Dark Thoughts

The Batman “The Dark Knight” edition of the trilogy movie series that proved to be a box office sensation in 2008 leaves some suggestions as to why with the clever advertising exhibited here. The poster is a multifaceted marketing tool and is yielded quite admirably by the makers of the poster. It is clear that the poster is being used to evoke several specific emotions. The “Joker’s” imprisoned gaze comes only second to the sight of smeared blood in the overall attempt to draw fear into the viewer. These two elements coupled with the presence of textured glass leaves a nothing less then eerie feeling in the observer’s heart and brings forth in the viewers subconscious pathos response. The mirrored glass serves additionally to “cloud” the future, as if to draw the observer’s interest, and even goes further perhaps in offering up hope with the symbol synonymous with Batman himself. All of these elements appeal to the viewer’s senses and tingles the metaphorical “taste buds” to find out the next chapter of the saga. Language also comes into play in the advertisement. Although simple, the words “Why so serious?” are too being used to create an heir of uncertainty regarding the situation exhibited and looks in fact to personify the villain in the tale as a less than absolute evil once again appealing to the inquisitive nature of humanity and serves again to appeal to the ever-present logos subconscious of the world. 

Song Lyric Explication

It is often among our most downtrodden, poor, dilapidated, and deserted that the weakest voice rings true. In a world where high priced dreams and aspirations lead to a predictable demise all too often artists curb their creative instinct in pursuit of the unattainable goal. Underground freestyle rap artist “Atmosphere” provides a polarized view on the life of an unsuccessful and underappreciated performer struggling with the vices and troubles of a torn musical conscious. His song “Trying to Find a Balance” fosters some of a young man’s frustrations, dreams, and struggles along the path to notoriety. The particular piece is interesting in the sense that the artist operates in three different phases during the production and encompasses the emotional effect of the choices made into a complete entity in perfect union with the three phases of the song. Sean Daley (AKA Atmosphere) is best interpreted on an emotional level in this performance and as an extension of his actual words themselves.

            Daley wastes no time in the piece of identifying his discontent with the treatment he and his band had received over the years, as can be identified in this excerpt of the first four lines: “They love the taste of blood, Now I don't know what that means, but I know that I mean it, Maybe they're as evil as they seem, Or maybe I only look out the window when it's scenic…” In this short four-line phrase Daley sets forth several issues worth discussing. While Daley is apparently condemning his critics it is important to concede that the artist identifies his own potential for flaws in the line “…Or maybe I only look out the window when it's scenic…” This admission of human nature comes from the life obstacles the now 32-year-old rapper has been forced to overcome and these experiences themselves are the key element to the autobiographical characteristics of the piece. We also stop to study the first two lines of the phrase which, when looked at closely allow for an interesting perspective on the mindset of the critics referenced. “They love the taste of blood…” is a pure image invoking statement. The taste of blood alludes to the critics as bats attempting to stifle the life of a budding career by the sucking of the metaphorical creative blood. The artist continues to state his own vulnerability, in the line “Now I don’t know what that means, but I know that I mean it…” he concedes the fact that he does not know his critics on a personal enough level to determine the actual degree of malicious intent associated with their actions. This rather optimistic reaction to the vibrant imagery of the “blood loving” critics serves as a dual paradox in the sense that it is both contradictory and complementary in nature to the song as a whole.

            The next segment of the work focuses on the frustrations Daley harbors over the commercialized and largely industrialized state of the music industry. “See, I’m not insane, in fact I’m kinda rational, when I be asking {“Yo where did all the passion go”}” these lines lay down a first hand look through Daley’s eyes and magnetize the relationship the listener and the artist share. In this phrase Daley’s vents over the lack of creativity associated with his craft, the second line in particular “…where did all the passion go?” exemplifies the call to a purer trade and a renaissance in ingenuity within the music business. We again see Daley showcase his emotional angst later in the piece when he says, “Emcees drag their feet across a big naked land, with an empty bag of seed and a fake shake of hands”. This excerpt approaches Daley’s perceived fallacies within the trade from a different point a view, this one on a more personal level. This is the first time within the piece that Daley directly accuses his counterparts of being in someway fake. The most obvious example of these feelings can be found when Daley exclaims “…and a fake shake of hands…” this of course alluding to the fact that he believes other artist construct a facade around those who haven’t yet sacrificed creative integrity for monetary gain. This segment bears special importance in the sense that the artist is making a concerted attempt to distance himself from the “corrupted” of his profession. This in turn is also a call to other “original” artists to condemn the actions of a sold out vocation.

            Daley is not shy about his aspirations to become a successful musician, however he is sure to make the distinction between the ways to do so. As we see in the lines “…You can't achieve your goals if you don't take that chance, so go pry open that trunk and get those amps (You know!)…” The artist is attempting to convey the essence of hard work and staying true to his roots. Although not in a traditional manner, Daley is attempting to convey the importance of hard work and an exhibition of fortitude on the pathway to stardom. We see this idea evidenced when we pair the first phrase of the segment with “…So go pry open that trunk and get those amps (You know!)…” The language used by Daley is meant to be in some ways a dialectal appeal to his audience. The amps referenced should be thought of as a goal, while “prying open the trunk” is the figurative term for overcoming obstacles. Atmosphere’s ability to relate to his audience in unorthodox manners has made the performer more adaptable to his audience and in this particular piece gives the listener a real life example of the figurative “struggle”. This same general idea can be seen in a different way when Daley says “While everyone was trying to out-do the last man I was just a ghost trying to catch someone's Pac-man…” The same principals apply although in this particular phrase the artist replaces the goal with “Pac-man” (the classic video game) and compares his quest for success to the playing of the game.

