Gatas Parlament were the first Norwegian rappers to rap in Norwegian. The pioneers of Norwegian Rap, such as Warlocks or A-Team, rapped in English. Gatas Parlament started out in 1993, taking the name Kveldens Høydepunkt (Highlight of the Night). Don Martin did not take to the name, and it was therefore changed. Later, they attended a public speech by Carl I. Hagen, the chairman of the right-wing party Fremskrittspartiet, where they threw eggs and rotten fruit at Hagen. This caused Hagen to comment that gatens parlament ruled the country, and the three rappers stuck with the name (the riksmål-wording of gaten was dropped for gata, more fitting for their sociolect).
The band caused controversy in Norway with their video "Antiamerikansk Dans" (Anti American Dance) together with the Swedish rap artist Promoe. In addition, their website killhim.nu ("Kill him Now"), which put a bounty on the assassination of George W. Bush, caused the American embassy in Norway to react, and the website was subsequently shut down.
2004
Gatas Parlament Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kirurgi betyr at du fucker opp noen
Sivilisasjon betyr å brenne biblioteker
Krigens folkerett å gjemme bomber I leker
Militære mål det betyr for eksempel
Lysverket eller at en hel by skal kverkes
Å være uenig det heter terrorisme
Allianse betyr å suge pikk utrolig kvikt
Vennlig stat ingen utenrikspolitikk
Ensidig dekning det er å si at ting har flere sider
Feilaktig informasjon å vise tv bilder
Republikaner tilhenger av enevelde
Å bidra til oppbygning betyr å tjene penger
Demokrati betyr at makta bestemmer
Den nye verdensordningen gjør at flagget brenner
These lyrics from Gatas Parlament's song "2004" address various aspects of society and politics, using satirical and critical language to reveal underlying meanings and contradictions. In the first verse, the line "Frigjøring betyr okkupasjon" (Liberation means occupation) challenges the idea that military actions can bring freedom, suggesting that they often lead to further control and dominance. Similarly, "Kirurgi betyr at du fucker opp noen" (Surgery means you screw someone up) criticizes the negative consequences and potential harm that can arise from medical interventions.
The second verse continues this critical tone by highlighting the twisted nature of civilization and warfare. The line "Sivilisasjon betyr å brenne biblioteker" (Civilization means burning libraries) emphasizes the destructive tendencies within human progress, implying that knowledge and culture are often sacrificed in the pursuit of power. Additionally, "Krigens folkerett å gjemme bomber I leker" (The laws of war mean hiding bombs in toys) exposes the unethical and deceitful tactics employed by those involved in armed conflicts.
Moving onto the third verse, the lyrics tackle the manipulation of language and the distortion of truth for political purposes. "Å være uenig det heter terrorisme" (To disagree is called terrorism) criticizes the stifling of dissenting voices by labeling them as threats to national security. Conversely, "Å være humanist det betyr å være kristne" (To be a humanist means to be Christian) mocks the narrow-mindedness that equates humanism exclusively with Christianity, neglecting the diversity of beliefs and values.
The final verse addresses the hegemonic power and self-serving interests of certain political systems. The line "Demokrati betyr at makta bestemmer" (Democracy means that those in power decide) questions the true extent of citizen participation in democratic societies, suggesting that power lies primarily in the hands of a few. The lyrics conclude with the provocative statement "Den nye verdensordningen gjør at flagget brenner" (The new world order makes the flag burn), symbolizing the resistance and rejection of a global order that they perceive as oppressive and unjust.
Overall, Gatas Parlament's lyrics in "2004" offer a critical analysis of the societal and political dynamics of the time, exposing contradictions, manipulations, and power imbalances. Through their satirical and thought-provoking language, the lyrics encourage listeners to reflect on these issues and question the prevailing narratives presented by those in power.
Line by Line Meaning
Frigjøring betyr okkupasjon
The concept of liberation is often just an excuse for occupation
Kirurgi betyr at du fucker opp noen
Surgery implies that you mess up someone's body
Sivilisasjon betyr å brenne biblioteker
Civilization, at times, involves the destruction of knowledge and culture
Krigens folkerett å gjemme bomber I leker
The laws of war allow hiding bombs within objects, like toys
Militære mål det betyr for eksempel
Lysverket eller at en hel by skal kverkes
Military targets can include essential infrastructure, such as power plants, or the annihilation of entire cities
Å være uenig det heter terrorisme
To dissent is often labeled as terrorism
Å være humanist det betyr å være kristne
Being a humanist can be equated to being a Christian
Allianse betyr å suge pikk utrolig kvikt
An alliance implies quickly and unquestioningly following the desires of a more powerful nation
Vennlig stat ingen utenrikspolitikk
A friendly state has no independent foreign policy
Ensidig dekning det er å si at ting har flere sider
Providing one-sided coverage means ignoring the multiple aspects of a situation
Feilaktig informasjon å vise tv bilder
Presenting misleading information through television images
Republikaner tilhenger av enevelde
Republicans support autocracy
Å bidra til oppbygning betyr å tjene penger
Contributing to rebuilding often means profiting financially
Demokrati betyr at makta bestemmer
Democracy means the powerful make the decisions
Den nye verdensordningen gjør at flagget brenner
The new world order results in the burning of flags
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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