Carl Posted August 31, 2005 Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 I'd like to put some Songfacts together on this Living Colour song. Can anyone explain the significance of the quotes used in the song (ask not...) and where they came from? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earth-Angel Posted August 31, 2005 Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 Here are the lyrics in case you recognise the quotes, but don't know the song: Look into my eyes, what do you see? Cult of Personality I know your anger, I know your dreams I've been everything you want to be I'm the Cult of Personality Like Mussolini and Kennedy I'm the Cult of Personality Cult of Personality Cult of Personality Neon lights, A Nobel Price The mirror speaks, the reflection lies You don't have to follow me Only you can set me free I sell the things you need to be I'm the smiling face on your T.V. I'm the Cult of Personality I exploit you still you love me I tell you one and one makes three I'm the Cult of Personality Like Joseph Stalin and Gandhi I'm the Cult of Personality Cult of Personality Cult of Personality Neon lights a Nobel Prize A leader speaks, that leader dies You don't have to follow me Only you can set you free You gave me fortune You gave me fame You me power in your God's name I'm every person you need to be I'm the Cult of Personality Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daslied Posted August 31, 2005 Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 The first quote is from Malcolm X, from his "Message To The Grass-Roots" speech in 1963. I'm by no means an expert on this (or him), but I believe the point of it was to unify African-Americans - "You're all oppressed because of the same thing - race, not religion, politics or anything else". That's obviously a paraphrase. Anyway, here's the quote at the beginning of the song. It was edited a little bit for the song: "And in the few moments we have left, we want to talk right down to earth in a language that everybody here can easily understand" The ending quote is JFK's famous "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country". This is from his inaugural address in 1961. I guess the significance of the quotes for this particular song is that both were from men who were assassinated. Most of the song actually seems to be denouncing idolatry, but there is the one stanza containing the line "A leader speaks, a leader dies". They also seem to make no distinction between "good" and "evil", as each time they mention a "hero" they pair them with an "enemy" - Mussolini and Kennedy, and Stalin and Gandhi. Hope this helps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Posted September 1, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2005 Great analysis das! I could never figure out who the first quote was from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted September 1, 2005 Report Share Posted September 1, 2005 Carl, I think we have a gem here called daslied. we must not let him go! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daslied Posted September 1, 2005 Report Share Posted September 1, 2005 Aw, shucks. You guys are too nice. I love this site, as it's rare to find a place to have some intelligent conversations about music. Or spout off like I know what I'm talking about... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenacious_Peaches Posted September 1, 2005 Report Share Posted September 1, 2005 Intelligent conversation? Bless his heart...daslied must not have wandered into the Fun & Games forum yet. Please tell me about your user name. Whenever I look at it quickly, I see daisies. I'm under the impression that you are a guy, so I don't suppose you want me to associate you with a fragrant bouquet of fresh flowers. Or maybe you do...who am I to judge? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earth-Angel Posted September 1, 2005 Report Share Posted September 1, 2005 Das lied means The Song, no? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daslied Posted September 1, 2005 Report Share Posted September 1, 2005 Well, I did say "some" intelligent conversations... "Das lied" is German for "the song". My favorite composer ever (told you I was a snob) is Gustav Mahler, and one of his pieces is called "Das Lied Von Der Erde", which means "Song Of The Earth". It's actually really his 9th symphony, but he changed the title to avoid the "curse" - Beethoven and a few others died after writing their 9th symphonies, and Mahler was pretty obsessed with death. So, anyway, he wrote this lived and later wrote his actual 9th symphony. He still lived, and started his 10th symphony. And guess what? He died midway through. So he was on to something, I suppose.... Anyhoo, my favorite piece of his, and the greatest piece of music ever written, is the 8th symphony. It's called "Symphony Of A Thousand" because it takes that many people to perform as originally envisioned (double orchestra, double choirs and a boys' choir). But "Symphony" or "Thousand" aren't good screen names, so I chose "Das Lied". How's that for a rambling answer? And thanks for asking, because I detest flowers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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