Listen to Stranger in Moscow via YouTube
Michael sets the tone of the song with dark and melancholy imagery. He skillfully uses Russian history of Joseph Stalin's memory and the KGB to describe his pain and it's source. Michael sings, "I was wandering in the rain, mask of life, feelin' insane. Swift and sudden fall from grace. Sunny days seem far away, Kremlin's shadow belittlin' me. Stalin's tomb won't let me be. On and on and on it came, wish the rain would just let me be."
Jackson describes his isolation and deep sadness as rain. he doesn't see it getting better anytime soon. He accounts his fall from grace which came as the child molestations surfaced in 1993. He refers to himself as Stalin, a reference to Joseph Stalin, a war criminal in Russian history.
In verse two, Michael sings, "here abandoned in my fame, Armageddon of the brain. KGB was doggin' me, take my name and just let me be. Then a beggar boy called my name, happy days will drown the pain. On and on and on it came, and again, and again, and again... Take my name and just let me be"
This verse directly speaks to the media, who he calls the KGB, the intelligence and secret police organization of the Soviet Union in the 1800s. Jackson refers to his ridicule and victimization by the media as they spied on his life and manipulated the details to publicly incriminate him. Jackson repeats a line, "take my name and just let me be," It is a desperate plea to take everything he has but to just leave him in peace.
Jackson repeats the lines "how does it feel," "I'm living lonely," stranger in Moscow," and "we're talking danger" throughout the entire song. This enforces his isolation and despair in his life and a cry to the world that he's at the end of his rope.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Stranger in Moscow - Michael Jackson: Background and Muse
(image credit to fanpop.com)
Michael Jackson was an American pop singer who reigned in the late 80's and through the 90's decade as the King of Pop. He was a former child star, lead singer of the famous band The Jackson 5. He emerged as a solo artist and became one of the most famous singers of all time. As a global success, chart-topper, and record-breaker, he had received incomparable scrutiny from the public eye. A part of many scandals and such harsh criticism, Michael Jackson seemed to quickly play the villain role in the media despite his immense global influence and incredible production of music.
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"Stranger in Moscow" was one of many songs written that reflected Jackson's pain by the unforgiving hands of the media and his critics. Stranger in Moscow was written in a hotel room in Moscow in 1993, while Jackson was on his Dangerous World Tour. The song was released as off the HIStory album in 1996. It is arguably Jackson's most personal song.
Despite his indirect cries for mercy through his music and his continued positive outlook, he could never attain the peace he so desperately wanted until his untimely death in 2009.
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"Stranger in Moscow" was one of many songs written that reflected Jackson's pain by the unforgiving hands of the media and his critics. Stranger in Moscow was written in a hotel room in Moscow in 1993, while Jackson was on his Dangerous World Tour. The song was released as off the HIStory album in 1996. It is arguably Jackson's most personal song.
Despite his indirect cries for mercy through his music and his continued positive outlook, he could never attain the peace he so desperately wanted until his untimely death in 2009.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Hero - Nickelback: Full Song Interpretation
Listen to Hero by Nickelback via YouTube
Chad seems to sing in the voice of the hero, Spider Man "I am so high. I can hear heaven... oh but heaven, no heaven don't hear me." He seems describing flying so high in the air as he swings from building to building. He's so high he thinks he can hear heaven, but heaven doesn't hear him because he's alone saving the town with no help.
The chorus begins with Chad singing, "and they say that a hero can save us, I'm not gonna stand here and wait." This seems to mean that man always believes that there is going to be someone there to save them when something goes wrong but the hero, Spider Man, is not going to stand there and wait for that person to come, he's going to rise to the occasion,
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Chad then sings "someone told me love will all save us. but how can that be, look what love gave us: a world full of killing, and blood-spilling; that world never came." In a perfect world, love will conquer all and everyone would love harmoniously in peace. But that's impossible with a world full of crime and war. That perfect world never came.
Next Chad changes the tone and sings "now that the world isn't ending, its love that I'm sending to you. It isn't the love of a hero and thats why I fear it won't do." He's saying that, now that he's saved the world, he's sending love to his people. But he's afraid that his love won't be enough to keep the peace.
Chad seems to sing in the voice of the hero, Spider Man "I am so high. I can hear heaven... oh but heaven, no heaven don't hear me." He seems describing flying so high in the air as he swings from building to building. He's so high he thinks he can hear heaven, but heaven doesn't hear him because he's alone saving the town with no help.
The chorus begins with Chad singing, "and they say that a hero can save us, I'm not gonna stand here and wait." This seems to mean that man always believes that there is going to be someone there to save them when something goes wrong but the hero, Spider Man, is not going to stand there and wait for that person to come, he's going to rise to the occasion,
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Chad then sings "someone told me love will all save us. but how can that be, look what love gave us: a world full of killing, and blood-spilling; that world never came." In a perfect world, love will conquer all and everyone would love harmoniously in peace. But that's impossible with a world full of crime and war. That perfect world never came.
Next Chad changes the tone and sings "now that the world isn't ending, its love that I'm sending to you. It isn't the love of a hero and thats why I fear it won't do." He's saying that, now that he's saved the world, he's sending love to his people. But he's afraid that his love won't be enough to keep the peace.
