Imani

Zev Imani
Professor Taylor
English 1A
20 October 2014
Individual Song Essay
My song was "Handlebars" by the Flobots, it tells the dangers of corruption in society.
The song tells a story of two men who begin as friends, but each deicide to do very different
things with their lives. The first becomes a musician and activist, the second man joins the rich
elite who are oppressing the people. By the end of the song they become enemies, one trying
to make society better and free the people, the other trying to maintain control by the rich. The
transformation of these two friends is outlined throughout the song, warning to the listeners of
how easy it is for capitalism to the lead to corruption of the wealthy and oppression of the
people. They want the people to unite against it as they do in the song, only there they were
too late. The whole song is a social commentary against capitalism, and the uneven distribution
of wealth it causes.
The second man didn't start out as a bad person, he became corrupted by his power.
In this day and age the main way to get power is through business, as money is power. "I
know how to run a business and I can make you wanna buy a product". This is his start into
power, he know how to make a profit by manipulating people into buy things they don't
need. This is what gets him into the elite class with other people who make their money of
the people. These people understand that the world runs off of money and power. "Me and
my friends understand the future I see the strings that control the system I can do anything
with no resistance". The wealthy people are above the law, and are running society. They
see how the wealthy people are secretly controlling society, and that there is nothing the

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normal people can do about it. He has now become part of the ruling elite who are
corrupted by their own power.
Corporations need more than just consumers to make the powerful, they also need
the support of politicians. After the second man had became rich, he became a politician,
on behalf of the company. He explains why he has this power, "Cause I can lead a nation
with a microphone ... And I can split the atom of a molecule" His power comes from him
leading and controlling people through speeches and politics. Also he has the backing of
military technology. This is the beginning of the transition from modern world, to a possible
future, where the rich gain absolute power, and ruler the people through fear with the help
of technology and weapons. "I can guide a missile by satellite... And I can hit a target
through a telescope". The world has turned to a dystopian future controlled by a
authoritarian government of the rich, that rules by fear and technology. In response to this
the first man tries to unites the people to fight against the oppression, and specifically the
second man, who has become the figure head for the rulers. But they are too late, and are
massacred. This is what could happen if action is not taken soon.
I chose thing song because I believe the social issues it disuses are important and
relevant today. I think that the elite and wealthy people of modern society hold immense
power, and that the general public has little say. The simple fact that there are billionaires,
when many people don't even have enough to food to survive, proves that society is corrupt
and broken. Corporations and politicians don't care about the people or the environment, all
they care about is making a profit and power. The world won't be able to sustain this much

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longer, and something must be done. Though the song takes it too an extreme, the capitalist
ideals do need to be changed, to one that favors people over profit.
The song "Handlebars" by the Flobots is a political song, but not about politics, it is
criticizing modern society. It shows the dangers of corruption and greed, it warns of what how
easy it is to focus on money at the cost of the people. It is a song telling a story of the people
rising up against their capitalist rulers, and how action must be taken before its too late. The
song shows the power and control that the elite have, and the oppression of the people. This is
a major problem in today's world, because money is the same a power in our society, those
who make the most profits have the most power. It doesn't matter what is best for the people,
of who is the best leader, all that matters is power and money. This is why things need to
change, a capitalist society creates these conditions, and the people must stop it. The modern
world is not sustainable, and the people who have not yet been corrupted by it, are our only
hope for change.

Lyrics for "Handlebars"

I can ride my bike with no handlebars

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No handlebars, no handlebars
I can ride my bike with no handlebars
No handlebars, no handlebars
Look at me, look at me
Hands in the air like it's good to be
Alive and I'm a famous rapper
Even when the paths are all crookedly
I can show you how to do-si-do
I can show you how to scratch a record
I can take apart the remote control
And I can almost put it back together
I can tie a knot in a cherry stem
I can tell you about Leif Ericson
I know all the words to "De Colores"
And "I'm Proud To Be An American"
Me and my friend saw a platypus
Me and my friend made a comic book
And guess how long it took
I can do anything that I want, cause look
I can keep rhythm with no metronome
No metronome, no metronome
And I can see your face on the telephone
On the telephone, on the telephone
Look at me, look at me
Just called to say that it's good to be
Alive in such a small world
I'm all curled up with a book to read
I can make money, open up a thrift store
I can make a living off a magazine
I can design an engine
Sixty four miles to a gallon of gasoline
I can make new antibiotics
I can make computers survive aquatic conditions
I know how to run a business
And I can make you wanna buy a product
Movers, shakers and producers
Me and my friends understand the future
I see the strings that control the system
I can do anything with no resistance
Cause I can lead a nation with a microphone
With a microphone, with a microphone
And I can split the atom of a molecule
Of a molecule, of a molecule
Look at me, look at me
Driving and I won't stop
And it feels so good to be alive and on top
My reach is global, my tower secure

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My cause is noble, my power is pure
I can hand out a million vaccinations
Or let 'em all die in exasperation
Have 'em all healed of their lacerations
Have 'em all killed by assassination
I can make anybody go to prison
Just because I don't like 'em
And I can do anything with no permission
I have it all under my command
Because I can guide a missile by satellite
By satellite, by satellite
And I can hit a target through a telescope
Through a telescope, through a telescope
And I can end the planet in a holocaust
In a holocaust, in a holocaust
In a holocaust, in a holocaust
In a holocaust!
I can ride my bike with no handlebars
No handlebars, no handlebars
I can ride my bike with no handlebars
No handlebars, no handlebars