Madagascar

[BluesGNR]

Try the AFC section.  Someone will probably hook you up.

[gandra]

you want martin luter king speech???

[montycombs]

Not just the MLK speech, but the other quotes as well

[zigthis]

1. The title, "Madagascar", immediately implies some kind of policital connotation.? Madagascar is an island country off the coast of North Africa that turned socialist after gaining independence from France in 1960.? For 30 years, their economy tanked, illiteracy skyrocketed, and political opposition and expression was restricted.? When the Berlin Wall came down, the soclialist government began a rediculously slow transition, but when troops killed 30 protesters at the presidential palace, the resultant uprising stripped the socialists of power within sixty days.?

The killings and resultant uprising took place in the Fall of 1991, so my theory is that this song was written in that timeframe and is somewhat inspired by the events there.? Rose would have been touring Europe at the time for Use Your Illusion (There was a Wembley concert on 31 August that year) and political pressure/statements regarding communist and socialist governments were common everywhere, including in the creations of songwriters.?


2. The lyrics:

I won't be told anymore
That I've been brought down in this storm
And left so far out from the shore
That I can't find my way back, my way anymore...

Doesn't sound political at all, but rather very personal and typical of Rose's lyrics.? It also bears connotations and tie-ins to the "Estranged" lyrics and video.?

Forgive them that tear down my soul
Bless them that they might grow old
And free them so that they may know
That it's never, too late

Both the chorus and this phrase seem very much like statements regarding critics and naysayers who consider Rose a 'has-been' and the band permanently defunct.?

For the many times, what seemed like, a memory
I searched and found the ways you used to lure me in
Ooh, I found the ways,
Why it had to be
Mired in denial, and so afraid

This is also very typical of Rose's post-Appetite lyrics, which very often speak to an ex-wife or ex-girlfriend after a failed relationship.? How the fark does this correlate to national and international politics? 

3. The imagery and samples is where it gets political again:? Stained glass church windows, MLK, "fear", "hatred", "freedom".? The song as a whole is great, powerful stuff - but there's obviously two themes here, in a 'mash-up' of sorts.? Why??


In summary:
From what I've seen and heard of Chinese Democracy so far, it seems like one of the underlying themes of the album is one of conclusion and closure of an epic that begins with "Sweet Child of Mine" and progresses through songs like "November Rain",? "Don't Cry", and "Estranged", before ending on this album with "Better", "The Blues", and "Madagascar".? ?It seems like Rose has chronicled some kind of personal journey of recovery from a failed relationship - my guess would be with Erin Everly, his only marriage.? ?My only theory as to the contrasting themes of Madagascar is that the song is being used to surmise or state the tone of the entire album.? Rose is 'putting to rest' his personal demons and issues, then saying "Fuck all the naysayers, I'm not through yet", then saying "Hey, take a look at this injustice in the world, this is more important than personal change, let's make the world change".?

Thoughts?

[BKinNYC]

Honestly, I never really thought about it.  But this was a really good post.   

[CheapJon]

my guess would be with Erin Everly, his only marriage.

Thoughts?

i think it's very wierd that people think everytime axl write a song about a failed realtionship you guys think it has to be about stephanie or erin, don't you guys think he have had other realtionships the past years then those 2?

[GeorgeSteele]

I interpret Madagascar as a reverse political allegory - using political themes/events as a metaphor for emotions, experiences and feelings that are very personal in nature.

For example, the Braveheart dialogue ("All men betray, all lose heart..." and the "I DON'T WANT TO LOSE HEART!!!" response).  In the movie, that dialogue concerned whether Robert the Bruce had the courage to lead the Scottish rebellion, but it can be applied in an infinite number of ways on a personal level.

[zigthis]

i think it's very wierd that people think everytime axl write a song about a failed realtionship you guys think it has to be about stephanie or erin, don't you guys think he have had other realtionships the past years then those 2?

Everly was his wife and Seymour his fiance' - why would that be wierd? 

/ZOMG thiz song iz aboot Erin Evrlee I"m 1000% pozitiv yo!!!!111oneone

//Better?

[CheapJon]

i think it's very wierd that people think everytime axl write a song about a failed realtionship you guys think it has to be about stephanie or erin, don't you guys think he have had other realtionships the past years then those 2?

Everly was his wife and Seymour his fiance' - why would that be wierd??

because it's that many years ago, and he has prolly seen women during the years he was out of media or how to say, it isn't wierd that it could be about those 2, but it's wierd that to you guys it must be about someone he devorced 15 years ago or broke up with 13, isn't it pretty possible that for example 7 years ago he had a girlfriend and that didn't work out? why does it always have to do with those 2, even though he loved them very much, don't be so narrowminded and think he has only loved those 2, the wierd part is that you to you gyus it must be about those 2 women

[chriskon72]

I always felt that  this song was about the breakup of the old band. Like many have written already Madagascar drifted off on it's own sort of like Axl did in the ol' guns line up. He was the one one that stepped out there on his own he was pushing his vision...Izzy fucked off right away when he didn't like it anymore, Slah and Duff was different I think they wanted to work through it but in the end Slash couldn't take it which isolated Axl into the title "the guy responsible for the break up". Duff seems like a great guy but he seems sort of like a yes man. Him and Slash get along great and they both obviously get along great with Matt it seems like (this year in particularly) everyone gets along with Izzy (he wasn't there for the blow-up) all this isolates Axl which I guess is represented in the title "Madagascar"

That's my take on it, I could be totally full of shit

by the way I always thought the second verse was:


Forgive that they teared down my soul (this part nails it for me that it is about the old members)
Bless them that they might grow old
Free them so that they may know
That it's never too late

For the many times that seemed like a memory
I searched and found the ways you used to lure me in
I found the ways,
Oh, why it had to be
Mired in denial and so afraid

If we ever find its true
That we have the strength to choose
I'm free of all the chains  (that's what I undertsand )
We held together

Cheers

[cody6977]

Could be about anything, we're not mindreaders...erin everly, the band breaking up, whatever the hell he went through while in seclusion for 10 years....anything

[EFISH]

Wasnt the song written on the road during UYI tour?

It could have been about the struggles between the band, but I dont think the break-up.

[craigers]

So, what's up with the images they show on the screens while the song is playing? Isn't it lots of stained glass and during the "quotes" part it's MLK and then back to the stained glass?

Anybody have any theories on why Axl chose that imagery for this song?

[novemberparadise23]

i was just listening to madagascar and i think that with quotes and final orchestration that this song will be so powerful and epic

this song has always been one of my favorite new guns song does anyone else share the excitement i have at hearing this song in a final studio version

[Robman?]

Yes, and I'm just as excited to ear all the other songs 

Only 2 months left

[The Legend]

You know, we've heard this song for two years (2002, 2006), and I think we've kind of gotten accustomed to it, but I really think the studio cut is really going to knock people socks off.

I think it will be an instant-masterpiece.

[Amanda.]

whats wrong with me? I actually don't like that song...  :nervous:because of those quotes i guess.

[BlowUpYourVideo]

I think what The Legend said is right. Those who have not heard it will have a completely different reaction to those who have. The studio version should be good.

[tomass74]

It was exciting 7 years ago or whenever they first started playing it..  At this point it's a joke.

[The Legend]

It was exciting 7 years ago or whenever they first started playing it..? At this point it's a joke.

A joke? Jesus christ dude, isn't that overstating it a bit?