Both of these songs come from the band Muse. Both are on Muse’s new album “The Resistance”. I have been a fan of Muse for a while. They have a very unique sound that blends several types of music. If you would like to find out more about them, click here. I think that either of these songs should be easy to relate to the novel. The first one is called “Uprising” and the second one is called “Resistance”. Enjoy.

Listen:
01 Uprising 1

02 Resistance 2

Uprising
Muse

Paranoia is in bloom,
The PR, transmissions will resume
They’ll try to, push drugs that keep us all dumbed down
And hope that, we will never see the truth around
(So come on)

Another promise, another seed
Another, packaged lie to keep us trapped in greed
And all the, green belts wrapped around our minds
And endless, red tape to keep the truth confined
(So come on)

They will not force us
They will stop degrading us
They will not control us
We will be victorious
So come on

Interchanging mind control
Come let the, revolution takes its toll
If you could, flick the switch and open your third eye
You’d see that, we should never be afraid to die
(So come on)

Rise up and take the power back
It’s time the, fat cats had a heart attack
They know that, their time’s coming to an end
We have to, unify and watch our flag ascend
(So come on)

They will not force us
They will stop degrading us
They will not control us
We will be victorious
So come on

Hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey

They will not force us
They will stop degrading us
They will not control us
We will be victorious
So come on

Resistance
Muse

Is our secret safe tonight
And are we out of sight
Or will our world come tumbling down?
Will they find our hiding place
Is this our last embrace
Or will the walls start caving in?

(It could be wrong, could be wrong) But it should have been right
(It could be wrong, could be wrong) To let our hearts ignite
(It could be wrong, could be wrong) Are we digging a hole?
(It could be wrong, could be wrong) This is out of control

(It could be wrong, could be wrong) It can never last
(It could be wrong, could be wrong) Must erase it fast
(It could be wrong, could be wrong) But it could have been right
(It could be wrong, could be…)

Love is our resistance
They’ll keep us apart and they won’t to stop breaking us down
Hold me
Our lips must always be sealed

If we live a life in fear
I’ll wait a thousand years
Just to see you smile again

Kill your prayers for love and peace
You’ll wake the thought police
We can’t hide the truth inside

(It could be wrong, could be wrong) But it should have been right
(It could be wrong, could be wrong) To let our hearts ignite
(It could be wrong, could be wrong) Are we digging a hole?

(It could be wrong, could be wrong) This is out of control
(It could be wrong, could be wrong) It can never last
(It could be wrong, could be wrong) Must erase it fast
(It could be wrong, could be wrong) But it could have been right
(It could be wrong, could be…)

Love is our resistance
They’ll keep us apart and they won’t to stop breaking us down
Hold me
Our lips must always be sealed

The night has reached its end
We can’t pretend
We must run
We must run
It’s time to run
Take us away from here
Protect us from further harm
Resistance

For the second part of our 1984 related-article series, we will deal with the issue of technology being used to keep an eye on people. Now, I know that a lot of this surveillance is meant as a crime-deterrent, but what about all of those people who commit no crimes yet are still being watched. How much is too much? This article is pertaining to China, not the United States, but it is not unrealistic to believe it could happen here in the future. Read and discuss.

China Enacting a High-Tech Plan to Track People

tchrman

For the next few weeks while we are reading 1984, I will be picking the SotW. I have had a few more student suggestions, so I will hang on to those until we finish with the novel. Over the past few years of teaching the novel and doing the blog I’ve found several songs that tie in well with the novel. It just seems appropriate to incorporate them into our song of the week posts this year.These songs were not written specifically ABOUT the novel, and most of them don’t make direct allusions to the novel (although a couple will). They are just songs that seem to tie in well to the themes and situations in the novel. In addition to commenting on the meaning of the song, also talk about how you think it relates to the novel.

This week I had one song picked out, but found another song from the same album that relates just as well I think. I couldn’t decide which one to pick, so I decided to include both of them. You don’t have to write about both. Just pick the one you think is more closely related to the novel. Both are by a band called Nine Inch Nails and come from the album With Teeth. I don’t think you’ll have a problem seeing connections to the novel.

