chrome, interpretation...

ether · March 30th, 2002, 07:57 AM

Following the thread that we sould write about the songs interpretations...I think Chrome is an example of a song connected with urban desolation and emptiness of modern life… Here is my interpretation:
The songs opens with a nocturnal scene, the television projects coloured light on the walls( I like this image “the walls are painted different every second…”). The eyes of chrome make me think of something bright, polished ( tears?) but at the same time this metallic colour could be seen as something artificial, lifeless a sign of apathy, in a way a situation of claustrophobic isolation and loneliness like in “deadhouse”, a man sitting alone in front of a TV set, watching uninteresting programmes and feeling empty and desolate.
The next scene conveys the image of something painful that you can’t get rid of, something that is slowly destroying you, and you are kind of paralyzed, you can’t move, can’t actually act. It seems like that things around you keep on going while you are standing still and in a way you don’t participate to life, even if you would like to break this walls that imprison you (burn down my house and make something happen) The image of the dead man’s clock is particularly striking and highly poetical, it’s like life goes on and doesn’t care of you, you can be dead (also in a metaphorical sense) but things don’t stop their course, events don’t wait for you…
The mirror makes me think of the double self, a kind of schizophrenia, and this saying hallo it’s like trying to establish a contact with the world.
The final verses are like a stream of consciousness, they contrast with the previous surreal atmosphere and bring you suddenly back into real life, into trivial and everyday things, the phone call as a sign of a contact with the outside.

Dismal · March 30th, 2002, 08:26 AM

Good analysis! Never thought of the song that way until now, makes a lot more sense.

Nico16 · March 30th, 2002, 08:30 AM

I interpreted it the same way, we must be soulmates!

P.S.: "Deadhouse" and "Quiet World" are very similar to this.
I especially like Quiet World's lyrics:

four numbers staring back at me
displaying the mediocrity of my presence
i´m wasting my day wtching them change
the sun with it's blue sky outside
shining down on all you happy people
i´m wasting my day waiting for rain
need more methods to end each day
to be happy by living this way

_Transparent_ · March 30th, 2002, 11:15 AM

hmn, well maybe its all about watching TV, and how it makes your eyes chrome, after hours and hours and hours and hours and hours and hours of mind numbing tv you just sit there dead to the world, just staring, and wanting something to happen anyway whatever...

falling bird · March 30th, 2002, 06:27 PM

very good interpretation but this last sentence"my brother is halfways,through a book i've left him." i just don't get what he could mean, have you got an idea?

the_joy_of_grief · March 30th, 2002, 08:19 PM

Quote:

very good interpretation but this last sentence"my brother is halfways,through a book i've left him." i just don't get what he could mean, have you got an idea?

I suppose he wants to express that his brother is halfways through a book he has left him...

Kains D · March 30th, 2002, 08:34 PM

Maybe it's like the TV's got his borhter as well. all trapped by the ever-changing images *shivers*. That reminds me of me and my brother as well.

Hey Ether Nurse, you should write music reviews in a metal magazine.

ether · March 31st, 2002, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nico16
P.S.: "Deadhouse" and "Quiet World" are very similar to this.
I especially like Quiet World's lyrics:

four numbers staring back at me
displaying the mediocrity of my presence
i´m wasting my day wtching them change
the sun with it's blue sky outside
shining down on all you happy people
i´m wasting my day waiting for rain
need more methods to end each day
to be happy by living this way

I like these lyrics too! What do you think are these " four numbers"?
I thought of a birth date (1975?) or just a date...I also relate this song with "Day", it's pretty much the same atmosphere!

the_joy_of_grief · March 31st, 2002, 06:20 AM

Quote:

What do you think are these " four numbers"?

A digital clock.

Nico16 · March 31st, 2002, 08:29 AM

right. I thought it was obvious

ether · March 31st, 2002, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by the_joy_of_grief

A digital clock.

