City in Song

Cities are understood as the bustling centers of life, sleepless, busy, glittering. Depictions of Manhattan or Paris are vibrant and inspiring. What is often disregarded, is the notion that every glistening metropolis consists not only of beautiful skylines but of musty undergrounds, subways, and sewers. Two songs, “Modern Man” (Arcade Fire) and “Detroit, Lift Up Your Weary Head! (Rebuild! Restore! Reconsider!)” (Sufjan Stevens), analyze some of the imperfections and downfalls that are found in cities. In their considerations the two songs examine a flaw and look to resolve the said limitation.

  Arcade Fire’s, “Modern Man” begins its narrative gradually, like a novel. The introduction, “So I wait my turn I’m a modern man” presents with a character whom the audience follows throughout the song. The character projects the image of a city dweller, in the constant state of waiting in lines seemingly without end. Despite the perception that city life is a dream, “Oh I had a dream I was dreaming”, the character grasps at meaning in an attempt to understand what is wrong with the circumstances, “Makes me feel like, Something don't feel right”. The song continues to explore the nature of the modern man’s life in the city. 

Sufjan Stevens acknowledges in his song, “Detroit, Lift Up Your Weary Head! (Rebuild! Restore! Reconsider!)” the deprived condition of a once great city. Stevens constructs the accepted image of Detroit by including the phrase “Now a prison” protecting the stereotype of crime and debauchery. Despite the repetition of such phrases as “Now a prison” he focuses on the past greatness, “Once a great place”. The song attempts to reconcile and understand the collapse, and visualize a new beginning. 

    Despite the vast differences between the two songs they both represent the decline of cities and their inhabitants. Overall attempting to understand the progression towards demise.