Song Meaning
The lyrics paint a grim picture of a media landscape that sensationalizes violence and triviality, turning horrific events into fleeting entertainment. The narrator observes a disturbing pattern where real-life tragedies, like a "freeway killer" or a "girl was raped," are immediately juxtaposed with "fashion distraction news." This constant barrage of "noxious news" and "trivial tripe" serves as a deliberate mechanism to help people "forget our tedious life," creating a cycle of consumption and amnesia.
The central tension lies in the media's ability to transform genuine horror into a spectacle, making murderers into "T.V. media mass-murder celebrity." The lyrics highlight how the public "feed" on "horror and disgust," actively choosing to "soak up the sex and degradation" over meaningful engagement with "politics and the state of the nation." This passive consumption is further emphasized by the idea that the revolution, which the narrator notes "won't be televised," has already had its rights bought and advertised, promising a televised spectacle that requires no active participation from the viewer.
The most striking aspect of the craft is the stark contrast between the gravity of the events described and the flippant, almost casual way they are presented as "news." Phrases like "latest fashion distraction news" and "forgotten tomorrow but for tonight" underscore the ephemeral nature of this media consumption. The lyrics also employ a biting irony, suggesting that the "information explosion" is not about enlightenment but about filling brains with "useless litterances" designed to numb rather than inform. The final lines, "sit back and relax you won´t have to do a thing," deliver a chilling indictment of this passive media culture.
These lyrics hit hard because they articulate a profound societal critique through sharp, unflinching observation. The writing forces the reader to confront the uncomfortable reality of how sensationalism can desensitize and distract, turning genuine suffering into consumable content. The effectiveness stems from the direct, unvarnished language that exposes the media's role in fostering a culture of apathy, where even the most horrific events become mere "sado-sex sensation" for the evening's broadcast.