“Stay Happy” begins with a back-and-forth guitar and vocal arrangement that is completely fresh and different from anything they’ve produced in the past. “Protest Song” delivers what we’ve come to expect from BSS and is some of their finest work. She sings “You’re just the latest in a long list of lost loves, love,” harrowingly cutting lyrics that would curse any ex into months of gloom. Not actually a real protest song, its lyrics are cryptic yet powerful. ![]() It features a wall of sound with layers of guitars and effects, but never feels bombastic. Take “Protest Song,” a neatly structured pop song with plenty of musical complexities. Unlike the (dare I say overrated) aforementioned Quebecois band, these Ontarians rely on their own songwriting abilities to fill a track rather than grandiose, pretentious arrangements. Yet, Hug of Thunder avoids the melodrama and eccentricity that basically launched the more commercially successful Montreal-based Arcade Fire. “Halfway Home” in particular, however, stands out as being especially triumphant, a lot like a musical embodiment of a post-tennis match victory celebration: not in-your-face but still full of emotion. ![]() But whereas “Capture the Flag” fades gracefully into “KC Accidental,” immediately after “Sol Luna” we’re hit with a quick burst of energy with “Halfway Home.” And this sets up Hug of Thunder quite well, considering the album maintains a surging pace for most of its 52 minutes. “Sol Luna,” the album’s instrumental intro, reminds me a lot of “Capture the Flag,” the intro to their ambitious magnum opus You Forgot It in People. And even though their political leader is less orange and more progressive than ours, even Canada could use some BSS-induced optimism that we all love them for. Following their 2010 release Forgiveness Rock Record, Hug of Thunder is a warm and uplifting addition to darker times. Thankfully, those fears were put to rest earlier in May, though after a series of performances last year, the announcement wasn’t overwhelmingly surprising. More importantly, the song’s ubiquitous nature emphasizes the importance of unity once people are united to fight against injustice, their created passion and strength can never be extinguished.Hug of Thunder comes as a surprise for fans who thought they would never hear another BSS album. Heard from rallies from 19th century Paris in the fictional “Les Miserable” to today’s real-world protests in locations like Hong Kong and the United States, the lyrics of “Do You Hear the People Sing?” illustrate the key importance of protests: raising the voices of suppressed people who have been silenced. Ultimately, “Do You Hear the People Sing” is the quintessential chorus for protests, even beyond the bright lights of a Broadway stage. By taking to the streets and shouting their voices, they stand up to wrongful powers and advocate for change that betters society. Since one keystone of democratic society is the freedom to protest, the mention of the “right to be free” in “Do You Hear the People Sing?” shows that protestors, by nature, are fulfilling a societal responsibility. Then join in the fight that will give you These lines help illuminate that the power of these protests lies in how many people participate, as more followers form a collectively stronger force. In addition to this declaration of demands, part of the song is also a call to action, a rallying cry for everyone who has experienced persecution. ![]() Since these activists usually face a much more powerful opponent, the song demonstrates how a movement’s success requires an active pulse, much like the one that runs through our bodies. Moreover, the chorus also illustrates the emotional intensity of protesting: the people have to rise so that they “will not be slaves again” to the injustice they experience. The chorus, which appears three times throughout the chant, depicts that the revolt stems from the need to permanently break free from chains of oppression. With “Do You Hear the People Sing?” being heard in these two events and many others across the world, a question arises as to why the anthem so often appears in these real-life demonstrations. These protests have seen massive amounts of Hongkongers - sometimes numbering in the millions - rally together against a much more powerful China. This legislation was seen by many as another attempt from the Communist Party of China to assert dominance in the supposedly free territory. Eight years later, the song found a home in Hong Kong, a city-state designated as a special administrative region of China that has recently been turned upside down by sweeping, large-scale protests against a proposed extradition law.
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