The genre is often erroneously conflated with "baroque pop", which is more about the appropriation of Western classical music in a pop context. The term, which is usually deployed for late-20th century indie musicians, is also sometimes applied to certain artists of the 1960s, such as Scott Walker and the Zombies.
This style, with clear indie-rock inclinations, uses additional members on in the band to create a fuller-bodied, more orchestral sound. Sometimes traditional pop instrumentation is discarded entirely. Many artists often highlight songs with unique instruments not found in most modern popular music such as the accordion or harpsichord.
Neighborhood #2
Arcade Fire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Set out for a great adventure
He tore our images out of his pictures
He scratched our names out of all his letters
Our mother shoulda just named you Laika
Come on Alex, you can do it
Come on Alex, there's nothin' to it
If you want somethin' don't ask for nothin'
If you want nothin' don't ask for somethin'
Our mother shoulda just named you Laika
It's for your own good
It's for the neighborhood
Our older brother bit by a vampire
For a year we caught his tears in a cup
And now we're gonna make him drink it
Come on Alex don't die or dry up
Our mother shoulda just named you Laika
It's for your own good
It's for the neighborhood
When daddy comes home you always start a fight
So the neighbors can dance in the police disco lights
The police disco lights
Now the neighbors can dance (the police)
Now the neighbors can dance (disco lights)
Now the neighbors can dance (the police)
Now the neighbors can dance (disco lights)
Look at them dance
The lyrics to Arcade Fire's song Neighborhood #2 paint a vivid picture of a dysfunctional family and the consequences of individual choices on the collective neighborhood. The song starts with a reference to Alexander, the older brother who sets out for a great adventure, but in doing so, erases the memory of his siblings from his life. The imagery of tearing pictures and scratching names depicts the pain and hurt felt by his younger siblings who are left behind.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the idea that actions have consequences, and the importance of considering how one's choices affect others in the vicinity. The line, "If you want something, don't ask for nothing, if you want nothing, don't ask for something," emphasizes the importance of individual agency.
The song takes a strange turn in the second verse with a reference to the older brother being bitten by a vampire, and the family saving his tears in a cup for a year before making him drink it. The reference to vampires adds a layer of supernatural and mythical elements to the song, which can be interpreted in different ways.
The song's bridge adds an interesting dimension to the song with the idea that the family starts a fight when the father comes home so that the neighbors can dance in the police disco lights. This shows that the family's dysfunction is not just internal, but also affects the neighborhood as a whole.
Overall, the song's message is clear - actions have consequences not just for the individual but also for those around them, and it is important to consider the effects of one's choices on others.
Line by Line Meaning
Alexander, our older brother
The song is a story about a family and begins by introducing one of the characters, Alexander - the older brother of the family.
Set out for a great adventure
Alexander leaves home to explore the world and pursue his dreams.
He tore our images out of his pictures
Alexander removes any trace of his family from his life as he seeks independence and individuality.
He scratched our names out of all his letters
Alexander cuts off all connections with his family, removing their names from his correspondence entirely.
Our mother shoulda just named you Laika
The family recognizes Alexander's strong-willed and independent spirit, which leads them to compare him to Laika, the Soviet space dog that was launched into space.
Come on Alex, you can do it
Despite the family's disappointment and hurt feelings, they still encourage Alexander to pursue his dreams and believe in his abilities.
Come on Alex, there's nothin' to it
The family believes that achieving success is possible and easy, encouraging Alexander to have confidence and persistence.
If you want somethin' don't ask for nothin'
The family advises Alexander to be assertive and proactive in pursuing what he wants in life.
If you want nothin' don't ask for somethin'
The family advises Alexander to be content with his current situation and not ask for more than what he has.
Our older brother bit by a vampire
The family recounts a bizarre event where Alexander was bitten by a vampire, which adds to the surreal and unusual nature of the story.
For a year we caught his tears in a cup
The family attempts to help Alexander by collecting and keeping his tears, suggesting their concern and love for him.
And now we're gonna make him drink it
In a twisted turn of events, the family plans to give Alexander his own tears to drink in order to heal him from the effects of the vampire bite.
When daddy comes home you always start a fight
The family highlights their father's potentially violent behavior and their tendency to provoke him by starting arguments.
So the neighbors can dance in the police disco lights
The family's fighting attracts the attention of the neighbors and the police, leading to an unusual and surreal scene where they dance under the police disco lights.
Now the neighbors can dance (the police)
The repetition of this line reinforces the oddity of the situation and emphasizes the power dynamics between the family, the neighbors, and the police.
Now the neighbors can dance (disco lights)
The repetition of this line adds to the surreal atmosphere and emphasizes the unusual setting of the scene.
