Human of the Year
Let's talk about people, and their sense of superiority for a moment. Also, let's talk about this general ideaology amongs people that if something isn't their problem, then it's not a problem at all.
(probably time to not read if you like to live in dreamland. I live in reality)
"Oh just move on." The struggles everyone in this world face are real. And maybe myself, and the few friends I've narrowed my life down to are the only ones are a minority... but I never realized that until this year. I really believed that others could see the goodness in others. I believed that if they were in my situation, they would do for others as I did. That when they heard of others pain, they could put themselves in their shoes and want to help... What I found was an apathetic society instead.
I named this blog after the name of the first song I linked, by Regina Spektor. I think Regina is being sarcastic and speaking of irony in this song. "Human of the Year" would seem like a compliment, as if someone were the kindest and purest human on earth... But I think by being the most "human" she means that they are the most flawed, like she's celebrating human imperfection. It's also a critique of the people that we as people, honor, or hold above others.
Sure, there are GREAT people to have walked this Earth, that should absolutely be honored... but what about those that are held above others, yet it is only because of money, fame, power, greed, etc? The real people in this world that should be honored are the people who make a difference. Ones who make a difference for one person, or who make a difference for the world. People who lie about others - have no idea what their lies may do to that person's life. People who judge others - need to worry about their own, or perhaps how they can help someone instead of make it worse. And people who take pleasure, out of others suffering, or make someone's life worse just because they have nothing else better to do - are to the world like the parasites that leech on to people and feed off of them sucking them of their life. They are scum. You are scum. I saw that, because I encountered many people like that this year. I'm a good person and didn't deserve that. And if I was the person you made me out to be, I still wouldn't deserve what was done or said. So... when I live my life every day trying to be a good person... loving other humans... helping other people... teaching my children to be caring humans... I'll have you in the back of my mind of who I never want to be like. PS- My mother hated people like you too. So don't say you knew her and judge me, when she would have been sitting there talking about how much of a judgemental asshole you were. XOXO
I can assure you, none of you are winning Human of the Year. I can also say some of the people you thought were bad - they're not. There are just far less good people in this world than I realized. And there are also some amazing people. To you they may appear to be normal people, or maybe even people you judge... but they are amazing people because they took the higher road. They choose to not judge, and choose to love rather than hate. I'm choosing to love as well. I'm just choosing to use the hateful people as inspiration to do even greater things in life; to care even MORE about people who deserve it.
The second song by Portugal. The Man, called "So American" is similar in its sarcasm. Now take this worldview and idea of Jesus and compare it to what gets passed around as Christianity in America nowadays. To be a "Real American Christian" one need only be white and say the words "praise Jesus" - actually acting like Jesus is hippie-liberal bullshit. The singer sees so many Sarah Palin-style Christians (they are from the same town ya know) glorifying war, despising the poor and using their faith in Jesus as justification to hate people. The whole tone of the song isn't one of anger though - it's one of bemusement and pity. "You think you're so American." He's seeing people who are not seeing. "There's two eyes for every one of us, but someone got there first and took them all." He's saying that the ability to become realized, to feel that love and connection that comes with it is within us all if we could just see, but we're raised to conform to a culture that has lost its way.
The song Jackrabbit by San Fermin is the title song for the album. In their own words “Jackrabbit” is the last song I wrote on this record, and it definitely sums up some themes I’ve been circling for a while now. It’s fight-or-flight plus a marching band, which is basically my stance on everything."
And on the second song "Parasites" - "'Parasites' is about a potentially unhealthy love, where Allen Tate plays the desperate pursuer, and Charlene Kaye acts the toxic target of his affections. It’s a violent track, exploring a darker side to their music which was not seen as much in the first album. This is the first true duet of the album, with main singers Tate and Kaye trading verses, and eventually lines, as they grow more attached to each other."
Lastly, the song "Daughter" by Youth is I think generally about life and the pain this brings along. It's a scream of pain directed to all those people who think that other people have nothing to worry about and don't take other's suffering seriously. She is opposing strongly to this general illusion of a carefree youth. She is painting an image of a generation: people who have no clue where to go and how to live life. They are just trying...and hurting. The way of life doesn't seem to make sense. She lost her home (=childhood or feeling of safety, perhaps someone who was like home to her) and some particular event or person caused it. She blames this person for it.
Yes the song seems dark, however, I think like others she knows that life goes on, and instead of keeping it on just a personal level, she reaches out to others saying if you're still in love than you are the lucky ones. She knows love, family, the feeling of home or comfort is possible... but she is aching so much right now she just doesn't know if she will reach it.
