System Of A Down’s ‘B.Y.O.B.’ Is Holistically Brilliant
As a teenager, I was late to the party in regards to System of a Down. My love of the band didn’t come, unfortunately, until after they had split up, but when I did discover them, one song struck me immediately: B.Y.O.B.
When I first heard the song, I mostly liked it for the catchy chorus riff and that Serj Tankian boisterously sang “la la la la la la la la la”, but looking back, this song is beautifully constructed. The music and lyrics work together to create a holistic display of its anti-war message.
The first notable feature is the title itself. Most people are familiar with B.Y.O.B. meaning “bring your own bottles” to a party that will not be providing alcohol, but the band subtitles their song “bring your own bombs.”
Without playing a note, the listener is already being shown the thesis of the music. System of a Down is critiquing how war is celebrated as something good while it is abhorrent and devastating in reality. This theme covers every aspect of the music from the form to the instrumental motifs and lyrics.
B.Y.O.B. has an interesting structure that juxtaposes two vastly different styles. The verses place a hard emphasis on each beat, pounding the listener’s ears through expeditious guitars and drums. The singing is likewise short and accented with a simple melody.
When the chorus arrives, it could almost be mistaken for a different song as the emphasis changes in the drums to the offbeat, typical of dance music. Simultaneously, the guitar and bass display a riff that will surely be stuck in the listener’s head.
This comparison between musical military precision and catchy pop music is reinforced when one’s analyzes the lyrics.
During the first verse, Tankian exclaims:
Barbarisms by Barbaras
With pointed heels
Victorious Victorias kneel
For brand new spanking deals
Marching forward, hypocritic
And hypnotic computers
You depend on our protection
Yet you feed us lies from the tablecloth
The words “victorious”, “protection”, and “marching” bring forth images of a conquering army already suggested by the music. The repetitive rhythms could be interpreted as a form of text painting, when the music mimics the words, as the repeated notes certainly are “hypnotic” and robotic as a military procession.
When the chorus is reached, the tone of lyrics shifts drastically:
Everybody’s going to the party
Have a real good time
Dancin’ in the desert
Blowin’ up the sunshine
Suddenly, visions of frivolity and dancing are evoked. The aggressive tone of before is quieted as the singers near-whisper the lyrics and the guitars play syncopated rhythms with more pauses between notes.
So, the listener is given two jarringly different sections that compare the themes of “military” and “partying”. At first, it would seem to suggest that the two messages are not connected, but then the break is reached.
After the second chorus, Daron Malakian screams:
Blast off, it’s party time
And we don’t live in a fascist nation
Blast off, it’s party time
And where the fuck are you?
But unlike before, the music behind the party imagery is similar to the verses, pounding guitars, and unrelenting drums that seem never-ending. This is where the song’s message becomes evident.
B.Y.O.B. musically suggests that the line between “having fun” and “war” are purposefully blurred by governments. The verse and chorus dichotomy suggests this line, but when the break combines the two opposing themes, it is revealed to the listener that the Dionysian messages used to justify war are a farce.
This is why the break claims “we don’t live in a fascist nation” and “where the fuck are you?”. It is a symbol of politicians and military leaders denouncing rejections of war and encouraging everyone to get involved in the efforts.
System of a Down protests this treatment by responding to these politicians:
Why don’t presidents fight the war?
Why do they always send the poor?
These lyrics are repeated over the aggressive music from the break as if the only way to truly beat the false marketing that war is a giant celebration is for the people to use their own power against it.
If politicians are going to shout “blast off, it’s party time”, the people have to shout even louder “why don’t presidents fight the war?” This is displayed musically by Malakian singing the former lyric alone, while the latter is sung by multiple voices.
B.Y.O.B. is a superb example of brilliant craftmanship for all of these reasons. System of a Down used the music and lyrics in tandem to sell their message and created some truly artful rock and roll. Hopefully, with the new singles that were recently released, the world will once again witness their brilliance.
