's latest (Nothing Is Sound). It is deep, it is dark, it is hopeful. My favorite song right now is called, "Happy Is A Yuppie Word." Classic Switchfoot.Their criticism of society is penetrating at times and pretty much disturbing. It would be depressing if it weren't so redemptive. I love these guys.
Their critique on happiness is excellent. The song begins with this light-hearted and encouraging line - "Everyone dies." But wait, hold on before you rush to buy the CD, there is more. "I'm running down a life that won't cash out." Ah, the madness behind their method actually has some sense to it. Then, in a classic Jesus-like twist of common sense, they bust out with "blessed is the man who's lost it all."
Hey, there is relief from the abundance of our endless and failed pursuits of happiness through things. The irony of the song is that happiness has been co-opted by yuppie-ness, the things that are completely incapable of providing it.
Losing all of the accumulated stuff is relief. That relief will be experienced as happiness.
Now I ma going to examine my yuppie-ness and see whatthere is to see. Thanks Switchfoot.
1 comment:
I listened to this one quite a bit last year, and had the same reacion.
What a beautiful indictment of the narcisisstic/sexually-overindulgent/consumer-driven culture we live in. (Can an indictment be beautiful? This time, it is...)
But like you say - musically and even lyrically - this is a very positive, redemptive album. Not at all depressing like one might expect with these themes. (Think about "When I Look at the Stars" which calls us to focus on God and, thus, find ourselves...)
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