System of a Down "Chop Suey"

In my opinion the band “System of a Down”, has longed deserved the recognition they are about to receive for its politically active song lyrics. These lyrics include the condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, the War on Drugs, Religion and Censorship. The band’s front man Serj Tankian co-founded with Tom Morello the Axis of Justice, an organization for musicians who have banded together with their fight for social justice.

System of a Down was formed in 1994 in Glendale, CA. The band consists of four members; Serj Tankian, Daron Malakian, Shavo Odadjian, and John Dolmayan. SOAD has been nominated for four Grammy Awards, and has won one. System has diverse roots, with all of the band members having previous bands in which they played for prior to forming, Tankian and Malakian coming from a band called Soil, and the others from other places. All the members have a common love for classic heavy metal such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, KISS, Slayer, and Metallica. Malakian, System’s songwriter, attributes his biggest influence of his lyrics to that of The Beatles and Peter, Paul, and Mary. I can honestly say that I do not believe I have ever heard a band with the likes of System of Down since its creation; With their unique guitar tunings and radical song lyrics, System of a Down has created a class of its own.

Perhaps one of its more controversial songs of all time, Chop Suey, tells the horrors of drug abuse through that of a fictional account of a woman stuck in the cyclic horror of drug abuse. The first two words of the song are “Wake Up”, both a literal wake up for the druggie who needs to wake up from her fix and also it is an initial call for the listeners to wake up and start the fight on Drug Abuse. Daron Malakian said in an interview that the song is truly about how one dies affects the way someone thinks of that person. For instance if someone were to die of drug abuse, like in the song, someone might perchance think they deserved it. This comes into play at the line “I cry when angels deserve to die, the angels being the corrupted humans who will die if they continue along their path. Chop Suey also makes religious references with the lines “Why have you forsaken me?”, and “ Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”. Both are obviously references to Jesus Christ as he hung from his cross. I believe this was put in as a cry from those who are stuck in the cycle of drugs. At some point many of them do not want to continue, but like Jesus they find themselves having to suffer even though it is what they desire least. But unlike Jesus who we left upon the cross, we need to help these drug abusers so they do not have to commend their spirit to the father.

All in all, System of a Down is a radically aware group of men who want to use their talents and widespread publicity to do good. In a world of corruption, System stands out like a beacon of hope for all those who are represented in the words of their lyrics. While System of a Down is currently on hiatus while the members pursue side careers, even there the messages are the same. But one day System shall reform to lead to charge on social tyranny once again, and battle it out for social change.

PIZZA PIE

  This video suggests that consumption of a product is one of the most important things one can do and to do otherwise can end horribly. While death is not truly the end result of disobeying, it suggests heavily that your social life will die if you do not "eat your pizza pie". This does not just pertain to just the pizza pie in of itself, but of all consumer goods like iphones, McDonald's, etc; everything that reminds the viewer of Corporate America. Throughout all commercials of Papa Johns and Pizza Hut, it makes it seem like you are making a mistake if you do not eat the pizza they are advertising. This mistake can lead to becoming ostracized, not in the idea of pizza per-say, but if on does not keep up with the current trends they can become put off to the sides. Unfortunately many Americans judge by what they see and not what they now and they could assume the worst if you are not "eating the pizza pie". This also suggests conformity to a certain extent because while not required to "eat the pizza", it is strongly suggested by the second line "or you will die". No one ever truly has to do anything ever, but the consequences of not doing anything could end poorly. So in the end, the message is, just sit down, shut up, eat your piece of "pizza pie", and conform to the standards.