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The Phorum > The Arts > Music (Moderators: Josh, enemy anemone) > Please don't take a picture
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Vlad!
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« on: March 18, 2004, 05:27:53 PM »
After contemplating the lyrics of Bad Day, one of my favorite REM songs (and sometimes my anthem), I have come to the conclusion that it's talking about the media...is this blindingly obvious? Am I on the completely wrong track? I need the help of you lyrical analysis machines ;]
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If you don’t have freedom as a principle, you can never see a reason not to make an exception. There are constantly going to be times when for one reason or another there’s some practical convenience in making an exception.
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Josh
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« Reply #1 on: March 18, 2004, 07:33:48 PM »
You may be right.

The lyrics are, of course, very cryptic. Typical Michael Stipe. But I can see how your interpretation could fit, especially the line "...please don't take a picture."

Not sure if I'm ready to subscribe to your theory 100% just yet, but I can't propose a better one, either. I'll chew on it some more.
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Escuchame
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« Reply #2 on: March 18, 2004, 11:56:06 PM »
I've heard this song like 5 times today.  I hadn't heard it like in three months.

Weird.
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Josh
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« Reply #3 on: March 19, 2004, 03:10:44 PM »
I just got the band's new DVD, and Michael Stipe introduces "Bad Day" by saying this:

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It's hard being a United States Citizen in 2003.

This seems like a pretty clear indication to me that the song is definitely meant to be political in some way.
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Vlad!
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« Reply #4 on: March 19, 2004, 05:25:14 PM »
Here's the analysis I went through to get my interpretation:
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A Public service announcement followed me home the other day
I paid it nevermind. Go away.
Public service announcement--a media thing

Quote
free Teflon whitewashed presidency
We're sick of being jerked around
Wear that on your sleeve
This supports the interpretation that it's political...teflon is nonstick, so things can't stick to it? Whitewashed may be a Biblical reference meanin hypocracy

Quote
Broadcast me a joyful noise unto the times, lord,
Count your blessings.
We're sick of being jerked around
We all fall down.
Broadcast could mean radio or TV. Jerked around, well, the media often jerks the public around

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Have you ever seen the televised St. vitus subcommittee prize
Investigation dance? Those-ants-in- pants glances.
Well, look behind the eyes
It's a hallowed, hollow anesthesized
"save my own ass, screw these guys"
smoke and mirror lock down
Televised, smoke and mirrors

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Broadcast me a joyful noise unto the times, lord,
Count your blessings.
The papers wouldn't lie!
I sigh. Not one more
The papers wouldn't lie...we all know how true that is

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Its been a bad day.
Please dont take a picture
Please don't take a picture may refer to media photographers

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We're dug in the deep the price is steep.
The auctioneer is such a creep.
The lights went out, the oil ran dry
We blamed it on the other guy
The media is great at assigning blame

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Sure, all men are created equal.
Heres the church, heres the steeple
Please stay tuned--we cut to sequel
ashes, ashes, we all fall down.
Please stay tuned

 
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If you don’t have freedom as a principle, you can never see a reason not to make an exception. There are constantly going to be times when for one reason or another there’s some practical convenience in making an exception.
rms
Josh
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« Reply #5 on: March 19, 2004, 06:01:36 PM »
I think you're right, Vlad!, though I might expand it to say that it's a song about the forces that jerk us around in general, particularly President Bush. REM are VERY critical of him and his whitewashed presidency.
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Vlad!
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« Reply #6 on: March 19, 2004, 06:52:38 PM »
Though the song was written before Bush came into office...
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If you don’t have freedom as a principle, you can never see a reason not to make an exception. There are constantly going to be times when for one reason or another there’s some practical convenience in making an exception.
rms
Josh
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« Reply #7 on: March 19, 2004, 08:13:56 PM »
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Though the song was written before Bush came into office...
The lyrics were tweaked and altered a bit for the In Time release of the song.
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