Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Soundtrack for 1984 by George Orwell

Track #1 Song: Satellite Artist: Guster Album: Ganging Up On the SunShining like a work of art Hanging on a wall of stars Are you what I think you are? You're my satellite You're riding with me tonight Passenger side, lighting the sky Always the first star that I find You're my satellite Elevator to the moon Whistling our favorite tune Trying to get a closer view You're my satellite You're riding with me tonight Passenger side, lighting the sky Always the first star that I find You're my satellite Maybe you will always be Just a little out of reach You're my satellite You're riding with me tonight Passenger side, lighting the sky (cont.) Always the first star that I find You're my satellite You're my satelliteâ€Å"Satellite† significance: One of the main concepts of this song is wanting something unattainable, as seen in the lines â€Å"Maybe you will always be, just a little out of reach, you’re my satellite†.The same occurs in 1984 with how Winston (the main c haracter) regards Julia (his love interest), because he loves her even though it’s difficult for them to be together under the strict rules and regulations of Big Brother.Track #2 Song: Holocene Artist: Bon Iver Album: Bon Iver, Bon IverSomeway, baby, it's part of me, apart from me You're laying waste to Halloween You messed it, friend, it's on its head, it struck the street You're in Milwaukee, off your feet And at once I knew I was not magnificent Strayed above the highway aisle (Jagged vacance, thick with ice) I could see for miles, miles, miles 3rd and Lake, it burnt away, the hallway Was where we learned to celebrate Automatic bought the years you'd talk for me That night you played me ‘Lip Parade' Not the needle, nor the thread, the lost decree Saying nothing, that's enough for me And at once I knew I was not magnificent Hulled far from the highway aisle (Jagged vacance, thick with ice) I could see for miles, miles, miles Christmas night, it clutched the light, th e hallow bright Above my brother, I and tangled spines We smoked the screen to make it what it was to be Now to know it in my memory And at once I knew I was not magnificent High above the highway aisle (Jagged vacance, thick with ice) I could see for miles, miles, milesâ€Å"Holocene† significance: Winston is often self-deprecating, analytical and pessimistic. He believes it’s crucial to hold on to memories of the past, because if the truth is forgotten, the supposed evil would win. The lines â€Å"Not to know it in my memory, and at once I knew I was not magnificent.† mimic Winston’s thought process.Track #3 Song: Waiting†¦ Artist: City and Colour Album: Bring Me Your LoveA coma might feel better than this Attempting to discover where to begin You're weighed down, you're full of something Of sickness and desertion You're weighed down, you're full of something You're underneath it all So say goodbye to love And hold your head up high There's no need to rush We're all just waiting, waiting to die Hope and better place is all I need With moments of innocence and mystery Oh, it's the little things you miss Like waking up all alone Oh, it's the little things you miss When you're underneath it all So say goodbye to love And hold your head up high There's no need to rush We're all just waiting, waiting to die All your friends seem like enemies When you're broken down and empty, oh All your friends seem like enemies When you're broken down and empty, oh So say goodbye to love And hold your head up high There's no need to rush We're all just waiting, waiting to dieâ€Å"Waiting†¦Ã¢â‚¬  significance: Winston regularly makes references to Big Brother and the Thought Police catching him breaking rules and he’s waiting for them to â€Å"vaporize† him, which is being murdered and all personal records being destroyed. Winston is also paranoid that any person he comes into contact with is an associate with Big Brother or the Thought Police because people in his life are very conniving and deceitful. So the lyrics â€Å"We’re all just waiting, waiting to die/all your friends seem like enemies when you’re broken down and empty† match his situation.Track #4 Song: The World At Large Artist: Modest Mouse Album: Good News for People Who Love Bad NewsIce-age heat wave can't complain If the world's at large, why should I remain? (cont.) Walked away to another plane Gonna find another place, maybe one I can stand I move on to another day To a whole new town with a whole new way Went to the porch to have a thought Got to the door and again, I couldn't stop You don't know where and you don't know when But you still got your words and you got your friends