Freethought & Rationalism Archive

AggressiveProgressiv · 10-16-2006, 02:14 AM

I have been a big fan of Tears For Fears for a long time. I recently heard Roland Orzabal's album Tomcats Screaming Outside. The album is relatively obscure, but the music quality is not bad. Nevertheless, I was appalled at the lyrics of the song Bullets for Brains.

Here are the lyrics from the song which I found most offensive:

"Hey now, read my lips
Bullets for the brains of the atheists"

"Well I believe in angels
They move like a secret army
And they help me blow the atheists sky high"

We should demand an apology and boycott the band and their solo offshoots until such an apology is given.

Their Label is Universal Music Group. UMG's feedback email is [email protected] and their address is 2220 Colorado Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90404 and 1755 Broadway, New York, NY 10019.

Most atheists and secular humanists that I know are much more peaceful than the religious nutcases. The fact that Roland dreams of "blowing atheists sky high" is further proof that they are the violent ones causing much of the destruction in the world.

Let them know how you feel!

Mod note: Edited to add comment from AggressiveProgressiv:

Quote:

Originally Posted by AggressiveProgressiv

This OP was based on a misunderstanding. The song is obviously more complex than I had considered.

Thread title edited to include a question mark.

DonnieDarko · 10-16-2006, 02:17 AM

It would seem I'm already boycotting them without even knowing it. I have no problem with keeping up my not listening to them.

Starshark · 10-16-2006, 03:26 AM

More of an SA thread.

EverLastingGodStopper · 10-16-2006, 03:39 AM

One can hear snippets from the album Tomcats Screaming Outside (or via: amazon.co.uk) on Amazon. But why should we take this song literally? What reason do we have to believe that this song is "anti-atheist," when the lyrics could be interpreted as being representative of the ravings of a sick, fundamentalist mind? I'm not going to get upset about this song until I learn more about it. For all we know, Roland Orzabal could be an atheist talking about the thoughts of those who disagree with him.

Show me an interview or something tangible, where Orzabal discusses the meaning of this song. Don't just ask me to react to the literal reading of the lyrics. I have no idea what this song is actually about, but it doesn't necessarily come across as anti-atheist. It could very well be anti-fundamentalist, in which case we'd be agreeing with it, not protesting it.

butswana · 10-16-2006, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EverLastingGodStopper

One can hear snippets from the album Tomcats Screaming Outside (or via: amazon.co.uk) on Amazon. But why should we take this song literally? What reason do we have to believe that this song is "anti-atheist," when the lyrics could be interpreted as being representative of the ravings of a sick, fundamentalist mind? I'm not going to get upset about this song until I learn more about it. For all we know, Roland Orzabal could be an atheist talking about the thoughts of those who disagree with him.

Show me an interview or something tangible, where Orzabal discusses the meaning of this song. Don't just ask me to react to the literal reading of the lyrics. I have no idea what this song is actually about, but it doesn't necessarily come across as anti-atheist. It could very well be anti-fundamentalist, in which case we'd be agreeing with it, not protesting it.

I've done this a few times with my own music. I'm telling stories. I don't have to agree with or believe what is being said because I'm not the one that is saying it. The character portayed in the song is saying it. I've written lyrics from the point of view of creationists, fundamentalists, theocrats, crusaders, maniacs, gods and evil aliens, but if you listen to all of my music you should know that I'm an atheist.

Dean Anderson · 10-16-2006, 07:16 AM

Given that the "Read my lips" thing is obviously a reference to George "I don't think atheists should be considered citizens" Bush Sr, I'd say it it actually a satirical song.

Indeed, this verse:

One day, one day in your life
You will see the light
You will see his face again
One day, one day at a time
Soothes the weary mind
You will feel no pain
Bullets for your brain

Seems to be saying that converting to Christianity is the intellectual equivalent of putting a bullet in your brain.

Hardly an "anti-atheism" song, by my reading of the lyrics...

Steve Schlicht · 10-16-2006, 07:35 AM

An interview about nothing.

