Dark Horses

I decided to post about this song first because, well technically I was talking about it with a friend of mine, and promised I would put it on my blog.
The other reason is because I actually really love this song with a passion. The chorus didn't make sense to me... well till a few minutes ago.

I made my mistakes
I seen my heart cave in
I got my scars
I been to hell and back again

Born for the blue skies
We’ll survive the rain
Born for the sunrise
We’ll survive the pain

We’re singing…
Hey, you can’t count us out
We’ve been running up against the crowd
Yeah, we are the dark horses
We’re singing…
Wait! It’s not over now
We’ve been down but we’ve never been out
Yeah, we are the dark horses

We found the way out
The city takes everything it can
But outside the crowds
I can feel my lungs again

Born for the blue skies
We’ll survive the rain
Born for the sunrise
We’ll survive the pain

We’re singing…
Hey, you can’t count us out
We’ve been running up against the crowd
Yeah, we are the dark horses
We’re singing…
Wait, don’t care what they say
We know we’ll find a way
Yeah! We are the dark horses

Keep running with the dark horses
Hope makes the blood change courses
Keep running with the dark horses
Stand up with the dark horses
Keep running with the dark horses
Hope makes the blood change courses

 This was one of the best songs off of this album. I absolutely loved it. However, I couldn't understand what the term "Dark Horses" was supposed to stand for.... I understood the concept of the song, but didn't understand what Jon was trying to say with the specific analogy of "Dark Horses".  So of course, I ask my family.. who a lot of times are smarter than me when it comes to interpreting song meanings. But none of them knew. My brother attempted to help me out by suggesting that it had to do with the black horse in Revelation. However, after reading the passage... that made even less sense.
So what do you do when all else fails?
GOOGLE.
I found this article by pluggedin.com, which explained the term perfectly.

"If you look up the phrase dark horse in Merriam-Webster's online dictionary, here's the first definition you'll find: "A usually little known contender (such as a racehorse) that makes an unexpectedly good showing, or an entrant in a contest that is judged unlikely to succeed." In the spirit of that definition, the lead single from Switchfoot's eighth studio album, Vice Verses, is a straight-up anthem for the underdogs of the world—no more, no less."

This makes absolutely perfect sense. Most people know that Switchfoot started out under a Christian Label (and no, I don't mean they called their music Christian, I mean they were employed by people who did Christian music. But that's another argument for a different time.) and most people know that the Christian faith strongly affects Jon's lyrics. I think this is true for this song.

Many times Christians are shunned, and mocked. They are seen as just another religious cult, they don't get much attention (unless it's to be ridiculed.) In fact, the scriptures talk about how the world will hate Christians. Luke 21:17 says; "And everyone will hate you because you are my followers." (NLT) We are constantly seen as underdogs, but we need to "rise above it" (yet another song on the album)

This however is just one of the reasons that can be 'read into' the song. Jon said on pluggedin.com:"For me the true underdogs are the people who didn't chose their situation, but are rising above it.For me that song the 'Dark Horses' is all about the homeless kids back in San Diego, specifically the ones who are being helped out by [the nonprofit organization] StandUp For Kids. It's always nice when you have a song you are passionate about singing night after night that has a deeper meaning than simply another verse and another chorus."

The music is beautiful in this song as well. I'm kinda running out of time to blog.. so I have to make this section quick. This song has the grungier feel that Switchfoot is famous for. It kinda has the same feel as "The Sound" but not even that..This song is one of those unexplainables... it's what makes Switchfoot one of my favorite bands. You can't really describe their music with precision. It's unique.
If you can come up with a better explanation. Please do. You can some how write annonymously if you're scared I'll know who you are and will disagree with you or something.
Basically just write on my blog... Even if you totally hate what I'm saying. It's nice to know I at least have readers! :)
I really do need to go now though.
THANKS FOR LISTENING TO MY RANDOM RAMBLINGS.

