Song Of The Week

TV On The Radio- "Wolf Like Me"

This song is a work of art. When a friend first recommended I listen to it, I didn’t think much of it. I guess Gloria Jean’s isn’t the right place for me to sit and concentrate on a song, without any distractions. It wasn’t until that night when I went home and played it again, that I understood it. The howls, the seductive and almost erotic lyrics and captivating music overwhelmed me.

When studying exactly what the song is about, I was brought back to the story of “Little Red Riding Hood.” The idea of the innocent, young girl and the big, bad wolf seems to fit perfectly. Although in this case, the mythological Werewolf can fit in more appropriately.

What other song could tell a story of two, unusual lovers, so perfectly? In the beginning, the Werewolf is all alone, and he tries to lure Red down the wrong path. He sings about his “curse,” and the incredible joy he experiences as he changes into his true form once the sun sets. In the middle of the song, the music changes and we can tell the story is going to shift. He gets his girl. He changes her, takes her innocence, and they finally get to experience the feeling together. In the last stage of the song they both share the curse, and will continue their existence: “howling forever.”

This song can be interpreted differently by everyone that hears it. Some believe it’s a song about sex, and robbing someone’s innocence, others can see It as a song about a drug habit. Others believe that it’s a Werewolf biting and therefore, changing a person so they have a companion to live with. However you decide to interpret the song, keep in mind the story serves as possible metaphor. The changing of a person, either literally or metaphorically, the way people can be “changed” over time. The robbing of innocence. All these factors, accompanied by some amazing music, make for a great song. Give it a listen, and see if you aren’t hypnotized by its excellence.