Vocaloid Song Review #2

Paradichlorobenzene (Destructive-Type Brainwashing Song)

English Translation:

Why do I sing? Paradichlorobenzene

I sing without meaning or understanding Paradichlorobenzene

I ran off seeking answers Paradichlorobenzene

But when I got there none were waiting

C'mon, let's sing, let's dance Paradichlorobenzene

C'mon, let's scream, let's shout Paradichlorobenzene

Dogs, cats, cows, pigs, everyone Paradichlorobenzene

C'mon, let's go mad, let's go to sleep till we rot away, yeah

I hate these rules, I won't be tied down

That's why I ran and forgot about everything

I hate being told what to do, I want to be a little bad

Slipping out at night to roam the city streets

What do I live for? I asked a stray

But the cat's only answer was a glare

I gulped down coffee I couldn't stomach, looked up at the cloudy sky

What can I do in the state I'm in? Even that, I just don't know

That's why I sing out Paradichlorobenzene

Don't know what it means, but still I scream Paradichlorobenzene

Are you satisfied now? Paradichlorobenzene

Breaking rules, breaking laws--What would that change about you?

I just need an outlet, don't care who Paradichlorobenzene

Punish the wicked in the name of justice Paradichlorobenzene

Let off steam behind a shield of justice Paradichlorobenzene

Everyone stops, we don't see... How stupid can you get?

Ah, does this song mean anything? These lyrics mean nothing

Is this song guilty? These lyrics are innocent

Does Benzene mean anything? Benzene means nothing

Is Benzene guilty? This song means... Benzene

Then I realize it's all hypocrisy in the end

What's the point of living? The stray cat drowned

I tossed the empty coffee cup and looked at the darkened sky

What am I doing with myself? Even that, I just don't know

I don't know anything anymore

Then you laugh at me Paradichlorobenzene

Then I knock you down Paradichlorobenzene

I'm right, you're wrong Paradichlorobenzene

Surrounded by the void, vanishing until I'm gone

C'mon, let's sing, let's dance Paradichlorobenzene

C'mon, let's laugh, let's be jealous Paradichlorobenzene

You, me, everything Paradichlorobenzene

C'mon, let's go mad, let's go to sleep till we rot away, yeah

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Another depressing song I know. Here's a few facts before we get started. At first Owata-P said that there was no meaning behind the song. Later on he revealed that the song was based after the chemical compound C6H4Cl2. A "reply" song was released a year after called "Antichlorobenzene" which was sung by Kagamine Rin. So our first question is: What is benzene?

Benzene is an important organic chemical compound with the chemical formula C6H6. The benzene molecule is composed of 6 carbon atoms joined in a ring with 1 hydrogen atom attached to each. Because it contains only carbon and hydrogen atoms, benzene is classed as a hydrocarbon. (Information found at Wikipedia) So basically what Len is describing is this:

Benzene Illustration

We do see a similar illustration like this in the song and as well as it's chemical compound. But enough with that science stuff let's move on to the lyrics. There has been flashing images of what seemed to be words let's try to pause and see what these words say. At the beginning of the song, specifically at 0:23) this is what's written:

JUSTICE

because of unspeakable loneliness it's merely self-satisfaction.

I am like a cowardly little dog constantly barking.

In order to protect my little pride, I only looked at my own justice.

I assumed everyone around me was evil-, and even to this day, I still continue to bark.

I can relate to this especially since I'm in my teenage years. A person like me wants to think that everyone is wrong when that's not the case. I've come to realize that only I  was wrong. I wanted to blame someone for my actions when I myself do almost the same thing they're doing. It's sad isn't it? That even "justice" it'self can't be correct. the saying "Just because they're wrong doesn't make you right." really struck me. Sometimes people can't see why others do bad things. A teacher of mine once said that if you do something bad but for a good purpose then it doesn't make you good either. I then thought back to the anime Naruto. Since Itachi killed his clan (other than it's an order) for the sake of his village (if you don't know why, his clan had planned a coup de etat) then does that make him a bad person? Until this day I am greatly confused by this.

DISEASE

As if you were controlled by something lead by the emotions in you.

I understand my condition and I'm irritated by it, but even then I still depend on it.

That only makes it spread and would eventually grab hold of my consciousness.