Listen:
04 The Hand That Feeds
06 Every Day Is Exactly The Same

“The Hand That Feeds”
Nine Inch Nails

You’re keeping in step
In the line
Got your chin held high and you feel just fine
Because you do
What you’re told
But inside your heart it is black and it’s hollow and it’s cold

Just how deep do you believe?
Will you bite the hand that feeds?
Will you chew until it bleeds?
Can you get up off your knees?
Are you brave enough to see?
Do you want to change it?

What if this whole crusade’s
A charade
And behind it all there’s a price to be paid
For the blood
On which we dine
Justified in the name of the holy and the divine

Just how deep do you believe?
Will you bite the hand that feeds?
Will you chew until it bleeds?
Can you get up off your knees?
Are you brave enough to see?
Do you want to change it?

So naive
I keep holding on to what I want to believe
I can see
But I keep holding on and on and on and on

Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees? [8X]

“Every Day is Exactly the Same”
Nine Inch Nails

I believe I can see the future
‘Cause I repeat the same routine
I think I used to have a purpose
And then again that might have been a dream
I think I used to have a voice
Now I never make a sound
I just do what I’ve been told
I really don’t want them to come around, oh no

Every day is exactly the same
Every day is exactly the same
There is no love here and there is no pain
Every day is exactly the same

I can feel their eyes are watching
In case I lose myself again
Sometimes I think I’m happy here
Sometimes – yeah – I still pretend
I can’t remember how this all got started
But I can tell you – exactly – how it will end

Every day is exactly the same
Every day is exactly the same
There is no love here and there is no pain
Every day is exactly the same

I’m writing on a little piece of paper
I’m hoping someday you might find
I’ll hide it behind something
They don’t look behind
I am still inside here
A little bit comes bleeding through
I wish this could have been any other way
I just don’t know what else I can do

Every day is exactly the same
Every day is exactly the same
There is no love here and there is no pain
Every day is exactly the same

And I’ve rehearsed my lines
And I know what’s coming next

As you read the first two chapters of the novel, you’ve probably noticed that lack of privacy is a major issue raised by the novel. With all of our advanced technology and our general paranoia after 9-11, privacy seems to be becoming a major issue in our society today. There seems to be no limit to what people are able to find out about us and how this information can be used. One of the major reasons for this lack of privacy is our growing dependence on the Internet. Such a wonderful, life-changing tool, but also one of the most damaging inventions ever. We all know how visiting certain sites (such as illegal music download sites) can come back to haunt you legally. However, before reading this article, I never really thought about the impact the types of things we search for on the Internet can have and the false impressions people could get from innocent searches. Anyway, read the article for yourself and share your opinions on the issue.

Forgot What You Searched For? Google Didn’t!

P.S. While reading the novel, if you come across any modern-day examples (articles, etc.) of issues found in the novel, pass them along and I may use them on here.

tchrman

The reason I chose this song for song of the week is because everyone has a song that really speaks to them or realtes to them. This song relates to me because it describes exactly the situation between a friend of mine and myself. This friend has always been there for me and we were really close. Well then we became more than friends and we had what you would call a “roller coaster” relationship. Well to shorten it up we broke up and we haven’ t really been as close since we went through our rough times. Since we broke up she has kinda used me as a convenient friend (like the song says). Whenever she got hurt, she made me feel as bad as she did…which i did not like. So we stopped hanging out, talking, and avoided each other all together. But nowadays, our friendship is starting to become something more again ( oh Lord!) haha. But who knows what the future holds…maybe we will be something more again…but for now, hope yall enjoy the song I picked for yall this week! ENJOY!!!

Listen here:
06 Pieces 1

“Pieces” Rascal Flatts

From the moment that we met
My world was turned around
Upside down
To some degree I still regret
My memory for keeping you around
Girl I thought that you were mine
But my broken hearts been shattered
One too many times

And I don’t want to see you anymore
I’m just not that strong
I love it when you’re here,
But I’m better when you’re gone
I’m certain that I’ve given and oh how you can take
There’s no use in you looking
There’s nothing left for you to break
Baby please release me
Let my heart rest in pieces

Someone let you down again
So you turn to me
Your convenient friend
Oh but I know what you’re doing
And what you hope to find
I’ve seen it a thousand times
Oh the fire we had before
Are now just bitter ashes
Left scattered on the floor

And I don’t want to see you anymore
I’m just not that strong
I love it when you’re here,
But I’m better when you’re gone
I’m certain that I’ve given and oh how you can take
There’s no use in you looking
There’s nothing left for you to break
Baby please release me
Let my heart rest in pieces

tchrman

BTW, this will NOT count as a regular post for the week. This is for extra credit.

These last few weeks, I’ve been trying to pick songs that had a little more depth to them to make the discussion a little better. You did a great job with last week’s song. A few of you are still missing the point of the assignment. This is not meant to be purely entertainment. While I hope you do get enjoyment out of it, my main goal is to get you writing about music as poetry. By the time we actually get to the poetry unit in our book, you should be pros (PUN!). I am glad that some of you are being exposed to some different styles of music and are enjoying it. You are moving our of your comfort zone and being open minded. A handful of you remain stuck in your ways and unwilling to open your mind to anything new or different. To each his own. Prepare for a hard time when you get to college though if you are unwilling to be exposed to new styles and ideas. OK, end of this week’s soapbox. Anyway, I’ve picked another song this week that I think will generate some good discussion. This one is fairly new and many of you should know it.

This week’s song is “Funny the Way It Is” by Dave Matthews Band. It is from their newest album (I believe it came out in August). I’ve always enjoyed DMB. I’ve never been a hardcore, see them every time they come in concert, worship everything they do fan, but I’ve always liked them. I really enjoy the new album, however. This song was the first one released on the radio from that album. It’s a good song, and it should be pretty easy to discuss. Enjoy.

Listen here:
03 Funny The Way It Is 1

“Funny the Way It Is”
Dave Matthews Band

Lying in the park on a beautiful day
Sunshine in the grass, and the children play
Siren’s passing, fire engine red
Someone’s house is burning down on a day like this

The evening comes and we’re hanging out
On the front step and a car rolls by with the windows rolled down
And that war song is playing, “why can’t we be friends?”
Someone is screaming and crying in the apartment upstairs

Funny the way it is, if you think about it
Somebody’s going hungry and someone else is eating out
Funny the way it is, not right or wrong
Somebody’s heart is broken and it becomes your favorite song

The way your mouth feels in your lovers kiss
Like a pretty bird on a breeze or water to a fish
A bomb blast brings a building crashing to the floor
You hear the laughter while the children play war

Funny the way it is, if you think about it
One kid walks 10 miles to school, another’s dropping out
Funny the way it is, not right or wrong
On a soldier’s last breath his baby’s being born

Standing on a bridge, watch the water passing under me
It must’ve been much harder when there was no bridge just water
Now the world is small, remember how it used to be
With mountains and oceans and winters and rivers and stars

Watch the sky, the jet planes, so far out of my reach
Is there someone up there looking down on me?
Boy chase a bird, so close but every time
He’ll never catch her, but he can’t stop trying

Funny the way it is, if you think about it
One kid walks 10 miles to school, another’s dropping out
Funny the way it is, not right or wrong
On a soldier’s last breath his baby’s being born
Funny the way it is, not right or wrong
Somebody’s broken heart becomes your favorite song
Funny the way it is, if you think about it
A kid walks 10 miles to school, another’s dropping out

Standing on a bridge, watch the water passing under me
It must’ve been much harder when there was no bridge just water
Now the world is small, remember how it used to be
With mountains and oceans and winters and rivers and stars

tchrman

“Everything in our background has prepared us to know and resist a prison when the gates begin to close around us . . . But what if there are no cries of anguish to be heard? Who is prepared to take arms against a sea of amusements? To whom do we complain, and when, and in what tone of voice, when serious discourse dissolves into giggles? What is the antidote to a culture’s being drained by laughter?”
— Neil Postman (Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business)

“Our culture’s adjustment to the epistemology of television is by now all but complete; we have so thoroughly accepted its definitions of truth, knowledge and reality that irrelevance seems to us to be filled with import, and incoherence seems eminently sane. And if some of our institutions seem not to fit the template of the times, why it is they and not the template, that seem to us disordered and strange.”
— Neil Postman (Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business)

