Bryanna+and+Andrew

Group Nine - **Scathing**

The Separation of Church and Skate by NOFX

[SPOKEN]

//[Father:] // Hey Kids! //[Kids:]// Hey Dad! //[Father:]// What'da want to do today? //[Kids:]// We don't know. //[Father:]// Wanna go to the matinee? //[Kids:]// NO! //[Father:]// Wanna go to the Amusement Park? //[Kids:]// NO! //[Father:]// Wanna go to the punk rock show? //[Kids:]// Yeah! Let's go to the punk rock show!

Lost in a sea of combat boots, Flush the bouncers with wasted youth When did punk rock become so safe? The kids who used to live for beer and speed Now want their fries and coke Cursing and flipping birds are not allowed, In fact let's keep noise levels down**
 * When did the scene become a joke?

Must separate the church and skate!

Why don't we put pads on the kids? Helmets, head gear and mouth pieces! Then we could pad the floor and walls, Put cameras inside bathroom stalls Make every show a matinee Teach kids to be all they can be, And we could sing my country tis of thee Sweet land of liberty**
 * We make sure only nice bands play,

When did punk rock become so safe? I know it wasn't Duane or Fletcher, Who put up the barricades Like a stake in the heart, Somehow we got driven apart

I want conflict! I want dissent! I want the scene to represent Our hatred of authority, Our fight against complacency Stop singing songs 'bout girls and love! You killed the owl! You freed the dove! Confrontation and politics Replaced with harmonies and shticks When did punk rock become so tame? These fucking bands all sound the same We want our fights we want our thugs! We want our burns we want our drugs! Where is the violent apathy?! These ing records are rated G!


 * When did punk rock become so safe?!**

NOFX is one of the few politically charged punk rock bands that still remain true to their rebellious roots, as is perfectly displayed in the chosen song, //The Separation of Church and Skate//. The lead singer, Mike Burkett, is known for his sarcastic, nay, //scathing// voice and song writing ability, with material ranging from songs about antitheistic ideals to albums titled //The War on Errorism//, featuring the former president, George W. Bush, sporting clown makeup.

This particular song is about Burkett’s animosity towards the general direction his particular style of music is heading in. He feels that punk rock, originally formed as a flagship of rebellion and controversy, is taking a turn to cater to a safer crowd, and he chooses to express this through sarcasm. The music itself complements the lyrics perfectly, as it consists of short, aggressive guitar riffs and a fast drum beat, in the fashion of older punk. The lyricist describes the atmosphere of a modern punk rock concert and how it is a much safer and boring scene than he is accustomed to. Lines such as, "Cursing and flipping birds are not allowed,/In fact let's keep noise levels down" show the current state of these concerts through irony and a brutal mocking. Now of course the irony of selecting this particular song is that Burkett himself would most likely be horrified by its usage for a school project, as it is directly related to the song’s subject matter.

Excellent analysis - very well done

**FORMAL** There's a song that's inside of my soul. It's the one that I've tried to write over and over again I'm awake in the infinite cold. But you sing to me over and over and over again.

So, I lay my head back down. And I lift my hands and pray To be only yours, I pray, to be only yours I know now you're my only hope.

Sing to me the song of the stars. Of your galaxy dancing and laughing and laughing again. When it feels like my dreams are so far Sing to me of the plans that you have for me over again.

So I lay my head back down. And I lift my hands and pray To be only yours, I pray, to be only yours I know now, you're my only hope.

I give you my destiny. I'm giving you all of me. I want your symphony, singing in all that I am At the top of my lungs, I'm giving it back.

So I lay my head back down. And I lift my hands and pray To be only yours, I pray, to be only yours I pray, to be only yours I know now you're my only hope.

We picked this song because when we think of a formal song, we think slow and meaningful. We think it is straightforward and deeply moving. Only Hope’s accompaniment is gentle and moving; the song is slower and flows together very well. In the movie, A Walk To Remember, Mandy Moore sings this song on stage in a play. It is a plea, illustrating that she realizes that she needs that special someone in her life, whether spiritually or physically. This song is straightforward; I need you, I can’t live without you. While it’s your typical love song, it is not like the ones we usually hear today. It’s not necessarily happy, but it sticks to one topic and has sentimental value.

The song choice is solid, but I would have liked a little more when it comes to connotation of the individual words - how are they formal?