1. Synthpop band Pro… Read Full Bio ↴There are two Bands under the Name Propaganda :
1. Synthpop band Propaganda was formed in Germany by vocalist Claudia Brücken and drummer Michael Mertens plus keyboard players Susanne Freytag and Ralf Dorper. The quartet moved to England in 1983 and signed to ZTT Records, also the home of Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Art of Noise. Propaganda's first single, "Dr. Mabuse," reached the British Top 30 in early 1984, but the band's second release was more than a year in coming. Finally, in May 1985, "Duel" trumped the debut single by hitting number 21.
Propaganda's first album A Secret Wish appeared one month later, and the resulting tour necessitated the addition of bassist Derek Forbes and drummer Brian McGee -- both formerly with Simple Minds. After the release of the remix album Wishful Thinking later that year, Dorper became the first original member to leave the band, and Propaganda splintered soon after, due to a prolonged legal battle to leave ZTT. The group finally re-emerged in 1988 with Mertens, Forbes, McGee and American vocalist Betsi Miller. The quartet signed with Virgin, and released 1234 in 1990. The single "Heaven Give Me Words" broke the British Top 40 in 1990, and "Only One Word" placed modestly later that year.
Meanwhile, Claudia Brücken -- who had stayed with ZTT in large part because of her marriage to label-owner Paul Morley -- formed Act with Thomas Leer. The duo charted "Snobbery and Decay" in mid-1987 and released their only album, Laughter, Tears, and Rage in 1988. Brücken became a solo act by the turn of the decade, and charted only one single, "Absolut (E)," from her 1991 album Love, And a Million Other Things. Though neither the band nor Brücken had recorded recently, rumours flew during the mid-'90s that a Propaganda reunion was in the works.
2. Jason Emmanuel Petty (born May 27, 1979), better known by his stage name Propaganda, is an American Christian hip hop and spoken word artist and poet from Los Angeles, California. He has released four albums as an independent artist and one collaborative album with the rapper Odd Thomas, and has performed and recorded as a member of the underground hip hop group Tunnel Rats and associated act Footsoldiers.
Sorry for Laughing
Propaganda Lyrics
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Why the angel stopped crying
When you sail on down the lane
Your happy smile, your funny name
I just don't mean the things that I say
It's only 'cause you're made that way
There's too much happening
Sorry for laughing
There's too much happening
When we grooved on into town
Charles Atlas stopped to frown
'Cause he's not made like me and you
Just can't do the things we do
I'm not being mean, so don't take it hard
When I ask you to run round the yard
Sorry for laughing
There's too much happening
Sorry for laughing
There's too much happening
Sorry for laughing
There's too much happening
Sorry for laughing
There's too much happening
The song "Sorry for Laughing" by Propaganda is a melancholic pop song that showcases the struggles of the singer in accepting the differences in others. The first verse talks about wondering for ten years why an angel stopped crying, and as the song progresses, this stops being literal and becomes a metaphor for the singer's own angst. The lines "When you sail on down the lane, Your happy smile, your funny name" imply that the singer is referring to a person who seems happy and content on the surface, but the singer knows there's more to them than meets the eye.
The chorus of "Sorry for Laughing" is somewhat ironic because it sounds like the singer is apologizing for laughing at someone, but actually, the song is about how the singer is feeling sorry for themselves. They feel overwhelmed and unable to cope with the differences and disparities in the world, as they are unable to process or comprehend these stark contrasts. They know that it's not the world's fault, only theirs, which adds to their emotional turmoil. The singer is apologizing for laughing in order to excuse their insecurities and vulnerability and asking for forgiveness.
The second verse of the song talks about a person called Charles Atlas who doesn't have the same ability as the singer and the person they were discussing in the first verse. Again, the lines hint at the singer's insecurities and inability to accept differences in others. The singer is self-aware and tries to justify their feelings by stating that they are not mean, and they don't want to hurt anyone's feeling. They just don't understand others' abilities.
Overall, "Sorry for Laughing" is a lyrical masterpiece that not only speaks to the struggles of the singer and their inability to come to terms with differences but also has a profound effect on the listeners. The song highlights the importance of accepting differences and being more empathetic towards others.
Line by Line Meaning
It took ten years to realize
After a decade, I finally comprehended the reason behind the angel's cessation of sobbing
Why the angel stopped crying
I wondered about the reason behind the angel's cessation of sobbing
When you sail on down the lane
As you walk past me down the road
Your happy smile, your funny name
I can't help but notice your joyful expression and amusing name
I just don't mean the things that I say
I don't actually intend to say certain things
It's only 'cause you're made that way
What I say is only because it's your nature
Sorry for laughing
I apologize for my amusement
There's too much happening
There's too much going on that we can't control
When we grooved on into town
As we made our way into the city together
Charles Atlas stopped to frown
Charles Atlas, upon noticing us, expressed annoyance on his face
'Cause he's not made like me and you
He can't do the same things that we do due to his nature
Just can't do the things we do
He's unable to do the same activities as us
I'm not being mean, so don't take it hard
I'm not trying to be harsh, so don't take it too personally
When I ask you to run round the yard
When I request for you to run around the yard
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MALCOLM JAKE ROSS, PAUL HAIG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind