Critical Analysis

Running head: MUSIC AND CULTURE 1

MUSIC AND CULTURE 4

Music and Cultural Impact

Shannon Davison

Rasmussen College

Author Note

This paper is being submitted on July 12, 2015, for Geradine Ball’s G380 Visions of America Since 1945 course.

Music and Cultural Impact

When a person feels the accumulation of drastic events, it builds frustrations that it can result in the person exploding in irrational emotions, might even ending up hurting oneself. However, if one can relate to that event with her or his won, than the result can be a piece that enables the personal confusion of the turn of a millennium, while tackling their inner demons to let out. Incubus 1999-2000 single “Pardon Me” is exactly the definition of individuals feeling that the midst of a new era can be daunting and fearful, especially at a time where a good number of the population thought that the end of world was to occur, twice (once in January and then May) (theology.edu). There is great depth in knowing one’s future demise and knowing how to handle them. Yet “Pardon Me” exclaims the understanding that unfortunate events are inevitable. This paper will discuss the origin, elements and message behind the single “Pardon Me” as it relates to external event around its time.

Incubus steers away from the fast-passed hard hitting sound of rock to give a melodic and meaningful sound to the music while delivering the kind of hooky choruses and guitar riffs radio loves. Bands hate to categorize their music; they always say what we do is unlike anything else. And that’s not true. But it’s true with Incubus. Incubus has a singer with an intelligent voice who writes great lyrics and has meaningful things to say. Brandon Boyd is the lead singer who sings about love and heartbreak. This particular album was around the time that Brandon had broken up with his girlfriend so a lot of the lyrics were about his break up. I think it is good to see a rock band showing emotions about love instead of emotions about hate and anger. For Incubus rebellion is not about pissing off your parents; it’s about growing up without succumbing to adulthoods grind. A lot of bands are starting to step away from the screaming

In addition, vocalist Brandon Boyd was skimming through an old Life magazine when he came across an article of a man who partially burned himself. The image next to it was of a man who was severely burned from the knee area. Combining it with the unfortunate events of his own life, he claims to have a self-combustion at the accumulated thought of everything. Thus he claims to pardon himself as he spontaneously combusts. The origin of the group goes back in to the bands formation as high school students in Calabasas High School. Their early upbringings being near the sunny coast of California have inspired their experimental, alternative sound.

Moreover, the entirety of the song resonates as a memoir turned in to a current state of survival for the vocalist. “A decade ago I never I would be, a 23 on the verge spontaneous combustion”. It is not just a reflection of what the vocalist was, but everyone’s thoughts were. Brandon had his normal life set out, but he states that not there is difference. For the society of that era, many were in panic of the turn of the millennium, as they were not in that state a while ago. The majority of the song explains Brandon’s annoyance of falling under people “mindless games” and the perils of being 3-d, in other words reality. The events that had made him upset after coming back from tour, which included the unfaithfulness of his partner, and the deaths of his relatives, has had him internally bottle up the emotions until spontaneous combustion.

Overall, the symbolism throughout the song was self -survival or self-combustion. By combusting, the vocalist reminds its listeners the impact of emotional overload. The world around is not something to succumb to. The present state of the U.S. is something to consider, where everyone has his or her own mind games to play. The peril of being in 3-d is only an illusion that can be controlled through self-reliance and not falling into the unfortunate events that come with living.

References

(N. A.) The end of the world (n.d.). Retrieved July 11, 2015, from http://www.theology.edu/journal/volume3/wrldend.htm

Warren, P. (2001). Incubus: Exclusive interview. Retrieved July 11, 2015. Blender Magazine Online.

White, C., & McCormack, S. (2006). The message in the music: Popular culture and teaching in social studies. The Social Studies, 97(3), 122-127.