Linkin Park - New Divide [Song & Lyrics Review]

Hi world!
I'm back with new lyrics that I would like to share with you. This time let's talk about the new single by Linkin Park, "New divide", which is the main track of Transformers 2 soundtrack.
I finally decided to get in touch with the universe of Transformers, so I watched the two main movies within two days..and now I cannot wait for the third movie to be played in the theathers all around the world! Yep I really liked the movies, especially what came out of the great mix between action,drama and hilarity (loved the interaction between Wheelie and Mikaela: loool!!!).
The powerful soundtrack that plays along with the movies has been filled with great music and concerning the second movie what I like most is the new single by the Linkin Park. I am particularly pleased to listen to this new amazing song of theirs after years during which I kinda lost interest in their music (in particular after Hybrid Theory, that I reckon to be such a masterpiece!). However, leaving out this moot opinion, New Divide was composed by Mike Shinoda & Co. for Transformers 2 by express request of Micheal Bay and then it generated a wider involvment for the LP in the making-of of the soundtrack, ending in the inclusion of instrumental excerpts of New Divide in the the song "Nest", a track of the musical score of the movie.

NEW DIVIDE
LYRICS BY MIKE SHINODA AND CHESTER BENNINGTON

I remembered black skies / the lightning all around me
I remembered each flash / as time began to blur
Like a startling sign / that fate had finally found me
And your voice was all I heard
That I get what I deserve

So give me reason / to prove me wrong / to wash this memory clean
Let the floods cross the distance in your eyes
Give me reason / to fill this hole / connect the space between
Let it be enough to reach the truth that lies
Across this new divide

There was nothing in sight / but memories left abandoned
There was nowhere to hide / the ashes fell like snow
And the ground caved in / between where we were standing
And your voice was all I heard
That I get what I deserve

So give me reason / to prove me wrong / to wash this memory clean
Let the floods cross the distance in your eyes
Across this new divide

In every loss / in every lie
In every truth that you'd deny
And each regret / and each goodbye
Was a mistake too great to hide
And your voice was all I heard
That I get what I deserve

So give me reason / to prove me wrong / to wash this memory clean
Let the floods cross the distance in your eyes
Give me reason / to fill this hole / connect the space between
Let it be enough to reach the truth that lies
Across this new divide

Lyrics from mikeshinoda.com

Here we are: the matter of the song deals with a "divide" (obviously, lol!). Indeed, the hypothetical character has to cope with a breaking point in his life which would let him leave his past behind. It's a past filled with mistakes (losses, lies, deniable truths, regrets, goodbyes) which crashes into him metaforically disguised as lightning, black skies, time blurring, ashes felling like snow, the ground caving in that let all his memories march out. These images are perceived as "startling signs" of the fate that finally finds him to hold him accountable of what he did (do this remind you of something???). Anyhow, in the middle of this turning-point our friend is not alone: he has indeed somobody he can hang on to whom has the power to help him out during this crucial stage of his life. The other character has been close to our friend during all his "guilty" past, trying to make him aware of his mistakes, and has a stronger role now that the main character has to deal with the truth. I think the general meaning of "New Divide" fits perfectly the movie plot, which deals during all the movie with huge divides that can be overcome only with the strenght of solid relationships based on trust and cooperation. The exact roles are not that clear in these lyrics but I like to think about it as if it were a complicated relationship between a men and a woman, but I also understand that this wouldn't fit so well with the main movie plot. What do you think about it???

