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TOPIC 3813001459
NICKELBACK LYRICS"Edge Of A Revolution"
Head high, protest line"Freedom" scribbled on your signHeadline, New York TimesStanding on the edge of a revolution
Hey, hey, just obey.Your secret's safe with the NSAIn God we trust or the CIA?Standing on the edge of a revolution
Yeah, we're standing on the edge of a revolutionRevolution, revolution, revolution
No, we won't give up, we won't go away'Cause we're not about to live in this mass delusionNo, we don't wanna hear another word you say'Cause we know they're all depending on mass confusionNo, we can't turn back, we can't turn away'Cause it's time we all relied on the last solutionNo, we won't lay down and accept this fate'Cause we're standing on the edge of a revolution
Wall Street, common thiefWhen they get caught they all go freeA brand new yacht and a finders feeStanding on the edge of a revolution
Same shit, different dayCan't keep fed if I can't get paidWe'll all be dead if the shit don't changeStanding on the edge of a revolution
Yeah, we're standing on the edge of a revolutionRevolution, revolution, revolution
No, we won't give up, we won't go away
'Cause we're not about to live in this mass delusionNo, we don't wanna hear another word you say'Cause we know they're all depending on mass confusionNo, we can't turn back, we can't turn away'Cause it's time we all relied on the last solutionNo, we won't lay down and accept this fate'Cause we're standing on the edge of a revolution
We'll all be dead if this shit don't changeHey hey hey hey
What do we want? We want the changeAnd how're we gonna get there? RevolutionWhat do we want? We want the changeStanding on the edge of a revolution
What do we want? We want the changeAnd how're we gonna get there? RevolutionWhat do we want? We want the changeStanding on the edge of a revolution
No, we won't give up, we won't go away'Cause we're not about to live in this mass delusionNo, we don't wanna hear another word you say'Cause we know they're all depending on mass confusionNo, we can't turn back, we can't turn away'Cause it's time we all relied on the last solutionNo, we won't lay down and accept this fate'Cause we're standing on the edge of a revolution
What do we want? We want the changeAnd how're we gonna get there? RevolutionWhat do we want? We want the changeStanding on the edge of a revolution
What do we want? We want the changeAnd how're we gonna get there? RevolutionWhat do we want? We want the changeStanding on the edge of a revolution
Critical theory can be defined as an individual’s ability to free themselves from
unpleasant situations and it is a systematic critique or analysis of social
experiences and systems of human beings to determine the visible and invisible
forces or structures which constrain, inhibit, encourage or enhance personal
freedom.
According to Ritzer, Smart (2001), “the term critical theory is generally
associated with the group of German social theorists affiliated with the Institute
for Social Research founded in Frankfurt in 1923, the Institute sought to conduct
social research that would examine the contradictions of modernity, interrogate
the limits of the present order and overcome the limitations of modern social and
philosophical thought.”
Critical theory was established as a school of thought primarily by the
Frankfurt School theorists: Herbert Marcuse, Theodor Adorno, Max Horkheimer,
Walter Benjamin and Erich Formm. Modern critical theory has additionally been
influenced by Gyorgy Lukas and Antonio Gramsci as well as Jurgen Habermas a
second generation Frankfurt School scholar.
The evaluation of critical theory can be divided into three eras, which are; the
first generation of Frankfurt philosophers who maintained a commitment to
Marxist ideology, the second generation who are those who reconstructed
Marxist ideology. The third era consisted of contemporary critical theorists who
mainly have turned their attention to media and other forms of entertainment in
their examination of modern culture.
The purpose of this essay is to present an analysis of how musicians use their
songs to express and challenge the prevailing structure and order of society which
if viewed along the lines of Marxist ideology can be seen as oppressive to the
majority and supportive of the elites. For this analysis the protest song “Edge of a
Revolution” by the band Nickleback is used. The premise of the song is that it is
highlighting all the ways in which members of American society are being taken
advantage of. Thus due to all these injustices being doled out by those in power
the singer encourages persons to make a stand in the form of a revolution.
Protest songs in general has an impact on society in one of two ways. Firstly
the song can make the masses aware of the fact that they are being exploited or
oppressed and they can take the steps necessary to overthrow their oppressors to
gain their freedom. Thus the veil is removed and they can see society how it truly
is.
However these protest songs can paradoxically reinforce the very social
structure they aim to criticize. This is where the term ‘culture industry’ becomes
relevant to this analysis. The term culture industry was coined by critical theorist
Adorno and Horkheimer (John,2003). Their proposition was that culture is similar
to a factory producing standardized cultural goods such as films, radio
programmes and music. These cultural goods are then used to manipulate mass
society into passivity.
This essentially means that although ‘Edge of a Revolution’ is a protest song it
will in fact not have the impact that one would expect. Although a small number
of the masses might become more aware of inequalities and injustices in society
there would be no revolution. This is due to the fact that the song will be looked
upon as an instance of individuality and free speech but the attention of the
masses will be quickly diverted since it is as Adorno and Horkheimer said culture
is a factory. Thus those in power allow protest songs such as the aforementioned
example to be made in order to lull the masses in to a false sense of freedom and
free speech.
Therefore as long as the majority of the masses believe that they have
power, freedom to make a change as exemplified in ‘Edge of a revolution’ there is
no need to actually carry out the revolution that they speak of.
Bibliography
Ritzer, George; Smart, Barry Handbook or Social Theory , SAGE Publications, 2001
Durham Peters, John. The Subtlety of Horkheimer and Adorno. Cambridge: Polity
Press, 2003
Scannell, Paddy (2007). Media and Communication. London: SAGE