Flobots - Handlebars Reaction

[@enoshikuma]

"This is a great song if you're feeling like you can't do anything." Me: Give it a minute. "Wow, this is super dark." Me: There we go. Whole gist, humans (and in particular Americans), have the ability to do literally anything they put your mind to. The only reason we, say, haven't found a cure to cancer yet is probably just that the finder simply hasn't been born yet. We haven't put a person on Mars because the scientist who'll discover the fuel system needed to get there is currently learning their ABCs. That said, the inventor of the sequel to the MOAB, and the next world leader to think extermination camps are a viable solution are also just waiting to be born. We're capable of great things as a species, but we've not achieved as much as we could have because something always gets in the way. Oppenheimer was a scientist from the midwestern US who was super interested in the study of the atom and fission and all the great things atomic plants could do for humanity; and what did he do with that knowledge? He directly reaped the life away from a quarter million Japanese at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Why? Because money and power got in the way. What's crazy is this video was made a few years after 9/11 and it was intended to talk about the war and what the government will do to dissidents. Now in 2022, if they didn't have the outdated cell phone and CRT TVs in this, I could forgive someone mistaking this for a song that was written after the 2016 election/the Washington insurrection and it has just as much relevance. That's why I recommended it! Glad you liked it!

[@ShellyReacts]

My jaw has been dropped. It has such a impactful message and it is a song I think everyone should listen to regardless of whether they like the music or not. Thank you for expanding my knowledge of the message of this song through your comment! I really did enjoy this reaction and I'm glad I got to do it, thank you!

[@42Mrgreenman]

Great interpretation! I like the idea you mention that I hear echoed in the chorus, "...ride my bike with no handlebars." We have so much potential, but some speed bump always seems to derail us, like hitting a rock while riding with no handlebars...we've got so much talent (I could only ride one-handed comfortably back in the day, maybe no-handed for a few secs)...but either chance, bad incentives, or our own insecurities end up turning us from our potential...Damn, I love the Flobots...

[@rmac31615]

It’s a dichotomy of human capability; we can use our unlimited potential to save or ruin the world

[@ShellyReacts]

That is the most concise and best articulated interpretation I have seen on the meaning of this song. Thank you for your comment!

[@PxNxWxGxW]

Two friends who went down seperate paths.

[@Legato.Bluesummers]

had to sub.. love seeing reactions to this song.. the morale of the story..... Power corrupts, even with the purest intent.....

[@ShellyReacts]

Thank you for the support! It was a privilege reacting to this song.

[@SaintDiaz]

Look at the shields the soldiers are holding at 4:46

[@ShellyReacts]

That is interesting. From what I can gather, that is a symbol for the fight against oppression, but it seems like the oppressors have it on their shields? If you could clarify your interpretation of the meaning behind this, I would love to see it! Thank you for pointing this out!

[@ExodaCrown]

The simplest explanation is the road to hell is paved with good intentions. If you look at activists, they will champion causes to help people, but in reality they only want power. They don't want to fix a problem. Because if they do the money and influence will go away. If you look at their solutions it is always giving them more power. So using symbols of them being a "freedom fighter" while being fascists is accurate.

[@ryanrivers1259]

He says "What the fucckkkk" lol. Its a great song. Truth.

[@azurastar6245]

No. It’s an angry song. They’re angry. We, are angry. We went from learning to ride our bikes to being aware of how shady- ass our government systems are. And that we’re fed up. Thats the point. Anyone can lead the nation from a microphone. Trump-for fing example. It’s about money it’s about furthering government for governments sake, and not the benefit of its people. It’s about the progression of growing up from learning to ride your bike to learning how the system works against you and then you’re in a war. You’re for or against. It’s anger…it’s defiance. That’s what it is. And it means everything to me.

[@ShellyReacts]

That gave me a different view on this song. Thank you for your insight on the true meaning of this wonderful song!

[@coltydoodledoof8237]

Don't act like Trump is the worst of the worst, the dems are the ones who want a bigger government. He's not good, but he's the best we got.

[@hakhanh86]

I listen to this song before I have idea about rap.

[@ShellyReacts]

Yes, it really does get the creative juices flowing!

[@captaindiaper2210]

This song is truth of what is happening right now. And they knew this years before.

[@ClintsScion]

I hope you enjoyed it. You wanna come take a look at it again?

[@stephaniemccarthy1676]

Amen on your reaction

[@ShellyReacts]

Amen to your comment!

[@8301TheJMan]

We humans have an amazing aptitude for creation, but not all creation is necessarily for the betterment of mankind, let alone the planet. Put simply, the point of the song is: just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should.

[@mintjulius275]

My mans you like the trumpets? You should check out the band "streetlight manifesto" if you're unfamiliar with em

[@ShellyReacts]

I have never heard of them! I will have to check them out. Thank you for your suggestion and comment!

[@inkoinfinity2]

Yeah this is a deep one, but when I found this song, the comments section were saying this song was hated when it came out.I don't know if it's true and if it is I don't know why

[@ShellyReacts]

I wouldn't know either. I really enjoyed it right out of the gate because of the deep components that were integrated in the song! I guess not everyone has a palette for music like this!

[@twinslive.]

I know your comment is 4mo old but, Flobots as a whole were hated for their time. Can't really say why for sure other than maybe the messages they were pushing weren't super popular back then.

[@inkoinfinity2]

@@twinslive. ah I see, that's probably true

[@sp11raps71]

I remember first hearing this song on the radio. People either loved them or hated them. I appreciate the hell out of their passion regardless.

[@inkoinfinity2]

@@sp11raps71 I didn't know of them til much later, but yeah I respect the passion too

[@Jestiphur]

I can appreciate anyone who can peel back the layers to this song. Sub & Like. I wonder if you would like Cracker Island by Gorillaz?

[@ShellyReacts]

That's a great question, I might need to check that out! Thank you for your comment and your support!