The Ingenius of Modern Poetry

When I say modern poetry, I'm specifically talking about song. Songs that have moving lyrics, melodious music and the capacity to move us.

You see, I've been listening to this particular song on loop since the past few days and I'm going to share it so that you can understand why.

If the video doesn't work on account of some technological glitch, the song is called "Don't Panic" by Clarity. Yes, it happens to be a cover of the brilliant Coldplay song.

I heard this particular song in the trailer of X-Men: Apocalypse and it has left a major imprint on my mind. If you watch the trailer and here the song, it'll make a lot of more sense.

See what I mean? I have loved the original for as long as I can remember, but it never had the same profound effect on me as the combination of the visuals which are so penetrating themselves with the sagacious lyrics and the music. It's the perfect formula for a thought provoking, paralyzing experience that inspires a lengthy blog post.

I am obsessed with dystopia- I shall often display my obsession. And hence, this song has left me so shaken.

 Bones, sinking like stones,
All that we fought for,
Homes, places we've grown,
All of us are done for.
And we live in a beautiful world,
Yeah we do, yeah we do,
We live in a beautiful world,

 Oh, all that I know,
There's nothing here to run from,
Cos yeah, everybody here's got somebody to lean on

                                              

In the context of the trailer, the lyrics come across as a plea for mercy. Despite all the destruction,devastation, we do live in a beautiful world where there is hope, life, the capacity to change to become better, to evolve. 

I think it comes across as a wake up call for all the cynics and the people who like to watch the world burn, or simply allow it to burn; we live in a beautiful world- your arguments about all the atrocities and bitterness are futile... nothing/nobody is perfect. We simply have to strive for change and to make this world a better place. This is our world, our home... we can't let it burn, and if you're going to stand still and do nothing, don't become a hindrance to the efforts of others.

Yes, I see how that can be a little didactic... no worries... I'm not preaching, this only an interpretation.

I think we need songs like these in today's day and age. We need music that will give us hope, inspiration and revive our faith in humanity. We are living in tough times and being a literature student I've studied literature, art and music through the ages... it may have been morose and often criticized and condemned the world for what it was, but it still left the reader's hopeful.

I believe that music, visuals and lyrics have to power to bring about change. They can help us feel hopeful. I'm not implying that art has a purpose or that it's completely aesthetic... all that I'm saying is, it has the power to makes us feel, make us think, make us ponder, make us shiver and shudder and as long as we feel those, we will never become effigies that shall stand by while the world burns.

This particular song, for instance has provoked a lot of thinking. If it does the same for you, please share your experiences, I'd love to hear them :)

Have a cookie day :)