Odd title, isn’t it?
I’ve been thinking about something for the past week. Every time I move on to something else, this subject keeps coming back to me in some way. I suppose I just need to face it, talk about it, then put closure on it.
This may be a controversial post for some, and I wouldn’t be surprised or offended if some of you aren’t interested in my thoughts and leave right now.
No worries.
For those that stick around to read, just know that these are just my thoughts and ponderings on an often talked about subject. I’m interested in knowing what you think, too.
But first be sure to visit the bathroom and grab some refreshments. This promises to be a long ride……..
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A couple months ago our Homeschool Group and Girl Scout Troop went on a field trip to the traveling exhibit called Bodies- The Exhibition (click link for more info)when it was in Albuquerque. Have any of you seen this exhibit? It’s truly fascinating and so much more educational than looking at pictures in a biology book. All 3 of my kidlets and myself were mesmerized and spent over 2 hours studying the amazing physiology of the human body.
We even had them take a silly photo of us against a green screen as a keepsake of our day.
Anyway, after the exhibition, time went by, the holidays rolled past, and I forgot about Bodies. Then recently The Tucson Massacre became headline news. The tragedy was shocking and heartbreaking on so many levels, and controversial on so many more.
A lot of the controversy surrounded the gunman, Jared Loughton. Everyone wants to know more about this young man and what drove him to murder innocent people. Is he insane? Did he plan this massacre over many months? Or did he just snap one day? What was his childhood like? Did his parents know their son was bound for trouble? Did they try to help their son? As a parent with two sons of my own, this is something I wonder about. I wish I could sit down with Jared’s parents and ask them if there were any signs that their son was steadily falling off the deep end.
As someone with a Mother who committed suicide, I wonder if there was anything that could have been done to help Jared before he caused such terrible mayhem in this world. Because of my own personal tragedy, I also think about the choice that Jared made. It’s one thing to kill yourself, but it’s completely different when you decide to kill someone else. What is obvious is that both are extremely selfish acts, because they affect so many people in such a heart-wrenching, long lasting way.
Because of what my own Mother did and how it has affected me throughout my entire life, I’ve always searched for definitive answers as to why some people choose these kinds of paths in their lives. Some studies say that these people just become overwhelmed with life and see no other way out. I can understand that, to a point. But I tend to see life as the glass is half-full and live my life with the “Little Orphan Annie” mind set:
The sun'll come out
Tomorrow
Bet your bottom dollar
That tomorrow
There'll be sun!
Just thinkin' about
Tomorrow
Clears away the cobwebs,
And the sorrow
'Til there's none!
When I'm stuck a day
That's gray,
And lonely,
I just stick out my chin
And Grin,
And Say,
Oh,The sun'll come out
Tomorrow
So ya gotta hang on
'Til tomorrow
Come what may
Tomorrow!
Tomorrow!
I love ya
Tomorrow!
You're always
A day
A way!
No matter how bad today is, tomorrow is a new day filled with new opportunities to take your life in a different more positive direction. But I suppose there are some deeply troubled individuals that can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, and they only see one path to take, and it’s never a good one.
~~~~~
Anyway, another controversy about the Tucson Massacre involves the public’s easy access to guns, namely guns that are able to quickly fire more than 10 rounds of ammo. Personally I don’t want to get into a whole Second Amendment argument because that’s not the issue here. The issue is if not allowing the public access to guns that can cause a massacre, would have made a difference in the Tucson shooting. I don’t think so. In Tucson, only 6 people were killed. That leaves 4 more that could have been killed, if that new ruling goes into affect. It’s a silly ruling, imo. Guns don’t kill people. People kill people.
There are a thousand different tools that people can use to commit a mass murder massacre, without even having to pick up a gun. Throughout history we have seen this, as in New York City on 9/11, in Oklahoma City, and with Biological warfare, like Anthrax. If you think about it, Jared could have probably killed more people in that Tucson shopping center just by renting a moving truck and revving it straight through that crowd of people.
~~~~~~~~~
So, you’re probably wondering then, why the Bodies title for my post? Is it just to do with the Bodies Exhibition?
Well, sort of. It was just the catalyst that got me thinking and pondering about many different, but related subjects.
You see, a couple days ago, I completed stitching all of my daughter’s girl scout patches on her Daisy Vest. One of those stood out glaringly above all others.
I’m sure you figured out which one. I don’t know what I’d expect them to create, but it would have been nice had they made the patch a little more colorful, and maybe not so big.
But that patch spoke to me (not in the literal sense, of course), and it made me think and think some more. It caused me to do more research, too. I tend to be a deep thinker anyway, but this subject really made me delve deeper still.
But I won’t bore you with a lot of philosophical mumbo jumbo.
Instead I will ask you what you think about the idea that what we feed our brains affects who we are and who we become. And this includes TV, movies, books, video games, and music….especially music. Do you believe music can affect our moods, our desires, our interests, and even our personality? Do you believe the music we listen to says something about who we are?
I often tell my kidlets that what they expose themselves to can affect their innocence, their outlook on the world, their opinions, and their choices in life. I encourage them to question everything that they are considering watching, reading, playing, and listening to. I want them to experience the world without being negatively influenced by all of it’s evils.
Have you had the opportunity to watch this video? Be prepared. It may give you chills.
(Note: You’ll want to turn off my PlayList Music at the bottom of this page. Just click the round button in the center of the Playlist widget)
This was on Jared Loughton’s You Tube Channel’s favorite list. It is believed that Jared made this himself, and may even be the creepo wearing the hoody and trash bag skirt.
