We'll never be Royals

Track: Royals

Artist: Otep (Originally by Lorde)
Album: Generation Doom ()

Year: 2016 (2013)

Genre: Heavy Metal (Pop)



You know that new song that you just heard somewhere and fell in love with? You added it to your playlist, fantasizing about it coming up when you least expect it (and most want it) in your car, in the gym or just walking on your way to work. THIS IS THAT SONG.

I just want to say 'Splendid job!' to the machine learning guys down in Spotify for their Discover Weekly playlists. It has thrown up many amazing tracks over the weeks, including this gem. This song is my current earworm and a cover of Lorde's Grammy winning song of the same name.

The bass guitar clearly rules on this track, setting a foundation so strong that you never feel like you're sinking into an abyss of thin music. The vocal line is fresh with a hip hop/rap influence in the verse which seamlessly transitions into a cold blooded scream for the chorus, and it just fits. Takes the song to another level altogether.

There's no fancy solo or face-melting shredding on this song, but there is a very simple octave based bridge riff that I whole-heartedly enjoy, because it just seems like the right thing at the right time. I know I am gushing, but I also am absolutely in awe with the album art as well. It reeks of power, mystique and general badassness.

This song is about dignity in humility and simplicity. It calls out the common displays of ostentatious behavior by many in the music industry (think Baadshah or Honey Singh, my fellow Indians). Bling, cars, women- haven't we all seen that being paraded around recently? Lorde/Otep says that she is extremely comfortable in her skin, doesn't care about the things that are meant to impress and that she'd rather showcase her power through her music and show them their place, rule the industry.

Seduced by fame, a Moth Into the Flame

Track: Moth Into Flame

Artist: Metallica
Album: Hardwired... To Self-Destruct

Year: 2016

Genre: Heavy Metal



Date: 29th July, 2017
Location: Rose Bowl- Pasadena,CA

Setting:
Avenged Sevenfold has just finished a killer set and extracted as much energy as they could from almost a hundred thousand fans. But the public has been smart. They have rationed their energy judiciously, for they know who is coming up next on stage.

METALLICA.
The once demi-gods of the Thrash Metal scene.

Darkness. Silence. Murmurs.
Flash of light, and this song begins.

I am getting goosebumps as I write this, because if everything goes according to plan, I will be one of those 100K screaming fans along with Shreyas Gaonkar (why you haven't followed him yet!?). You can betchyo ass I'll be ready to sing along with James Hetfield (Ooh Ooh Yeah) on this track-

James: "Same rise and fall, who cares at all? Seduced by fame-"

Me: "A moth into the flame!"

This song talks about how we get trapped into a downward spiral of narcissism, self-importance and shallow materialism once we have enough reason to believe we have made it in this world. This could be because of what fair weather friends whisper in your ears, what you see in the media (Fake news!) or simply your own dastardly ego.

I love the title of this track. It is perfect. Just as a dumb moth, bound by his primal urges, flies towards a bright, inviting flame only to be burnt to death, we must remember to not be stupid and to always stay humble by keeping our feet firmly planted on the ground.

You better get real, real, real.

Track: Dust Clears

Artist: Clean Bandit feat. Noonie Bao
Album: New Eyes

Year: 2013

Genre: House / Electronic



A drive along CA-1, with the Pacific on one side and mountains on the other.
An evening enjoying TexMex in Austin overlooking the Colorado River.
A walk on a trail in North Carolina surrounded by tall trees that provide glimpses of Lake Raleigh.
1pm on a weekend, up but not awake, under the blanket.
And this song.

Because music is just not complete in itself. It's that extra context of a situation, a surrounding, lights that invoke the feeling that an artist desired to.

I discovered this song thanks to Akar (go, follow him!), when he posted this track as his current earworm. And I kid you not, it gets really catchy very soon. I love the bass riff on this song, as it supports a fairly generic but pleasing violin-cello combo.

This song challenges what we think the reality is. It throws up a lot of What Ifs, making us do a double take, correct our perceptions and finally make ourselves a lot saner and clear-headed. And I have been at my most introspective during the settings I started off this post with.

From the lyrics, this song seems to vocalize the thought process of a guy picking himself up, getting back on his feet after exiting a serious relationship. Through a woman's voice, and his own, we are told that we sometimes paint a rosy picture of something that is not, just so we are able to live with ourselves and our decisions. And even as that rosy picture starts wilting and decaying, you remember it as the bright and colorful portrait that you were once awe-struck by. The woman reminds the guy that it will be hard to restart his life with a clean slate, but he needs to get real and not hold on to the past. To stop questioning his past.

I am reminded of this exchange between Uncle Iroh & Prince Zuko (Avatar: The Last Airbender) after the latter does something completely out of character, and is now engulfed in an inner war between the good and bad inside him:

Iroh: You should know this is not a natural sickness.

Zuko: Wha... what's happening?

Iroh: Your critical decision, what you did beneath that lake, it was in such conflict with your image of yourself that you are now at war within your own mind and body.

Zuko: What does that mean? [coughing]

Iroh: You are going through a metamorphosis, my nephew. It will not be a pleasant experience. But when you come out of it, you will be the beautiful prince you were always meant to be.