“”Our politics, religion, news, athletics, education and commerce have been transformed into congenial adjuncts of show business, largely without protest or even much popular notice. The result is that we are a people on the verge of amusing ourselves to death.”"
— Neil Postman

“[M]ost of our daily news is inert, consisting of information that gives us something to talk about but cannot lead to any meaningful action. (68).”
— Neil Postman (Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business)

“Television is our culture’s principal mode of knowing about itself. Therefore — and this is the critical point — how television stages the world becomes the model for how the world is properly to be staged. It is not merely that on the television screen entertainment is the metaphor for all discourse. It is that off the screen the same metaphor prevails. (92)”
— Neil Postman (Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business)

“Technology always has unforeseen consequences, and it is not always clear, at the beginning, who or what will win, and who or what will lose…”
— Neil Postman

“[It] is not that television is entertaining but that it has made entertainment itself the natural format for the representation of all experience. […] The problem is not that television presents us with entertaining subject matter but that all subject matter is presented as entertaining. (87)”
— Neil Postman (Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business)

Several of you have made comparisons between our song of the week and the Flobots. I had never heard the Flobots before these comparisons, so I looked them up and really liked what I heard. I can see some similarities to Cake in the song “Handlebars”, but after listening to some other songs I decided the comparison is very minimal. Also, most Cake songs do not sound like “The Distance”. John McCrea (the lead singer) actually sings on most of the songs instead of rap (if that’s what you call it). If you like the particular sound of “The Distance” some similar Cake songs are “Short Skirt Long Jacket”, “Rock and Roll Lifestyle”, and “Comfort Eagle”.

Anyway, I really liked “Handlebars” when I heard it, so I decided to post it here just for fun. You are welcome to comment. I think the song could generate some good discussion. However, since it is not our official song of the week it will not count as one of your posts.

Enjoy.

Listen here:
06 Handlebars 1

Handlebars
Flobots

I can ride my bike with no handlebars
No handlebars
No handlebars
I can ride my bike with no handlebars
No handlebars
No handlebars

Look at me Look at me
Hands in the air like its good to be
Alive and I’m a famous rapper
Even when the paths are all crookedy
I can show you how to dosey doe
I can show you how to scratch a record
I can take apart the remote control
And i can almost put it back together
I can tie a knot in a cherry stem
I can tell you about Leif Ericson
I know all the words to De Colores
And I’m proud to be an American
Me and my friends saw a platypus
Me and my friends made a comic book
And guess how long it took
I can do anything that I want ‘Cause

Look

I can keep rhythm with no metronome
No metronome
No metronome
I can see you face on the telephone
On the telephone
On the telephone

Look at me look at me
Just called to say that its good to be
Alive in such a small world
I’m all curled up with a book to read
I can make money open up a thrift store
I can make a living off a magazine
I can design an engine
64 miles to the gallon on gasoline
I can make new antibiotics
I can make computer survive aquatic
Conditions I know how to run the business
And i can make you wanna buy a product
Movers shakers and producers
Me and my friends understand the future
I see the strings that control the systems
I can do anything with no assistance ‘Cause

I can lead a nation with a microphone
With a microphone
With a microphone
And I can split the atoms of a molecule
Of a molecule
Of a molecule

Look at me Look at me
Driving and I won’t stop
And it feels so good to be alive and on top
My reach is global
My tower secure
My cause is noble
My power is pure
I can handout a million vaccinations
Or let em all die from exasperations
Have ‘em all healed from their lacerations
Or have em all killed by assassinations
I can make anybody go to prison
Just because I don’t like ‘em
I can do anything with no permission
I have it all under my command because

I can guide a missile by satellite
By satellite
By satellite
And I can hit a target through a telescope
Through a telescope
Through a telescope

And I can end the planet in a holocaust
In a holocaust
In a holocaust
In a holocaust
In a holocaust
In a holocaust

I can ride my bike with no handlebars
No handlebars
No handlebars
I can ride my bike with no handlebars
No handlebars
No handlebars