Violent Pornography album art

Violent Pornography

by System Of A Down

Summary

"Violent Pornography" by System Of A Down critiques the blurred lines between violence and entertainment in modern media. The song highlights how society has become numb to disturbing content, often consumed mindlessly.

Full Analysis

The overall theme focuses on how media, especially television, desensitizes people to violence and sexual content. The repetition of "everybody" emphasizes a collective experience, suggesting that we're all part of this troubling cycle. It highlights a kind of resignation to the chaos around us, where life, death, and everything in between feels trivialized. The song uses dark humor and catchy hooks to drive home its serious message about the dark side of entertainment.

Verse 1

Everybody, everybody, everybody livin' now
Everybody, everybody, everybody fucks
Everybody, everybody, everybody livin' now
Everybody, everybody, everybody sucks

In this verse, the repetition of "everybody" creates a sense of unity in the human experience, but it's a bleak one. It touches on basic human actions like living and having sex, yet there's a strong undercurrent of dissatisfaction and hopelessness with "everybody sucks." It sets the tone for the song, indicating that despite the surface-level activities, there's a deeper emptiness that people share.

Chorus

Everybody, everybody, everybody livin' now
Everybody, everybody, everybody cries
Everybody, everybody, everybody livin' now
Everybody, everybody, everybody dies

The chorus shifts to a more somber reflection. Here, "everybody cries" and "everybody dies" highlight the pain and inevitability of life. It reinforces the idea that while people are living their lives, they also face suffering and death. This juxtaposition of living and dying captures the harsh reality of existence, showing that joy and sorrow coexist in a chaotic world.

Verse 2

It's a non-stop disco, bet you it's Nabisco
Betcha didn't know
Non-stop disco, bet you it's Nabisco
Betcha didn't know

This verse introduces a catchy, almost playful phrase with "non-stop disco" and mentions Nabisco, a snack brand. This contrast between something fun and carefree and the darker themes of the song creates irony. It implies that people are distracted by consumerism and entertainment while ignoring the troubling aspects of life. The repeated phrase makes it sound like a jingle, almost mocking how catchy slogans can brainwash us into complacency.

Chorus

Everybody, everybody, everybody livin' now
Everybody, everybody, everybody sucks
Everybody, everybody, everybody livin' now
Everybody, everybody, everybody dies

Returning to the chorus reinforces the main themes of life, suffering, and death. The repetition serves as a reminder that, despite the distractions, these realities remain constant. It’s a stark reminder that while we engage in trivial pursuits, the serious issues linger in the background.

Bridge

It's a violent pornography
Choking chicks and sodomy
The kinda shit you get on your TV

In the bridge, the song takes a sharp turn into explicit territory. The phrase "violent pornography" captures the grotesque nature of what’s often portrayed on TV. It criticizes the normalization of extreme violence and sexual content, suggesting that such portrayals are just entertainment to many. This section starkly contrasts with the earlier, more generalized reflections on life, making it clear that media can be both captivating and harmful.

Outro

Turn off your TV
Can you say "brainwashing?" (b-b-b-b-brainwashing)
It's a non-stop disco

The outro drives home the message of the song, urging listeners to reconsider their media consumption. It suggests that the constant barrage of sensationalized content leads to brainwashing, making people numb to real-life issues. The phrase "non-stop disco" returns, emphasizing the idea that this cycle of entertainment keeps going, often without us realizing how it impacts our perception of reality.

Closing Thoughts

"Violent Pornography" takes a hard look at how society interacts with media. It uses catchy lines and dark humor to highlight serious issues, making listeners think about the realities behind the entertainment they consume. The song is both a critique and a wake-up call, reminding us to be aware of what we let into our lives.

Full Lyrics

Everybody, everybody, everybody livin' now
Everybody, everybody, everybody fucks
Everybody, everybody, everybody livin' now
Everybody, everybody, everybody sucks
Everybody, everybody, everybody livin' now
Everybody, everybody, everybody cries
Everybody, everybody, everybody livin' now
Everybody, everybody, everybody dies

It's a non-stop disco, bet you it's Nabisco
Betcha didn't know
Non-stop disco, bet you it's Nabisco
Betcha didn't know
Non-stop disco, betcha didn't know
Betcha didn't know
Non-stop disco, betcha didn't know
Betcha didn't know, betcha didn't know

Everybody, everybody, everybody livin' now
Everybody, everybody, everybody fucks
Everybody, everybody, everybody livin' now
Everybody, everybody, everybody sucks
Everybody, everybody, everybody livin' now
Everybody, everybody, everybody dies
Everybody, everybody, everybody livin' now
Everybody, everybody, everybody cries

It's a non-stop disco, bet you it's Nabisco
Betcha didn't know
Non-stop disco, bet you it's Nabisco
Betcha didn't know
Non-stop disco, betcha didn't know
Betcha didn't know
Non-stop disco, betcha didn't know
Betcha didn't know, betcha didn't know

It's a violent pornography
Choking chicks and sodomy
The kinda shit you get on your TV
It's a violent pornography
Choking chicks and sodomy
The kinda shit you get on your TV

Everybody, everybody, everybody livin' now
Everybody, everybody, everybody sucks
Everybody, everybody, everybody livin' now
Everybody, everybody, everybody fucks
Everybody, everybody, everybody livin' now
Everybody, everybody, everybody dies
Everybody, everybody, everybody livin' now
Everybody, everybody, everybody cries

It's a non-stop disco, bet you it's Nabisco
Betcha didn't know
Non-stop disco, bet you it's Nabisco
Betcha didn't know
Non-stop disco, betcha didn't know
Betcha didn't know
Non-stop disco, betcha didn't know
Betcha didn't know, betcha didn't know

It's a violent pornography
Choking chicks and sodomy
The kinda shit you get on your TV
It's a violent pornography
Choking chicks and sodomy
The kinda shit that's on your TV
It's a violent pornography
Choking chicks and sodomy
The kinda shit that's on you TV
It's on the TV, fuck
Turn off your TV

Can you say "brainwashing?" (b-b-b-b-brainwashing)
It's a non-stop disco
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