If something does very well Modern Vampires of the City is to show the anguish of this generation. This album Vampire Weekend, formed by singer and guitarist Ezra Koenig, drummer Chris Tomson, bassist Chris Baio and keyboardist Rostam Batmanglij, was published in 2013, is full of universal concerns, which anyone in their 20 or 30 can be identified. From anguish to die young and disbelief in political leaders. This disc nonconformists.
Vampire Weekend is almost sticky pop tunes for a band that is identified in the rock genre. However, Ezra Koenig letters give us accurate social observations and insights showing the critical and nonconformist spirit of the band.
There are three songs that illustrate the above. Diane Young, Finger Back and Worship You. The first is about dying young or fear of dying prematurely, a very linked to the musicians, the excesses many die before the issue 30. Remember the club of 27.
Diane Young is the song that sums up this album. At first glance it is believed to be about a woman but it really is the epitome of dying young. Diane Young English sounds Dying Young (die young). "I liked the idea that Diane Young was the personification of dying young, like something out of Greek miotología, Diane Young is the new, modern Greek goddess," Koenig said in an interview with FaceCulture.
The piece is full of references that evoke this fear. "You have the fate of a Kennedy," "out of control, but you're playing a role, think you can go to the 18th hole?".
The climax of the song is where Koenig finally screams all his anguish ends in a relief on the bad aging, future and death.
Nobody knows what the future holds
And it's bad enough just getting old
Live my life in self-defense
You know I love the past, 'cause I hate suspense ...
The irony is that to be so dark themes, musically Diane Young verges on being a pop anthem with dynamic melodies. Many ups and downs that give a giddy feeling.
Finger Back with Hanna Hunt and Do not Lie are love stories of the album. But Finger Back has the curiosity of relatarnos ortdoxa romance of a Jewish and a Muslim in New York. Comparing the whole situation with painful images like folding a finger or being hit with a wooden bat and blood. Love equals pain. The song has several clever phrases like "For this Orthodox girl fell in love with the boy falafel shop, Why not ?, Should I have avoided my eyes and just look laminated poster Dome of the Rock? .
Death, as I said earlier is present throughout the album. In this case it is the fear of dying despite impossible circumstances of this romance. Almost like a mockery of the classic story of impossible love Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.
Condolences to gentle hearts Who Could not bear to try
I do not wanna live like this, but I do not wanna die
Another interesting aspect of this pair is that it refers to another similar relationship, Koenig and Rostam Batmanglij songwriting partner. The singer, of Jewish origin found his musical soul mate in Batmangli of Iranian descent. No matter how adverse historically their roots, their affinity differences and tune for making music have undeniably enriched the sound and lyrics of the band. It will be interesting to see how Vampire Weekend reinvents with Batmangli output of the band in 2016.
Finally, Worship You seem to be a political song about the disbelief leaders. Koenig asked several times who will lead us to the end ?. Besides that looks like a review specific to the conservative sector of the country, right hand red (indicating the trend and color GOP) that governments that has led to more wars the United States. The whole piece is sung with a hint of sarcasm.
We Worshipped you
Your right hand network
Will not we see you once again?
In foreign soil, in foreign land
Who will guide us through the end?
The album is not just about the, romantic and deadly political anxieties. There are also an adolescent air in the compositions and the use of the voices in Diane Young or Ya Hey, what rebellious and impetuous and fast singing in Worship You. But VW has always had that youthful aura even the name of the band is a teenager. But that also belongs to this generation: the anguish and permanent state of adolescence.
