Repetune - The Songs of our Heads

rage against the machine - Bullet in the Head

Writing by richard on Friday, 26 of October , 2007 at 11:57 am

Though it would be really easy to lean towards Killing in the Name of as the repetune for rage against the machine, I have decided to go with Bullet in the Head because it is a true repetune, without relying on the gimmick of using the word fuck 17 times. Instead, it creeps in with a brooding bass line, gets invaded by de la Rocha’s raps, then explodes into guitar mastery, along with DJ sounds coming out of a guitar.

They say jump
you say how high?

This song captures more of what rage against the machine is about better than Killing in the Name of and I think it has far better longevity in the head as well. If ever, there was a soundtrack to Thich Quang Duc’s self-immolation (as shown on the album cover), it is this song.

However, this song is about government using media to control the population. Looking at it, now, I doubt the government truly has the control over the media that is implied, but that is beside the point.

Play it again jack and then rewind the tape
And then play it again and again and again
Until ya mind is locked in

In the same vein, the media continually spits out images we accept as true. The easiest to point to is the war in Iraq. I am not in Iraq. I do not know anyone in Iraq. The only images I get are what the media will give me, and whatever I will seek out. Who do I believe?

This is the message which repeats in my head because of this repetune. Yes, the song rocks. But, more importantly, it has given a life lesson to me which I follow constantly. And if I need to spell the lesson out, perhaps you just need a Bullet in the Head.

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Category: rage against the machine

What is a repetune?

It has happened to us all. For any reason, and sometimes for no reason at all, some obscure song we have heard but try to avoid manages to sneak itself into our head. It does nothing but repeat in our head over and over until one day, we realize it is gone. Then it only comes back again. These are those songs. These are repetunes.