Yes you're right, I don't know why it didn't come to my mind, now it sounds more logical

falling bird · April 1st, 2002, 04:04 PM

Thank you joy of grief, now i got it

Wanderer · April 2nd, 2002, 11:58 AM

Perfect analysis.I did not interperate it from the song but i like your way

March 30th, 2002, 07:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
ether °°§°° Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,241	chrome, interpretation... Following the thread that we sould write about the songs interpretations...I think Chrome is an example of a song connected with urban desolation and emptiness of modern life… Here is my interpretation: The songs opens with a nocturnal scene, the television projects coloured light on the walls( I like this image “the walls are painted different every second…”). The eyes of chrome make me think of something bright, polished ( tears?) but at the same time this metallic colour could be seen as something artificial, lifeless a sign of apathy, in a way a situation of claustrophobic isolation and loneliness like in “deadhouse”, a man sitting alone in front of a TV set, watching uninteresting programmes and feeling empty and desolate. The next scene conveys the image of something painful that you can’t get rid of, something that is slowly destroying you, and you are kind of paralyzed, you can’t move, can’t actually act. It seems like that things around you keep on going while you are standing still and in a way you don’t participate to life, even if you would like to break this walls that imprison you (burn down my house and make something happen) The image of the dead man’s clock is particularly striking and highly poetical, it’s like life goes on and doesn’t care of you, you can be dead (also in a metaphorical sense) but things don’t stop their course, events don’t wait for you… The mirror makes me think of the double self, a kind of schizophrenia, and this saying hallo it’s like trying to establish a contact with the world. The final verses are like a stream of consciousness, they contrast with the previous surreal atmosphere and bring you suddenly back into real life, into trivial and everyday things, the phone call as a sign of a contact with the outside. __________________ "En fågel sjunger inte för att den har några frågor eller svar, en fågel sjunger för att den har en sång.”

March 30th, 2002, 08:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
Nico16 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: germoney. Posts: 960	I interpreted it the same way, we must be soulmates! P.S.: "Deadhouse" and "Quiet World" are very similar to this. I especially like Quiet World's lyrics: four numbers staring back at me displaying the mediocrity of my presence i´m wasting my day wtching them change the sun with it's blue sky outside shining down on all you happy people i´m wasting my day waiting for rain need more methods to end each day to be happy by living this way Last edited by Nico16 : March 30th, 2002 at 08:33 AM.

March 30th, 2002, 08:34 PM	#7 (permalink)
Kains D Am I my brother's keeper? Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 166	Maybe it's like the TV's got his borhter as well. all trapped by the ever-changing images shivers. That reminds me of me and my brother as well. Hey Ether Nurse, you should write music reviews in a metal magazine. __________________ Face all your demons -Evereve, 'Demons'

April 2nd, 2002, 11:58 AM	#13 (permalink)
Wanderer Decayed Smile Join Date: May 2001 Location: where sorrow never dies,Istanbul Posts: 792	Perfect analysis.I did not interperate it from the song but i like your way __________________ four numbers staring back at me displaying the mediocrity of my presence i am wasting my day watching them change the sun with it's blue sky outside shining down on all you happy people i am wasting my day waiting for rain need more methods to end each day to be happy by living this way

March 30th, 2002, 08:26 AM	#2 (permalink)
Dismal Inside the Fall Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 85	Good analysis! Never thought of the song that way until now, makes a lot more sense.

March 30th, 2002, 11:15 AM	#4 (permalink)
_Transparent_ Junior Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: London, England Posts: 3,837	hmn, well maybe its all about watching TV, and how it makes your eyes chrome, after hours and hours and hours and hours and hours and hours of mind numbing tv you just sit there dead to the world, just staring, and wanting something to happen anyway whatever...

March 30th, 2002, 06:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
falling bird schoolgazer Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Ny-Ålesund Posts: 822	very good interpretation but this last sentence"my brother is halfways,through a book i've left him." i just don't get what he could mean, have you got an idea?

March 31st, 2002, 08:29 AM	#10 (permalink)
Nico16 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: germoney. Posts: 960	right. I thought it was obvious

April 1st, 2002, 04:04 PM	#12 (permalink)
falling bird schoolgazer Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Ny-Ålesund Posts: 822	Thank you joy of grief, now i got it