"Believe"

 

2007 was a good year for the music industry because it was introduced to the promising rock band from London, England. The band’s members are Marcus Mumford (lead vocals), Ben Lovett (piano, accordion), Winston Marshall (banjo, electric guitar), and Ted Dwane (acoustic bass, electric bass).  This band brings a lot of talent to the stage with their musical abilities and their diversity.  It’s not every day you see and hear the banjo being played at a rock concert. That is, unless you’re at a Mumford and Sons concert.   Mumford and Sons, with the use of their many instruments, makes musical sounds that set them apart from their contemporaries. Mumford and Sons released their newest album, Wilder Mind, in March of this year.  “Believe” is a song featured on their newest album.

The singer, in this song, is questioning the norm. He could be questioning the validity of a relationship, his friends, or even a political leader.  The singer isn’t satisfied with the status quo because he wants something deeper. The lyrics say, “And I’m climbing over something. And I’m running through these walls. I don’t even know if I believe.”

The singer, wanting to know more, is not satisfied with the answers he’s getting.  The lyrics say, “I’m going to have to guess what’s on your mind.” He’s trying to pry answers out of this person but it only leads to more questions.

This song sends society a good message. We are constantly being saturated with the media and their message.  We are guided to think and believe whatever the media wants us to believe. On the surface, it may seem right. If it doesn’t align with what God says, though, it isn’t.   Sometimes, it’s good to ask questions and sometimes it’s good to believe steadfastly what you’ve already been shown to know is true.  Sometimes, it’s good to dig a little deeper. Let’s wade through what everyone constantly wants us to believe and find the answers for ourselves.

"Until It's Gone"

 

 

Linkin Park has been a success since the beginning of their musical career. The members are Joe Hahn, Dave Farrell, Brad Deslon, Mike Shinoda, Rob Bourdon and Chester Bennington. They originated in California and, though you probably listened to them in middle/high school, they are still very much in the public eye. Their music borders between pop rock and alternative rock. The song “Until It’s Gone” is one of their most recent songs that made it to the top of the charts in 2014.

This song by Linkin Park is a song about loss. You don’t know if the couple in the music video, after breaking up, got back together. I don’t think that’s important for us as viewers to know because the message is to appreciate what you have before you lose it. The singer at first doesn’t realize that he’s about to lose something that he now takes for granted but later will appreciate. He sings, “Oh you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.” The singer emphasizes the lyrics “Until Its Gone” by singing them over and over.  I think the singer sings these lyrics over and over again to emphasize how many opportunities we’re given over and over again to save what we have before it’s too late and we’ve lost it.

We live in a materialistic world and it’s easy to have a desire to want more. Materialism brings superficial happiness that lasts for a while but sooner than later will disappear and disintegrate into nothing but loneliness and sadness. As a result of filling the void with superficial things, we begin to not appreciate what we have and want more.

Everyone’s heard a thousand times to appreciate what you have but I think this phrase begins to lose its meaning.  We can become susceptible into thinking someone or something will always be present in our lives. More than likely, this is not the case.  Coming from a Christian perspective, we should appreciate the many things God gives us in our lives and this song can be a reminder to do just that.

"Polaroid"

Let’s talk about Imagine Dragons. No, I didn’t say imagining dragons, I said Imagine Dragons.  This Las Vegas rock band gained popularity rather quickly with their single called “It’s Time.” The band’s members are Dan Reynolds(lead vocalist), Wayne Sermon (guitarist), Ben McKee (bassist), and Daniel Platzman (drummer) and together they make some pretty fiery  music. The creativity in the style/lyrics of their songs, I think, set them apart from your rock/pop bands on the radio today.  Trending now from Imagine Dragons is their song “Polaroid” off their “Smoke+Mirrors” album.

A Polaroid camera, as we all know, is an instant camera where, after you point and shoot, you have your picture within seconds. There isn’t a lot of effort involved into getting that perfect picture. Often times, with certain circumstances in our own lives, we want things to work like a Polaroid camera. We want the beautiful end result of something without putting in the sweat and tears needed to accomplish your dream.  We also want it now and if we can’t get it now, it’s not worth it. Right? After all, we live in a world conditioning us to think we can instantly get anything we want.

I think this song is conveying a relationship that, without work and dedication, will crash, burn, and fall. The relationship, in order to be successful, will take time. A good relationship is not equated with instant gratification. Work and time are the two ingredients to a “Polaroid Picture” relationship.  

The lyrics say, “I’m gonna get ready for the rain to pour heavy.” The individual in this song, after living in the fast lane, realizes for something to be good, it first must be bad. Giving up is not an option for this individual because he/she is willing to go through whatever it takes to get what they want.

I think this message is relevant for society today because greatness is not something instantly achieved. It’s something that, with hard work, evolves over time. We live in a day and age where it’s hard to keep our focus on something because we are constantly infiltrated with countless things the world has to offer. Let us not allow our hopes and dreams to be charred by the fire eating dragon of lack of steadfastness of what we apply ourselves to. Anything worth achieving is worth putting the work into.