Regina Spektor - "Human of the Year"
"Hello? hello? Calling a Karl Projektorinski To the front of the cathedral You have won, dear sir May I congratulate you first? Oh, what an honor Human! human of the year! you won! Human! human of the year! you won! Why are you so scared? You stand there shaking by your pew The icons are whispering to you They're just old men Like on the benches in the park Except their balding spots Are glistening with gold Human! human of the year! you won! Human! human of the year! you won! You have won! hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah Outside the cars are beeping Out a song just in your honor And though they do not know it All mankind are now your brothers And thus the cathedral had spoken Wishing well to all us sinners And with a psalm drew silent Till next year's big human winner Outside the cars are beeping Out a song just in your honor And thought they do not know it All mankind are now your brothers All mankind are now your brothers Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hello? hello? Calling a Karl Projektorinski To the front of the cathedral You have won"
Portugal. The Man - "So American"
"if pain was a color to paint on you your heart would be the color blue it would be a gradient from there till your body met your hair which remained a silver hue you are the one they call jesus christ didn't know no rock n roll just a mission and a gun to paint rainbows in vietnam and a heart that always told you there's a madness in us all there's a madness in us all so who broke the rules who broke the rules who broke the rules they said every one of (you) would never try to lend a hand when the policemen don't understand boys all you boys think it's so American girls all you girls yeah you're so American he may not be born of this land but he was born of this world he was born of all the mothers and the colors of our brothers and the love that was taught to you by the one they call jesus christ he may not know no rock n roll and there may not be a heaven or a place of which to send you but you know in the end there's a madness in us all there's a madness in us all there's a madness in us all there's a madness in us all so who broke the rules who broke the rules who broke the rules they said every one of (you) would never try to lend a hand when the policemen don't understand boys all you boys think it's so American girls all you girls yeah you're so American there's two eyes for every one of us but somebody got there first and took them all there's two eyes for every one of us but somebody got there first and took them all man oh man you think it's so american man oh man yeah you're so american man oh man you think it's so american man oh man yeah you're so american there's two eyes for every one of us but somebody got there first and took them all there's two eyes for every one of us but somebody got there first and took them all"'
San Fermin - "Jackrabbit"
"I can tell you how the story goes If I die, if I just get old Altogether, all alone, all alone, all alone Like your mother and your father too All grown up and they're just like you And you're going to do it all anew Better run for the hills, run for the hills, run Run for the hills, run for the hills, run Another day older, everyone you knew All chasing bells are ahead of themselves And you know that you can move One step forward, step right back Run for the hills, honey, run for the hills, honey Run for the hills, don't look back Everything you've seen is doubled Anywhere you go you lose When you're lost in the woods and alone in the world too Another day older, and another day we grow oh more alone again With all these people I can tell you how the story goes If I die, if I just get old Altogether, all alone, all alone, all alone Like your mother and your father too All grown up and they're just like you And you're going to do it all anew Better run for the hills, run for the hills, run Run on down, run on down, run on down Run for the hills, run for the hills, run Run on down, run on down, run on down Run for the hills, run for the hills, run Want to live like an animal? By the skin of your teeth? Put your good face on, you're foolin' no one You're a jackrabbit underneath One step forward, step right back Run for the hills, honey, run for the hills, honey Run for the hills, don't look back Don't look back, don't look back Run for the hills, honey, run for the hills, honey Run for the hills, don't look back Run on down, run on down, run on down Run for the hills, run for the hills, run Run on down, run on down, run on down Run for the hills, run for the hills, run Everything you've seen is doubled Anywhere you go you lose When you're lost in the woods and, alone in the world too One step forward, step right back I can tell you how the story goes If I die, if I just get old Altogether, all alone, all alone, all alone Like your mother and your father too All grown up and they're just like you And you're going to do it all anew Better run for the hills, run for the hills, run Run on down, run on down, run on down Run for the hills, run for the hills, run Run on down, run on down, run on down Run for the hills, run for the hills, run Run on down, run on down, run on down Run for the hills, run for the hills, run Run on down, run on down, run on down Run for the hills, run for the hills, run"
San Fermin - "Parasites"
"[Charlene Kaye] These little hands are parasites Get in there and hang on tight Take what they can take and leave you bleeding This little mouth's no good for you These lips will suck you black and blue When it's done, the teeth and tongue for feeding [Charlene Kaye] Ooooh, honey Ooooh, honey [Allen Tate] Your little hands are paradise Give them here and hang on tight This body's been a-trying to find a reason Your little mouth a-talking fast It makes my heart astir at last Trying to find a face I can believe in [Both] Ooooh, honey (Ooooh, honey) [Charlene Kaye] I always knew Father was a man like you Mother never got the things she needed [Allen Tate] Keep her cased in honeycomb That way she won't feel alone The queen should never have to overthink it [Both] Ooooh, honey Ooooh, honey [Charlene Kaye] Join the moving pictures and be saved! [Both] Now we're growing up so fast Days of fooling 'round are past Guess we better find out what we're needing Your little hands are paradise Get in there and hang on tight Trying to find a face I can believe in [Both] Ooooh, honey Ooooh, honey"
Youth - "Daughter"
"Shadows settle on the place, that you left Our minds are troubled by the emptiness Destroy the middle, it's a waste of time From the perfect start to the finish line And if you're still breathing, you're the lucky ones 'Cause most of us are heaving through corrupted lungs Setting fire to our insides for fun Collecting names of the lovers that went wrong The lovers that went wrong We are the reckless We are the wild youth Chasing visions of our futures One day we'll reveal the truth That one will die before he gets there And if you're still bleeding, you're the lucky ones 'Cause most of our feelings, they are dead and they are gone We're setting fire to our insides for fun Collecting pictures from the flood that wrecked our home It was a flood that wrecked this And you caused it And you caused it And you caused it Well I've lost it all, I'm just a silouhette A lifeless face that you'll soon forget My eyes are damp from the words you left Ringing in my head, when you broke my chest Ringing in my head, when you broke my chest And if you're in love, then you are the lucky one 'Cause most of us are bitter over someone Setting fire to our insides for fun To distract our hearts from ever missing them But I'm forever missing him And you caused it And you caused it And you caused it"