Shortly after formation, Kirsten and Phil moved the band to Oakland, CA, then later to Los Angeles.
1991 to 1998 saw the band release three full length records, three seven inches, one live record and several compilation exclusive songs. In support of their output they extensively toured the United States, Mexico, Canada and Europe.
Penelope Spheeris approached the band in 1996 and as a result they are featured in her documentary film "The Decline of Western Civilization: Part III", for which Phil recorded his first soundtrack.
In 1998, just as they were about to embark on a national tour in support of their newest album, The Gut-Wringing Machine, the band came to an abrupt end when Phil died from complications arising from his chronic asthma. Five years past. Five years of mourning. Kirsten participated in other projects, but nothing satisfied her intense anger and frustration with world politics like Naked Aggression.
Thus, in 2003, in light of the second George Bush's Gulf War, Kirsten thought it fitting to reform the band in order to continue carrying on the message started over a decade ago under astoundingly similar geopolitical circumstances. Since the reformation Naked Aggression has toured the U.S., and just returned from Europe with a new split Lp with, Die Schwarzen Schaffe, on Compary Records. Currently they are working on songs for a new full-length album.
- taken from the band's MySpace page : http://www.myspace.com/nakedaggression
Under 18
Naked Aggression Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They force you to conform, plan your whole damn life
By the time your 21 the brainwashing is done
You're sucked into there system there is no return
Look at the world your parents gave to you
Full of hate, full of lies
Look at the way your parents live their lives
By the rules, not by choice
If you're different from them, they say you'll go to hell
You're locked up in group homes or in juvenile hall
They give you stupid curfews everything's against the law
(Chorus)
Take charge of your life You're old enough to know what's right (X2)
Authority's established by instilling fear in you
They tell you that you're powerless there's nothing you can do
Move in with a friend if your parents mistreat you
Start organizing protests with all the kids at school
(Chorus)
Don't end up just like them, don't end up just like them!
The song "Under 18" by Naked Aggression is a commentary on the lack of rights and freedoms given to young people under the age of 18. The lyrics suggest that society forces young people to conform and plan their entire lives before they even reach legal adulthood. The song suggests that this brainwashing is so effective that by the age of 21, young people have already been sucked into the oppressive system and there is no return. The lyrics point out that the world young people inherit from their parents is full of hate and lies, and that their parents live their lives by rules rather than choice. The song implies that this behavior is passed on to young people, with traditions forced upon them and anything different being condemned as sinful and leading to punishment, including being locked up in group homes or juvenile hall.
The overall message of the song seems to be one of empowerment for young people. The chorus encourages them to take charge of their lives and make their own choices, instead of blindly following the restrictive rules and traditions of their parents and society. The song suggests that young people can fight back against the oppressive system by moving in with friends or organizing protests with other kids at school.
Aside from its message, "Under 18" is noteworthy for its fast-paced punk rock sound, which features driving guitar riffs and a frenetic tempo. The song has been praised by fans of the punk genre for its high energy and aggressive sound. Many also appreciate the empowering message of the song, which speaks to the experiences of a generation of young people who have felt restrained and oppressed by the system.
Line by Line Meaning
If you're under 18 you don't have any rights
If you're not an adult, you don't have the same say in things as those who are.
They force you to conform, plan your whole damn life
They want you to fit in and follow their vision for what your future should be like.
By the time your 21 the brainwashing is done
By the time you reach adulthood, they've convinced you to think like them.
You're sucked into there system there is no return
Once you're in their system, it's difficult to leave and be your own person.
Look at the world your parents gave to you
Take a closer look at the state of the world and what older generations have created for you to inherit.
Full of hate, full of lies
The world is filled with negativity and dishonesty.
Look at the way your parents live their lives
Observe the way your parents behave and live their lives.
By the rules, not by choice
They follow societal norms and standards rather than making their own choices.
They force traditions on you won't let you be yourself
They make you follow traditions that may not align with who you are as a person, limiting your ability to express yourself.
If you're different from them, they say you'll go to hell
If you don't conform to their beliefs, they will ostracize you and judge you for being different from them.
You're locked up in group homes or in juvenile hall
If you break the rules or don't fit in, you may be sent away to live in a group home or juvenile detention center.
They give you stupid curfews everything's against the law
They enforce strict rules, including arbitrary curfews, making it feel like everything you do is wrong.
(Chorus) Take charge of your life You're old enough to know what's right (X2)
You have the power to take control of your life and make your own decisions based on what you believe is right.
Authority's established by instilling fear in you
Those in power maintain their control by making you scared of what will happen if you don't follow their rules.
They tell you that you're powerless there's nothing you can do
They make you believe that you don't have any power to change your situation or stand up for yourself.
Move in with a friend if your parents mistreat you
If your parents treat you badly, consider finding a safe place to stay with a trusted friend.
Start organizing protests with all the kids at school
Take action with other young people by organizing protests or other forms of resistance against the injustices you see in the world.
(Chorus) Don't end up just like them, don't end up just like them!
Don't get stuck following in the same footsteps as those who have come before you. Be your own person and live life on your own terms.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind