I will dedicate
And sacrifice my everything for just a second's worth
Of how my story's ending
And I wish I could know if the directions that I take
And all the choices that I make won't end up all for nothing
Show me what it's for
Make me understand it
I've been crawling in the dark looking for the answer
Is there something more than what I've been handed?
I've been crawling in the dark looking for the answer
Help me carry on
Assure me it's ok to use my heart and not my eyes
To navigate the darkness
Will the ending be ever coming suddenly?
Will I ever get to see the ending to my story?
Show me what it's for
Make me understand it
I've been crawling in the dark looking for the answer
Is there something more than what I've been handed?
I've been crawling in the dark looking for the answer
So when and how will I know?
How much further do I have to go?
How much longer until I finally know?
Because I'm looking and I just can't see what's in front of me
In front of me
Show me what it's for
Make me understand it
I've been crawling in the dark looking for the answer
Is there something more than what I've been handed?
I've been crawling in the dark looking for the answer
Hoobastank 2001
Hoobastank was formed in 1994 and is best known for their hit "The Reason". This song comes off their self-titled album.
I think the meaning to this song is quite intense and literally tells a story of life for many. This song came across my playlist this last week and blew me away. I never really listened to it before. I have to say the song hit some thoughts of mine on the head.
Just to have 15 seconds to see my future, or how my life is going to turn out would be amazing. Feeling like you never know where you are going, how you will get there or what speed bumps are going to knock you off your path. Everyday we make choices, most are small, what to wear, what to eat, do I really want to go to the gym? These choices are rather trivial. But than there are the choices we have to make that affect our entire life and the lives of others. These are the ones that scare the hell out of me.
I think this song truly says show me where I am going and which path to take, who the singer is talking to is for you to determine.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
Aesthetics of Hate
You tried to spit in the eye
Of a dead man's face
Attacked the ways of a man
Not yet in his grave
But your hate was over all too soon
Because nothing is over
And nothing's through,
Till we bury you
For the love of brother
I will sing this fucking song
Aesthetics of hate,
I hope you burn in Hell
The words I read on the screen
Left me fucking sick
I felt the hatred rising
You son of a bitch
You branded us pathetic for our respect
But he made us driven,
Such deep reverence,
Far beyond the rest
For the love of brother
I will sing these fucking words
Aesthetics of hate,
I hope you burn in Hell
Long live memories
Live this freedom vicariously
Defend tenfold
His honor we'll always uphold
For the love of brother
I will say these fucking words
No silence against ignorance
Iconoclast, I hope you burn
Burn in Hell
May the hand of God strike them down
- Machine Head (2007)
Probably one of the current scene's most underrated bands, Machine Head has carved a nice fan base through hard work and perseverance. They have been accused of being trendy (The Burning Red does have some nu-metal influences), but overall their output has been consistently good and their sound has slowly evolved over the years, rather than radically changed (*cough* Metallica *cough* Korn *cough* Disturbed). The Blackening (2007), from which this song is taken, has been hailed as their best album to date (coming both with commercial success and a Grammy nomination).
On December 8, 2004, while on stage and performing with the band Damageplan in Columbus, OH, former Pantera guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbot was murdered by a crazed Pantera fan. The man had not even been buried when an article in "The Iconoclast" by William Grim, entitled "Aesthetics of Hate - RIP Dimebag Abbot and Good Riddance" appeared to be cheering the death of a heavy metal icon. Grim used the occasion of the murder to argue that Dimebag brought this crime on himself, to insult both metal musicians and fans (including some direct insults to Dimebag himself), to advance a political agenda, and to show his elitism toward almost everyone else in the world.
As you can probably tell, this article enraged a lot of fans and inspired Robb Flynn (founder of the Machine Head) to write the lyrics to the above song. Dimebage was considered an all around great person, a friend to many, an inspiration to many to learn how to play guitar, and one of the best guitar players in the world of rock music. The article not only insulted Dimebag, but broke a long held taboo of never speaking ill of the dead. Flynn calls out Grim for his insults and calls out the fans to defend the honor of a fallen brother. Notice how he doesn't call for violence against Grim... he knows that Grim will be judged upon his death, and he let's him know that God will not forget this black mark in Grim's book of life.
