Sabaton - Alex J
Sabaton
The band Sabaton and its lead singer and writer Joakim Brodén have a focus on historical events and military history in the making of their songs. The one song of focus is “The Winged Hussars” which is about the elite military unit of Polish cavalry that helped alleviate the siege of Vienna by the Ottomans during the 17th century. The other song is “Bismarck” which is about the famous German ship the Bismarck which was engaged in an epic battle in the Atlantic before its eventual sinking.
Question:
In what way does Sabaton highlight and bring to life historical events in the songs
Answer:
The Song “The Winged Hussars” focuses on the historical event of the siege of Vienna in the year 1683. In the context of the siege the city of Vienna was being besieged by the Ottoman empire and was holding out until the famous charge by the Polish cavalry (the elite unit is known as Hussars) and it was led by Polish King John III Sobieski helped lift the siege. The charge to date is the largest known cavalry charge in history. In the song it goes through roughly goes over the idea that during the siege, the defending forces of the Holy League were in a rush against time to get out of the siege with the ottomans closing in; the song visualizes this in the lyrics “When the winged hussars arrived, A cry for help in time of need, await relief from holy league, 60 days of siege, outnumbered and weak, Sent a message to the sky, wounded soldiers left to die, Will they hold the wall or will the city fall” (“Winged Hussars”). This shows the dire situation the armies within Vienna were in while they were waiting to be relieved from the siege. The next set of the lyrics continue “Then the winged hussars arrived, Coming down the mountainside, Then the winged hussars arrived, Coming down they turned the tide” (“Winged Hussars”). This set of lyrics visualizes the appearance of the Hussars on the battlefield and how they helped turn the tide of the battle. When it comes to the effects of the victory it was disastrous for the Ottoman empire and marked the beginning of its long decline.
In the Song “Bismarck” by Sabaton is a good retelling of the great German ship the “Bismarck” and its final battle in the Atlantic in the midst of World War II. The context to the song is that there was a famous German ship by the name “Bismarck” and it was a massive vessel that possessed a lot of speed. The ship would be a part of a mission called “Operation Rhineland” in which it would go on to sink the British battlecruiser HMS Hood in the Battle of Denmark Strait. After which the ship would engage in a 3,000 mile long high speed chase with British naval forces and after a valiant battle it would be sunk. The importance of the battle was both the utter scale of the ship “Bismarck” but also the intensity of the battle. Sabaton illustrates the scale of the ship in the lyrics “Pride of a nation, a beast made of steel Bismarck in motion, king of the ocean He was made to rule the waves across the seven seas To lead the war machine” (“Bismarck”). The intensity of the battle can be seen with the following lyrics “Into formation, the hunt has begun, Death and damnation, the fleet is coming. He was made to rule the waves across the seven seas, To lead the war machine, To rule the waves and lead the Kriegsmarine, The terror of the seas, The Bismarck and the Kriegsmarine” (“Bismarck”). The song by Sabaton highlights the grand size of the ship the Bismarck while also laying out how grand its final battle and demise was.
Prompt 1: What words, phrases, use of language, images particularly struck you? Why?
One display of imagery in the song “The Winged Hussars” was the lyrics “Storm clouds, fire and steel, Death from above, make their enemy kneel, Shining armor and wings, Death from above, it's an army of kings” (“Winged Hussars”). I think it shows how the battle was something that was of epic proportions and it makes it sound cool.
Prompt 2: Focus on who is speaking in the song. Is it the artist, a persona, or an imagined voice/speaker. Write a brief paragraph explaining how does the point-of-view shape your understanding of the songs or message? What might change if the song were written from a different perspective?
In the song “Bismarck” the voice that is speaking in the song is more of a narrator that is describing the events of the battle in a dramatic recounting. Since the song is in the third person and described by a narrator, to me it does a good job at encapsulating the scene and as well as the character of the ship. If the song were written from a more personal perspective or one that was in the first person then perhaps it could have created a different feel about the intensity of the battle or could have described different aspects of the ship.
Works Cited
“Bismarck.” Genius, performed by Sabaton, 2019, https://genius.com/Sabaton-bismarck-lyrics.
“Winged Hussars.” Genius, performed by Sabaton, 2016, https://genius.com/Sabaton-winged-hussars-lyrics.
