Interpretations Talk:Black Ops

They Might be Radiobad

When songs are as straightforward as this they don't really need an interpretation. Late period Flans can be obvious and political. A Thom Yorke style lyric, almost child like both in its structure (the communist line is sniggeringly bad) and its disapproving view of American foreign policy is embarrassing simplistic. Yorke gets away with it because of his voice. Flans warbles over an admittedly exquisite sparse radiohead drum tour de force and leaves himself terribly exposed. With a different vocalist it might have worked, dire lyrics, apart. Obviously worked out in the studio (a real late period Giants fault) it's the ugly sibling of Careful what you pack. Overall a disappointment. The first political flans giants song I heard was put your hand inside the puppet head. What happened to the surreal political vivid lyrical genius? Flans has swopped his outsider subversive hilarity for an ill-advised preachy lefty right on message. The result? It sounds like it was written by a 14 year old educated in a private school in DC. It bodes ill for Nanobots. On the plus side? Better than Dogwalker. (Mr Tuck)

Shut up--༺𝄞𝄆Ⓠⓤⓔⓛ⎈Ⓓⓞⓜⓜⓐⓖⓔ𝄇༻ 16:39, 10 March 2013 (EDT)

I really like this song, and I think the "childishness" is deliberate and spot-on. I can't think of anything in your assessment I agree with. I don't think there is much of anything in Nanobots that isn't deliberate and well thought out. I am curious, Mr. Tuck: what's your political interpretation of Puppethead? -- CJSF 07:52, 12 March 2013 (EDT)

I've always thought Puppethead was about small town america, both it's values and also it's industry dying. I don't think I've actually ever done an interpretation for it. It'd take a while. It's easily one of the best 80s alternative songs.(Mr Tuck)

I don't agree with everything (or much of what) Tuck says, but "childish" is exactly how I see this song. It's like a nursery (or jumprope) rhyme (perhaps even sung with some sort of 'gleeful irreverence', if that were something the Giants ever did). Plus echoey bongos. Sometimes a lyricist/singer doesn't sing exactly what or how you might want, Mister ~ magbatz 16:50, 10 March 2013 (EDT)

When I say childish I mean adolescent. And yes, I don't mean it as a compliment. (Mr Tuck)

Fair enough. But it's not a very good song is it? (Mr Tuck)

That's subjective. I disagree with your criticisms on this case, and I really like Black Ops. But judging by every comment you seem to make, no song is a very good song. I've yet to see a positive remark you've made on the wiki so far, every piece of analysis you make is condescending, overly critical and pretentiously written. Why do you even listen to the band at all, if every opinion you have is quite so scathing? --༺𝄞𝄆Ⓠⓤⓔⓛ⎈Ⓓⓞⓜⓜⓐⓖⓔ𝄇༻ 07:00, 12 March 2013 (EDT)

I try not to write pretentiously or condescendingly. If I have a model, it's probably the late great Ian MacDonald. He wrote a superb book (perhaps the greatest of its kind) in which he objectively wrote a history/interpretation/criticism of the Beatles songbook called Revolution in the Head. It really is a great read you can pick it up cheap on Amazon. I try and do the same with Giants songs. Don't get me wrong I am a huge fan, but you are right to say I can be critical. However, read my interpretations of Nanobots songs: Too Tall Girl; You're on Fire; Icky and Sleep and you will see that I am still in thrall to some extent. However, the scathing comment is fair enough, I've not been kind to Black Opps, but does the song deserve it? I think my intial interpretation of radiohead musical influence and lazy simplistic politics is fair comment. Compare it to the more sophisticated "I'm Impressed" which makes a similiar political point, but with a bit more intelligence. It's also got a good melody too! (Mr Tuck)