Nicolle Gomez Nishi Shah-Williams English 100 23 September 2015 Breaking Down The Wall Music can be more than just something to dance or sing along to. It is also a form of art and a way for people to let their feelings out in a different way. Many people write music to express any sort of feeling, such as happiness, anger, and depression. By putting out their music they can connect to their fans, friends, and family in a way that is easier for them and everyone can find a way to relate to them.
The songs “From Dog to God” by Prayers, “Undercover Martyn” by Two Door Cinema Club, and “Hey You” by Pink Floyd all express the effects of isolation and how it gets in the way of their lives. “From Dog to God” by Prayers is a song about a gang member who is set apart from the people in the gang community because he is also a Goth music artist. In this song the singer, Rafael Reyes, expresses how he is trying to be himself but people put him down or try to harm him because he is different. In the song he says, “I am feared and respected/ In this world, nothing sacred/… /Loyal to my family/ Death always chasing me.
Reyes is saying how he is respected in his gang and has done a lot for his family as well. In addition to that, his enemies do not know who he really is. His enemies think he is dumb and have hate towards him because he has different interests, making it another reason to attack him. He is set apart from the people in other gangs, yet he is still proud of who he is. In this song he conveys that he is ready to put up a fight and his isolation from other gangs is no reason to forget what he truly loves. In another part of the song he feels isolated such as a dog would in a world full of people.
Reyes says, “From dog to God, I’m alone in this world/ I’m alone, I’m alone, I’m alone in this world/… /My pain can never be measured/ Life is pleasure and pressure. ” He relates to other people, or in this case a dog, as he can never fully be accepted as a Goth. Also, a dog can never be treated the same as a normal person because God has created them as different species. Therefore, he has a certain pain that can never go away and he has to face a lot of pressure to meet certain standards. Throughout all of this he is able to relate and express his isolation over music.
Another song that shows isolation is “Undercover Martyn” by Two Door Cinema Club because the person described in this song is not outgoing and is unable to get what they want. The speaker seems to talk about his friend who is not very outspoken and tries to push them to get what they want because they are always unsocial. Two Door Cinema Club says, “To the basement people, to the basement/ Many surprises await you/… / You hid there last time, you know we’re gonna find you. ” The “basement people” are referred to as people that hide from the outside world and the speaker explains how their friend is missing out on a lot of exciting things.
They know that their friend is going to hide and try to get them out of it. Two Door Cinema Club is using this song to point out the people that like to stay hidden and also try to get them to get out and enjoy what they are missing out on. Two Door Cinema Club tries to get their isolated friend to go out and get the girl that he wants because if he never gets a push from them then it will never happen. The friend may feel like he is not good enough and is unable to get the girl but everyone needs a push to feel confident.
The speaker says, “Sick in the carseat, cause you’re not up to going/ Out on the main streets, completing your mission. The friend that has set himself apart tries to make excuses, such as being sick in a car. The speaker shows how he is supportive and they are all trying to get the friend to complete his mission of getting the girl. Two Door Cinema Club reached out to the people that are antisocial and showed how it could get in the way of love. In “Hey You” by Pink Floyd the speaker has isolated himself from the world and tries to call out to people to save him.
In this song the speaker has built up this wall to block him off and keep him alone. Pink Floyd says, “Hey you out there in the cold/ Getting lonely getting old/ Can you feel me? Hey you standing in the aisles/With itchy feet and fading smiles/ Can you/ feel me? / Hey you don’t help them to bury the light/ Don’t give in without a fight. ” The speaker is trying to call out to different types of people, whether they are old and fading away, or just doing ordinary things. He does not want them to put up a wall like he did. He tells them not to hide away or “bury the light” because in the end they will regret it and seek attention. Another part of the song shows that Pink Floyd wishes that he had not isolated himself because he is now stuck behind a wall that he can no longer take down.
He says, “But it was only fantasy/ The wall was too high/ As you can see/ No matter how he tried/ He could not break freel And the worms ate into his brain. ” Now that he isolated himself too much no one seemed to care anymore and he was stuck. He felt so secluded that he then became nothing and worms ate into him like an apple. If one were to push themselves away from society then their life can only get worse. “From Dog to God” by Prayers, “Undercover Martyn” by Two Door Cinema Club, and “Hey You” by Pink Floyd all show that isolation can get in the way of living life.
For Reyes from Prayers he was different from the people around him and he learned that he had to be himself and push past the hate. Two Door Cinema Club supported their friend in coming out of their shell and getting him to go for what he wants. “Hey You” showed that isolation can limit relationships and life experiences. All of these songs show that isolation could keep anyone from interacting with the world. Also, these songs can reach out to fans and family to show that they are not alone and do not have to be afraid to be who they really are.
