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Fighting Words |
Posted by ReneeLovesSerj on Friday, July 28, 2006 - 03:25 AM
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With two Lebanese-born members, System of a Down is closely touched by the
current conflict. But war has always been a theme of the band's unflinching
lyrics
Though widely referred to as an Armenian-American hard rock group, System of a
Down also has roots in another country, which has been at the forefront of world
news in recent weeks. Two of its members - singer Serj Tankian and
drummer John Dolmayan - were born in Lebanon.
Which made the current conflict in the Middle East an unavoidable topic when I
got Dolmayan on the phone yesterday.
"I think it's great. I'm very happy about things," he said, without missing a
beat, before getting serious. "Obviously it's very disturbing. But it's nothing
new. It's the reason our families left in the first place. What's happening now
is exactly what was happening 25 years ago. Unfortunately, in that region, it's
the same thing that has been happening for the past 2,000 years. It's very
disturbing. We still have family there. It's very difficult to deal with."
Dolmayan also has ties to Montreal. And that's not just a reference to the
legions of loyal fans that have helped make the band's appearances here so
memorable.
"We always have really good shows in Montreal," he said. "Part of the reason is
that we haven't been that many times. My sister was actually born in Montreal.
When my family left Lebanon, we came to Canada for asylum. My sister was born
two or three days after we got there."
That was in 1976, "one of many times the shit hit the fan in Lebanon. Lebanon
never fights with anyone, but it's used as a battleground for whoever feels like
fighting. Unfortunately, it's right in the middle of (everything).
"It's far-fetched, but if Canada and Mexico went to war, they would fight in the
U.S. That's kind of where Lebanon is, in the middle between Syria and Israel.
Before, there were Jews, Arabs and Christians and everyone wanted to fight for
Jerusalem, they were all historically from the same tribes. They were
practically related, if you go back far enough. It probably started over a
couple of sheep, and they've been fighting ever since. It's moronic."
War is a recurring theme in System of a Down's music.
The subject is broached from many angles on last year's Mesmerize/Hypnotize
two-CD set (released separately): including money ("Why do they always send the
poor?"), machismo (My c--k is much bigger than yours") and the innocent victims
of conflict ("Where do you expect us to go when the bombs fall?").
Though pointed and unflinching, the band's stance rarely comes off as
heavy-handed. Topics are tackled with defiance, irony and wit. The
trivialization of life in North America also features prominently. "Hey man,
look at me rockin' out/I'm on the radio," Tankian sings.
But while humor plays a part in the music, the grim reality of world events
cannot be ignored. System of a Down's website (www.systemofadown.com) has a
section devoted to global action, providing links to an array of other sites. At
the top of the list is an entry about the Turkish genocide of Armenians in
1915-23; an event still officially denied by Turkey.
"After almost 100 years ... Turkey still refuses to accept its role in this
terrible tragedy," Dolmayan said. "Imagine if Germany did that, and raised its
citizens to believe the Holocaust never happened. How sad would that be to Jews,
Gypsies, gays and others?"
When not expounding on weighty topics, Dolmayan is pounding out the
relentless beats that, along with the bass playing of Shavo Odadjian, provide
the bedrock of their band's music.
"I'd say we're one of the tightest rhythm sections out there right now," he
said. "Rhythm is the concrete foundation of the music, so if that is there, the
painting and architecture that are the lyrics, vocals and guitar melodies can
interact the way they want. If you don't have a tight rhythm section, your band
sucks."
The band is rounded out by guitarist, vocalist and principal songwriter Daron
Malakian. Asked what leads System of a Down to make such fervent, ambitious
music, Dolmayan doesn't overthink things.
"This is the path chosen for us by destiny," he said. "We all gravitated to
music for one reason or another ... People call us Armenian rap-metal, prog
rock. In 10 years, they might call us classic rock. We don't care. We play music
for one reason - to satisfy a need within ourselves.
"Before I knew about war, money or women, I had a passion to play the drums.
It's something that's inherently within us. And that's why I'm fortunate enough
to have you talking to me - because you care about our band, because people in
Montreal care enough to buy a ticket to our show. We're lucky to be in that
position. But whether it was one person or one million, that passion would be
there."
By T'CHA DUNLEVY,
The Gazette
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Comments
sdsj3291
28.07.06, 05:34
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i was wondering when system would say something about lebanon
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BurningPoop
28.07.06, 06:13
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Yeah me too.
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sorifes
28.07.06, 06:22
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uhh...okay they were born in lebanon, tell us something we didn't know XD. I love how john words things so it tells not the bright peps 'who gives a flying f** if we were born in lebanon' I do agree, it's been going on for thousands of years...nothign new there...good job john :D
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Karanime
28.07.06, 06:28
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As soon as I heard about it all I was like "Oh shit, weren't Serj and John both born in Lebanon?" Heh... I think this article was pretty much needed... thanks!
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Chic
28.07.06, 06:42
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Okay, this was not a good article because Dunlevy cannot write well. What is this, stream of conscience? She bounces around from one topic to another and back, without a leighway. Furthermore, and I am surprised nobody else has yet mentioned this, doesn't Malakian sing those lyrics and not Tankian? I also felt that the tie-in with they Mez/Hyp cd was a stretch for this article.
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Eskimoes
28.07.06, 07:20
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Cool article.
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mom45
28.07.06, 13:46
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Great article. John's perspective is always so grounded and refreshing, and I never get tired of it.
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Toxicteen
28.07.06, 13:59
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Chic, they harmonize the lyrics. Good article though
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ReneeLovesSerj
28.07.06, 16:24
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I figured I'd submit it to Zak, well written or not. It was an interview... Its nice to hear from John. And you never know, mainstream america may not realize that John and Serj were born in Lebanon, or that Shavo was born in Armenia. Yeah we all know it...but LOL remember we know a lot of stuff about SOAD the average Joe wouldnt! :)
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S.O.A.D.orV.O.A.D.
28.07.06, 17:58
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good article
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sako_mtl
28.07.06, 18:05
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MONTREAL!!!!! yet I thought he first moved to toronto after leaving lebanon
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alma
28.07.06, 21:37
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Salut mes amis! That's a good article and very, very interesting. I love the way, John is talking about his past and how it all led to what he is today. That's really great and I love people who can tell stories, novels and much more about their own life and John is such a person.
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~Washu
29.07.06, 05:04
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Are there people in John's and Serj's family from Lebanon still there? I guess if there were, John would mention it. When the July 7th attacks on London happened, I was freaked out, even though I'm American, because I have family there that I know well. One of my relatives was running late and missed the train that the first subway attack happened upon. Very lucky, that man. I know how Middle Eastern people in North America and Europe feel about their families in danger because it's happened with my family and I, a pasty white girl who neither loves or hates the president. Sorry if this comment is too out of context, but I think it relates to the article in a way.
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~Washu
29.07.06, 05:07
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... and me, being the Grammar Nazi I am, I would love to be able to change that "was" in Paragraph two, Sentence two to "were," but most here who speak English as their first language don't type it very well. Irony much?
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36dam36
30.07.06, 17:12
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pretty good article. :D
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