Hero - Nickelback: Background and Muse
(image credit to Wikipedia.com)
Nickelback is a classic/alternative rock band originating from Canada. The members of the group are the guitarist and lead vocalist Chad Kroeger, guitarist and vocalist Ryan Peake, bassist Mike Kroeger, and drummer and percussionist Daniel Adair. The band often sings about love, memories, and struggle. In 2002, Chad Kroeger collaborated with Josey Scott on the Spider-Man theme song, "Hero." The song is inspired by a hero saving his people but the voice behind the song not feeling like there's much hope for him or anyone else.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Kiss From a Rose- Seal: Full Song Interpretation
Listen to Kiss From a Rose via YouTube
Seal begins painting the picture of a dark, gloomy state he was in without this woman. He describes himself as a "graying tower" standing "alone on the sea." The moment he meets this woman she becomes the light that shines on the "dark side" of this tower. He describes his addiction to her love but includes the detail that he wasn't addicted directly to her love but the feeling that it gave him. He continues to depict another image of a beautiful, snowy day and light that she exudes which he can vividly see. In the chorus, he compares her to a kiss from a rose, a flower synonymous for love and divine beauty.
He repeatedly uses the color gray throughout the song. I tie gray to being dull and lifeless and this woman,the kiss from a rose, brings color, vitality, and warmth into his life. He says now that her "rose is in bloom," or now that she has given him all her love, a "light" shines on the "gloom on the gray." Again, she brings light to the darker, loveless side of him.
In the next verse, he describes everything that she is to him. She is "power," "pleasure," and "pain." He again describes her to an addiction that he can't overcome and isn't sure if it's good for him. But then he repeats the image of the beautiful snowy day and the light she shines, which tells the listener that he rather be addicted to her and to be able to see this beauty in his life as opposed to the dark, graying tower he once was.
He ends the song with the repetition of everything he has said in the song. He repeats that he has been kissed by a rose and everything she is to him. It puts an emphasis on how much she has changed his life for the better and how much he's in love with her and the feeling that she gives him.
Seal begins painting the picture of a dark, gloomy state he was in without this woman. He describes himself as a "graying tower" standing "alone on the sea." The moment he meets this woman she becomes the light that shines on the "dark side" of this tower. He describes his addiction to her love but includes the detail that he wasn't addicted directly to her love but the feeling that it gave him. He continues to depict another image of a beautiful, snowy day and light that she exudes which he can vividly see. In the chorus, he compares her to a kiss from a rose, a flower synonymous for love and divine beauty.
He repeatedly uses the color gray throughout the song. I tie gray to being dull and lifeless and this woman,the kiss from a rose, brings color, vitality, and warmth into his life. He says now that her "rose is in bloom," or now that she has given him all her love, a "light" shines on the "gloom on the gray." Again, she brings light to the darker, loveless side of him.
In the next verse, he describes everything that she is to him. She is "power," "pleasure," and "pain." He again describes her to an addiction that he can't overcome and isn't sure if it's good for him. But then he repeats the image of the beautiful snowy day and the light she shines, which tells the listener that he rather be addicted to her and to be able to see this beauty in his life as opposed to the dark, graying tower he once was.
He ends the song with the repetition of everything he has said in the song. He repeats that he has been kissed by a rose and everything she is to him. It puts an emphasis on how much she has changed his life for the better and how much he's in love with her and the feeling that she gives him.
Kiss From a Rose- Seal: Background and Muse
(image credit to inconsideratepatrick.blogspot.com)
Seal is a soul-alternative singer from England. He is best known for his internationally chart-topping song titled, "Kiss From a Rose" which was recorded for the soundtrack of the movie Batman Forever. Seal was raised in an inner city of London by foster parents. He is also well known for his distinguishable facial scars which are a result of being struck by a specific type of the disease Lupus as a child, which afflicts the skin above the neck. Seal began singing in a blues band in Asia but caught his big break when he met famous producer Adamski and recorded his first huge hit, "Killer."
I've been itching to interpret the song, Kiss From a Rose because it's imagery is so rich and paints a dark picture of love and dependency. I believe Seal taps into his original blues and soul beginnings to write a love song that fit the love scene between Val Kilmer and Nicole Kidman in the movie Batman Forever.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Set Adrift On Memory Bliss- PM Dawn: Interpretation of Verse 1
Listen to Set Adrift on Memory Bliss
Attrell, known as Prince Be, begins the first verse painting the picture of a distant memory. He sees a married woman sitting behind a see of fake plants and cocktail glasses. He seems to vaguely remember seeing her before; thinking to himself "I think it's one of those deja vu things." He thinks he may be dreaming and that it may be telling him something but he can't get this woman out of his mind. He then tells us that he doesn't actually know the woman when he says "I wonder what I would find if I met you." All he wants to do is watch her until she gives him an opportunity to meet her.
Prince Be seems to jump memories to a woman he once was intimate with. He quotes her in saying she says, "bet you're probably gonna say I look lovely. But you probably don't think nothin' of me." This implies that he believes that she thinks he never really loved her and hardly thinks of her; that he only had intentions of being of being intimate with her with no strings attached. He then tells us that she was right and he'll be honest about it. He says that she resides in "the corners" of his mind along with other memories that have faded. But this other woman that he continues to dream about is what is consuming his mind
Attrell, known as Prince Be, begins the first verse painting the picture of a distant memory. He sees a married woman sitting behind a see of fake plants and cocktail glasses. He seems to vaguely remember seeing her before; thinking to himself "I think it's one of those deja vu things." He thinks he may be dreaming and that it may be telling him something but he can't get this woman out of his mind. He then tells us that he doesn't actually know the woman when he says "I wonder what I would find if I met you." All he wants to do is watch her until she gives him an opportunity to meet her.
Prince Be seems to jump memories to a woman he once was intimate with. He quotes her in saying she says, "bet you're probably gonna say I look lovely. But you probably don't think nothin' of me." This implies that he believes that she thinks he never really loved her and hardly thinks of her; that he only had intentions of being of being intimate with her with no strings attached. He then tells us that she was right and he'll be honest about it. He says that she resides in "the corners" of his mind along with other memories that have faded. But this other woman that he continues to dream about is what is consuming his mind
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