As for deep meaning, there really is none beyond it being a response to a hateful article written by a man who just didn't like heavy metal music. Musically this song does make for a great mosh pit as you can almost feel the spit and venom of Flynn's anger at the insult to the memory of Dimebag. The guitar solos are blistering and a tribute to a man, who with his band Pantera, helped keep heavy metal from fading into irrelevance in the 1990's. I can't call this my favorite Machine Head song (that honor goes to "Imperium") but this is definitely some of Robb Flynn's best songwriting.
You can read a copy of the article here: http://www.otakucenter.com/aesthetics-hate-r-i-p-dimebag-t41005.html
What do you think, Mardi?
Of a dead man's face
Attacked the ways of a man
Not yet in his grave
But your hate was over all too soon
Because nothing is over
And nothing's through,
Till we bury you
For the love of brother
I will sing this fucking song
Aesthetics of hate,
I hope you burn in Hell
The words I read on the screen
Left me fucking sick
I felt the hatred rising
You son of a bitch
You branded us pathetic for our respect
But he made us driven,
Such deep reverence,
Far beyond the rest
For the love of brother
I will sing these fucking words
Aesthetics of hate,
I hope you burn in Hell
Long live memories
Live this freedom vicariously
Defend tenfold
His honor we'll always uphold
For the love of brother
I will say these fucking words
No silence against ignorance
Iconoclast, I hope you burn
Burn in Hell
May the hand of God strike them down
- Machine Head (2007)
Probably one of the current scene's most underrated bands, Machine Head has carved a nice fan base through hard work and perseverance. They have been accused of being trendy (The Burning Red does have some nu-metal influences), but overall their output has been consistently good and their sound has slowly evolved over the years, rather than radically changed (*cough* Metallica *cough* Korn *cough* Disturbed). The Blackening (2007), from which this song is taken, has been hailed as their best album to date (coming both with commercial success and a Grammy nomination).
On December 8, 2004, while on stage and performing with the band Damageplan in Columbus, OH, former Pantera guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbot was murdered by a crazed Pantera fan. The man had not even been buried when an article in "The Iconoclast" by William Grim, entitled "Aesthetics of Hate - RIP Dimebag Abbot and Good Riddance" appeared to be cheering the death of a heavy metal icon. Grim used the occasion of the murder to argue that Dimebag brought this crime on himself, to insult both metal musicians and fans (including some direct insults to Dimebag himself), to advance a political agenda, and to show his elitism toward almost everyone else in the world.
As you can probably tell, this article enraged a lot of fans and inspired Robb Flynn (founder of the Machine Head) to write the lyrics to the above song. Dimebage was considered an all around great person, a friend to many, an inspiration to many to learn how to play guitar, and one of the best guitar players in the world of rock music. The article not only insulted Dimebag, but broke a long held taboo of never speaking ill of the dead. Flynn calls out Grim for his insults and calls out the fans to defend the honor of a fallen brother. Notice how he doesn't call for violence against Grim... he knows that Grim will be judged upon his death, and he let's him know that God will not forget this black mark in Grim's book of life.
As for deep meaning, there really is none beyond it being a response to a hateful article written by a man who just didn't like heavy metal music. Musically this song does make for a great mosh pit as you can almost feel the spit and venom of Flynn's anger at the insult to the memory of Dimebag. The guitar solos are blistering and a tribute to a man, who with his band Pantera, helped keep heavy metal from fading into irrelevance in the 1990's. I can't call this my favorite Machine Head song (that honor goes to "Imperium") but this is definitely some of Robb Flynn's best songwriting.
You can read a copy of the article here: http://www.otakucenter.com/aesthetics-hate-r-i-p-dimebag-t41005.html
What do you think, Mardi?
