declan mckenna comes back with “british bombs”
By Mackenzie Wagner
Columbia Records 2019
On Aug. 19, after over two years of waiting, the U.K. native singer/songwriter Declan McKenna released “British Bombs”, an eclectic tune with political lyrics similar to those that the 20-year-old is known for. Like “British Bombs”, McKenna’s debut album “What Do You Think About the Car?” is known for its political tones, focusing on police brutality, violence, and religion. His new song is rebellious and nothing short of sparking a political conversation.
“British Bombs” was inspired by the current discussion of Britain’s constant state of war and the United Kingdom’s foreign policies, especially in terms of their arms trade. Due to the political nature of McKenna’s music, it was not surprising to listeners that he articulated an anti-war piece so well. The song features a dynamic guitar sound, McKenna’s strong vocals, and defiant lyrics, which are all consistent with the young artist's sound and style.
In the second verse, McKenna sings about how people recognize the sacrifices made in a war for only a short time before carrying on. He sings, “One day each year, a worry / We shall remember the dead / And we’ll remember the dead so they know that we’re sorry / But then carry on” in reference to Remembrance Day. McKenna criticizes how people only express sorrow one day out of the year by showing respect and remembrance and then carry on with life, being unphased by the war happening around them.
“British Bombs” also examines how wars can be generalized within societies. The lyrics, “Get real, kid, your country’s been at war since birth now / And if it’s not a fucking outrage, what’s it all about then?” reference how Britain has had involvements in war for quite some time yet citizens are unphased because it is not portrayed as an outrage. McKenna realizes that Britain has been a part of the war and the sales of arms for his whole life and recognizes that one does not need to feel the immediate consequences of war to know that others are experiencing them. For the 20 years McKenna has been alive, Britain has been involved in the industry of war, yet McKenna feels that there is no sense of anger or indignation within the U.K. and uses these lyrics to express his outrage.
After a two-year hiatus, Declan McKenna has proven that he has not lost his sound, style, or sense of rebellion. “British Bombs” is an expressive and outspoken piece both lyrically and musically. The sharp guitar throughout the song pairs well with irrepressible lyrics about a topic that is often overlooked and rarely discussed in music.
McKenna plans to give all proceeds from “British Bombs” to charity. He feels that the impact of war and the sales of arms is not always seen, therefore, he wants to make a donation to charities that will help those who see the direct effect in their lives. A second album is currently in the works for this U.K. artist, and after listening to “British Bombs”, it is sure to be well worth the wait.
On Aug. 19, after over two years of waiting, the U.K. native singer/songwriter Declan McKenna released “British Bombs”, an eclectic tune with political lyrics similar to those that the 20-year-old is known for. Like “British Bombs”, McKenna’s debut album “What Do You Think About the Car?” is known for its political tones, focusing on police brutality, violence, and religion. His new song is rebellious and nothing short of sparking a political conversation.
“British Bombs” was inspired by the current discussion of Britain’s constant state of war and the United Kingdom’s foreign policies, especially in terms of their arms trade. Due to the political nature of McKenna’s music, it was not surprising to listeners that he articulated an anti-war piece so well. The song features a dynamic guitar sound, McKenna’s strong vocals, and defiant lyrics, which are all consistent with the young artist's sound and style.
In the second verse, McKenna sings about how people recognize the sacrifices made in a war for only a short time before carrying on. He sings, “One day each year, a worry / We shall remember the dead / And we’ll remember the dead so they know that we’re sorry / But then carry on” in reference to Remembrance Day. McKenna criticizes how people only express sorrow one day out of the year by showing respect and remembrance and then carry on with life, being unphased by the war happening around them.
“British Bombs” also examines how wars can be generalized within societies. The lyrics, “Get real, kid, your country’s been at war since birth now / And if it’s not a fucking outrage, what’s it all about then?” reference how Britain has had involvements in war for quite some time yet citizens are unphased because it is not portrayed as an outrage. McKenna realizes that Britain has been a part of the war and the sales of arms for his whole life and recognizes that one does not need to feel the immediate consequences of war to know that others are experiencing them. For the 20 years McKenna has been alive, Britain has been involved in the industry of war, yet McKenna feels that there is no sense of anger or indignation within the U.K. and uses these lyrics to express his outrage.
After a two-year hiatus, Declan McKenna has proven that he has not lost his sound, style, or sense of rebellion. “British Bombs” is an expressive and outspoken piece both lyrically and musically. The sharp guitar throughout the song pairs well with irrepressible lyrics about a topic that is often overlooked and rarely discussed in music.
McKenna plans to give all proceeds from “British Bombs” to charity. He feels that the impact of war and the sales of arms is not always seen, therefore, he wants to make a donation to charities that will help those who see the direct effect in their lives. A second album is currently in the works for this U.K. artist, and after listening to “British Bombs”, it is sure to be well worth the wait.