In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
What you have to understand about MBV is that the lyrics themselves are not all that important. Why are there so many questions about what the Belinda is actually saying in this song? Because the vocal track was mixed low intentionally, as if it was just another instrument.
So how then can one interpret a song with barely audible lyrics?
Listen to the music.
With that said, to me this song is about sex. Not so much about it per se, but more like a musical representation of it. The softer, more structured rhythm that goes alongside Belinda's breathy vocals is about making love to someone you care about. The bendy, violent, wicked guitars we hear in the intro and connecting the verses is a representation of that rough, meaningless sex we sometimes have with someone we care less about. What kind of sex is that? Oh, it's only shallow...
Sublime. This is what this site is (was?) about. You rock dude.
this song makes me want to punch myself in the face for putting off listening to this band for so long
while smoking copious amounts of pot, me and my friends decided that this is the music that angels make
Contains possibly the best MBV hook ever. Starts you off with that noisy, psychedelic guitar, then lulls you with Bilinda's sweet, ethereal voice, then hits you hard, right in the ear with that awesome riff, just to remind you of how great it is. This is how you translate emotion into music.
are songs supposed to be able to turn me on like this?
It's about seducing someone in their sleep.
This song is so surreal, and her voice is so great It just makes me think about all the music that is popular right now and how terrible it is compared to this masterpiece. It makes me wish all music was this beautiful and catchy!
productofthe80s, I'm pretty sure she thought that because there's a metalcore/deathcore band called Bullet For My Valentine, which is absolutely terrible. I don't have much respect for metalcore or deathcore, but there definitely are some good bands that fall under that genre name; Bullet For My Valentine is not one of them.
What is particularly ingenius about this MBV song is the clever usage of contrasts. The song opens with a crushingly loud guitar riff, only to be flateringly met by Belinda's soft, desensitising vocals. It is not only Belinda's angelic tone that provides the contrast, but the words; they seem to form rich layers and textures and there is an ongoing resonance of a soothing, theraputic 's' sound. 'sleep' 'speak' 'soft' These gentle commands further allure us into the beauty and brilliance of this song.
sounds to me like he's referring to a hollow relationship. like, the people are passionate about each other but don't truly love one another (in the mirror she's not there). i dunno. i mean the title IS "only shallow"