Lyrical Analysis and Song Tempo (Radioactive)
After analysing the lyrics of the song, Radioactive, we have come to the conclusion that the song could be interpreted in two different ways. One interpretation could be that the song actually sticks to Goodwin's theory, and that the song is actually about an apocalypse/the end of the world. Another interpretation could be that the song sticks to the band Imagine Dragon's ideology, which is that most of their songs is about a person overcoming a certain obstacle. Therefore this song could be about a person rising up to the government, like a David and Goliath scenario.
Interpretation 1: The Apocalypse Scenario
"Waking up to ash and dust"- Introducing the post-apocalyptic theme. It is presented to us as a dangerous environment as the lyrics go on to say "breathing in the chemicals". "Checking out on the prison bus" The prison bus could connote to a dangerous environment, thus the lyrics goes on to say "This is it, the apocalypse". The lyrics "I feel it in my bones, enough to make my systems blow" could be referring to the fact that the apocalyptic environment is taking a toll on his body. "I raise my flags" Flags represent a unified country and an uprising against the government. "We'll paint it red"Painting something red has connotations of riots and an uprising for instance in V for Vendetta, the 'V' logo was painted all over town to symbol an uprising against the government. |
Whoa, oh, oh
Whoa, oh, oh Whoa, oh, oh Whoa I'm waking up to ash and dust I wipe my brow and I sweat my rust I'm breathing in the chemicals I'm breaking in, shaping up, then checking out on the prison bus This is it, the apocalypse Whoa I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones Enough to make my systems blow Welcome to the new age, to the new age Welcome to the new age, to the new age Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, I'm radioactive, radioactive Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, I'm radioactive, radioactive I raise my flags, don my clothes It's a revolution, I suppose We'll paint it red to fit right in Whoa I'm breaking in, shaping up, then checking out on the prison bus This is it, the apocalypse Whoa I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones Enough to make my systems blow Welcome to the new age, to the new age Welcome to the new age, to the new age Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, I'm radioactive, radioactive Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, I'm radioactive, radioactive All systems go, the sun hasn't died Deep in my bones, straight from inside I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones Enough to make my systems blow Welcome to the new age, to the new age Welcome to the new age, to the new age Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, I'm radioactive, radioactive Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, I'm radioactive, radioactive |
Analysis Notes:
"oh,oh,. I'm radioactive" Radioactive refers to the environment in which the post-apocalyptic wasteland could be. "Its a revolution" The lyrics suggest this is a new era. "breaking in, shaping up" These lyrics suggest the character is evolving and adapting to the new environment. "Welcome to the new age,to the new age", Welcome to the new age refers to the new civilisation created after the apocalypse. This conforms with the post-apocalyptic theme of the song. "All systems go, the sun hasn't died," these lyrics infer that despite the post-apocalyptic world, the sun has still shining and all hope is not lost. |
Impact section
In our music video we wish to convey the post-apocalyptic theme rather than the David and Goliath theme in the actual music video. In our music video there is going to be a protagonist in a post-apocalyptic wasteland which will conform to the lyrics. Also there is going to be a mixture of performance and narrative within our music video. We believe this will relate more to Imagine Dragons ideology's and therefore improve our video.
In our music video we wish to convey the post-apocalyptic theme rather than the David and Goliath theme in the actual music video. In our music video there is going to be a protagonist in a post-apocalyptic wasteland which will conform to the lyrics. Also there is going to be a mixture of performance and narrative within our music video. We believe this will relate more to Imagine Dragons ideology's and therefore improve our video.