1984 Song

Ross schonberg

Ms. Gubanich

English

October 2, 2015

David Bowie’s “1984”

The book 1984 has become an iconic piece of literature. It has been read by millions of people for the past 66 years and has even been turned into a movie (which was released in 1984). Another genre that the book has been influential in is music, and that allows people to hear artist interpretation of it through song. There has been many songs that have been about the book, such as “Spies” by Coldplay, “2+2=5” by Radiohead, or “California Uber Alles” by Dead Kennedys. Although those are all important songs about 1984, I would say that the song called “1984” by David Bowie is also a very important song relating to 1984. In his song there are lyrics that describe what the government does to the people. An example would be “They’ll break your pretty cranium, and fill it full of air”. This lyric is saying that the government will just throw out information to the people, and whether it’s right or wrong the people will still believe what they are told. Another example of the song that is parallel to 1984 is “And tell you that you're eighty, but lover you won't care". This is a really good example because this line is expelling how if the government tells you that you are eighty, then you really would believe them, because you don't have any true reason to go against that belief. One of the biggest themes that is represented in this song is being manipulated by the government and being told what's true or false, basically it's a form of mind-control that they are using on you.

                             David Bowie Song "1984"