With the finished talk of awful happenings, Bears, and the crappy job I once had at the local newspaper, I've decided to turn over a new leaf and write on more positive subjects. Starting today, my writings will be different (unless Ms. PMS has a say-so about it) and will reflect on some interesting stories. One thing I've always wanted to do in a blog was a music review and an ornery one at that. For my first review, I will explain the enigmatic meaning behind System of A Down's ornery anti-war song, "B.Y.O.B."

Before I begin, let me start with an overview of the band's back story. System of A Down began making albums in 1996, beginning their bizarre yet loveable trip through the heavy-metal kingdom. They have been deemed as one of strangest bands (besides Slipknot and Marilyn Manson) to hit the scene because of their cleverly hidden metaphorical messages and symbolisms in all of their songs. Every song from "Aerials" down to "Toxicity" has an underlying political and social message, a message which has never been made obvious unless it was under close inspection. Many of their songs have a certain Armenian flavor to them, as this is the band's heritage.

"B.Y.O.B" has been credited as the "Warpigs" of my generation. Although the presidents and wars are different, the same old tune is tried and true. The title itself, "B.Y.O.B" is an enigma for all to debate. Depending on whom you ask, the acronym is "Bring Your Own Bomb", "Bleed Your Own Blood", or "Bring Your Own Beer", but the band isn't talking. To start out, the line, "Barbara-isms by Barbaras, with pointed heels...." makes an allusion to President George W. Bush's mother, Barbara Bush, who has often been criticized with for her snobbish behavior towards the poor. "Marching forward, hypocritic and hypnotic computers-" This line says in full how the Bush administration is contradicting their stories in regard to the war in Iraq, all the while dazzling people with technological advances to benefit the war in an attempt to differ attention away from it's true meaning. The line is followed by the loud rant: "YOU depend on OUR protection, yet you feed us lies from the tablecloth." Political influences, as SOAD lead vocalist, Serj Tankian, explains, looks over the fact that it is the people, not the President or Congress, who are tasked with the job of ensuring our freedom. We fought for the idea and we die for it endlessly, yet in the song's message (talk about a thankless life we all live), we are being fed lies from "the tablecloth", insinuating that as Congress and the President are sitting in a meeting at a lavishly decorated table in the White House, they are planning a batch of new lies to tell the people why the war isn't working as hoped.

Finally, to speak of my favorite verses; they are clearly a slap in the face of authority, making them the most ornery words spoken: "Everybody's going to the party, have a real good time. Dancing in the desert, blowing up the sunshine.....Kneeling roses disappearing into Moses' dry mouth- breaking into Fort Knox, stealing our intentions. Hangars sitting dripped in oil, crying freedom!!! Handed to obseletion, still you feed us lies from the tablecloth." To summarize this passage, "everybody's going to the party, have a real good time" speaks about the young people who are being drafted into the conflict in the Middle East. "Dancing in the desert, blowing up the sunshine....." is a vivid imagery of soldiers running around in the desert as part of their tactics against the terrorists and shooting them, prompting their actions to appear as if they were "dancing". As the soldiers attack their enemies, attack choppers circle the sky and drop bombs onto their targets, sending debris skyward, causing it to appear as if they had "blown up the sunshine". In the end, the soldier's deaths are recognized in the line "kneeling roses disappearing into Moses' dry mouth". The roses symbolize faith and love, as for one's duty to their country they have so much pride for. They are also a symbolic in the fact that roses are often placed on the caskets of fallen G.I.s as they are lowered into the ground in a military funeral. The rose can also be symbolic of the soldiers themselves because of their faith and loyalty toward their country, who kneel before their country as a pledge for their services. The soldiers or "roses" seem to disappear into the Iraqi desert, which is claimed to be the Holy Land of Moses' time. As a confusing point in the song itself, the band throws in the whole "breaking into Fort Knox, stealing our intentions" bit. The government seems to be stealing the countries' intentions of living a free and peaceful life, and will stop at nothing to counter this. Upon the theft of peace, the empty hangars crying out the word "freedom" is a personified symbol of the people begging for peace. The idea of peace and freedom is nearly obsolete as the war wears on because of the diminishing faith of the people, all the while the President and Congress keeps creating reasons for why it can't be. To conclude with this thinker, which gives the songs the poignant, powerful message that it is famous for, the line “WHY DON’T PRESIDENTS FIGHT THE WAR?? WHY DO THEY ALWAYS SEND THE POOR?" This line sounds like a cue from Black Sabbath's legendary hit, "Warpigs", "Politicians hide themselves away, they only started the war. Why should they go out to fight? They leave their own to the poor..." Both lines convey a powerful message that is sadly ignored in our society. When a war breaks out, the rich and privileged never sign up to fight in the conflict, but hypocritically act like patriots when the need arises (lookin' at you, Toby Keith!). It is always the poor who signs up because the military lures them in with promises of free education, discipline, free housing, and food. Desperate for the promise of money, poor civilians will sign up for the military, not realizing that they will be sent overseas to their deaths. They will remain patriotic to whatever branch of military they pledged allegiance to, becoming the metaphorical "kneeling roses" who will disappear in the Middle Eastern sands, never to be seen again.

If you are interested in hearing this song for yourself, go to System of A Down's official website or any online music downloading store, like I Tunes. As for the lyrics, you can find them on www.azlyrics.com or www.songfacts.com. "B.Y.O.B." can be found on System of A Down's 2005 album, Mesmerize. Until thee, fair thee....oops, sorry Aunt Fairweather! I mean...see you sooner if don't see you later!