This song by Micheal Jackson is still a worldwide favorite. Its visual sets a background of a conflict. Specifically here, the foreground focuses on ‘children’, who represent next generation. It is mainly because, children are the mostly insulted category of war. In this video, the scene ‘children play with cannons’ indicates the naivety and innocence of them who even have no any deep idea of battlefield. People are not born with ethnic, color, class or religious boundaries. Yet, their egoistic purpose to develop materialistic values instead of spirituality pave the way for a destruction. The mostly highlighted background color in this video is Ash. It is because, Ash usually symbolizes frustration, darkness and uncertainty. Here, the doubt is directed on future of unsophisticated children. However, through the audio and video, love, equality and unity are appreciated mostly. It is evident, the children’s cheerful mood with their friends indicate ‘if our purpose is to be happy, we should respect and care about each other’. In other hand, their mind sets to enjoy and live in the moment. It is shown by ‘they hold hands of each other tightly and laugh together. Indirect questions arises that, why their adults can’t consider themselves as equal. However, here ‘throwing cannons by soldiers’ gives a message to the audience that, there is no need to kill or hurt to someone. People can solve problems by talking, but not by fighting. Hence, the immense power of love makes easier to make the world a ‘better place’.
And if you really try
ReplyDeleteYou'll find there's no need to cry
In this place, you'll feel there's no hurt or sorrow”
This song really makes us rethinks our choices and decisions about war. If they really stop and think for a moment they also would understand that there is no need to have wars and make people suffer. According to Michael Jackson, Love is strong and we as humans should care about other humans so that our children could live in peace. He asks us to make the world a better place. If all of us think like that the world would actually be a better place for the entire human race. So I think this song really depicts the negativity of war and helps us care more about the people around us.
Yes, I agree with you pavani, as our adults had a responsibility to make a better place for us, we also should give up all the doubts that have with others. There is no need to discriminate others as all are humans. Then as you mentioned, it is true that there is no need to cry. The world is definitely become a better place if we can develop our good qualities.
DeleteI really love the lyrics
ReplyDelete"There's a place in your heart
And I know that it is love"
It is so powerful that tears come to the eyes. Every human heart has love which lie deep down.Some do not show it.Sometimes,the qualities like hatred,jealously invade the heart taking away love.So,those hearts tend to do inhumane things.Most of the time,society itself should be responsible for it.However,this song is about war crisis.Focuses mainly on how children suffer from war.Children are like blooming buds,they are not mature enough to understand the cruelty of society.Why they have to suffer because of insane war?It is so pathetic.Why grownups cannot understand the destruction caused through war? The adults have to make a BETTER PLACE for children,the future of world stopping war.
Yes, love is the best solution to make the world a better place. A person who can consider all as equal, becomes a responsible person. Because he knows the value of a life and doesn't try to ridicule others. As you mentioned, the qualities like hatred and jelousy tend to do inhuman acts. Adults shoud be more responsible to make the children aware to respect others. It is mainly because children learn everything from their adults. If adults give up ethnic, color or religious boundaries among people, next generation could live in a better world.
DeleteAccording to my point of view the best option to 'heal the world' is spreading love. As you have mentioned, through this song, the singer- Michael Jackson gives the message of value of love and destruction of war to the whole mankind. Also, he indirectly pleads humans to love everyone especially when there us a problem without making conflicts. Quarrels, fightings and wars only lead the way to the ruination. Actually, we could witness the destruction done by these so-called conflicts in our country as well: 30 years of war between Sinhala majority and Tamil minority and the incident which took place recently- Easter bomb blast. Our adults have defeated to act out this concept of spreading love. Therefore, we had to see these conflicts. It we are unable to love others understanding making mistakes is a common for all of us, we will be able to teach our children how to love others thinking all are equal. Then a future generation who have more humanity, unity and patience can be made.
ReplyDeleteI really love how you have taken almost every detail in the song into account, starting from the visual representation to the lyrical representation. But you have missed a very important aspect of the song which is the music they have used. In order to reinforce the enigmatic idea the musical representation has a great deal.
ReplyDeleteEven if Michael's lyrics are very shallow, there's such an palpable sweetness in the way that he sings this. He's always been very good at expressing tenderness and vulnerability in his singing and this is no different here. When he sings "there are ways to get there, if you care enough for the living" particularly it reaches our ego. Also when this song gets all grandiose at the end with the key changes and that big choir singing the chorus along with Michael Jackson it is a totally different feeling.
so it is evident that his voice along with the music shows how guilty he is of the horrific and predatory abuse done to children. Therefore I think it is important to highlight about the vocals and the tone as well. I hope you agree.