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Post by uǝɥʇɐǝɥ on May 4, 2016 13:30:13 GMT -5
Radiohead – “Burn The Witch” Meaning? Radiohead have released a new single called “Burn the Witch” on the third of May. I have a strong association with the lyrics, a fan theory that I want to share, that of course might not completely match everyones impressions. I've just came back from cycling my bike through the green and blomming nearby villages, the rural area of the ore mountains in Saxony, Germany, when the video was released ... passing model villages, creepy bakerys and burnt down walpurgis night fires. These villages are really beautiful in spring. But it's also that region in Germany that is in daily observation of the media. The lyrics might seem pretty generalising . But I still think you can't deny that they could be somehow politically interpreted? I know the video is heavily inspired by the 70's movie The Wickerman. The first hints were released at Sunday Walpurgis Night, which has its roots in this region where I live. It's a massive, useless, vulgar celebration of "burning the witch" with massive fires in several villages. Anyway this song "rounds up" my feelings, about what I would think about sitting on a table" with the residents of my village at Walpurgis Night. The imagery of the songs and the words remind me of the vulgarisation of my particular region, the region where currently right wing terrorism has a come back, refugee housings are burning, and the anti Islam movement PEGIDA is putting this region into shame and mayors get threatened. This place is creepy and you could also easily find a few Reich's flags in these village's back yards if you would look closer. www.dw.com/en/gallows-at-pegida-demo-under-investigation-by-dresden-prosecutors/a-18778803Anyway,... it's fascinating that they released this song during this time. That's it. I don't want to bore anyone  So, I think this song is a political song in the same style of Bob Dylan's songs (like Mr. Jones...). |
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Post by The Escapist on May 4, 2016 13:35:13 GMT -5
Most definitely. It's lyrics originate from the Hail to the Thief era, which was heavily political.
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Post by matt on May 4, 2016 14:56:23 GMT -5
Yeah, it seems quite ripe for the times - well timed too with Donald Trumps nomination all but secured.
I wouldn't be surprised if this is overtly political this album.
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Post by Lennon2217 on May 4, 2016 15:03:45 GMT -5
Well it's certainly not a love song.....
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Post by glider on May 4, 2016 15:10:07 GMT -5
Is A Punch-up at A Wedding about George Bush?
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Post by mystoryisgory on May 4, 2016 15:26:41 GMT -5
Is A Punch-up at A Wedding about George Bush? I've heard that it was originally directed at a critic who gave a particularly negative review of their Oxford homecoming concert on 7 July, 2001 (one of the best RH gigs btw, amazing performances). But of course the angry lyrics can be broadly interpreted. |
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Post by mystoryisgory on May 4, 2016 15:28:15 GMT -5
I'd call Trump a witch but that's an insult to witches.
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Post by theyknowwhatimean on May 4, 2016 15:49:23 GMT -5
Yeah, it seems quite ripe for the times - well timed too with Donald Trumps nomination all but secured. I wouldn't be surprised if this is overtly political this album. Would almost be unwise for a band as intellectual as Radiohead obviously are, NOT to do something with a political slant to it. With terrorism (and correspondingly, right-wing racist paranoia) rife throughout Europe and America, and, as you say, the popularity of windbags like Trump and Farage, it seems the world's more fucked up now than it has been for decades. |
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Post by The Escapist on May 4, 2016 16:04:37 GMT -5
I think Thom's abstract, collage-of-phrases lyrical style works well with political themes. Going into detail would make it less emotionally impacting - see Muse. Instead, just saying stuff like "Abandon all reason / Avoid all eye contact" says all you really need to while still creating a genuine atmosphere of fear and paranoia in the track.
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Post by Sternumman on May 4, 2016 16:25:50 GMT -5
Is A Punch-up at A Wedding about George Bush? Not sure but 2+2=5 I'm pretty sure is. |
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Post by carryusall on May 4, 2016 17:11:50 GMT -5
Radiohead are lazier than Noel. They need to write new songs, they recycle far too many, and this is the first album in five years so they need to make a statement.
Also it's a song from the Hail to the Thief era, which is probably their least popular (Don't shoot me, I like that album just fine for a Radiohead album. It's uneven, but they had some great melodies in that period)
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Post by spaneli on May 4, 2016 17:41:20 GMT -5
Radiohead are lazier than Noel. They need to write new songs, they recycle far too many, and this is the first album in five years so they need to make a statement. Also it's a song from the Hail to the Thief era, which is probably their least popular (Don't shoot me, I like that album just fine for a Radiohead album. It's uneven, but they had some great melodies in that period) Ive never found Noel using older songs as lazy. I find it lazy that their essentially unchanged from their previous form when released. Using older songs isn't lazy. Imo, that's misinformed. Neil Young and Dylan use older songs. Are they lazy? No. Taking a song, working on it, trying to make it the best it can be is called craft. More songwriting is that then writing a new song and throwing it on an album. Anyone can write a song in 5 min, but it takes dedication to keep a song for years in order to make it better. That's what songwriting is. |
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Post by uǝɥʇɐǝɥ on May 6, 2016 10:48:52 GMT -5
It seems like Radiohead might be really going for this sociologically vs. politically subliminal theme on this record.
Of course "point of no return" is a vocable that is often used for the war in syria (... just a slight political slant yet again).
I feel this song might be about the inherent vice of the bohemian artistic lifestyle in a political world.
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Post by uǝɥʇɐǝɥ on May 7, 2016 14:03:09 GMT -5
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Nov 4, 2024 5:04:30 GMT -5
Nov 4, 2024 5:04:30 GMT -5