Hi Alex, I think you did a good job answering your question in your response to it. I have never listened to Sabaton and it is different than most music I listen to, but I did enjoy listening to these two songs. I liked how you broke down both of the songs and used examples of the lyrics and showed how the band brought historical events into their songs. I think you could add how Sabaton tells the events and also makes them emotional. Like in "Winged Hussars" it has this build up in the song before the calvary arrives and that can create some tension and emotion. The repeated lines of "winged hussars arrive" feels powerful. That could be a good thing to add. In "Bismarck" he kind of uses the lyrics to make the battleship feel personal. This song helps the listeners to understand the significance abotu World war 2 and feel the intensity of the battle. I enjoyed listening to these songs they seem like good choices for this discussion.
ReplyDeleteWorks Cited
“Bismarck.” Genius, performed by Sabaton, 2019, https://genius.com/Sabaton-bismarck-lyrics.
“Winged Hussars.” Genius, performed by Sabaton, 2016, https://genius.com/Sabaton-winged-hussars-lyrics.
Hi Alex, I have never heard of this artist before so it was interesting to listen to their music. I also struggle with understanding history so I was not aware of these historical events that well. After reading your question and your response, it seems like you answered it very well. I like how you explained the context to "Winged Hussars", it is important to understanding the song. However, listening to the songs before understanding the context, a lyric which stood out to me was "As the days are passing by and as the dead are piling high / No escape and no salvation". Before I knew this related to the siege of Vienna event, this lyric stuck out to me because it can relate to almost any war in general. The song "Bismarck" reflects the final battle of the German ship and how it eventually sunk. Both of these songs are interesting in the way they connect to specific historical events while "Winged Hussars" could take a more broad view on war in general.
ReplyDeleteThe band Sabaton uses their musical work Winged Hussars and Bismarck to present historical events through their storytelling and musical transitions that reflect actual historical events. The band develops their song "Winged Hussars" through its depiction of the Battle of Vienna which shows how the city faced defeat until Polish cavalry arrived. The inclusion of John III Sobieski in the text brings historical details while demonstrating leadership qualities and heroic attributes. The music reaches its peak intensity during the chorus which creates a simulation of cavalry charges that enables listeners to experience sudden shifts from defeat to triumph. The moment demonstrates how Sabaton employs sound design to create emotional experiences that match historical events which changed history. The song "Bismarck" presents a longer narrative that revolves around the German battleship Bismarck during World War II. The song uses heavy mechanical rhythms to create an impact that matches the naval warship's strength and the vastness of ocean battles. The narrative develops through its various stages until the ship reaches its final moments which show its fall from power to complete annihilation. Sabaton achieves historical transformation through their song by matching lyrical content with their music's changing patterns and the different musical elements.
ReplyDeleteHey Alex! I see what you’re saying about both songs focusing on how intense and important these battles were, but I think they also show two different ways history gets remembered. In Winged Hussars, lines like “A cry for help in time of need” and “await relief from holy league” make it feel like the defenders are part of something bigger than just one city, and almost like they are that protection for all of Europe (“Winged Hussars”). When it says “sent a message to the sky, wounded soldiers left to die,” it adds a more emotional side that shows the cost of waiting for that help, not just the victory aspect (“Winged Hussars”). Then when “Then the winged hussars arrived” is repeated, it feels less like just a battle moment and more like a turning point people would remember as heroic for generations (“Winged Hussars”). In Bismarck, the focus feels more on reputation and legacy, especially with “He was made to rule the waves across the seven seas,” which builds up this idea that the ship was supposed to dominate (“Bismark”). At the same time, “into formation, the hunt has begun” shows how quickly that reputation turns into pressure once enemies start chasing it (“Bismark”). The long pursuit in the song also makes it seem like the story of the Bismarck is more about how it was remembered after, not just what it did in one moment. So while both songs show big military moments, one feels like a story of survival and heroism, and the other feels more like a warning about how fame and power can lead to downfall.
ReplyDeleteHi Alex! I think these song choices are very fitting for you. After looking at you analysis I don't see much you could make better. For the final assignment I think making your paragraphs a little smaller and more consice would help you out. Looking at "Winged Hussars I think that Sabaton brings the story to life by recounting a detailed descripition of how the event played out and including the emotions of those who were stuck inside the fort. For example, when they say "No escape and no salvation, Trenches to explosive halls are buried deep beneath the walls, Plant the charges there and watch the city fear"(Sabaton). I think that the Bismarck uses a different approach, Instead they use heavy imagery to help the reader visualize what is happening. For example, "From the mist, a shape, a ship, is taking form, And the silence of the sea is about to drift into a storm" it shows how much presence the ship had. For your universal betterment I honestly can't think of anything other than the basic you have to know history so you don't repeat it but I am sure you can think of something.
