A great track, written by one of the most influencial post-punk bands and covered by a great modern artist. What do you want more in life?

New dawn fades was originally written by Joy Division in 1979. It is one of those all time great songs that irrelevant how old the spng is, how many times you listen to it, it still reverberate in your soul. Two thumbs up for Moby, for being a great artist and doing such an excellent cover. The introduction of the cello also gives the song a new feel.

If you haven’t heard of Joy Division yet (I do pity you) go down to the nearest music store and buy their discography. It is one of those discography that every music lover should have in his collection.

For those wondering what this song is all about, below find the lyrics for New dawn fades:

A change of scenes, a change of style
A change of hopes, with no regrets
A chance to watch, admire the distance
Still occupied, though you forget
Different colours, different shapes
Over each mistakes were made
I took the blame
Directionless so plain to see
A loaded gun won’t set you free
So you say

We’ll share a drink and step outside
An angry voice and one who cried
I gave you everything and more
This pain’s too much, can’t take much more
I’ve walked on water, run through fire
Cant seem to feel it anymore
Because we’re… Yay…
Hoping for something more, Hoping for something else
We’re… Yay…
You seeing me this way, You’re hoping for something more
When our love goes WRONG!

So ever thought what could be THE THING that makes these artists so different in the public eye, yet at the end of the day there is so much in common between them?

It is the genre of music they play and the promotion they get.  Lady Gaga writes and composes pop music, while Marilyn Manson composes and writes rock music, or better heavy/hardcore rock music.  Pop music has always been mainstream music, at least for the last three decades.  Though there is still something funny, since Lady Gaga does not exactly write pop music, doesn’t she?

As Mike Stock, Kylie Minogue’s song writer said, “I’ve always held out for decent pop, which to me is music that can be appreciated by all ages. The more racy stuff that you see going on nowadays is not something you could put two to ten-year-olds in front of, and you’re embarrassed if you sit there with your mum. I find that [style] almost anti-pop because it targets the 18-25 year-olds to the exclusion of everybody else.”

The Lyrics

Manson’s lyrics talk about about the harsh reality of today’s life.  Suicide, religion, social problems, drugs, and sometimes even about politics are all subjects that have been mentioned by Marilyn Manson.  Funnily enough, it seems such issues are still a taboo for today’s world to discuss, even though almost every human on earth is affected in some way or the other from any of these subjects.  Yet it seems parents do allow their very young kids to listen to Lady Gaga’s lyrics, which talk explicitly about sex, gay, and hardcore partying.

Is it because Lady Gaga’s music is marketed as pop while Manson’s music is labeled as rock, hence it gets less exposure?  Is it possible the generic public is so blinded by what the media says?

Image

One can also easily notice that both Manson and Gaga share almost the same “dress code” and like to portray the same kind of image.

What’s funny though is that there have been cases made that Marilyn Manson was crazy, extravagant, and provocative in his dress code and image.  As a matter of fact, on March 10, 1997, a show in South California was cancelled “in response to growing public pressure by religious, civic and political leaders who criticized the group’s image.”

Let’s face the truth.  Don’t you think that Lady Gaga is actually more provocative and inappropriate than Manson to the generic public?  Simply launch an image search on Google, where one is presented with a large number of pictures of topless Lady Gaga, or only with a piece of tape covering her nipples, i.e. bare breasted.  Ever seen the video of the song “Telephone,” where again she is featured naked?  What I just mentioned is just a hint of Gaga’s image, when considering what kind of “clothes” she wears in public.  Lately there was even a video of her in a fishnet on YouTube stage diving!

Conclusion

I am not trying to point fingers at Lady Gaga, and I’m not even saying that Manson is more righteous than Gaga or vice versa, or that people should listen to rock music instead of pop.  All I want to point out and also emphasize is that I think the money hungry label owners who control the music industry and who decide who makes it to the top or not should act more responsibly.

Obviously artists like Lady Gaga and Marilyn Manson should have their share of success, but I do not think such artists’ music and music videos should be marketed in the public as Lady Gaga’s music is now.  As we all know, artists and their music have a huge impact on everyone, especially on the younger generations.  Do you want your teen’s life only to evolve around sex, drugs, and parties?  Although I love music, I think there is much more to life than that, but it seems that is just what Gaga tries to portray!

Article first published as Is Lady Gaga Getting Too Much Exposure? on Blogcritics.

When Peter Steele (Type O Negative’s vocalist and bassist) went a little bit too out of control with substance abuse to try to compensate for his father’s death, which he admits it was a coward thing to do, his family took control of the situation to do what is ‘of best interest for him’.  He got kicked out of his house and sent to rehab, phsyciatric ward and prison.  Peter in fact states that the people who ‘love’ him took advantage of him and the situation.  Now the lyrics and title make much more sense to me than they did when I first heard the song. 

“This is how you spend life
Amused by another’s strife
Makes me so sad and confused
Someone’s pain your leisure
Can’t explain sick pleasure 
I’m so glad I’m not you”

 
Apart from the lyrics, the song is the typical crazy Type O Negative doom song, which I really like.  It starts off with background noises and dragging guitar riffs which later switches to fast head banging music.