Track List Links for Vice Verses

So my next blogpost dealing with Switchfoot is going to be something positive.
Originally I wanted to go in track-order. But, I decided against it. BECAUSE I CAN. <--lil joke thar.
If you get lost, I'll try and consistently update THIS post, by placing the track-order here, and linking to the post that deals with each song on each song name:

1. Afterlife
2.The Original
3.The War Inside
4. Restless
5. Blinding Light
6. Selling the News
7. Thrive
8. Dark Horses
9.Souvenirs
10. Rise Above It
11. Vice Verses
12. Where I Belong

Now I'm going to make a new post with what I actually intended to post about.

Oh, Switchfoot! Why Can't you Keep it Together?

Hey guys! So, I actually don't have any homework due until Tuesday... which means I have time to post a new blog post!!!

I decided I would write about the new Switchfoot Album -Vice Verses.
I recently bought the album, and was very excited when I saw that it was coming out on a day when I had a bunch of tests. I figured it'd be the highlight of my day. Which, buying new music always is, when I was finished with the new Switchfoot Album, I was left wanting.

Now I know this sounds like heresy to any devout Switchfoot fan. Which is partly why I feel I need to make these posts into really lengthy posts. I've never seriously critiqued something on my blog before (which you all know) So if this is horrible and you're extremely bored.... go read another blog.

Okay, actually don't. I love you all and your readings, and would absolutely LOVE to get some ratings on how well you agree with me (or disagree) and then tell me whether to shut up or not. Okay? Okay. THANKS.

So first things first. I intend to write about the album as a whole, then each individual song, then the album as a whole in conclusion. Though I may not get to do that, at least it's the idea. SO, without further ado (MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING I SEE.):

Vice Verses.


First of all I must say that I was completely thrilled when this album came out. I had been waiting since Hello Hurricane to listen to this newest album. 
In an interview found on landofbrokenhearts.org, Jon Foreman talked a little bit about how the new Album was going to sound:

"LJ: Is there any particular direction you’re heading toward after Hello, Hurricane?
JF: I think the next CD is going to be quite a bit different. We’ve been talking around the idea about a double album. The name of the next CD is called Vice-Verses, and I think it’s a chance to show off even more diversity than Hello, Hurricane."

It was also rumored that a song called "Until You Lose One" was going to be on the album, with the lyrics "You don't know a friend until you lose one."
I personally was very excited for the darker themes of Vice Verses, my favorite album of Switchfoot's has always been "Nothing is Sound" because it deals with the darker side of life, it doesn't ignore the pain. I heard from a friend of mine that Vice Verses was supposed to follow along that vein.

To continue the journey, in June of 2010, LOBH posted some new songs that were supposed to be on Vice Verses, Check out the post here. For me personally the biggest letdown was the fact that Switchfoot didn't put the song on their album called "Against the Voices".
Here are some of the lyrics:

Start the day against the voices
The ones that tell me that I’m wrong
I hear them now screaming their delusions
I close my eyes and they’re gone If they ain’t singing, if they’re just talking
Let them keep talking to themselves
Cause everybody knows
That the hardest war to fight
Is a fight to be yourself in a world
That wants to turn you into someone else

The lyrics and tune of this song was fantastic, and can be found here.
Come Home was also another one rumored to be on there. I absolutely love this song, I found it while I was writing this post and you MUST listen to it. The lyrics are here. The song is here.
So when the album listing came out I was very disappointed with the songs that were cut. In the beginning I was thrilled with the list, and wish I could find the original one on LOBH, however I cannot at this time. If you find it please comment at the bottom of this post and let me know where to find it. THANKS
I'll comment later on the songs that made it to the album.

The overall sound of Vice Verses was a little more pop-ish to my liking. I was expecting the more grungy-alternative feel/sound of Switchfoot, and was rather surprised with what was supposedly "bold" music. It sounded a little too much like the common low bass beat that everyone is obsessed with lately. For me this was NOT a "beautiful letdown". I was expecting at least something less mainstream, and was surprised by the fact that Switchfoot not only made us wait so long, but it felt as though the songs were more rushed and lazily put together than the long wait we endured.

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love Switchfoot, but as a whole the album was dissapointing. I did LOVE certain songs, which I will write more on later, but that's the first section of my Switchfoot Vice Verses rant.
I guess every blessing comes with a set of curses. :)
-SinkingUp