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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=desJKYvdq9A
Is anyone legitimately disturbed by Good Charlotte's "The Anthem"?
Good Charlotte is a punk band, hailing from the Washington DC bedroom community of Waldorf, Maryland. For whatever reason, I've had quite a few friends from the state. All those I've met complained about living surrounded by farms. Many flee in the directions Washington DC or New York. Anyone familiar with either metro will know that many Marylanders quickly overassimilate, becoming caricatures of their new home city's residents, sometimes within weeks of leaving home.
Some, it appears, head to California and become punk rockers. The band members look sick. They are thin, pale, and tired-looking. The viewer suspects heavy drug use. We observe the band members surrounded by apparently lower class urban Hispanics. They've begun to incorporate aspects of the dress, mannerisms, and social behaviors of their new neighbors. It is clear to the viewer that these boys are not among their people. Where are they, one asks, and why are they there? In the song's chorus, we find our answer.
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>>74568032
The vocalist deliberately delivers his chorus lines with the inflection, phrasing, and tone of an upset child: "I don't ever want to be like you. I don't want to do the things you do. I'm never gonna hear the words you say cause I don't ever wanna; I don't ever want to be you." Ten years ago, I interpreted this as a funny parody of child-speak, a cheeky way of rebelling against the norms of one's community. I believe that we're being told the truth--we are listened to the words of a disappointed, hurt, confused, upset young boy. For whatever reason, this band's singer was not happy. Analyzing the lyrics above, we suspect that he turned to his parents for help, only to be turned away. Hardened the failure of those he should trust to meet his emotional needs, he begins to mistrust all those who should be legitimate authority figures in his home. He hardens his heart and closes his ears. He's determined that none of those who should help him are willing or able to and attempts to figure out things on his own.
And what is the result? He abandons his hometown. He moves across the country. One might suspect that he has begun to use drugs. He appears to neglect his health. He leaves his own racial and economic groups and begins to adopt the customs of others. What is going on? Why did these young, talented kids feel that their only option for happiness was to abandon their lives in a self-destructive rush for fame and success? In their case, it worked out. How many facing similar circumstances have become casualties as they desperately abandoned all that was supposed to protect them? How many didn't have the exceptional talent to pull it off and destroyed their lives?
I don't know what to think of this song anymore. Thinking about the way many of my hometown friends' lives have played out and relating it to Good Charlotte's performance, I feel a little bit sick to my stomach. I hope we all find our ways in life.
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>>74568048
damn you just summed me up in a nutshell op thanks lol...
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>>74568032
>Good Charlotte is a punk band
(not true by the way)
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>>74570860
Maybe. I guess I'm not a punk expert, but I don't really see that big of a difference between Good Charlotte and a Rancid or something, other than Good Charlotte being better at writing a pop song. I guess I don't see much difference between pop punk and more "punk" music other than a few music lessons excepting the hardcore guys or whatever. But I'm not involved in the scene so this is probably a horrific thing to say for diplomatic/political reasons even if you buy it
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