Zef, yo.

+ WATCH BEFORE READING +

 

To a majority of those raised in the Western hemisphere a first glimpse at the video featured above may be quite a culture shock. A mostly unfamiliar dialect, images of lower class South Africa, odd dance moves and a rap flow and subject matter definitely incomparable to most music that seems to be on popular today. Many people reject it claiming it is too strange but I was instantly hooked. This band above, if you didn't catch in the video, is Die Antwoord. They are a rave-rap group from Cape Town, South Africa and they are slowly gaining recognition all over the world. This video was even featured in the Guggenheim, voted in by many artists including Animal Collective into the "YouTube Play: A Biennial of Creative Video exhibit".

The two main members Yo-landi Vi$$er and Waddy Jones, who goes by the name of Ninja, began this project around 2009. What is incredibly interesting about these two art school drop outs is that they have been in the hip-hop scene in South Africa for years developing different personas. But Die Antwoord seem to be their final project. Waddy Jones described it as such, "Ninja is, how can I say, like Superman is to Clark Kent. The only difference is, I don't take off this fokken Superman suit." Watch this interview to get more a feel for who they are.

They rap in Afrikaans, the West Germanic/Dutch language spoken in South Africa. Many of their lyrics reflect so many elements of South African culture that so many people in America have no clue about. Even if one doesn't enjoy their sound you have to respect where they come from and their "zef" style. That's why I was so enthralled by them. Their message is something that isn't found in today's mainstream media. They decided to take the dirty, gritty truth of lower class South Africa and throw it in everyone's face with filthy lyrics, humor and sick beats. I think Die Antwoord is a revolutionary group for much of what music has turned into for the masses today. 

Arcade Fire

Lately you might of heard of a band by the name of Arcade Fire. They recently released their third studio album "The Suburbs" in 2010 which was nominated for three Grammy's including "Best Alternative Music Album", "Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals" for "Ready to Start", and "Album of the Year". Along with these nominations they were also asked to perform at the Grammy's. Although they seem to be growing popularity now, this group of musicians have been building a strong fan base since their first studio album "Funeral" released in 2004. Their music has always communicated a strong sense of urgency and loss of innocence through aging along with being raised in suburbia. 

These themes are first echoed in the song, "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)" off of their first album "funeral".  What at first may seem like a song about two lovers on opposite parts of town changes to a commentary on how so many aspects of our childhood and young love fall apart as we get older and all the things we held close to us become irrelevant.  This is best exemplified in the lyrics,

" Then we tried to name our babies

But we forgot all the names that

The names we used to know". 

I believe that since they've forgotten the names that they've always wanted to name their children they in turn have lost their own innocence and that the name of the babies signifies all the aspects of youthfulness that they have lost. 

The following lines show how as we move forward in life many aspects that one holds to be important such as family begin to be erased.  The lyrics are as follows: 

"But sometimes, we remember our bedrooms

And our parent's bedrooms

And the bedrooms of our friends

Then we think of our parents

Well, what ever happened to them"

These lines can be interpreted in a couple of ways which all connect. For one it can be seen as an older person discussing memories from along and as the memories progress they revert back to the basics.  In this case it's shown in the form of the parents. As you remember and discuss all these parts of your life you go back to your parents and wonder what their lives have become since you've left.  Along with that comes all of the layers that your life and their life consisted while living with them. Arcade Fire seems to resent this aspect of life and calls for us to stay young at heart before it becomes jaded. 

Lucky #1

Pop Music and Protest will be a good class. I love rebellion and protest through art. Specifically music. So it seems like a good fit. Currently listening to LCD Soundsystem. There will be much analysis with James Murphy's music later on...

Losing my Edge - LCD Soundsystem