I've read in the first part of the song "Benzene" that this chemical, when exposed to, can cause cancer. I'm guessing that this was the 'disease' they're talking about. Now I'm not too familiar about cancer since I have not experienced it personally. Though I have witnessed my mother suffer from this disease back when I was only around eight or nine years old. I remember her bedridden in a separate room with Iv's stuck all around her arm at home. I remember how much I wanted her to get better without the knowledge that the disease she caught was deadly. I remember how I drew pictures of us together after she's finally healthy again and would stick it up on the wall beside her so that she could look at it every day. I was so young back then, I didn't know the dangers of this world. I just had a dreaded feeling that time that I knew my mom didn't catch a simple "fever" that my dad kept telling me. I knew that it was much worse and much more life-threatening. I almost cried every time I saw the pack of blood standing by my mother's bedside. For once I actually feared for someone else's life.

DEPENDENCY

I can no longer live without it.

Even if I understand my condition I go against it.

I want other people to accept my existence, to realize my existence.

I envy those who have the means to do this.

I don't hate them.

I just want them to understand me.

It's true that I can no longer live without dependency. It's pretty obvious since I'm only in my teens but I don't think that I could ever live a life without depending on someone. All throughout my life I've depended on my parents since they were the source of my food, clothing, education and such. They were my only source of love. Way back when I was around 4 years old, I remember crying each time my mother would leave me in school. In my tiny little brain I had thought that she always dropped me at an orphanage and didn't want me anymore. I thought that I would become parent-less like the rest of the children with me. I couldn't comprehend the meaning of school that time. So I had to repeat Kindergarten the next year. I'm the oldest in the class and I don't mind at all, still at the back of my mind I still have this feeling that my mom will give up on me and my brothers soon.

What am I fighting against?

I just take a person I don't know, call him evil, and fight against him.

Jealousy.

At around 1:09 we see these words in the video. Almost as If it's his conclusion of the statements earlier in the intro. But there's more to come. At the second verse we see as Len is singing the words Rules, Laws and Regulations were spinning in the background. This can be related the the verse he was singing where he doesn't like being tied down, would run away from home and would want to try being the 'bad guy' this time. This can happen to most teenagers where they'll g against the many rules and try to be the villain for once. In other words, they're sick of all the rules and rebel against they're parents.

Without even realizing it's the same thing.

Was shown for a split second in 1:45. This statement can mean a lot of things. Let's relate it to the fact that he ran away from home. Maybe h thought that running away from home is all the same thing. Everywhere he goes there'll always be rules to maintain peace and order. There was a time in the second verse where he mentioned that he doesn't like being ordered around. Maybe everywhere he goes he still feels like a helpless dog whose all bark but no bite? Who knows...

I won't accept this.

Everybody else who succeeded besides me are evil.

I'll always look for a weakness.

Now this is some serious pride disorder(?). I had this once when I was still young and innocent. I had always thought that the world was mine and I had the cuteness that could sway anyone off their feet and make them give me whatever I wanted (except for my parent who barely spoiled me). I thought that I was on top of the world stepping on everyone else. While growing up, that wasn't the case. I had a classmate back in kindergarten. He suffered from ADHD but somehow managed to grasp the teachers all in his tiny little hands. Everyone adored him. I was only put second. I couldn't beat him at anything, but he would always be the winner. The star. Even my mother adored him. And during those stages of my childhood I wanted everyone's attention to myself. I instantly grew jealous of him. He was my first victim who I killed in my own little world. Before I knew it I've gown into a monster.

Insignificance

Despair

Hate

Delusion

Indiscriminate

Everything done is for my self-satisfaction.

That's why even today...

These words have shown themselves within the later part of the video. And these were all I felt during my early stages of my pubescent years. Just like these word's description, these were all that I was that time. I was Grade 3 when I wanted to live on my own and actually grow independent, it was also my first year of growing distant towards my family. That all changed until grade 5 and 6 where I concluded that I would use my parents for my everyday needs. They were only tools sent by God for me, so why not take advantage of them? Once I had showed them my growing results in my academics they showered me with gifts. As long as I could maintain my reputation and status at school, then their purpose wouldn't be wasted. No one would know of the person I am.

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English Translation at: Paradichlorobenzene

Video found at: Paradichlorobenzene (Video)

Oliver's english version: Paradichlorobenzene (English Dubbed)

Image found at: Benzene