The song I have chosen to use for my music video is The Gospel Of John Hurt by alt-J from their second studio album This Is All Yours, released earlier this year.
 |
| This Is All Yours |
Reason?
alt-J are one of my all-time favourite bands. Even though they have only realised two studio albums (along with some side works) and have only been an active band for just a few years, they have personally impacted me very strongly and have remained ever since my first listen as one of the most unique, catchy and genius bands ever. (Ever may be a tad strong, but certainly for a very very long time. Personal opinion, of course).
The Gospel Of John Hurt is in my opinion one of the set tracks off of This Is All Yours followed closely by Nara and the album's introductory song ("Intro"). I waited for This Is All Yours with great anticipation and excitement and was immensely pleased with it, having a strange fixation with The Gospel Of John Hurt since my first thorough listen of the album. Although listening to the whole album, I always seems to divert back to The Gospel Of John Hurt as the source of a quick-junky-fix of This Is All Yours. The lyrics, the melodies and harmonies and Joe Newman's uniquely addictive vocals made The Gospel Of John Hurt nothing short of an absolute corker and 'banging tune'. It's incredibly melodic and lyrically genius. alt-J have always kept their lyrics very minimalistic, metaphorical, representative and not vague or straight to the point. The Gospel Of John Hurt is no exception. Lyrically strange, minimalist and an ever-growing crescendo towards the haunting chorus: "Coming out of the woodwork, chest bursts like John Hurt" which ring beautifully and get louder and louder make for a piece of music which is both mentally and physically brilliant.
The Meaning
Like 'Matilda' (from alt-J's debut album An Awesome Wave), The Gospel Of John Hurt is inspired by a film - in this case, 'Alien', which stars John Hurt. It's particular inspired by John Hurt's death scene in the film (the famous "chest burst scene") where an alien bursts out of his chest. Today, it stands as one of the most iconic scenes in sci-fi and horror films.
"That stayed has stayed with me. As a writer, you're meant to sift through all of the things you've remembered in your life and pinpoint the things you've been moved by. Why not write about those moments you're moved by the most?" - Joe Newman, guitarist and lead vocalist for alt-J.
Here is an analysis of the lyrics:
No space
L-shaped
Tetris
Tile seeking
Somewhere
Oh, somewhere
To fit in
Alien
Oh, coming out of the woodwork
Chest bursts like John Hurt
Coming out of the woods
AK
Twenty
47
Civilian
Oh, coming out of the woodwork
Chest bursts like John Hurt
Coming out of the woods
Jeremiah, looking down and you know where you're looking on down
Do you know
Where you go
You're headed on the strings for the E-X-T-I-N-C-T
Jeremiah, looking down and you know where you're looking but you go
Do you know
Where you go
You're headed on the strings for the EX-T-I-N-C-T
Oh, coming out of the woodwork
Chest bursts like John Hurt
Coming out of the woods
No comments:
Post a Comment