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Conflict
You are enemy
You are my hated enemy
I am enemy
Number-one rated enemy
I'm a labeled enemy
I am your mortal enemy
My actions enemy
Make me your bitter enemy
Chorus:
All the world around enemy
They're tearing up the ground enemy
They're drawn in by the sound
Enemy, enemy, I must eliminate my enemy
Your people enemy
My people's hated enemy
What are you enemy
Though a created enemy
Terminate the enemy
Eradicate the hated enemy
I am an enemy
My very greatest enemy
Chorus
You try to tell me that you love life
Then find another way to kill life
Wanting, love life
Needing, kill life
Wanting, love life
Needing, kill your
Enemy
Disturbed 2000
Disturbed was formed in 1996 when singer David Draiman joined the band. Prior to that they were known as Brawl. Vocalist Erich Awalt left the band after recording a demo and the thus Draiman found his opening. Since then Disturbed has sold over 11 million records and have released three consecutive studio albums that have debuted at number-one on the Billboard 200.
This song comes off Disturbed's debut album "The Sickness" which was released in March of 2000. I think in general this is one of those songs where there are a million different interpretations but one can usually fit it somewhere into their life at any given time. You can look at from a very deep, serious perspective. The enemy here being war or a good vs. evil theory. It could mean to someone a personal battle, be it drugs or alcohol, any addiction that threatens ones well being.
I heard this song while on the track today and I couldn't help but think it sort of fit. Not nearly as serious as the above mentioned ideas but fitting to me personally none the less. My "enemy" at that moment was quitting, stopping when my legs were tired, sitting down when my shins began to tense but I didn't instead I pushed harder and faster. My determination to "beat" the desire to quit was much stronger and at the end of the run I felt fantastic. In general the song has much stronger lyrics I think than simply wanting to quit running but at the moment in time when it played it fit in perfectly.
So this was my anthem for the day, what do you think?
You are my hated enemy
I am enemy
Number-one rated enemy
I'm a labeled enemy
I am your mortal enemy
My actions enemy
Make me your bitter enemy
Chorus:
All the world around enemy
They're tearing up the ground enemy
They're drawn in by the sound
Enemy, enemy, I must eliminate my enemy
Your people enemy
My people's hated enemy
What are you enemy
Though a created enemy
Terminate the enemy
Eradicate the hated enemy
I am an enemy
My very greatest enemy
Chorus
You try to tell me that you love life
Then find another way to kill life
Wanting, love life
Needing, kill life
Wanting, love life
Needing, kill your
Enemy
Disturbed 2000
Disturbed was formed in 1996 when singer David Draiman joined the band. Prior to that they were known as Brawl. Vocalist Erich Awalt left the band after recording a demo and the thus Draiman found his opening. Since then Disturbed has sold over 11 million records and have released three consecutive studio albums that have debuted at number-one on the Billboard 200.
This song comes off Disturbed's debut album "The Sickness" which was released in March of 2000. I think in general this is one of those songs where there are a million different interpretations but one can usually fit it somewhere into their life at any given time. You can look at from a very deep, serious perspective. The enemy here being war or a good vs. evil theory. It could mean to someone a personal battle, be it drugs or alcohol, any addiction that threatens ones well being.
I heard this song while on the track today and I couldn't help but think it sort of fit. Not nearly as serious as the above mentioned ideas but fitting to me personally none the less. My "enemy" at that moment was quitting, stopping when my legs were tired, sitting down when my shins began to tense but I didn't instead I pushed harder and faster. My determination to "beat" the desire to quit was much stronger and at the end of the run I felt fantastic. In general the song has much stronger lyrics I think than simply wanting to quit running but at the moment in time when it played it fit in perfectly.
So this was my anthem for the day, what do you think?
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
All I Need
Kissing you was not what I had planned
And now I'm not sure just where I stand
I wasn't looking for true love
But now you're looking at me
You're the only one I can think of
You're the only one I see
All I need
Is just a little more time
To be sure what I feel
Is it all in my mind?
