Amaranth by Nightwish. Not the group's greatest musical piece, but the video suggests something more.
If you get the chance to see the video, you'll know what I'm talking about in this blog entry. The following is my analysis of the song lyrics and video.
Now understand, I've looked up the lyrics to this song (because let's face it, the singer is good but it's hard to tell what she's saying), and was a little confused. The lyrics don't match the images. The lyrics talk about Amaranth (who I'm assuming is the boy in the video) who is "Never fading" and there's some conflict between him and the day. Maybe I'm not looking into the lyrics deep enough.
The music video suggests the song is about diversity or acceptance. The townspeople don’t accept the angel’s presence and hate her because she’s different. They end up killing her because of their hate. Similar to the hate crimes of yesteryear, yes? Heck, similar to the hate crimes that still occur today.
On second thought, the angel makes me think of an iconic figure: Lady Justice, the blind figure who holds the scales of justice. The angel’s blindfold suggests this theme of justice being destroyed by the hateful townspeople. It’s pretty deep if you think about it.
The scenes that switch to the band playing are drab and dull compared to the vibrant bright colors in “the land of daybreak”. Perhaps this too is showing the flawed soul of humanity, that revels in hurting others? The band is also scary, with slow motion shots and hard heavy metal that make the whole video seem gothic and surreal.
Can you tell that my comparison skills come from two years worth of AP English classes?
The dictionary look-up on my word processing program tells me Amaranth is a legendary flower that never fades. Well, at least some of the lyrics make sense now. Still, I find the video to be a lot more interesting than the words in this case, though most of Nightwish's music is very deep and has incredible orchestration. Check out Nemo and the Poet and the Pendulum if you don't believe me.
That was my analysis of the video. If you watched it I'd like to hear your particular take on it. Video about acceptance, or random rock fluff?
Lyrcis are located here (it really is hard to understand either of Nightwish's female singers): http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Amaranth-lyrics-Nightwish/D03E52F...
I actually believe that the video and lyrics suggest that it is more about putting the blame on someone else. At least that is what I gathered from it. The boy found the angel and was looking around like he had done something wrong. He kind of set her up to die by telling other people he found her. I believe though it could also be about acceptance as well.
I believe alot of songs have meaning not just fluff. The meaning normally is hidden very well and I find it fun and challenging trying to figure it out. Like for example people think Marilyn Manson is a very disturbed sick individual but many people do not understand what he is talking about. (this is putting his odd appearance aside) In one of his songs he says "Take the child out back and shot it." I was first shocked to hear this then I realised his wife had an abortion. So he in a way must have felt like it was similar to taking a child out back and shooting it.
I am rather intellectual so I try to find meaning in everything even if there is not a meaning. By the way that band is pretty good for chick singers. No offense alot of chick singers annoy me. I have never heard of the band. I did not have to much of a problem understanding her just the chrous was hard to understand.
http://www.progressiveu.org/032913-lupus-uncureable-wait-what
Love comments? I do too!
Thanks for the comment, Dani!
That's an interesting interpretation of the song. It actually makes the lyrics make a little more sense, though from the images I still don't think the boy is a bad guy.
Nightwish is really good. I only heard about them last year, because I signed up to Pandora.com (an online customizeable radio station) and Nightwish was similar to a band I typed in--Evanescence. My favorite songs are Nemo and The Poet and The Pendulum. Two different female singers, but both very good. Amaranth is okay compared to these.
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This is a signature, an automated thingy that pops up when I comment, not a demand to see my blog!
Mind Control is Easier Than You Think
I cannot believe that someone else listens to nightwish on this sight( rock on by the way). Great band, the lead singer plucks at my heartstrings with high hopes. Good music, mixes old an new in a creamy delight. couldn't see the video or hear the song, love the band though.
I'm glad somebody knows the band I'm talking about!
Sorry you couldn't hear/see the video. Crappy Internet connection? I can sympathise. I can only get good service in my dorm at school.
You can probably hear the song on AOL music .com or get a sample on iTunes.
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Mind Control is Easier Than You Think
After googling Amaranth, apparently it is a flower that never fades. It's a symbol of immortality. So, perhaps the angel is an immortal and she weeps for humanity because there is so much that we don't understand. The lyrics "You believe but what you see, you receive but what you give," suggests to me that humanity is short-sighted and selfish.
This is all I struggled to come up with. Trying to figure out this song hurts my head.
www.progressiveu.org/blog/americangirlinchina
Sorry for hurting your head! Yeah, I came up with the legendary flower that never fades using the dictionary on Word, so that portion of the lyrics made sense. Humanity short sighted and selfish? Definitely.
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Mind Control is Easier Than You Think
It's just that the subject matter is so intense. I love the imagery in the video too, so I was probably staring too hard at the computer screen.
www.progressiveu.org/blog/americangirlinchina
From what i have looked into the song so far, I have to say it is about christianity... and no, im not just one of those people who goes around preaching christianity, but this song starts out with baptism, a christian ceremony, and after researching the song i discovered that it was written by tuomas, which i believed is pronounced as the christian name 'Thomas' so the first stanza is talking about himself, as Thomas was the disciple of jesus who doubted his return and had him prove it with the holes in his hands feet and sides, of all the song, that is the clearest part to me, that he was making it about himself... though the rest of the song seems to be about jesus, the one who never fades, even after death... the never fading rain... the rain is simply representing water, a classic symbol of birth and/or rebirth, the tears of snow white sorrow would be those shed by his mother mary, and the disciples. though nothing seems clearer to me than that first part, of which I havnt seen in my week of searching one person who has made that connection and written it down, now i wish to know if tuomas was christened and baptised "Thomas"
I also would advise for those who are serious about song analytics, the music videos often have nothing to do with the song, or very little to do, so i recommend not watching them except when you are truly stuck.. and then only take very little away from it, as some of the symbolism is hard to understand... the only thing i took away from the music video was that it was christian song due to the angle... and about the angle, i think it had its eyes gouged out to make it blind... as blindness is a symbol of omniscience, implying that it can "see" into a realm we can not, in payment for it not being able to see in the one we can
Your analyses were very good.
And you do have a point: I should have expressly analzyed the song. Although the video intrigued me at the time, so I had talked a bit about both. Now I'd probably be able to go a little more in depth, especially considering your comments here. Makes a lot of sense. The group "Nightwish" has a good deal of Christianity in their lyrics, but sometimes in ways that aren't blaring to the atheist ear. They aren't preaching, which is one reason I like their subtle religious tones in their music:
In the CD "Dark Passion Play" (there's already a hint in the title), the first song, a whopping number with almost 14 minutes and several movements to it, there's a good deal of Christian themes.
Also in another of their CD's, Century Child, there are several songs that talk of an "Ocean Soul" and the "Century Child", which I could only assume is in reference to Jesus.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyheJ480LYA
"O, I'm sorry you took that, -I meant that for the Devil, and you have stepped in and taken the blow. Don't get between me and the Devil, brother, and the you won't get hurt." --Billy Hibbard
Yeah. That's pretty good. Especially the last two minutes or so.
And I still love Lifehouse. :)