Everything2
Near Matches
Ignore Exact
Full Text
Everything2

Paranoid Android as a critique of western society

created by Notyourbroom

(idea) by Notyourbroom (1.1 y) (print)   ?   (I like it!) 2 C!s Fri Jul 25 2003 at 3:36:51

While listening to Paranoid Android (by Radiohead), I realized that many of its lyrics could easily be applied to western society.

This analysis is by no means meant to be definitive or complete; it exists purely to make the reader think a bit about a song whose lyrics they may have taken for granted.

It should also be said that this interpretation does not necessarily reflect my own views on the subject, nor do I think it's necessarily correct. Think of this as something akin to cloud-watching...


Please could you stop the noise?
      // A plea for everyone to calm down and take a break.
I'm trying to get some rest...
      // Western society runs wildly 24/7; our culture never sleeps.
From all the unborn
Chicken voices in my head...
      // A reference to don't count your chickens before they hatch; Promises, guarantees, etc. too often turn out to be lies
      // told in the interest of making money.

What's that?
(I may... be paranoid... but not an... android.)
      // I might look out for my own interests, but I'm not exactly approving of how we're all forced to run our lives.
What's that?
(I may... be paranoid... but not an... android.)

When I am king,
You will be first against the wall...
      // If I ran things around here, I'd change this culture.
With your opinion
Which is of no consequence at all...
      // And frankly, I don't care how embedded you are in it.

What's that?
(I may... be paranoid... but... no... android.)
What's that?
(I may... be paranoid... but... no... android.)

Ambition makes you
Look pretty ugly...
      // Desire for personal gain often leads to betrayals, lies, and fraud in the business world.
Kicking and squealing,
Gucci little piggy...
      // And if anyone uses the same tactics on you once you have some power of your own, you cry foul.

You don't remember-
You don't remember-
Why don't you remember my name?
      // People are more often known by their social security, credit card, or various account numbers than by their names.
Off with his head, man,
Off with his head, man
      // Because of this dehumanized system, it's relatively easy to steal someone's identity-
      // figuratively taking off their head (i.e. autonomy and individuality).
Why don't you remember my name!?
I guess he does...

Rain down...
Rain down...
Come on, rain down...
On me...
      // In reference to trickle down economics.
From a great height...
      // There is a large economic diaspora;
From a great height...
      // the rich get richer, the poor get poorer.

That's it, sir;
      // Note the "sir", which implies homage...
You're leaving.
      // ...Yet contempt.
The crackle of pig skin;
      // Possible reference to bringing home the bacon.
The dust and the screaming,
      // Leaving others in the dust; fierce competition.
The yuppies networking...
      // Making allies for purpose of self-betterment.

The panic...
      // Anxiety is an occupational hazard of capitalist societies...
The vomit...
      // And revulsion, a common emotion experienced throughout the bitter struggling...
The panic...
      // All of which just perpetuates...
The vomit...
      // And perpetuates...

God loves His children...
      // Forming a secular cesspool of coveting and greed...
God loves His children...
      // That is little more than a glorified preschool schoolyard.
Yeah.



Paranoid Android is track 2 on OK Computer, an album by Radiohead, and copyright 1997 by Capitol Records, Inc.

(idea) by Waz (1.4 y) (print)   ?   (I like it!) 3 C!s Fri Jul 25 2003 at 12:55:51

While listening to Baby One More Time (by Britney Spears), I realized that many of its lyrics could easily be applied to Western society.

This analysis is by no means meant to be definitive or complete; it exists purely to make the reader think a bit about what the originator of this node perhaps got a little carried away with.

It should also be said that this interpretation does not necessarily reflect my own views on the subject, nor do I think it's necessarily correct. I'm just pointing out that you can make any song sound like it's secretly about any subject...

Oh baby baby,
      // As members of this Western culture, we are all spoon-fed baby infants of the media.
How was I supposed to know,
      // No matter how sane our current standing is and how secure we think we are...
that somethin' wasn't right here?
      // ...society will throw us a curve ball.

Oh baby baby,
I shouldn't have let you go...
      // You need to hold on to what you have...
And now you're out of sight, yeah.
      // ...because the greedy capitalists will always be trying to take it away from you.
Show me how you want it to be,
Tell me baby!
      // The government claims to want to know how you'd like them to change things...
'cause I need to know now,
oh, because!
      // ...and then deny that they are asking just because an election is near.

My loneliness is killing me, (and I)
I must confess I still believe! (still believe!)
      // A harsh and lonely existence in this culture; baseless beliefs are all you have to keep yourself going
When I'm not with you I lose my mind,
      // Without our Western comforts we are lost. T.V., fast food etc.
Give me a sign,
Hit me baby one more time!
      // Get crushed by society and keep coming back for more.

Baby One More Time is track 1 on 'Baby One More Time', an album by Britney Spears, and copyright 1999 by Jive.


printable version
chaos

forty-two I seem to be a verb Axl Rose as genius: An analysis of themes in the music of Guns N' Roses Your radical ideas about society, individualism, and religion have already occurred to others
Paranoid Android OK Computer Why the rich get richer and the poor get poorer Diaspora
Radiohead Formatting poems and simple HTML American Colonization Society Jack Kevorkian
Trickle-down economics I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it Bring home the bacon emotional pornography
Tower Defense homage Luddite The Sacred Harp
Judy Hauff September 19, 2005 Talk like a pirate day Fates Warning
Y'know, if you log in, you can write something here, or contact authors directly on the site. Create a New User if you don't already have an account.
  Epicenter
Login
Password

password reminder
register

Everything2 Help

Cool Staff Picks
The best nodes of all time:
asbestos
Night of the Long Knives
Mutant brains of London cabbies
Chronology of U.S. Navy Involvement in the Persian Gulf War
H.H. Holmes
Sgt. Kenneth Lancaster
The Last Days of Captain Newton
How to give a good PowerPoint presentation
The Atrocities of Vlad III of Wallachia
How to locate Polaris, the North Star
Salt of the Earth
public key cryptography
Chuck Palahniuk
New Writeups
gate
Anarchy is Order(idea)
ushdfgakjasgh
Scribeling(thing)
XWiz
Trism(review)
artman2003
Briefcase Full of Souls - Part I(fiction)
Dreamvirus
Alan Ladd(person)
waverider37
Harold Holt(person)
The Debutante
Until death do us part(fiction)
Ysardo
a brother to a sister(personal)
antigravpussy
your warm whispers(personal)
Clarke
Multiculturalism(idea)
aneurin
Earl of Landaff(person)
Heitah
Pseudocide(idea)
XWiz
Google Knol(lede)
Mythi
July 24, 2008(personal)
locke baron
The fall of Earth(fiction)
Everything 2 is brought to you by the letter C and The Everything Development Company