Mams Taylor Ft. Dariush, Satar, Morteza, & Friends - United For Neda [Song & Lyrics Review]

Hi everyone!
I kinda forgot about the existence of this blog but I decided to write here again to help spreading the voice of the Iranian Sea of Green. Since the election day I've been steadily connected on Twitter trying to catch the huge flow of thoughts coming from Iran that the world wide web has been allowing them to express. My great wonder concerning the (almost) infinite possibilities that internet gives us has been fueled by the great cyber-movement engendered from inside Iran. I want now to show my full support to the claim of freedom posting the lyrics of a great song written by Mams Taylor and sung by Mams Taylor himself and other Iranian singers. I hope I transcribed it without too many mistakes and..as you will see, there are some gaps (my english has to improve!)..could somebody help so it'll be complete?! And more, I would be pleased if anybody could write out the persian fragments of the song!
Post Scriptum No 1. After some suggestions by anahid02, now the lyrics are completed for the most part. But as you can see, there are still some gaps..anyway: thanks a lot anahid02 for your helpfulness!!!
Post Scriptum No.2. Well, thanks to Mams Taylor himself and to Nim, now I can say that the lyrics are complete!

[News reporter] … Iran where authorities prepare to crack down on anyone who defies the direct order from supreme leader to stop the protests... Bloodshed on the streets of Iran, at least seven people are reported to have been shot…By the thousands…

میعادگاه ما انسان و آزادی

[News reporter] …The message of protesters in Iran today…

تاریخ آینده،
میعادگاه ما انسان و آبادی،
تاریخ آینده، میدان آزادی

Neda
[Be strong]
This one goes out to you
[Keep your head held high]

Lord, another day goes by and I pray that they all stay strong
And try to make it through the hate, all the pain and the lies
And make it through another day there without dying
Politicians controlling our minds
Why we even voting for if they’re makin’ up our minds for us
Man, they must be thinkin’ that we’re blind
But they opened up our eyes for us

This is about time that we stand up, stand up, gotta move the line
But they didn’t realize is they really just united us
Yeah, they use religion as disguise but my God doesn't divide
This is something they can’t hide from us

[Chorus]
So we’re not fighting for our rights
We’re just fighting for what’s right
For global freedom, but it’s like
Another day turns into night
And nothing's changing, people dying
Flags are flying through it all
So united we’ll stand
But divided we’ll fall

Damn, another day goes by again and it hurts
‘cause all that I can do is grab this pad and pen
And hope that by writing it
it begins to open people’s eyes up to what’s been happening all throughout the world
Guns firing, Neda, bless her soul
Now it’s time to stand up and seize control
And I’m talking to the human race as a whole

Time to stand up, stand up gotta move aligned
What they didn’t realize is they really just united us
Yeah, they use religion as disguise (my count/country..isn’t divide?)
This is something they can’t hide from us

[Chorus]

بنی آدم اعضای یک پیکرند
که در آفرینش ز یک گوهرند
چو عضوی به درد آورد روزگار
دگر عضوها را نماند قرار

Can anybody hear us crying, marching, not afraid of dying
Has anybody seen our freedom, staying strong, we’re bound to find it
Can anybody hear us crying, marching, not afraid of dying
Has anybody seen our freedom, staying strong, we’re bound to find it
Can anybody hear us crying, marching, not afraid of dying
Has anybody seen our freedom, just stay strong, we’re bound to find it

[Chorus] x2

ما که به فکر خود نیستیم
جویای عدالت هستیم
با شوق جهانی آزاد
خورشید هم رفت از یاد
انسانها در انقراضند
پرچمها در اهتزازند
ما شانه به شانه باشیم
هرگز از هم نپاشیم

[Chorus]

[Obama:] But let us remember the words that were written by the poet Saadi,
so many years ago:
"The children of Adam are limbs to each other,
having been created of one essence."
With the coming of a new season, we're reminded of this precious humanity
that we all share.
And we can once again call upon this spirit
as we seek the promise of a new beginning.

Here you can see the video of the song directly in Mams Taylor's youtube channel

And here you can download the song for free

Emmy Rossum - Slow me down [Song & Lyrics Review]

Hi world!
I'm back after a looong time! I assure it's not my intention to dismiss this blog, I'm not the kind of "two-posts-and-enough" blogger!! Let's say I've been really really busy in these months: indeed I've been writing my thesis about party politics in independent India and I'll graduate next wednesday!!..woohooo!!!!
Today I'd like to talk about a song which I got wind of a few days ago...and I totally fell in love with it. I'm talking about "Slow me down" by the lovely Emmy Rossum. I saw Emmy in Dragon Ball Evolution (even if I must admit I didn't like the movie) and then I found out she is a very talented and appreciated singer. I might have known her thanks to her role in the Phantom of the Opera movie but I think her career as a singer hasn't "landed" in Europe yet, not in Italy anyway...and I think that it is a pity! But let's get into the song:

Do do do do...Just show me...
Slow me down...

