Song Meaning, Background: Something From Nothing by Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters recently released their latest album, Sonic Highways. Concept for the creation of this album was quite different to the approach bands usually undertake in producing albums, that is, bands usually go to the a studio, write song, mix the album and produce it. Foo Fighters did all that, and a few more -- they went to a few different cities to study the uniqueness of music that belong to the city.

"Something From Nothing" was recorded in the city of Chicago. If you know anything about American blues, you know that Chicago has deep roots in blues and rock & roll. As Dave Ghrol pointed out in an interview, the major influence for this song was Buddy Guy, the legendary blues musician from Chicago.

Song Meaning, Analysis, Background: The God That Failed by Metallica

If you're a Metallica fan you know that James and Lars are very potent in staying away from divisive themes like politics and religion ( and climate change lol ). When asked James explained their less punk-like songs by stating that he liked to reach out to people's common emotions that went beyond personal pity personal stuff.

"The God That Failed" is an exception to this unwritten rule. James Hetfield comes out swinging saying that the Biblical God is a failure -- and I agree. Well, in fact I disagree, because how can one fail if he doesn't even exit? Nevertheless the most interesting part is the back story to this song because it's about the death of James' mom.

When he was a kid, James was raised as a christian scientist ( I know it's weird... it sounds like oil and water, or a gay republican ).  What that means is that the Hetfield household didn't believe in science or rational reasoning, or what many interpreted science, logic and reasoning to be. That included their ignorance of modern medicine, because papa and mamma Hetfield believed that God would cure them in the event of a disease.

Then there came a time see the validity of this claim --  James' mom was battling cancer. However none of the fiends of family did anything to help her besides praying to the invisible man in the sky that didn't exist. So she died... and James was absolutely pissed. His dad had already the family a few years prior the mom's death so James is now without a parent.

That's how James' life story turned into lyrics in "The God That Failed." The song is not anti-religious in anyway. In fact James still identifies himself has a christian ( he's got a tattoo of God giving him the gift of music ), but surely not a christian scientist.

I also did an analysis of The Unforgiven, which has somewhat of a parallel meaning to this song. You guys can check that out; it's also got a video in which you can see the early days of James growing up with his family.

Song Meaning and Analysis: Summer of 69 by Bryan Adams

Summer of 69 is one of Bryan Adams' signature tunes, and it's one of my favorite rock songs. As for meaning of the song, it's very straightforward - Bryan is looking back on his teenage years and early days of his high school band.

Song Meaning, Background and Analysis: Welcome to Paradise by Green Day

Welcome to Paradise is about Billie Joel Armstrong's memoir his mom after leaving her home for the first time to live own his own. According to Wikipedia (it's a got nice article on this song; you should read it as well) Billie went onto live with his fellow bandmates, as well as a bunch of other slackers.

Song Meaning: Basket Case by Green Day

All I know about Basket Case is that this can be attributed to bringing punk rock into the 90s. That's I all I can make of it. However I'll say this: basket case usually means someone being an outcast because he's, you know, not cool. So I think that's what this song is about - it's about an uncool kid on the block.

Lyrics: 

Do you have the time
To listen to me whine
About nothing and everything
All at once
I am one of those
Melodramatic fools
Neurotic to the bone
No doubt about it

Sometimes I give myself the creeps
Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me
It all keeps adding up
I think I'm cracking up
Am I just paranoid?
Am I just stoned?

I went to a shrink
To analyze my dreams
She says it's lack of sex
That's bringing me down
I went to a whore
He said my life's a bore
So quit my whining cause
It's bringing her down

Sometimes I give myself the creeps
Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me
It all keeps adding up
I think I'm cracking up
Am I just paranoid?
Uh, yuh, yuh, ya

Grasping to control
So I better hold on

Sometimes I give myself the creeps
Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me
It all keeps adding up
I think I'm cracking up
Am I just paranoid?
Am I just stoned?

Song Meaning and Analysis: Just Close Your Eyes by Waterproof Blonde

Story of the Year did a cover of Just Close Your Eyes. Song was originally by Waterproof Blonde

The song was originally recorded by Waterproof Blonde. According to Google they were active for only three years, from 2002 to 2005. "Just Close Your Eyes" was released in 2004, and it was made popular as result of WWE wrestler Christian using it as his entrance song. Few years later, in 2009 another band by the name of Story of the Year did a cover of the song, and it took the place of Christian's previous entrance song.

