They did it again — the Korean rock band Xdinary Heroes have once again released an extraordinary song. ‘Beautiful Life’ is the main track of their album Beautiful Mind, released on March 24th, and the song brings back that classical rock inspiration which is missed by many in the mainstream media.
The song finds similarities in other iconic songs, such as ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ by Queen; we can see this resemblance in the frequent changes of rhythm, alternating between fast and slow. It is also evident in the bridge, where only the piano and the drums are played.
This part of the song, paired with the sudden prominence of the drums coupled with the guitars, can also call to mind the intro of ‘Welcome to the Black Parade’ by My Chemical Romance, emphasising the emotion and heavy meaning of the song.
Indeed, the lyrics of ‘Beautiful Life’ are a call for rebellion and the pursuit of personal freedom; the words ‘salute to the intangible king, was told to kill for my peace’ in the first verse set the tone for the song, implying that an invisible authority figure oppresses the members. A few lines after comes the pre-chorus, referring directly to George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984: “War is peace and freedom’s slavery, ignorance is strength”. This part contributes to accentuating the rebellious spirit of the song by reminding us of the message held by Orwell’s writing, which is omnipresent in the entire song. The members warn us about higher authorities’ power, through the manipulation of thoughts and fear, and we are encouraged to advocate for our liberties and lives by creating our definition of truth.
In the end, with that nostalgic feeling mixed with their musical style, Xdinary Heroes managed to release a new masterpiece that already fully resonates with the fans, and even though “no one’s here to find you”, the members’ talent will find its way to impress you.
Written by: Shan Gosselin
Edited by: Ilse Muis