            Throughout the piece Daley exemplifies his abilities to both relate to his audience in real world ways and to communicate his ideas successfully to his listeners. The union between the three emotional aspects of the work creates a whole foundation for the production. Success is a fleeting entity and through Daley’s eyes can, and should only be achieved through hard work and ingenuity. These and many other ideas are set forth in Daley’s work and the perpetuation of these ideals is the key to the overall accomplishment of the work.

"Trying to Find A Balance" Lyrics

They love the taste of blood

Now I don't know what that means, but I know that I mean it

Maybe they're as evil as they seem

Or maybe I only look out the window when it's scenic

"Atmosphere finally made a good record."

Yeah right, that almost sounds convincing

The last time I felt a sinking contradictive as this

Was the last time we played a show in Cinnci'

"Get real." they tell me

If only they knew how real this life really gets

Doesn't take much and that's messed up

Because these people do a lot of simple stuff to impress us

While everyone was trying to out-do the last man

I was just a ghost trying to catch someone's Pac-man

See, I'm not insane, in fact I'm kind of rational

When I be askin', "Yo, where did all the passion go?"

East coast, West coast, down South, Midwest

Nowadays everybody knows how to get fresh

Somebody give me a big yes (YES!)

God Bless America, but she stole the B from "Bless" (Accept it)

So I'ma sit with my hand down the front of my pants

You can't achieve your goals if you don't take that chance

So go pry open that trunk and get those amps (You know!)

 

[Chorus x2]

In the days of Kings and Queens I was a jester

Treat me like a God, oh they treat me like a leper

You see me move back and forth between both

I'm trying to find a balance

I'm trying to build a balance

 

So now I keep a close eye on my pets

Because they make most of they moves off of instinct and sense

It's eat, sleep, shoot in self defense

So straight you can set your clocks and place bets

Wait, let's prey on blind, deaf, dumb, dead

Hustle, maybe a couple will love what you said

Emcees drag their feet across a big naked land

With an empty bag of seed and a fake shake of hands

Gotta journey the world in a hurry

Cause my attorney didn't put enough girls on the jury

Guilty of droppin' these bombs in the city

But I'm innocent, love is the motive that's why you're killin 'em

Guilty of settin' my fire in all fifty

But I'm innocent, blame it on my equilibrium

 

[Chorus x2]

In the days of Kings and Queens I was a jester

Treat me like a God, oh they treat me like a leper

You see me move back and forth between both

I'm trying to find a balance

I'm trying to build a balance

 

I gotta find my balance

I gotta find my balance

 

Now all my friends are famous

It's either one thing or another

They all don't know what my name is

Probably know both of my brothers

The one is a hard workin' savior

The other's a hard workin' soldier

I'm just your next door neighbor

Workin' hard at tryin' to stay sober

Varying Regard

Varying regard for what lies below

And with it comes a slight respect

So break the galley open wide

With endless souls they set a tow

Into horrors not soon expect

Varying regard for what lies below

But not it fret till cock may crow

For until doth sun does finally regret

So break the galley open wide

If sails don’t on horizon show

And for the god Poseidon must fee collect

Varying regard for what lies below

So in less regret than we now know

The beast of beauty came with no select

So break the galley open wide

For in thy darkest hour the furthest doth may grow

Against the darkened sea every truth is not correct

Varying regard for what lies below

So break the galley open wide

In Happiness and Gin

It was a strange type of voodoo that night in late July

Where birds of feather strange and cerebrums did fly

Yet not of silver ice or magic hand did this night come

But of your daily tangerine joy’s setting of a ruthless sun

For now for slight moments pace the light is out the door

So let us now be merry to roll across the floor

No more light does shine where perfection lacks

And with this lads get merry and take burdens off their backs

“Reload the pint!” they all do sing, in happiness and gin

For the dreaded light hath gone away, replaced it with the din

Calvin Klein and Hugo Boss are not the custom here

For when the night does come around they’ll be met with smear

For allegiance true to night itself in its true domain

Only the men of black, shall conquer and remain

Call them crooks but none of fault

Try and catch them they’ll surely vault

For feast or famine the job’s compressed

By those of body and mind possessed

In motion is the only option for this well taught custom

From hand in hand to hand in coat

The next one might in deception float

It was once for means is all they’ll say that day

When the man of provision is finally dragged away

We’ll not know now but only then, what heeded the dismay

Was it the men of law or bandanas adorned with red

In the end it is all too simple, the man you knew is dead

Taken not by fires grip or bullets awesome tear

But rather an addiction to the night and what was hidden there

For behind the shadows an enemy does appear

Her sides shine bright with heavens leer

For what damnation is hidden here

Behind the clouds on roosters call she’ll rise above the mist

Take a taxi from the other side and pump her ragged fist

Live jazz does sing its classy tune and drinks do fill the air

But time is fading quickly to everyone’s despair

For when the calls been made real and clear the morning now begin

And boys do sing their moaning cheers, in happiness and gin