Against Me! - 'Stop'
Hmmm... As lovely as it is to have a band who are attempting to really say something with their music, a band who want to reach people and send out positive messages to try and change the cynical world in which we live, a band who really want to mean something (you can go ahead and put inverted commas around any bits of that last paragraph, if you like. I was actually trying not to sound snarky for a second), something doesn't quite feel right.
It's not the song itself, oddly. 'Stop' is a kind of protest march chant set to music (Franz Ferdinand's music, to be accurate). It's repetitive and passionate. Which fits, y'know, The Message, and gains the band credibility as thinkers of (small p) political thoughts. You can't really argue with a sentiment like "Stop! Take some time to think, figure out what’s important to you.
You’ve got to make a serious decision", can you?
, it's on MySpace and is the uncensored version of the song. PUNKROCK!
Course, a quick squizz at the rest of the lyrics shows that the serious decision the band have in mind is something about kicking against celebrity culture and refusing to bend the knee just because it's expected of a band in their position. They're dead against having their heads turned by awards ceremonies and having fans or a gold record, you see.
So, it's less about making a positive change in your own life, and more about making an empty rebellious gesture against the nature of modern showbiz. Yeah...all the evils of the world to choose from and that's the one they pick. People in bands going to awards ceremonies. They hate that. They just want it to stop.
Which is a shame. Cos a song this beefy and driven could really use a decent message behind it, don't you think? Something about the homeless? Disability rights? Anti-war stuff?
I'm not telling them how to write their songs, I'm just saying there might be bigger targets to hit with your major label debut...they can't be THAT sensitive about 'selling out', can they?
Download: Out now
CD Released: April 14th
(Fraser McAlpine)
Comments
I see your point, but surely it's more of an empty rebellious gesture singing about war, the homeless etc if it's something you'd prefer not to sing about. I dunno, its pretty cliche don't you think, a punk influenced bang banging on about those sort of issues. I mean personally i'd prefer to here a band singing about something different, not just another "american idiot."
I also think there is greater depth to this song than you seem to think. For a start if you consider the bands do it yourself roots, which i might add has caused so much boring, bland internet controversy with Against me! "selling out." The whole signing to a major label, celebrity culture business appears to be something that is of concern to the band themselves, i guess its a big deal going against principles you orginally stood for, a life changing experience. I don't particularly see this song as a hollow preachy lecture, more as something personal, that matters to the band themselves. I could be wrong like...
Secondly i'm surprised you haven't noticed how satirical the song is considering their roots, the fact its on a major label, and how cheesy and un-against me the song is itself. There aren't many bands that would think that much into the writing process i bet. I do like how they've written this cheesy pop song and its actually really good haha.
This is just my interpretation of the song, i just felt compelled to comment when i read how you interpreted the lyrics which i consider to be one of the bands strongest points, i don't feel like i'm being lectured when i listen to them or find them in anyway pretentious. They seem honest and i reckon its good that they choose to sing about something that matters to them rather than writing lyrics geared towards a particular audience.
[All very good points, Ewan. And if the lyrics to the chorus hadn't made me want the song to actually go somewhere constructive, rather than obvious (or even satirical), I would completely agree with you. My point is it seems a shame they couldn't have come up with anything better to make a "serious decision" about than whether they have sold out as a band or not. - Fraser]