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ES Video: Oppenheimer's Tragedy


Jenny Stokes
(@jenny-stokes)
Right Honorable Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 539
Topic starter  

Hiya folks. Our latest album is coming out this Wednesday. Ahead of its release we thought we'd put out a video for one of the songs, Oppenheimer's Tragedy. It's a song about the creation of the atomic bomb and its awful consequences. The lyrics are built around Robert Oppenheimer's famous use of the Hindu quote "I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds."

We had a load of fun making this video. I was decked out in creepy white makeup with a black-veined face (the real me) and John was looking very apocalyptic wearing a WW1 gas mask.

 I know Carroll is interested in the lyrics for the song so I'll include those beneath the vid. These lyrics were almost entirely written by John (with the exception of the chorus which was a collaborative effort). Gotta say that I'm blown away with how well he writes!

 
OPPENHEIMER'S TRAGEDY

I. Am become
Death
The destroyer of worlds
 
Make. The mistake
To oppose
Will leave you in ruins
 
Die! Alone!
In the smoke!
Burn you to the bone
 
Ashes. And dust
Are the waste
Of the atom's rage
 
Tragedy!
You brought the end to sanity
No escape!
We can not go back to change history
 
I. Am become
Death
The destroyer of worlds
 
A mind. That creates
To destroy
Should be made to atone
 
Peoples of this world
Unite!
Or be turned to stone
 
The bomb. Will erase
Our mistakes
It has sealed our fate
 
Tragedy!
You brought the end to sanity
No escape!
We can not go back to change history
 

{Truman: "A short time ago, an American aeroplane dropped one bomb on Hiroshima.... That bomb had more power than 20,000 tonnes of TNT.... It is an atomic bomb..."}
 

Tragedy!
You brought the end to sanity
No escape!
We can not go back to change history
 
[END]
 
 

https://soundcloud.com/jennystokes-nz
http://evansandstokes.com
https://www.facebook.com/evansandstokes/


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Gavin
(@gavin)
Prominent Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 993
 

Yeah! As you know, this kind of music is not my cup of tea, but I loved this. I would have liked to be able to make out Jenny's words a bit more clearly in parts, but I know that's often not possible in a metal song. This is one of my faves of yours, guys, musically, lyrically and in the performance. 

Interesting to hear Truman using the British English "aeroplane." I wonder when it became "airplane" here.

Be sure to post a link to the album.

I may or may not be an enigma
http://mysteriousbeings.com


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Jenny Stokes
(@jenny-stokes)
Right Honorable Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 539
Topic starter  

Thank you Gavin. I'm not surprised you mentioned the clarity of the vocal. There's a trade off when you sing over heavy music between capturing the vibe you want and being heard. If you sing up above the instruments, clarity is usually not a problem, but sometimes upper register is not appropriate for the tune. In a dark song like this one where I'm using the lower part of my register, it can be hard to get the vocal up enough in the mix to hear every syllable. The lower you go, the less power you've got to work with. So, not wanting to sacrifice the big doomish music sound, we make the primary aim to get the right vibe (even if some of the syllables aren't perfectly clear).

Funny you mentioned Truman's accent. I had wondered the same thing. He sounds very different from today's politician and certainly leaves Mr Trump in the dust when it comes to elocution. No resemblance at all.   🙂

 

https://soundcloud.com/jennystokes-nz
http://evansandstokes.com
https://www.facebook.com/evansandstokes/


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Robbi
(@robbi)
Sparkly Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 79
 

I enjoyed the video. The song is awesome. You guys did a great job.


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Jenny Stokes
(@jenny-stokes)
Right Honorable Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 539
Topic starter  

Thanks Rob. We had a lot of fun making it.

https://soundcloud.com/jennystokes-nz
http://evansandstokes.com
https://www.facebook.com/evansandstokes/


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YrralMallik
(@yrralmallik)
Noble Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 1337
 

Enjoyed Da Listen (:ROCK ON:)

Larry G. Killam


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Jenny Stokes
(@jenny-stokes)
Right Honorable Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 539
Topic starter  

Thanks Larry  ? 

https://soundcloud.com/jennystokes-nz
http://evansandstokes.com
https://www.facebook.com/evansandstokes/


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YrralMallik
(@yrralmallik)
Noble Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 1337
 

U welcome Jenny.

Larry G. Killam


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