Mad World

Adam Lambert remade this song originally sung by Gary Jules. I haven’t heard the Gary Jules version, but Adam Lambert’s is being played on the radio all the time these days. When I first heard the song, what took me was the melody. It’s such a sad tune, and Adam Lambert sings is so well in his haunting voice. I don’t mean haunting in a bad way, it was just really the word I’d use to describe his soulful crooning.

But when you get to listen to the lyrics and understand them, the song gets kind of depressing. Um, I think it can pass for like a suicide note or something. Just look at these excerpts from the lyrics and be the judge:

“All around are me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for the daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere
And their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head I wanna drown my sorrows
No tomorrow, no tomorrow”

“And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which in dying
Are the best I’ve ever had“

Tell me that isn’t depressing.

On the other hand it gets you thinking about life, and your purpose for living in this “mad world.” In this fast-paced modern world, the danger is always there to get lost in routine. The song is a reminder for us to pause once in a while, take a break from our hectic schedule and examine where we’re really going.