Song Meaning: Bridge Burning by Foo Fighters

ARTIST: Foo fighters | ALBUM: wasting light | RELEASED: 2011

Meaning of "Burning Bridges" is what you think it is: cutting of ties with your past so there's no retreating. Sometimes it's a good thing if your past is something you don't want to revisit, but cutting ties with friends and family, of course, comes with a cost. Nevertheless what is Dave Ghrol trying to say in this song? I'm not quite sure. So maybe you guys can help me by making a comment.

Song Meaning, Analysis: Times Like These by Foo Fighters

ARTIST: Foo Fighters | ALBUM: one and one | RELEASED: 2003

"Times Like These" is a song for you if you find yourself a little down on life. The song in fact originated from adversity as Dave Ghrol wasn't so upbeat about his and the band's future. Besides that, the song is a simple, but heavy riff to go along with the heartfelt lyrics ( somewhat heartfelt lyrics ).

Song Meaning: Rope by Foo Fighters

ARTIST: Foo Fighters | ALBUM: Wasting Light | RELEASED: 2011

"Rope" is the second track on Foo Fighter's 2011 classic Wasting Light. It's a great hard rock with heavy with a heavy guitar sound. It's got a great riff, but the most noticeable thing that is missing is a great solo to complement the riff. Looks like a job for Tony Iommi?

Significance of Elvis' Blue Moon of Kentucky and Pop Music

King of Rock Elvis Presley (1935-1977) joined Sam Phillips at his Sun Records studio in 1953 to record a few songs. Elvis was a young fella who showed a great deal of interest in black artists, and rhythm & blues music.

Song Meaning: Best of You by Foo Fighters

ARTIST: Foo Fighters | ALBUM: In your Honor | RELEASED: 2005

The song is about showcasing the inner conflicts of Dave Ghrol (he's the band's principal songwriter), or, in a general sense, that of everybody else. As I was first doing the analysis of lyrics, I came across many references to committing suicide, but these were made in a figurative sense, obviously.

Song Meaning: Disposable Heroes by Metallica

ARTIST: METALLICA | ALBUM: MASTER OF PUPPETS | RELEASED: 1986

"Disposable Heroes" from Metallica's Master of Puppets

"Disposable Heroes" is immovable from my Android playlist, because the song is that good! It don't quite know why it's not a permanent fixture on their setlist. Maybe because Lars is the one who puts the setlist together, and no one really can't put a finger the shit that he does lol. Some Metallica fans think its because the song has repetitive parts, thus counterproductive to the live-vibe that the band it trying to create.

Song Meaning, Background, Analysis: Hotel California by Eagles

ARTIST: Eagles | ALBUM: Hotel California | RELEASED: 1977

This is the first Eagle song I'm doing, so hopefully I won't failed at this terribly. I came across "Hotel California" a long time ago, but never really had a chance to analyze it. I was a little busy with Metallica songs. In fact this the song that introduced me to the Eagles, and I fell in love with the song as well as the band. Pretty weird for a Metallica fan, huh?

Song Meaning: Walk by Foo Fighters

ARTIST: foo fighters | ALBUM: wasting light | RELEASED: 2011

Year was 2011. Foo Fighters produced their seventh studio album in... a garage. That's right. It was frontman Dave Ghrol's idea because he wanted to try something "different." So the band moved into Dave's garage with analog equipment and instruments, and produced Wasting Light in its entirety. The effort was definitely worth it, as the album received five Grammy awards, including the best rock album of the year.