Walk along to another day Work a little harder, work another way Well uh uh baby I ain't got no plan We'll float on maybe would you understand? Gonna float on maybe would you understand? We'll float on maybe would you understand? The days get shorter and the nights get cold I like the autumn but this place is getting old I pack up my belongings and I head for the coast It might not be a lot but I feel like I'm making the most The days get longer and the nights smell green I guess it's not surprising but it's spring and I should leave I like songs about drifters, books about the same They both seem to make me feel a little less insane Walked on off to another spot I still haven't gotten anywhere that I want Did I want love? Did I need to know? Why does it always feel like I'm caught in an undertow? The moths beat themselves to death against the lights Adding their breeze to the summer nights Outside, water like air was great I didn't know what I had that day Walk a little farther to another plane You said that you did, but you didn't understand I know that starting over is not what life's about But my thoughts were so loud, I couldn't hear my mouth My thoughts were so loud, I couldn't hear my mouth My thoughts were s o loudâ€Å"The World At Large† significance: Throughout the book, Winston reflects on why he’s still alive even though the world is in turmoil from corrupt politics and mass murder. He attempts to find a purpose to keep surviving day-to-day even though at the beginning of the story he had no family or friends. The line â€Å"If the world’s at large, why should I remain?† represents  his self-doubt about survival and questioning his existence.Track #5 Song: My Silhouette (Acoustic) Artist: Arms Like Yours Album: Inhale ExhaleSleep has become my escape from reality, she's in my dreams Someone wake me up because this isn't real, and it's just a game that I can't escape Over again, this cruel cycle repeats and repeats I grabbed her hand but it slowly slipped away Someone wake me up, can someone wake me up She moves with me in my dreams, but I'm foolish to believe that this is the way it ends I see her silhouette, but it's just a test for me to leave the pa st with the past She moves with me now but it's just a testI must stop this cycle and cut out my silhouette I smile as her lips brush my neck but I know that this is just a vision in my head Kiss me in my dreams if you're really done with me It's too fitting to disrupt, oh can someone wake me up But you can't change me, but she's pulling me backâ€Å"My Silhouette† significance: While Winston was held prisoner by the Thought Police, he frequently had dreams of Julia. He would wake up disturbed from these dreams because he was worried about her, because she was captured at the same time he was and he assumed she was suffering as well. He missed her until doctors at the facility managed to brainwash him and Winston was left void of feelings for her.Track #6 Song: Two Weeks Artist: Grizzly Bear Album: VeckatimestSave up all the days A routine malaise Just like yesterday I told you I would stay Would you always Maybe sometimes Make it easy? Take your time Think of all the ways Mo mentary phase Just like yesterday I told you I would stay Every time you try Quarter half the mile Just like yesterday I told you I would stay Would you always Maybe sometimes Make it easy? Take your time Would you alwaysMaybe sometimes Make it easy? Take your time Always, sometimes Easy, timeâ€Å"Two Weeks† significance: Though Winston and Julia have a secret relationship; they seem to care about each other and try to make time for each other whenever they can. There were a few instances where Winston was scared Julia was going to ditch plans with him and not show up to where they were supposed to meet, but she always stuck around with him even when he would doubt her. The lyric â€Å"Just like yesterday, I told you I would stay† symbolizes Julia having to remind Winston of her good intentions.Track #7 Song: Wake Up Artist: Arcade Fire Album: FuneralSomethin' filled up My heart with nothin' Someone told me not to cry Now that I'm older My heart's colder (cont.) And I can see that it's a lie Children wake up Hold your mistake up Before they turn the summer into dust If the children don't grow up Our bodies get bigger But our hearts get torn up We're just a million Little God's causin' rainstorms Turnin' every good thing to rust I guess we'll just have to adjust With my lighnin' bolts a glowin' I can see where I am goin' to be When the reaper, reaches And touches my hand With my lighnin' bolts a glowin' I can see where I am goin' With my lighnin' bolts a glowin' I can see where I am go, goin' You'd better