Did you notice that song?
It is sung by a group called Drowning Pool. Here is their music video. I suggest you watch it.
Do you find it as interesting as I do, that Jared chose this song, especially in light of the Tucson Massacre?
What bothers me about this song (besides the obvious) is the band’s statement and claims about this song, after what happened in Tucson:
“We were devastated this weekend to learn of the tragic events that occurred in Arizona and that our music has been misinterpreted. 'Bodies' was written about the brotherhood of the moshpit and was never about violence." The band also added: "For someone to put out a video misinterpreting a song about a moshpit as fuel for a violent act shows just how sick they really are. We support those who do what they can to keep America safe. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families of this terrible tragedy".
Maybe they really do believe that the song is all about the brotherhood of the moshpit, but from someone who dated a hardcore California punk rocker in my teen years, and who did my own floatin’ in a moshpit or two (or three), I don’t agree.
Do these lyrics sound like they’re preaching “brotherhood” and non-violence?
Let the bodies hit the floor(x4)
Beaten why for (why for)
Can't take much more
Here we go!
Here we go!
Here we go!
One - Nothing wrong with me
Two - Nothing wrong with me
Three - Nothing wrong with me
Four - Nothing wrong with me
One - Something's got to give
Two - Something's got to give
Three - Something's got to give
Now
Let the bodies hit the floor(x6)
Now!
Push me again
This is the end
Here we go!
Here we go!
Here we go!
One - Nothing wrong with me
Two - Nothing wrong with me
Three - Nothing wrong with me
Four - Nothing wrong with me
One - Something's got to give
Two - Something's got to give
Three - Something's got to give
Now
Let the bodies hit the floor(x6)
Skin against skin blood and bone
You're all by yourself but you're not alone
You wanted in now you're here
Driven by hate
consumed by fear
Let the bodies hit the floor (x4)
One - Nothing wrong with me
Two - Nothing wrong with me
Three - Nothing wrong with me
Four - Nothing wrong with me
One - Something's got to give
Two - Something's got to give
Three - Something's got to give
Now
Let the bodies hit the floor(x6)
How about the video that portrays a person with an obvious case of insanity?
After doing more research, I discovered that Jared’s not the only person who easily “misinterpreted” that song either.
You can do a search for “Bodies Hit the Floor” on You Tube and come up with about a thousand videos…none of them showcasing love and brotherhood. In fact all of them, portray violence. Like this Military Style video:
How does that video make you feel? Did it affect your mood?
Speaking of the military, they seem to have “misinterpreted” the meaning behind this song, too. Have you ever heard of Torture by Music?
Apparently “Let the Bodies Hit the Floor” is a popular song used by the military to get prisoners to ‘talk’.
Music has been used in psychological operations throughout history. The term music torture is sometimes used to describe the practice of playing loud music incessantly to prisoners or people besieged.
A BBC News report claimed that music by band Metallica, and from children's TV programs Barney and Sesame Street, was being used to cause sleep deprivation and culturally offend prisoners.
I found it quite fascinating to read that Steve Benton of the group Drowning Pool had this to say about their song, “Let the Bodies Hit the Floor” being used for Music Torture:
"I take it as an honor to think that perhaps our song could be used to quell another 9/11 attack or something like that."
Ironic that their song may have actually had a part in helping to cause a massacre, instead of quelling it.
~~~~~~~~~~
Apparently, the military and You Tubers aren’t the only ones who have “misinterpreted” their song either. It’s been used in many different ways…none of which extoll non-violence and the virtues of the brotherhood of the moshpit:
Boston Red Sox closing pitcher Jonathan Papelbon while jogging to the mound from the center field bullpen during a Fenway Park game.
By World Wrestling Entertainment: the official theme song for SummerSlam 2001, One Night Stand 2005 and 2006, December to Dismember 2006, and ECW on Sci Fi.
The promo video for the Xtreme Freestyle Alliance (XFA) racing team.
The video game Arena Football.
John 'The Ogre' Koziol was intending to use this song as an entrance theme before the downfall of UWA.
The video game Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear in the Urban Operations addon.
The theatrical trailer for the film The Punisher
The theatrical trailer of horror film Jason X, Friday the 13th series.
The theatrical trailer for the film Daredevil.
The film The One
The TV spot for the film Rambo
The film xXx
Opening song for UFC's Ultimate Knockouts 2
It appears in the 2010 music video game Guitar Hero
Mentioned in the film Fahrenheit 9/11 as a song the troops like to listen to heading into battle.
Promotion for the films Rambo and Stop-Loss.
A United States Marine Corps commercial.
The film Stop Loss
The series finale of the WB's cult show Popular
The HBO television miniseries Generation Kill
The comedy metal band Psychostick made a parody of the song called "I Can Only Count To Four".
According to the Associated Press "Bodies" was a song interrogators used, played at high volume, over and over again, to break the will of captives held in extrajudicial detention.
The entrance song for UFC heavyweight fighter Shane Carwin.
Used as the main music in various YouTube videos of Televangelist Benny Hinn.
The game Battlefield: Bad Company 2 has US troops occasionally shouting "Let the bodies hit the floor!" when an enemy on the opposing team is killed.
The HBO television series True Blood
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If you’re still hanging on with me and reading, you deserve a big bowl of dark chocolate M &M’s.
And I’m curious to read your thoughts on all of my ponderings. But the big question is:
Does music have the potential to affect our moods, personality, and even our actions?
