Like moosescoops, I thought this was about the music industry. I saw Andrew Bird perform live a couple of days ago and he talked about this song before he performed it. If the intent of the songwriter matters, this is relevant. Sorry if I duplicate information in the other posts, which I only skimmed. At the performance, Bird said that some time ago he was traveling alone in rural France when he found himself in an old inn that reminded him, he said, of the "Cabinet of Dr. Caligari." The same few songs played over and over again in the dining room, where he was the only customer. He said that all of this reminded him of the plasticity of the human mind. So he wrote this song. Thought I would add this information, since I got it from Andrew Bird itself. Of course, it does not settle the question of what the song "means." But artists often say that creativity comes from the subconscious, and that they themselves do not always know what their work "means." What does the song mean to me? After hearing his description at the concert, when I listen to the song now I visualize him alone in that creepy inn in rural France, and so the song takes on a whole new meaning: these images in my head when I hear the song now. The same few songs being played over and over again in the dining room gives a new interpretation for me of "This isn't your song, this isn't your music. How can there be wrong, when by committee they choose it all." I imagine a committee at the inn choosing the short list of boring songs. Before hearing Bird talk about the origin of the song, I had associated it instead with the control of airplay in the music industry. I think it is a personal reminiscence more than a commentary on the music industry, as I now interpret it myself.
thank you soo much for your post from 2 years ago, because apparently I am super late finding out about this awesome site.
thank you soo much for your post from 2 years ago, because apparently I am super late finding out about this awesome site.
I had originally thought it was a kind of a passive yet jolly, dark retort to the "smug and sure," in life. People who always have a not so construnctive, more on the super not necessary to complaint. Generally, Americas government is what I visualized hearing this song, but more specifically, these posing, complainers.
I am all about the intention of trying to keep freedom of speech as free as possible, however what I visualize is people protesting against whatever, or whomever, without any facts or goal in mind. I feel like Andrew is just sitting while theres a group of sheep complaining about the most recent update in a presidential campaign, and he clears his throat, looks up at the group smiles and feseciously says something unbiased letting them know how just unimf***ingportant there conversation is. Due soley on the fact that they have no goal, no facts, and no real opinions themselves.
So I think ... that, I think way too much. :) No one will probably even see this, however, I saw Andrew about 6 years? or so ago. Hollywood , he opened for someone, aaand I fell in love. He is got such a "Everythings pretty shitty, but for some reason I am not negatively affected by aaanything" attitude.
Like moosescoops, I thought this was about the music industry. I saw Andrew Bird perform live a couple of days ago and he talked about this song before he performed it. If the intent of the songwriter matters, this is relevant. Sorry if I duplicate information in the other posts, which I only skimmed. At the performance, Bird said that some time ago he was traveling alone in rural France when he found himself in an old inn that reminded him, he said, of the "Cabinet of Dr. Caligari." The same few songs played over and over again in the dining room, where he was the only customer. He said that all of this reminded him of the plasticity of the human mind. So he wrote this song. Thought I would add this information, since I got it from Andrew Bird itself. Of course, it does not settle the question of what the song "means." But artists often say that creativity comes from the subconscious, and that they themselves do not always know what their work "means." What does the song mean to me? After hearing his description at the concert, when I listen to the song now I visualize him alone in that creepy inn in rural France, and so the song takes on a whole new meaning: these images in my head when I hear the song now. The same few songs being played over and over again in the dining room gives a new interpretation for me of "This isn't your song, this isn't your music. How can there be wrong, when by committee they choose it all." I imagine a committee at the inn choosing the short list of boring songs. Before hearing Bird talk about the origin of the song, I had associated it instead with the control of airplay in the music industry. I think it is a personal reminiscence more than a commentary on the music industry, as I now interpret it myself.
thank you soo much for your post from 2 years ago, because apparently I am super late finding out about this awesome site.
thank you soo much for your post from 2 years ago, because apparently I am super late finding out about this awesome site.
I had originally thought it was a kind of a passive yet jolly, dark retort to the "smug and sure," in life. People who always have a not so construnctive, more on the super not necessary to complaint. Generally, Americas government is what I visualized hearing this song, but more specifically, these posing, complainers. I am all about the intention of trying to keep freedom of speech as free as possible, however what I visualize is people protesting against whatever, or whomever, without any facts or goal in mind. I feel like Andrew is just sitting while theres a group of sheep complaining about the most recent update in a presidential campaign, and he clears his throat, looks up at the group smiles and feseciously says something unbiased letting them know how just unimf***ingportant there conversation is. Due soley on the fact that they have no goal, no facts, and no real opinions themselves. So I think ... that, I think way too much. :) No one will probably even see this, however, I saw Andrew about 6 years? or so ago. Hollywood , he opened for someone, aaand I fell in love. He is got such a "Everythings pretty shitty, but for some reason I am not negatively affected by aaanything" attitude.