Quote:

""Having made my statement with `Raoul', I decided I didn't want to write about what's inside my head or my life any more. I just wanted to write about this and that. It's just a collection of stuff I've been working on these past three or four years; sketches, experiments. There's no overriding concept or theme this time."

In music/art one can decide to interpret charitably or not.

That said, "sowing the seeds of love" is less ambiguous.

Still, I appear to be with DonnieDarko on this one, without shooting the messenger as well (which has presented some grounds for action...even if it is for clarification).

Steve

EverLastingGodStopper · 10-16-2006, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Schlicht

An interview about nothing.

In music/art one can decide to interpret charitably or not.

Actually, if you read the paragraph in context, it doesn't seem that the song is an anti-atheism song.

Quote:

Co-produced by Alan Griffiths and featuring musicians from the `Raoul' tour, `Tomcats Screaming Outside' is the sixth album from Roland Orzabal, but it's different from his others in that this one is, as he says, "about nothing." That's if you can describe songs that concern, variously, an atheist-killer, underage girls, our quick-fix culture, the need to anaesthetise desire and death from cancer as being "about nothing". Elucidates Roland: "Having made my statement with `Raoul', I decided I didn't want to write about what's inside my head or my life any more. I just wanted to write about this and that. It's just a collection of stuff I've been working on these past three or four years; sketches, experiments. There's no overriding concept or theme this time."

He clearly states that the song is about "an atheist-killer," or, a person who kills atheists.

Steve Schlicht · 10-16-2006, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EverLastingGodStopper

Actually, if you read the paragraph in context, it doesn't seem that the song is an anti-atheism song.

In case it wasn't clear in my last post, I remain neutral on the entire issue and offered a less ambiguous song to indicate how such art is "interpretive" and valued for such reasons.

Quote:

He clearly states that the song is about "an atheist-killer," or, a person who kills atheists.

That is certainly the interpretation that the biographer gives to the album.

Roland seems to give no motive/meaning one way or the other.

Steve

EverLastingGodStopper · 10-16-2006, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Schlicht

That is certainly the interpretation that the biographer gives to the album.

Roland seems to give no motive/meaning one way or the other.

Quote:

~Roland's Official 2001 Biography ~ Courtesy of Eagle Records~
*Please note: No portion of this biography may be copied / reproduced without the consent of Eagle Records.
~Thank You, Michele R. CyberScene Editor/Webmistress

It's his official biography, according to his record label. Don't you think he approved it?

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10-16-2006, 02:17 AM	#2
DonnieDarko Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: The home of Bob Jones University Posts: 1,053	It would seem I'm already boycotting them without even knowing it. I have no problem with keeping up my not listening to them.

10-16-2006, 03:26 AM	#3
Starshark Banned Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 8,068	More of an SA thread.

10-16-2006, 03:39 AM	#4
EverLastingGodStopper Banned Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 16,665	One can hear snippets from the album Tomcats Screaming Outside (or via: amazon.co.uk) on Amazon. But why should we take this song literally? What reason do we have to believe that this song is "anti-atheist," when the lyrics could be interpreted as being representative of the ravings of a sick, fundamentalist mind? I'm not going to get upset about this song until I learn more about it. For all we know, Roland Orzabal could be an atheist talking about the thoughts of those who disagree with him. Show me an interview or something tangible, where Orzabal discusses the meaning of this song. Don't just ask me to react to the literal reading of the lyrics. I have no idea what this song is actually about, but it doesn't necessarily come across as anti-atheist. It could very well be anti-fundamentalist, in which case we'd be agreeing with it, not protesting it.

10-16-2006, 07:16 AM	#6
Dean Anderson Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Brighton, England Posts: 6,947	Given that the "Read my lips" thing is obviously a reference to George "I don't think atheists should be considered citizens" Bush Sr, I'd say it it actually a satirical song. Indeed, this verse: One day, one day in your life You will see the light You will see his face again One day, one day at a time Soothes the weary mind You will feel no pain Bullets for your brain Seems to be saying that converting to Christianity is the intellectual equivalent of putting a bullet in your brain. Hardly an "anti-atheism" song, by my reading of the lyrics...

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