Song Meaning: God is Dead By Black Sabbath

ARTIST: black sabbath | ALBUM: 13 | RELEASED: 2013

"God is Dead?" from Sabbath's 13

Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath did an interview for NME in which they said they didn't want the single to be titled "God is Dead" as it's way too provocative, but Ozzy insisted. What Ozzy wanted to do was, being a christian himself ( along with Tony and Geezer ), to show that God was indeed alive and well in his life through the lyrical buildup of the song. So if you're a far-right christian, stop denigrating Black Sabbath thinking they are attacking Jesus; they are not. You'd have to look deep into lyrics to get the full meaning of the song, which I'll do soon. Contrary to what many think, Sabbath are nice people. The "evil" stuff that Ozzy does on stage are just an act, and no way indicative of his worldview. Case in point, Ozzy eats bats for dinner, and that's a very christian thing to do. #JustKidding

Song Meaning, Analysis, Background: Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin

ARTIST: Led Zeppelin | ALBUM: Led Zeppelin IV | RELEASED: 1971

"Stairway to Heaven" is the highlight of Led Zeppelin IV

Here we go. This is the song that most of you've waiting for. Hopefully I won't screw this up terribly. "Stairway to Heaven" was written by the rock duo of Robert Plant and Jimmy Page. Rumour ( actually it's a fact ) has it that Plant wrote the initial bits of lyrics while listening to Page's guitar chords. The lyrics were of course written out of spontaneity.

New! Now playing: Unlimited music from Google

When I saw "Unlimited music from Google" on Google.ca, I had to check it out. I was thinking how was this different from other "music" downloading websites like iTunes.

I clicked on the link and the next page had a picture of Katy Perry, and I was like Jesus H. Christ, this is going to be full of pop shit... but it wasn't!!!!

And then I read the first paragraph and it turned out that this shit wasn't really unlimited, as you it was "only $9.99 $7.99/month." It wasn't too bad. They've got Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and Sting, along with other new artists, featured on the scrollable promotional poster.

I'd probably give it a try but I can't since I'm financially broke these days. So if any of you singed up for this, please let me know what you thought in the comments below.

Criticism of Metallica by a Metallica Fan

There's something different about Metallica since they've released the Black Album in 1991. It's not that they cut their hair, or became more "commercial." In fact when asked of Metallica fans about this, they put their finger on the "commercial" aspect of the band. This goes hand-in-hand with them calling the band as "sellouts."

Being a Metallica fan myself, I could case less about Metallica selling out. If you want to be serious about it, then the fact of the matter is Metallica has been selling out since 1983 with the release of one particular song. But no one nowadays points this out; if anything they worship the band's 80's music.

Song Meaning: Welcome Home (Sanitarium) By Metallica

ARTIST: metallica | ALBUM: mater of puppets | RELEASED: 1987

"Sanitarium" is a six and a half minute heavy metal power ballad by Metallica that features some of James Hetfield's best writing. Among the other fast-moving songs on Master of Puppets, this stands out for its melodic guitar solos and emotional lyrics.

The song is based on the movie, One Who Flew Over Cuckoo's Nest starring Jack Nicholson. The movie is about the a man ( Jack ) who managed to avoid prison time by pretending to be crazy, thus going into sanitarium instead. The lyrics of the song accurately reflects the dark atmosphere surrounding the persons portrayed in the movie.

Metallica Debuts Lords of Summer

"This is called the Lords of Summer." That's what James Hetfiled had to say when he introduced Metallica's new song which is hopefully going to be in their overdue 9th studio album.

The song was performed live in Columbia just a couple of days ago. There are already plenty of videos on Youtube of the performance. Musically it sounded like "Harvester of Sorrow", that is, it's a "heavy metal" song. Lyrically the song is about, well, summer.

Song Meaning: What Do You Do For Money Honey

ARTIST: AC/DC | ALBUM: Back in Black | RELEASED: 1980

Almost all the AC/DC song are about sex, and this is no exception. Their ability to culminate street-life living experiences garnered from over half a decade of touring prior to the release of Black in Black have resulted in songs deeply rooted in the theme of sex. These include "Let Me Put My Love Into You,", "You Shook Me All Night Long," "Shoot to Thrill" and the song I'm about to analyze, "What Do You Do For Money Honey."

The song is about a prostitute, who I'd like to think that AC/DC was familiar with back in the day. Lyrics explores her excessive lifestyle.

Analysis of lyrics:

Like any other good song, first introduces the subject matter. Right off the bat, we know the song is about a prostitute when you hear the first two lines. As the verse progresses, we get to know more about her - a restless, uneasy, and annoying person, which AC/DC sums up as "bitch." That's the best the way to describe such women in academia as well, in case you didn't know :-).