look out belowâ€Å"Wake Up† significance: Winston often reminisces about his past and how different it is from his current circumstances. He misses the innocence of childhood and how the world was a much better place during that time, so the lyrics â€Å"Turnin’ every good thing to rust, I guess we’ll just have to adjust†Ã‚  signifies him trying to cope with his new environment even though it’s an awful place. Track #8 Song: Viola Lion Artist: Isles & Glaciers Album: The Hearts of Lonely PeopleI am a million pieces of the sky I found a way to be alone I'm gonna wait until you want me Until you finally decide to go home Diamonds, diamonds are you all in the sky? I can't believe all of these beautiful lies As they surround me I will take a photograph of the sky Bury me, bury me Come on, bury me alone in the light I am, I'm gonna run this like a lion Another way to be alone And I will wait until you find me Until you finally decide to go home (Don't go home! Don't go home!) Diamonds, diamonds are you all in the sky? I can't believe all of these beautiful lies As they surround me I will take a photograph of the sky Bury me, bury me Come on, bury me alone in the light I've never had a reason to take me away I want it to be over But I sit here and wait [x2] I saw her smiling from the top of the world I saw her sleeping on, amazing I know If you lower, lower, lower me down You lower me clearly, so come and lower me Diamonds, diamonds are you all in the sky? I can't believe all of these beautiful lies As they surround me I will take a photograph of the sky Bury me, bury me Diamonds, diamonds are you all in the sky? I can't believe all of these beautiful lies As they surround me I will take a photograph of the sky Bury me, bury me Bury me, bury meâ€Å"Viola Lion† significance: Throughout the course of the novel, Winston is convinced that the government is lying to the people, so he meets up with a leader of an underground revolt organization to uncover these top-secret lies, which he never actually ends up doing. By the end he’s brainwashed and believes anything the Party does is right and they can do no wrong, so the line â€Å"I can’t believe all of these beautiful lies† really becomes true in the most literal sense.Track #9 Song: Midnight City Artist: M83 Album: Hurry Up, We’re DreamingWaiting in a car Waiting for a ride in the dark The night city grows Look and see her eyes, they glow Waiting in a car Waiting for a ride in the dark Drinking in the lounge Following the neon signs Waiting for a roar Looking at the mutating skyline The city is my church It wraps me in the sparkling twilight Waiting in a car Waiting for the right time Waiting in a car Waiting for the right time Waiting in a car Waiting for the right time Waiting in a car Waiting for the right time Waiting in a car â€Å"Midnight City† significance: The novel and this song don’t relate merely on lyrics, but are relevant to each other because of the high-energy vibe this song has, which is mirrored by the Party’s constant tenacity to make Big Brother as powerful as it can be, and to crush all opposing forces. They seem to know no bounds, and their energy is always extremely high whenever they’re volunteering for their government.Track #10 Song: July Artist: Youth Lagoon Album: The Year of HibernationExplosions pillaging the night From the fireworks on the Fourth of July It's just my lady, our friends, and I Smoking cigars and yelling at cars as they drive by We scaled a ladder ascending to the roof While five years ago I wept and no one knew Holding my guitar, I strummed a tune I sang â€Å"I love you but I have to cut you loose† As the neighbor lights off the small bombs we watch from the rooftop†¦ safely, so safely If I had never let go, then only God knows where I would be know I made a bridge between us then I slowly burned it Five years ago, in my backyard I sang love away (cont.) Little did I know that real love had not quite yet found meâ€Å"July† significance: While Winston was incarcerated, tortured and brainwashed at the Thought Police facility, he was thinking about his true feelings for Julia. He realized he would never see her again, and that to stay alive as long as possible he needed to direct his mind elsewhere. After all the emotional and physical pain he was experi enced there, he lost the ability to feel emotions. He only thought about the instinct for survival, all the while doctors were hurting him more by claiming that he was insane. The line â€Å"I love you but I have to cut you loose† relates Winston forgetting about Julia, because he did love her when he got arrested, but those feelings ended up fading.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.