Will Obama change Arcade Fire?

The day after the most exciting political event of my 24 years, I am pondering the ways in which the world has changed. Yes, Obama's election surely alters the political climate of the country and world, but it also affects much smaller aspects of my worldview. Today, while walking down the street, I listened to Neon Bible by Arcade fire for the first time in quite a while and instantly thought of the show I saw them play at Red Rocks just over a year ago. Just before playing the song Intervention from Neon Bible, Win Butler dedicated the song to "Governor Bush." Since then, every time I've listened to that song, I have been bombarded by the political frustration which the band articulated so well, and with which I identified so easily. Today though, things were different.

The song's lyrics hadn't changed since the last time I heard them, but somehow they felt distant. They felt lighter than they used to, like they were somehow ironic. I realized then that the old meaning and had been taken and redeemed, replacing the heaviness of cynicism with, as cliche as it sounds, hope. Despite months of listening to Obama speeches and knowing that his presidency would mean changing the political climate, it failed to coalesce into reality. Until now. As I listened to Win Butler voice his anger, it finally sunk in that the reasons for his angst and mine, the hypocracy and fear of the last 8 years, were in the past. The lyrics that only recently had me shouting along in the car gave me a calm optimism and a smile, knowing that we can make progress. Our country, and more importantly, our people really can change and inspire. Yes. We. Can.

It will be interesting to hear the next Arcade Fire album. Funeral was supremely introspective, and Neon Bible was fueled by external frustration, not the least of which was political. It doesn't seem too crazy to think that their next effort will be filled with hope. If Obama's victory can change the way I hear music, it goes without saying that it might change the way a politically-conscious band makes music. After all, the line "I don't want to live in America no more" may no longer accurately express Win Butler's feelings. It sure doesn't come close to mine any more.