Russia now.
For a while I will create some narrative articles about how I interpret what is happening within Ukraine and Russia. Will do it with song lyrics and videos.
The perspective I will have in my stories is based on Neil Young's song Old Man.
Opening words of that song are: “Old man, look at my life. I'm a lot like you were”
That opening gives me the opportunity to tell stories across generations.
What is striking to me in today's Russian society is how effective the propaganda apparatus is. How it also affects us. That we in the West are dazzled by it and do not see the whole picture of Russia and how hidden their internal socialmedia has become. There are huge differences of opinion there regarding what is happening within Russia right now.
“The Sound of Silence” is a song by the American folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel, written by Paul Simon. The original acoustic version was recorded in March 1964 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sound_of_Silence. In my opinion it describes the Russian media landscape right now.
“It wasn’t something that I was experiencing at some deep, profound level – nobody’s listening to me, nobody’s listening to anyone – it was a post-adolescent angst,” Simon continued, “but it had some level of truth to it and it resonated with millions of people.”
https://americansongwriter.com/the-profound-meaning-behind-simon-garfunkels-the-sound-of-silence/. What Paul Simon says above is clearly visible in the Russian media landscape and the anxiety over developments that are growing over there.
”And in the naked light I saw ten thousand people, maybe more.
People talking without speaking, people hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never share, no one dared, disturb the sound of silence”
Those who are critical of the development are feeling the pressure against freedom of expression and how alone they feel in this.
Music group Disturbed has an interpretation of Simon and Garfunkel's song that is more appropriate today. It also has contemporary imagery.
”Fools said I, you don’t know silence like a cancer grows.
Hear my words that I might teach you. Take my arms that I might reach you"
But my words like silent raindrops fell and echoed in the wells of silence”
Russian society has collectively accepted today's developments and allowed itself to be silenced. Separated their lives from political life.
”And the people bowed and prayed to the neon god they made. And the sign flashed out its warning in the words that it was forming”
Freedom is something that is not freebies and can be taken for granted. It must be constantly be pursued and defended. It is a pursuit that continues and is constantly met with resistance. So, in conclusion, a picture of the generational quest for freedom. In that pursuit, we are all equal in our strugle.
Thank you for listening and reading
Lars-Erik jonsson