'Cause it seems to so hard to believe
That you're all I need
Yes it's true we've all been hurt before
But it doesn't seem to matter anymore
It may be a chance we're taking
But it always comes to this
If this isn't love we're making
Then I don't know what it is
All I need
Is just a little more time
To be sure what I feel
Is it all in my mind?
'Cause it seems so hard to believe
All I need
Is just a little more time
To be sure what I feel
Is it all in my mind?
'Cause it seems so hard to believe
That you're all I need
No stars are out tonight
But we're shining our light
And it's never felt so right
'Cause girl the way I'm feeling
It's easy to believe
That you're all I need
Ahhh
You're all I need
Ahhh ahhhhh
- Jack Wagner (1984)
Since Mardi decided to take us into the 8th Circle of Hell, Bolgia 10 (the place for Falsifiers), I decided to pull back a little bit and take us out to the 2nd Circle (the place for Gluttons). Although, if you're any sort of music snob, you could consider this to be in the 6th Circle (the place for Heretics).
Jack Wagner made his fame as an actor in soap operas. Like so many who have tried before and after, he tried his hand at a musical career and didn't really get anywhere beyond the one-hit wonder stage (*cough* Bruce Willis *cough* Don Johnson). To his credit, he did have a couple of songs besides "All I Need" in the top 100, but the highest they ever got was #67 (this particular song went all the way to #2). That's not to say he doesn't possess a modicum of musical talent as he did have at least 1 role in musical theater.
What's to say about this song? It's an attempt at a smooth melodic love song, the type made for slow dancing in the high school gym as the 7th and 8th grade couples profess their never-ending love for one another. The lyrics are pretty generic love song fare, nothing really special there, either. One thing I do remember was reading a review of the album in the Syracuse Herald-American... the critic was none-too-kind to Mr. Wagner.
All in all, this song was one of those that is consigned to the dustbin of musical history, to be resurrected in blogs such as this. I just hope we don't lose too many readers after these last 2 songs.
And now I'm not sure just where I stand
I wasn't looking for true love
But now you're looking at me
You're the only one I can think of
You're the only one I see
All I need
Is just a little more time
To be sure what I feel
Is it all in my mind?
'Cause it seems to so hard to believe
That you're all I need
Yes it's true we've all been hurt before
But it doesn't seem to matter anymore
It may be a chance we're taking
But it always comes to this
If this isn't love we're making
Then I don't know what it is
All I need
Is just a little more time
To be sure what I feel
Is it all in my mind?
'Cause it seems so hard to believe
All I need
Is just a little more time
To be sure what I feel
Is it all in my mind?
'Cause it seems so hard to believe
That you're all I need
No stars are out tonight
But we're shining our light
And it's never felt so right
'Cause girl the way I'm feeling
It's easy to believe
That you're all I need
Ahhh
You're all I need
Ahhh ahhhhh
- Jack Wagner (1984)
Since Mardi decided to take us into the 8th Circle of Hell, Bolgia 10 (the place for Falsifiers), I decided to pull back a little bit and take us out to the 2nd Circle (the place for Gluttons). Although, if you're any sort of music snob, you could consider this to be in the 6th Circle (the place for Heretics).
Jack Wagner made his fame as an actor in soap operas. Like so many who have tried before and after, he tried his hand at a musical career and didn't really get anywhere beyond the one-hit wonder stage (*cough* Bruce Willis *cough* Don Johnson). To his credit, he did have a couple of songs besides "All I Need" in the top 100, but the highest they ever got was #67 (this particular song went all the way to #2). That's not to say he doesn't possess a modicum of musical talent as he did have at least 1 role in musical theater.
What's to say about this song? It's an attempt at a smooth melodic love song, the type made for slow dancing in the high school gym as the 7th and 8th grade couples profess their never-ending love for one another. The lyrics are pretty generic love song fare, nothing really special there, either. One thing I do remember was reading a review of the album in the Syracuse Herald-American... the critic was none-too-kind to Mr. Wagner.
All in all, this song was one of those that is consigned to the dustbin of musical history, to be resurrected in blogs such as this. I just hope we don't lose too many readers after these last 2 songs.
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