything open to interpretation from the listener. I've heard other people say that the song is actually about the Armenian genocide and the Turkish government's attempts to cover it up for all these years (Serj is of Armenian descent), though the video would suggest otherwise. I've also heard that he doesn't necessarily always make his video pertinent to the song. What do you think the song means?
1 comment:
If you take the lyrics alone, I could see where the song could be interpreted as being about any number of useless conflicts.
However, the video appears to be referencing the current conflicts in Iraq. For example, you have the plane taking out the two identical block towers, and the kids pulling down the teddy bear with ropes, seeming to be a representation of the taking down of Saddam's statues.
Tony really likes the subtlety of the lyrics. I think I do as well. Now if we can get some people to listen...
I jive with your thoughts on the sustainability of the human race. In my mind, it seems we have two choices. If we want to keep the lifestyle and technology we have now, we are going to have to develop new sources of energy to provide power. Ones that don't sap the earth of her strength and that don't run out in less than 50 years. Or, we go waaaaay back in time to how we used to live, pre- industrialization. Either way we're going to have to make sacrifices. But it's hard to get old white people to do anything because nothing bad is likely to happen to them or their children because of our current practices. We are the ones who have to start thinking because we still have a good 60 plus years around here and our children will definitely come to harm over our current practices. Damn, I hate thinking. I need some TURKEY!!
Post a Comment