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Father John Misty Explains His Taylor Swift Lyric

Discussion in 'Article Discussion' started by Melody Bot, Mar 6, 2017.

  1. Melody Bot Mar 6, 2017
    Melody Bot

    Your friendly little forum bot. Staff Member

    This article has been imported from chorus.fm for discussion. All of the forum rules still apply.

    Josh Tillman, aka Father John Misty, explained the Taylor Swift lyric from his new song “Total Entertainment Forever” in an interview with Exclaim:


    Human civilizations have been entertaining themselves in disgusting ways all through human history — I mean, whether it’s lighting Christians on fire, or whatever. We have to consider that maybe there are ways in which we entertain ourselves now that are equally as disturbing. I think that that’s important — to not assume that everything about the way we live is the direct product of progress.

    The fact of the matter is, I don’t want that to happen to Taylor Swift. That is the worst thing I can think of; that is so horrible. But again, this plays into progress, where like, the internet was supposed to be this new democracy, a utopia of information where everyone had a voice and we were all interconnected, and we would experience true democracy — and it turned into pornography, followed only by outrage. The tools represent some kind of technological advancement, but if we can’t act like more than angry ecstasy freaks with the most advanced technology in the world, then how much have we really progressed?

    And if you don’t think that this virtual reality thing isn’t going to turn into sex with celebrities, then you’re kidding yourself. That face recognition stuff? I mean, there are people working on it right now. It’s absurd. Someone sitting with this headset on, you know? Oh God, it’s just, how many different ways do human beings need to masturbate?

    So on the album there are more than a few songs where I’m saying ‘Is this progress? Like, is this really what progress looks like?’
    ​

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  2. Chase Tremaine Mar 6, 2017
    Chase Tremaine

    Albums/EPs for free/pay-what-you-want on Bandcamp Supporter

    "not assume that everything about the way we live is the direct product of progress"

    -- extremely insightful statement.

    As C.S. Lewis said, and I paraphrase, "If you're going the wrong direction, the most progressive thing you can do is turn around."

    I've written about this before, but I think the worst thing about the conservative/progressive binary is the huge amount of people who don't really understanding what they're doing or why they're doing it; instead, they want to stay the same for the sake of staying the same, or they want change for the sake of change. Neither position is valid.
     
    polyfilla and Steeeve Perry like this.
  3. therookielot Mar 6, 2017
    therookielot

    Punk, Absolute Prestigious

    What was the lyric?
     
  4. Rushmore33 Mar 6, 2017
    Rushmore33

    Newbie

    The lyric speaks for itself and really doesn't need explanation. It's not like he's speaking from the first-person saying that he's gonna go to VR town on Tay. He most likely chose Swift because it rhymes with "Rift."
     
    Chase Tremaine and Steeeve Perry like this.
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  6. Serenity Now Mar 6, 2017
    Serenity Now

    deliver us from e-mail Supporter

    Totally dig what he's saying.

    Just finished reading "The End of Absence" and this commentary relates right back to what that book and my current thoughts on the state of (most) online behavior.

    Really looking forward to this record.
     
  7. Brenden Mar 6, 2017
    Brenden

    Trusted Prestigious

    I'm sure the Kanye line helped with that.
     
    coleslawed likes this.
  8. Former Planets Mar 6, 2017
    Former Planets

    Aaaachem!

    I know nothing about him other than I was aggressively bored by him on SNL
     
  9. Hunter Norman Mar 6, 2017
    Hunter Norman

    Regular

    Fair points in the article, but I still just can't stand him. Even since Fleet Foxes-era I've had a hard time listening to him speak or reading what he has to say. It often comes off very pompous and self-aggrandizing. I've found a few more of his songs that I like over recent months, though.
     
  10. kpatrickwood Mar 6, 2017
    kpatrickwood

    Give what you can.

    Papa John has the "your old girlfriend's insufferable douche new boyfriend" archetype down so hard.
     
  11. seimagery Mar 7, 2017
    seimagery

    Here To There

    :crylaugh:
     
  12. deadpatch Mar 7, 2017
    deadpatch

    Newbie

    The lyrical content on these two records is pretty incredible. Cant wait to hear the whole album.
     
  13. polyfilla Mar 7, 2017
    polyfilla

    who can never be sure

    [​IMG]

    I can't be the only one who thinks this
     
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