Regina Spektor – Human of the Year

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  Song Meaning:When I hear this song, Miss Spektor speaks of a human (Karl Projektorinski) who seems to be a religious figure. We can see this by her later words, :"You stand there shaking by your pew". There seems to be an event which's purpose is to crown a person 'Human Of the Year". This is evident from the fact she sings "You have won, dear sir May I congratulate you first? Oh, what an honor - Human! human of the year! you won!"
  The 'crowned' person is Karl Projektoinski (he is "called to the front of the Catherdral") but he is shocked and nervous instead of happily boistrous ("Why are you so scared? You stand there shaking by your pew
  The icons are whispering to you") and the commentator/narrator of the event is puzzled by this.
  Everyone is congratualating him ("outside the cars are beeping out a song in your honor") and the narrator wishes everyone well until next year's event. (Wishing well to all us sinners
  And with a psalm drew silent
  Till next year's big human winner)

  Flag RaisdiBrowon February 25, 2013   Link

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• -4
  General Comment:Why do people listen to an immature, arrogant bigotted bitch. She's a lesbian, and because God doesn't like her actios (not her as a person, but her actions), she uses her fame to push her prejudice. The woman spends so much time insulting and ridiculing religion that it shows she's insecure. She should be; she's arrogant and immature. You couldn't pay me to listen to a bigot.

  Flagged IllToast2Thaton February 01, 2013   Link

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  My Interpretation:Im not too sure, but this kind of reminds me of the Pope being chosen.

  Flag idklol1234on January 18, 2013   Link

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  General Comment:Had Regina not said anything about "shaking in his pew," I'd probably have thought poor Karl was dead.
  
  I have no idea whether Regina's being sarcastic or not here, but my thinking is that Karl is basically having a moment sitting in church identifying his own importance, overstating it somewhat (as we have all done).
  
  If not for the beeping cars outside, which naturally takes the award to a surreal level, the award might have been some sort of real humanitarian award (like some sort of charity thing).

  Flag aaronw23on January 04, 2013   Link

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• 0
  Song Meaning:As indicated by rokouttilur80, icons are religious paintings, very common in the Eastern Orthodox Church, which is what Regina would have been exposed to as an example of Christianity while still back in Russia. Icons are not completely painted (made with paint), but very often part of the image is done in wood or gold leaf - hence the reference to "their halos glistening with gold." Of course, the icons can be read metaphorically as idolization of a human being into super-human being status (like the Eastern Orthodox saints - the old men in the icons), and gold can be associated with currency, a financial prize that may often go with such recognition.

  Flag symbolton May 28, 2012   Link

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• +2
  General Comment:This reminds me of The Hunger Games, I don't know why.

  Flag liljojo204on April 30, 2012   Link

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• 0
  General Comment:I think its spelled Prejektorinski. Also, i dont think its bitter or sarcastic. I think its simply about not being afraid to die.

  Flag Joplin4lifeon April 01, 2012   Link

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• -3
  My Interpretation:Growing up Catholic, I personally think that this song is mocking sainthood. The way I see it, since the scenario is in a Cathedral, the religion is most likely Catholicism; Catholics are most well-known for their reverence of the Virgin Mary and the saints. "Human of the year" = God's "favorite" = a saint.

  Flag thegreatchelsoon February 26, 2012   Link

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• 0
  General Comment:I thought she was being sarcastic. That made me laugh.

  Flag newyorkcityspeedon February 12, 2012   Link

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• +2
  My Interpretation:In an interview with Regina she said that the way people congratulate themselves for having faith was silly, "It's like being saying you're a woman, good job".
  I think that based on that comment this song is a jab at the idea of faith making a person better than the average atheist. You shouldn't need to win a prize for mankind to be your brothers, The cars would beep whether you won or not.
  Ironically this song seems to be very much about pride, Carl presumably was very humble but this prize would give him the seeds of pride. "You stand there shaking in your pew, the icons are whispering to you, they're just old men, like on the benches in the park" sounds like he is struggling between the natural pride that anyone would feel and his religiosity. Being recognized as a religious person is making him almost cave into idolatry as he wonders whether he could become an icon of faith.
  My opinion is that this song is about the differences between believers and nonbelievers and the divide could be the undoing of true belief.

  Flag Zenatyraon January 08, 2012   Link

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    -1

    Please. The woman hates religion because it (and God) doesn't support her orientation's actions. She's a disgruntled believer who uses music as a way to push her position on an issue which is important to her. She's no different than those who use their fame and power to push people to vote their way in elections. She may be talented, but she's a schmuck. As for "human," there are different definitions of the word. And some use it too loosely.

    Flagged BringOntheMusic2012on January 20, 2012  

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