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SOADFans: Political Ideas Aside, System Aims for Mesmerizing Music |
Posted by Treevil on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 - 02:40 PM
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If you've heard System of a Down's latest singles, you probably have some ideas of what the songs are about. But singer-songwriter Serj Tankian says your guess is as good as his.
"I've had people come up to me with the strangest interpretations of what lyrics might mean, and I'm like, 'You go! I never thought of that, but that works,'" Tankian says, speaking by phone from a hotel in Dallas. "I think true art is a universal reflection, and true artists are just messengers of that reflection - or, at best, skilled presenters."
It's that kind of articulate philosophy - not to mention some of the most brain-punishing metal-rock in existence - that makes System of a Down such an unlikely success story. Their previous studio album, 2001's "Toxicity," has sold about 3.6 million copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan, and the new "Mezmerize," released in May, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts. It's already racked up sales of 1.3 million. All this, despite the band's decidedly bizarre mix of hardcore, heavy metal, opera and Middle Eastern music. (All four of the band's members are of Armenian descent.)
"Mezmerize" is only the first disc System of a Down plans to deliver this year. The follow-up, "Hypnotize," is scheduled for release in November. In a change of pace, Tankian takes a backseat to guitarist Daron Malakian, who wrote most of the lyrics and music on "Mezmerize" (perhaps he's responsible for the misspelled title). Shavo Odadjian, System's bassist and unofficial art director, helped create the band's light show and mirrored stage set.
Odadjian got the idea for the stage design from his favorite neighborhood bar in Los Angeles. "It's really small, but one wall is all mirrors, so you think, 'This bar is huge,'" he explains over the phone from a West Palm Beach, Fla., hotel. "And then I thought, 'No one's ever done that onstage before, made the stage look twice as big with a huge mirror.'"
Odadjian and Tankian both downplay their band's political zeal - "We'd really rather concentrate on the music," Tankian says - but the lyrics on "Mesmerize" are difficult to ignore. "Violent Pornography" is a scathing critique of mainstream television. "Cigaro" seems like a crude sexual joke - but a closer listen reveals themes of Western arrogance. And the first single, "B.Y.O.B.," features the lung-busting refrain, "Why don't presidents fight the war/Why do they always send the poor?"
Tankian says he keeps up with current affairs while on tour by reading newspapers and surfing the Internet. "Nations are like people," he says. "Once you understand the interactions between nations, it's easy to understand why things are done, in terms of foreign policy, in a certain way. But nations are not like people in the sense that we are cumulatively represented by others - and their interpretations of what our interests are may not be the same as what they really are. And that's what's dangerous, even in a democracy."
Are System of a Down's stage-diving, mosh-happy fans as politically engaged as Tankian? "I don't find most people to be as politically engaged as I am," Tankian says with a laugh. "I do find people that appreciate eye-opening events and words, and who want to learn more about what's going on. I do find people with a lot of opinions. And I get a lot of people who come up to me and give us props for what we do."
Source - Newsday
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Comments
RestlessWhisper7
23.08.05, 16:47
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"I don't find most people to be as politically engaged as I am." Since I started listening to System I have actually started becoming interested in current events. Maybe not politics, because I find it boring, but I want to know what's going on in the world. "Once you understand the interactions between nations, it's easy to understand why things are done, in terms of foreign policy, in a certain way." Reminds me of his poem, Nations.
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pants_on_my_head
23.08.05, 17:13
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'..Daron Malakian, who wrote most of the lyrics and music on "Mezmerize" (perhaps he's responsible for the misspelled title).' this one made me laugh. it's like saying that Daron can't write properly:) and what about the more seriuos part of this article.. well sometimes i have to read what Serj had said twice if i want to fully understand the meaning
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Theinfectedangel
23.08.05, 18:50
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i have been in to current events 2. but nothing good really happens.....did u hear they cloned a dog.....never thought THAT would happen....
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toxicity666666
23.08.05, 23:28
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there arent enough john interviews....and i wish daron went back to using his iceman.he looked way cooler with it.
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nighthunter05
23.08.05, 23:29
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i know this has nothing 2 do w/ the artical.....but whatever happened to the special downloads every sunday?...i was really enjoying all the live concert downloads and shit
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serjsbeard
24.08.05, 04:24
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yay! he surfs the internet!!! he may come here!!! HELLO SERJ!!
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daronfan81505
24.08.05, 18:23
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aww dont make fun of stupid daron...
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