Rushing and racing and running in circles
Moving so fast I'm forgetting my purpose
Blur of the traffic is sending me spinning
Getting nowhere

My head and my heart are colliding chaotic
Pace of the world, I just wish I could stop it
Try to appear like I've got it together
I'm falling apart

Save me, somebody take my hand and lead me
Slow me down
Don't let love pass me by
Just show me how, cause I'm ready to fall
Slow me down
Don't let me live a lie before my life flies by
I need you to slow me down
Do do do do

Sometimes I fear that I might disappear
In the blur of fast-forward, I falter again
Forgetting to breathe, I need to sleep
I'm getting no where

All that I've missed I see in the reflection
Passed me while I wasn't paying attention
Tired of rushing, racing and running, I'm falling apart

Tell me, oh won't you take my hand and lead me
Slow me down
Don't let love pass me by
Just show me how, cause I'm ready to fall
Slow me down
Don't let me live a life before my life flies by
I need you to slow me down
Do do do do

The noise of the world is getting me caught up
I'm chasing the clock and I wish I could stop it
Just need to breathe, somebody please
Slow me down

Well, the meaning of the song is quite clear: it deals with the way of life of almost all of us in this modern world, that often seems to rush too fast and we always hope to be able to slow it down, as the song says. Emmy points out how we might lost hold of this uncontrollable way, risking to lose "the things that are really beautiful" in this life of ours. In particular, the lyrics refer to "love", in order not to live what in the song it is called "a lie": among all the beautiful things we could miss, the real loss would be to "let love passing us by". That is the most important thing and that's why the character is asking for an "undefined somebody"'s help to slow down his/her life. I think these lyrics are brilliant and the way the song is sung by Emmy, alternating fast parts with slower and softer parts, really fits in the meaning of the song. Moreover I love the "not-bubblegum pop" sound of this music and I also think that Emmy is one of the sexiest voices in the musical scene of the last years. I hope she'll have a long and successful career, but please: do not accept anymore to destroy Dragon Ball's history in other movies( ;-) )!!!

The Killers - Human [Song & Lyrics Review]

Hi everyone!
I’m back after two weeks of “hard study”!..today I’d like to talk about one of the most alternative (and shocking) songs released in the last months..I’m talking about The Killers’ last single, “Human”, that probably engendered an inner struggle in many of The Killers’ fans because of the “not-exactly-rock” way this single heads for. The Killers changed almost completely their usual sound and the artwork which came out from their cooperation with Stuart Price (aka Jacques Lucont's Thin White Duke) is a pop-dance piece with a pinch of rock and a dive into the ‘80s.

"Human”
I did my best to notice
when the call came down the line
up to the platform of surrender
I was brought but I was kind
and sometimes I get nervous
when I see an open door
close your eyes, clear your heart
cut the cord

are we human or are we dancer
my sign is vital, my hands are cold
and I’m on my knees looking for the answer
are we human or are we dancer
pay my respects to grace and virtue
send my condolences to good
give my regards to soul and romance
they always did the best they could
and so long to devotion,
you taught me everything I know
wave good bye, wish me well
you gotta let me go

are we human or are we dancer
my sign is vital, my hands are cold
and I’m on my knees looking for the answer
are we human or are we dancer

will your system be all right
when you dream of home tonight
there is no message we’re receiving
let me know is your heart still beating
are we human or are we dancer

my sign is vital, my hands are cold
and I’m on my knees looking for the answer
you’ve gotta let me know

are we human or are we dancer
my sign is vital, my hands are cold
and I’m on my knees looking for the answer
are we human or are we dancer
are we human or are we dancer
are we human or are we dancer

