system of a down vicinity of obscenity meaning

System of a Down is an Armenian American alternative metal band, formed in 1994 in Los Angeles, California, USA. Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd. The singer continues to make a vulgar sexual reference The singer is making a crude sexual reference The singer suggests that some people may learn from prostitutes with poor hygiene

The singer poses a rhetorical question about whether everyone learns from defeat The singer still sees obscenity and vulgarity in the eyes of the person they are addressing The singer is still addressing the same person as a liar and questioning the perfect way of holding them

The singer sees obscenity and vulgarity in the eyes of the person they are addressing The singer is addressing the same person as a liar and questioning the perfect way of holding them The lyrics continue to be nonsensical and have no clear meaning The lyrics are still nonsensical and have no clear meaning The lyrics are nonsensical and have no clear meaning The singer is still addressing the same person as a liar The singer is addressing someone as a liar The band has never released an official explanation of the meaning behind the song's lyrics.Ĭhords: Unfortunately, the chords for 'Vicinity of Obscenity' are not available as the song features unconventional vocalisations and instrumentation, making it difficult to transcribe into traditional chords. The song is frequently cited as an example of System of a Down's unconventional approach to music and songwriting. The lyrics are written in a style called cut-up, where phrases from different sources are mixed together to create new meaning. 'Vicinity of Obscenity' was released as the third single from System of a Down's album 'Hypnotize.' The music video for the song features surreal, Dali-inspired imagery, including a giant, disembodied head and a mouth made of clocks. The song's distinctive vocalizations were achieved through a combination of traditional singing and throat singing techniques. In an interview, lead singer Serj Tankian said that the song was influenced by the work of surrealist artist Salvador Dali. The band has performed the song live only a few times, likely due to its difficult-to-reproduce vocalizations and nonsensical lyrics. The title is a play on words, combining 'vicinity' (meaning the area around someone or something) with 'obscenity' (meaning something offensive or indecent). The song is one of System of a Down's most controversial, with many fans and critics finding the lyrics offensive or nonsensical. Interesting facts about 'Vicinity of Obscenity': The surreal, nonsensical lyrics add to the song's unsettling tone, highlighting the irrationality of these attitudes. Overall, 'Vicinity of Obscenity' can be seen as a critique of societal attitudes towards sex, particularly the way women are treated as objects for male pleasure. The repeated use of the phrase 'whores with bad feet' reinforces this interpretation. The verses contain more explicit references to sex, with lines like 'beat the meat, treat the feet, to the sweet, milky seat' suggesting a misogynistic attitude towards women. The refrain 'Is there a perfect way of holding you, baby?' seems to be a desperate plea for validation, while the mention of a 'vicinity of obscenity' in their partner's eyes implies that they are uncomfortable with the sexual nature of their relationship. The repeated use of the word 'liar' suggests that the song's protagonist is being dishonest about something, possibly their intentions with their partner. At face value, the lyrics appear to be nonsensical and surreal, with repeated phrases like 'banana, banana, banana, terracotta' and 'terracotta pie.' However, when looking deeper, the song appears to be a commentary on sexual relations and the objectification of women. The lyrics of System of a Down's song 'Vicinity of Obscenity' can be interpreted in several different ways, as with many of the band's songs. Is there a perfect way of holding you, baby? (Liar)īanana, banana, banana, banana, terracottaīeat the meat (beat the meat), treat the feet

System of a down vicinity of obscenity meaning