Kazetenshi’s Weblog

(NOTE: This post pertains to war. If you are sensitive about this subject, don’t read it if you don’t want to. =\)

I am an avid Linkin Park fan. My first album was “Reanimation” back in 2002/2003. Regardless of some of the pure rapping songs (which I do hate only if it’s about absolutely stupid subjects: *Cars, women, etc.* =\) it still was a great album. LP has a way when it comes to their music, capturing emotion and even providing deep thinking in the lyrics. Although the majority involves the pain and suffering of a person, it has such a deeper meaning, describing that raw emotion that the human being experiences throughout life.

Their latest album, Minutes to Midnight, from my own observations (which could be wrong) shook up things a bit in their fanbase. Some were definitely split about their new style, while others really like it. To me, although I’m on the fence, I did felt both opinions clashed, in my own mind. When I picked up a copy (Limited Edition), I glanced at the lyrics with the book it provided me, and I felt a bit alienated. The lyrics were definitely darker than their previous works, which also has cuss words (A first for the band’s originals w/o remixes) which I didn’t feel comfortable with. After that, I only quickly skimmed through the songs (aside from What I’ve Done, which is beautiful.) I didn’t find anything that I’d liked back during that day, through which right now I do regret.

I got clouded on what other people thought about the music, rather then focusing on my own judgment. For a while, this negative thinking did get a bit reinforced. One of LP’s videos, Bleed It Out, was “pretty good” to me, but it wasn’t thought-provoking or as creative as their previous music videos (Somewhere I Belong, Breaking the Habit, etc.), which left me thinking if LP really did make a good decision in changing their overall style. Well their latest video, Shadow of the Day, came out recently, and it leaves me really impressed.

Although not as artistically creative as their previous works, it still has creativity in the form of subtlety. It takes place in a war-torn, modern day setting in which a riot has broken out of town, in which Chester is caught in the middle of while he witnesses the horrors of what we humans can be capable of. It gives a direct nod to their album title (which references to the Doomsday Clock), with Chester waking up in the beginning of the video at 11:55….irony of which the Doomsday Clock is currently set at. Watching the riot unfolding shows how fragile the state of the world can be, which definitely is in real life as of right now. And from what Chester experiences is the chaos that follows before Doomsday, which when the video is over (about 4 minutes, 25 seconds), the Doomsday Clock would be at 11:59….one more minute till the world ends. Also worth noting is how Chester is the only band member to appear in the video, and how the music does not fully encase the video, allowing sounds of the riot to be clearly heard…which catches the viewer and surrounds him/her with that same chaos. It’s those touches that I’ve come to expect from watching a LP Music Video.

Before watching the video, I had envisioned the lyrics of Shadow of the Day quite differently then what I see right now. Before, I was thinking more of how a person, who is running away, wishes they can forget the past, probably another person, and it goes on how he “curses” that person saying that the sun will set for him/her, as he attempts to reassemble what he/she has left. Looking at what I though back then, it’s too much of a “direct” translation, which I always try to avoid…

After watching, I have a better understanding on what the lyrics truly mean. It captures the paranoia that the whole world faces. The meaning focuses that not every problem has that simple solution, often turning a blind eye…and it can lead in such tragic events. The sun indeed goes down…on the face of humanity, as the Shadow of “The Day” (aka Doomsday) embraces the world in Grey…hate…war…destruction…annihilation.

After watching this video, I have definitely learned not to overlook on the fine details, as it can be ignored throughout the chaos that ensues, which is ironic since I was caught up between the arguments that LP’s new album was not good at all…and I really regret saying that back then. I will definitely re-listen to this album with the fullest intention of finding the inner meanings…

And to the people who say that the new album is horrible…change DOES happen. It’s your decision to either like it, or don’t. Just don’t let immaturity get in the way of explaining your side of the argument…which I have seen throughout. Give it more of a good chance, rather then bashing on the negatives always.

…I wish it really WAS that simple…*sigh*

Shadow of the Day Lyrics

I close both locks below the window.
I close both blinds and turn away.
Sometimes solutions aren’t so simple.
Sometimes goodbye’s the only way.

Oh…

And the sun…will set for you…
The sun…will set for you…
And the shadow of the day,
Will embrace the world in grey;
And the sun…will set for you.

In cards and flowers on your window,
Your friends all plead for you to stay.
Sometimes beginnings aren’t so simple.
Sometimes goodbye’s the only way.

Oh…

And the sun…will set for you…
The sun…will set for you…
And the shadow of the day,
Will embrace the world in gray;
And the sun…will set for you.

And the shadow of the day,
Will embrace the world in gray;
And the sun…will set for you.

And the shadow of the day,
Will embrace the world in gray;
And the sun…will set for you.