ReplyDeleteHi Alex! I actually found the ship, Bismarck, quite interesting and went through its Wikipedia to learn more. To answer you question, in "Winged Hussars," the band tells the story of the Battle of Vienna in 1683. They write, "Then the winged hussars arrived/Coming down the mountainside" to create a vivid picture of the rescue (Brodén and Sundström). This lyric makes the listener feel the excitement of the soldiers saving the city. In "Bismarck," the band focuses more on a famous German battleship from World War II. They describe the ship as a powerful force by writing, "Pride of a nation, a beast made of steel" (Brodén and Sundström). This language helps the audience imagine how giant and terrifying the ship was during the war. Sabaton uses these descriptions to make history feel like an epic movie instead of a boring lesson. They focus on the bravery of people and the power of technology to keep the past alive. By using heavy metal music, they capture the intensity of these historical moments. These songs encourage the fans to learn more about the real events that shaped our world.
ReplyDeleteWorks Cited:
“Bismarck.” Genius, performed by Sabaton, 2019, https://genius.com/Sabaton-bismarck-lyrics.
“Winged Hussars.” Genius, performed by Sabaton, 2016, https://genius.com/Sabaton-winged-hussars-lyrics.
The lyrics in both "Winged Hassars" and "Bismarck" are depictions of battles. With the song "Winged Hassars" describing what the men see as saviors coming to help. With one line in the song saying "Coming down they turned the tide". The description of the Winged Hassars makes it seem like the soldiers looked up to them and fealt that they were saviors. Then in "Bismarck" the description o the battle feels more like a sea battle rather then being on foot and in the field as "Winged Hassars" was. One of the lines in "Bismarck" says "The flagship of the navy, the terror of the seas". Describes the fear that comes from naval warfare and most of the song makes you feel like you are at war.
ReplyDeleteHi, Alex!
ReplyDeleteI think the second song, "Bismarck", highlights significant historical events by retelling them through the modern mode of metal music. In the music video, realistic recreations of this monumental ship further bring to life this 85-year-old historical event. The way the ship is described is also of note. Rather than using literal descriptions, the Bismarck is described as "[The] Pride of a nation, a beast made of steel/Bismarck in motion, king of the ocean,"
which is a fascinating use of metonymy ("Bismarck"). When reading a history textbook, it can be difficult to surpass the mental barrier that prevents people from understanding that historical figures, and especially unnamed soldiers or dock workers, are real people who had dreams and aspirations, just like people do in the present time. Songs like these help to break down those barriers. Bismarck is especially interesting in this regard, because the song is still in third person, similar to a textbook. Yet, it does not sound dissociated from the reality of the event.
Works Cited:
“Bismarck.” Genius, performed by Sabaton, 2019, https://genius.com/Sabaton-bismarck-lyrics.
Hey Alex I think your song choices were really cool because Sabaton makes history sound way more interesting than it normally does in school. I liked how you explained the story behind “Winged Hussars” because it helped me understand what was happening in the battle. The line “Then the winged hussars arrived / Coming down they turned the tide” “Winged Hussars” really stood out to me because it makes the cavalry sound heroic and powerful. I also liked your explanation of “Bismarck” because the lyrics make the ship seem huge and dangerous, especially when they say “Pride of a nation, a beast made of steel” “Bismarck”. That imagery helps people picture how important and feared the ship was during World War II. I think Sabaton does a good job bringing history to life because their songs sound dramatic and tell the events almost like a story instead of just giving facts. I also agree with what you said about the narrator perspective because it makes the songs feel bigger and more cinematic. Overall, your analysis made both songs easier to understand and honestly made me want to listen to more of their music.
ReplyDeleteWorks Cited:
“Bismarck.” Genius, performed by Sabaton, 2019, https://genius.com/Sabaton-bismarck-lyrics.
“Winged Hussars.” Genius, performed by Sabaton, 2016, https://genius.com/Sabaton-winged-hussars-lyrics.