First of all it is compulsory to mention the birth of the “Dancer-Party” and the “Denser-Party” right after this song was released because of the different meanings that word could beget. Moreover “Entertainment Weekly” considered the text of this song the “silliest lyrics of the week” in September 2008 because of the apparent nonsense meaning the song may have. Brandon Flowers then made clear in several interviews that the right word was “dancer” and that he got the inspiration from a “disparaging comment” made by Hunter S. Thompson about the American citizens and after this clarification the puzzle was pieced together.
Actually the song is a push to shake off our conformist thoughts and an invitation to start using our own brains in evaluating the different chances that we come across during our lives. It means we should “cut the cord” which ties us up the society that “has taught us” everything we know and we should consider the new opportunities we happen to face without “getting nervous” when we see “an open door”. That open door could hide a great chance for us to achieve but that we usually haven’t the strength to cope with just because we are double bound with what we’ve been taught by the world we live in.
So people: what do you think??..are we human or are we dancer??..I think this song is really topical today with all the brain-washing thing we are subjected to by the mass-media system.
This is the end of this episode..see you soon..keep in touch!..

The Strokes - Reptilia [Song & Lyrics review]

Hi world!
..let's start my adventure in these pages with the review of the song where the title of my blog comes from: it is Reptilia by The Strokes. This song is one of the most amazing songs in Room On Fire, their second album released in October 2003, which is also named after the same line in Reptilia.

"Reptilia"

He seemed impressed by the way you came in
"Tell us a story 
I know you're not boring"

I was afraid that you would not insist
"You sound so sleepy 
just take this, now leave me"

I said please don't slow me down 
If I'm going too fast 
You're in a strange part of our town

Yeah, the night's not over 
You're not trying hard enough, 
Our lives are changing lanes 
You ran me off the road, 
The wait is over 
I'm now taking over, 
You're no longer laughing 
I'm not drowning fast enough

Now every time that I look at myself 
"I thought I told you 
this world is not for you"

The room is on fire as she's fixing her hair 
"you sound so angry 
just calm down, you found me"

I said please don't slow me down 
If I'm going too fast 
You're in a strange part of our town

Yeah, the night's not over 
You're not trying hard enough, 
Our lives are changing lanes 
You ran me off the road, 
The wait is over 
I'm now taking over, 
You're no longer laughing 
I'm not drowning fast enough

(from The Strokes' website)

The title "Reptilia" refers to the Reptilian Complex (or R-Complex), that is a part of the brain according to the theory of the brain model by the neuro scientist Paul D. MacLean. In particular the R-Complex is something like the "irrational" part of our brain, that we share with reptiles, and that is responsible for rage and the first stage of "stress response" which causes spontaneous or intuitive behaviors. Indeed, Julian Casablancas' sharp voice tells us about a complicated relationship between a man and a woman who meet again after they took different "lanes" apparently because of the girl's decision ("you ran me off the road"). This fact hardly struck the male character and it took him a while to recover and "take over". After he finally retrieves the girl, he is proud of his own "recovery" that probably stunned the girl ("you're not longer laughing, I'm not drowning fast enough") and rage overwhelms him as he is not satisfied by the girl's attempts to heal the old fracture ("you're not trying hard enough"), as he doesn't like the world where the girl is living after she took that lane ("I thought I told you this world is not for you"). His rage culminates in those moments when he sees the girl "fixing her hair" to such an extent that he sees the room on fire. The girl notices his rage and tries to calm him down but he doesn't want to listen to her even if he realizes that he's "going too fast".
Here it ends my first lyrics review: I leave it to you to extend your own interpretations and..why not..if you want you can post here your own feelings. I just want to add two more things: first, I like to imagine the scene in a motel room with the angry man singing this song sitting in an old and spoilt sofa; second, if you listen to the song you could even sense the increasing rage mainly in the parts where the instruments slowly overlap!
Bye!