LYRICS
Throwing spaghetti at the wall
After all,
Will it fall?
Throwing confetti in the wind
Keeps blowin’…
To my chagrin
Surprise the wise
In the thick
Of will it stick?
Or just a fleeting greeting
Weill we grow to know our shadow
Or be left stark
In the dark
Who knows the Emperor is wearing new clothes?
Dangers of denial
Consequences
Ignoring scientific evidence
Sheer peer pressure
Strangers get riled
Circumstance
Imploring a humane stance
Circumstances
Imploring humane stances and dances
Revolution of the child’s revelation
Revolution revelation
Revelation revolution
- The-Emperors-New-Clothes-Part-I.mp3 (unplugged to save energy)
- The-Emperors-New-Clothes-Part-II.mp3
- The-Emperors-New-Clothes-Part-II-Instrumental.mp3
- The-Emperors-New-Clothes-LH-Casio-WK-3500.MID (Left Hand / also controlled Korg PS60)
- The-Emperors-New-Clothes-RH-Yamaha-PSR-740.MID (Right Hand / also controlled microKorg and miniNOVA vocorder)
Chords: A C D E / A C E A / A G D A / Em7(11) A / A C B7 E / E A C E / E/7/sus4; Part II Ambient-Vienna Waltz @ 180 Beats Per Minute
Instrumentation: Vocals (TC-Helicon VOICELIVE and MiniNova Vocorder), Ibanez Acoustic Guitar (AW54CE), Ibanez Electric RG-270 (Boss Digital Delay), Fender Jazz Bass (Boss Digital Delay), Keyboards (Korg PS60, Casio WK-3500, Yamaha PSR-740, MiniNova, MicroKorg)
ABOUT THE SONG
The song “The Emperor’s New Clothes” is a poetic exploration of the challenges and consequences associated with climate change denial. Here’s an interpretation:
- Metaphor of Throwing Spaghetti and Confetti:
- Uncertainty and Unpredictability: The act of throwing spaghetti at the wall and confetti in the wind symbolizes the uncertainty and unpredictability of addressing climate change. Will the efforts to address the issue stick and create meaningful change, or will they be fleeting and ineffectual?
- Emperor’s New Clothes Reference:
- Awareness of Denial: The repeated reference to the Emperor’s new clothes suggests an awareness of denial. The question “Who knows the Emperor is wearing new clothes?” could be an inquiry into who recognizes the pretense or denial regarding the realities of climate change.
- Challenges of Recognition:
- Growing to Know Our Shadow: The mention of growing to know our shadow implies a journey of self-awareness and acknowledgment of the darker aspects, possibly alluding to the challenges of recognizing and addressing climate change before it is too late. Once the sun sets, it will be too late to see your shadow.
- Dangers of Denial and Consequences:
- Dangers of Denial: The lyrics highlight the dangers of denial and its consequences. Ignoring scientific evidence, succumbing to peer pressure, and being indifferent to the circumstances of climate change can lead to severe repercussions.
- Call for Humane Stances and Dances:
- Revolution of Revelation: The call for “humane stances and dances” suggests a plea for compassionate and ethical responses to the environmental challenges. The term “revolution of the child’s revelation” may signify a transformative change brought about by the pure and unfiltered insights of the younger generation.
- Circumstances and Strangers:
- Social Dynamics: The mention of strangers getting riled and the role of circumstances implies the societal and interpersonal dynamics surrounding climate change discussions. It may point to the challenges of navigating differing perspectives and the urgency of addressing environmental issues.
- Surprise the Wise:
- Challenge to Wisdom: The line “Surprise the wise in the thick of will it stick?” suggests a challenge to the wisdom of those who may be resistant to change. It questions whether efforts to address climate change can overcome skepticism and resistance.
In summary, “The Emperor’s New Clothes” appears to be a contemplative piece that explores the complexities, challenges, and consequences associated with acknowledging and combating climate change denial. It underscores the importance of recognizing the truth, responding with empathy, and embracing a revolution of awareness and action.
How is The Emperor’s New Clothes a metaphor for human induced climate change?
“The Emperor’s New Clothes” is a classic fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, where an emperor is deceived into believing he is wearing invisible clothes that only the wise can see. The story draws parallels to human-induced climate change in several ways:
- Willful Deception:
- Denial and Deception: In the tale, the emperor and his subjects pretend to see the nonexistent clothes out of fear of being perceived as foolish. Similarly, there has been a historical tendency among some individuals, industries, and governments to deny or downplay the reality of climate change due to various reasons, including economic interests.
- Ignoring the Obvious:
- Ignoring the Truth: In the story, everyone, including the emperor, ignores the obvious truth – that he is not wearing any clothes. This mirrors the reluctance of some individuals and entities to acknowledge the clear and scientifically supported evidence of climate change caused by human activities.
- Social Pressure and Conformity:
- Fear of Speaking Out: The fear of going against the perceived consensus is evident in both contexts. In the fairy tale, people fear challenging the emperor’s supposed attire, while in the climate change scenario, there has been societal pressure, political resistance, and fear of economic consequences for those challenging established practices.
- Consequences of Silence:
- Environmental Consequences: In the fairy tale, the consequences of silence are embarrassment and the perpetuation of a falsehood. In the case of climate change, the consequences of ignoring or downplaying the issue are severe environmental impacts, including rising temperatures, extreme weather events, loss of biodiversity, and disruptions to ecosystems.
- The Call for Truth:
- Need for Truth and Transparency: The story emphasizes the importance of truth and transparency. Similarly, addressing climate change requires acknowledging the reality of the situation, promoting transparency in reporting environmental impacts, and seeking sustainable solutions.
- Empowering the Young:
- The Child’s Revelation: In Andersen’s tale, it is a child who finally speaks the truth about the emperor’s lack of clothing. This reflects the role of the younger generation, activists, and environmentalists who often take the lead in raising awareness about climate change and advocating for urgent action.
In summary, “The Emperor’s New Clothes” serves as a metaphor for human-induced climate change by highlighting the dangers of denial, the consequences of ignoring scientific evidence, the impact of social pressure, and the need for transparency, truth, and the courage to address the pressing issue of environmental degradation.
Music as a Universal Language: Music has the power to communicate emotions universally. Certain melodies, harmonies, or rhythms can evoke specific feelings that resonate with people across different cultures and backgrounds.
ExperiMental Music: The music and lyrics are written and recorded extemporaneously. Extemporaneous, spontaneous, improvisation, jamming, freestyle, and impromptu music are most closely related to pure chaos. The music and lyrics evolve from the “sensitive initial conditions” similar to “a butterfly flapping its wings in China causing a hurricane in the Atlantic.”
The Science of Chaos Theory, String Theory, and Music