As music it is interesting but the message is disturbing on many levels.
I just did a little research on the lyrics.
I always assumed it was about some sort of Lord of the Flies scenario and how children are really little savages.
But some websites suggest it is referencing some specific political conflicts.
I always thought the background voice was saying something like “She’s so happy yeah” lol it’s Jeux sans Frontieres. File under TIL.
Gabriel is a big fat lefty faggot. But he writes some really intelligent lyrics and makes some great music.
The stuff he did in the 80s with music videos was some pretty slick marketing but it actually was reasonably intelligent social commentary for pop music. Compare it to WAP now which is complete vapid trash.
Ho hum
I think it's great you looked into it. I had seen some of the commentary about it being in reference to a child's athletic event as an anti-war statement. Musically, it is a well composed track and interesting and at that level I do appreciate it. But that is what makes music such a powerful tool to deliver messages cloaked in a way to make it more palpable than the spoken word. Glad you used your brain instead of just reacting emotionally.
The article I read mentioned it may have been partly about the Olympic boycott in 1980.
Besides Adolf it mentions Chiang = Chiang Kai Shek, Britt = Britain?, Andre = Andre Malreux? Enrico = Enrico Fermi, Lin Tai Yu = Nguyen Thieu former pres of VN.
I am unfortunately a complete slave to my limbic system, but the frontal lobes do assert themselves occassionally.
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