Look at them dance
The family observes the bizarre and surreal sight of their neighbors dancing under the colorful police disco lights.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Edwin Butler, Regine Chassagne, Richard Parry, Timothy Kingsbury, William Butler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@__Nando
[Verse 1]
Alexander, our older brother
Set out for a great adventure
He tore our images out of his pictures
He scratched our names out of all his letters
[Chorus]
Our mother should have just named you Laika!
[Verse 2]
Come on Alex, you can do it
Come on Alex, there's nothing to it
If you want something, don't ask for nothing
If you want nothing, don't ask for something
[Chorus]
Our mother should have just named you Laika!
It's for your own good
It's for the neighborhood
[Verse 3]
Our older brother bit by a vampire
For a year we caught his tears in a cup
And now we're going to make him drink it
Come on Alex, don't die or dry up
[Chorus]
Our mother should have just named you Laika!
It's for your own good
It's for the neighborhood
[Verse 4]
When daddy comes home you always start a fight
So the neighbors can dance in the police disco lights
The police disco lights
Now the neighbors can dance
Look at them dance
@lukaluki.
@@R7Sports acho que cheguei tarde, enfim ksksksks
Laika foi o primeiro animal que foi a órbita, tudo foi meio preparado pra que ela fosse mesmo sem muita esperança de volta, e assim se concretizou ela infelizmente veio a falecer, ganhou uma estátua na russia e ficou marcada na história (não me atentei tanto pois acho que é mais comum conhecer a Laika que o Alexander)
Alexander Supertramp (nome real: Christopher McCandless) foi um homem que após a graduação foi viver na "natureza selvagem" do Alaska para se desligar da modernidade e do materialismo pra viver sua vida da maneira que se sentisse bem
sem quase recurso algum, ele basicamente morava num ônibus abandonado no meio do mato, e escrevia anotações sobre o cotidiano dele (meio que um diário), foi encontrado morto em 1992 no ônibus por um grupo de caçadores
Esses são os personagens que a música apresenta
A interpretação é sempre mais você (leitor) que deve ter, a MINHA foi: A música quer retratar a vida do Alexander, tendo de fazer a comparação com a Laika
Alexander, our older brother (Alexander, nosso irmão mais velho)
Set out for a great adventure (Saiu para uma grande aventura)
He tore our images out of his pictures (Rasgou nossas imagens de suas fotos)
He scratched our names out of all his letters (Apagou nossos nomes de suas cartas)
Aqui demonstrando que estava completamente decidido no que ia fazer, apagou as coisas que poderiam fazer ele retroceder nessa ideia, e foi
Our mother shoulda just named you Laika (Nossa mãe deveria apenas ter te nomeado Laika)
Eu penso como se os familiares (especificamente os irmãos) entendessem, ou simplesmente aceitassem a "missão" que talvez se encaixe em aventura, se é que existe uma diferença tão grande nisso, do Alexander, e assim como ocorreu com Laika entendessem que infelizmente poderiam não ver o irmão.
Come on Alex, you can do it (Vamos Alex, você pode fazer isso)
Come on Alex, there's nothin' to it (Vamos Alex, não há motivos)
If you want somethin' don't ask for nothin' (Se você quer algo, não peça por nada)
If you want nothin' don't ask for somethin (Se você não quer nada, não peça por algo)
Acho interessante como a música retrata mais os familiares que o próprio vivente de tudo, os dois primeiros estrofes são os familiares meio que dando sã ponto, o primeiro, concordando e o segundo discordando, os outros dois seriam pra retratar uma indecisão dele próprio com a situação.
Bem, o resto da música é muito mais abstrata que esse início então não decidi escrever alguma outra teoria aleatória, enfim como já falei acima os dois personagens que ele apresenta são esses a cadela Laika e o Naturalista Alexander, que foram numa aventura sem saber ao certo o que aconteceria em ficaram marcados na história, agora pontos mais específicos ficam por sua conta.
@user-dc2jf1lt5m
Laika - that was the name of the dog, the first animal launched into space, which was not destined to return to Earth. The dog died. And Alex (Alexander) is a man whose death was predicted in advance and is inevitable. This is the meaning of the song. A reference to a dog astronaut named Laika, whose death was inevitable.
@cesarrodriguez8893
sounds about right...
@stevez4120
Just learned that sweet doggies name today and was like oh snap arcade fire I love that song.
@moron12gaming
alex is referring to Chris McCandless aka Alexander Supertramp
@titusmccarthy
Laika has a statue in Star City, Russia.
@nicky3524
Layers and layers …damn what a good song.
@camillopanza4159
I really don't know why, but that whistle/scream at 3:05 gets me everytime. That is a really keen detail and very meaningful too.
@jaffaranga
I was thinking that is sounds like the distorted whistle that a radio makes, like what Liaka the space dog might've heard when she got sent away.
@Despair505
I love this goddamn song. It feels so energizing and sad at the same time
@ricksummerset7814
Icy Cold Hands yo