Thursday, July 31, 2014

Lyrics Review: DJ Rap - Good to be Alive

Luckily found this one from an essential movie – at least due to its rave-relation, if not guilty pleasure status – of the late ‘90s simply titled, Go. Of course it didn’t take long to realize I was going to have to check out the soundtrack while watching the nonlinear plotted flick, and during the credits, “Good to be Alive” plays and definitely has remained the favorite. The music is clean with powerful vocals; since it’s lyrically intriguing, hey, why not delve into them…  



Don’t crucify, if I feel alive
It’s a natural high and I’m satisfied…

Absolved from sin
I called the devil from within
He told me “Live my life…
Don’t let them criticize…”

I like the writings’ intermingling between resistance from condemners and persistence in a self-chosen direction, particularly through the use of contemporary religious language. “Live my life” is likely in reference to the party and dance scene and being enveloped in the rapture of it. The social group dynamic can easily apply as far as why someone would be criticizing in the first place, when thinking about norms versus the creatives, or so-called freaks

Another cool aspect of “Calling the devil from within” notes that we as people, speaking more naturally and psychologically,  have a devilish nature within us, which in turn would suggest there is a godly nature as well (the sides of people’s conscience in a sense) to instruct. When being external to contemporary theological thinkers though, no doubt this is a line of rebellion, as if that which is opposite to good is now the prime directive.

It’s good to be alive…
Sometimes I wonder how I survived
And in my mind’s eye
When you’re low no one seems to know…

Very relatable lines for those ‘on the grind’ so to speak, or just going through troublesome times, to wonder how they are still alive at all. Though I won’t get into the musical aspects, it does play an integral role in understanding the breathe-of-fresh-air element to saying it’s good to be alive as in connection to the party scene, even as an escapist, a chance to have the pressure valve released, whatever the struggles may be.

 A fallen angel tonight
I feel no shame when I’m high
It feels so good must be right
It feels so good inside…
Inside

Like the way the, “No one seems to know” roles into the “fallen angel” line, which is falling from grace or whatever the non-approver or people not approving that behavior consider angelic. The next lines are of a drug and sexual context, particularly from the female perspective given that’s the gender of the singer/speaker. Though, thinking in terms of recreational drugs would conflict with the second line “it’s a natural high” in the intro, so one could separate the perspectives of each verse or roll with the natural high concept.

I’d love to love you but I’m impure an angel

More elements here suggesting the singer as an apparitional or otherworldly entity, and when thinking about the angelic, usually impure is not the thought that comes to mind first. It flips the initial thoughts on their head and makes us consider the conflict, once again brought back to the representation of good and bad being within.

Don’t compromise
You don’t live my life
‘Cause I don’t judge you
When I look in your eyes

Here, as final new lyrics of the song before repeats I felt they could’ve been constructed better to match the earlier verses’ depth; though it still speaks to the general concept started. The first line seems like it speaks directly to a person in the same position. The second switches to second-person and speaks to the aforementioned criticizers, and that it’s never the other way around to negatively judge that person who is doing the judging.  Not an ending lyric with certitude having, “When I look in your eyes” but it’s okay; the song is top-notch EDM I recommend for regular rotations.

Check out more from the lovely Charissa Saverio (DJ Rap)

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