I've mentioned a few times how my favorite music is Industrial Music. For those who are unaware, Industrial is a type of electronic music that got its name from featuring non-traditional instruments like banging on pipes and power tool noises. It technically began in the mid 1970s in England but did not really gain popularity until the early 1980s. By this time, the sound had become more rhythmic and less experimental. It was blossoming into a very aggressive electronic dance music with heavy guitars, drum machines and plenty of bass. Chicago, where I lived and still do, became the major hub of Industrial music. A record store and record label named Wax Trax! became the home to some of the greatest and most influential bands of the genre. this included Ministry, Revolting Cocks, KMFDM, Front Line Assemble, Front 242, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult and Meat Beat Manifesto.
Ministry, fronted by the grand daddy of Industrial Al Jourgensen, actually had a really unique strategy. While some bands sell out after starting out incredibly cool (I'm looking at you red Hot Chili Peppers), Ministry decided to do it the other way around. They would make some music they knew would sell so they could bank it and put it into the hard Industrial sound they really wanted to make. Because new wave (especially from England) was getting popular in the early 80s, Jourgensen decided to put on a whiny fake British accent and record some super poppy songs that were bound to get club play. One such song called "Every Day is Halloween" even got featured in a beer commercial for Old Style Dry. Even though this music was all a scam to sell records... it was some damn fun music. I recently saw Ministry play one of its fake British poppy albums in its entirety and it was incredible.
But this is not meant to be a history of Industrial music. It is meant to show how music is timeless.
This year, I have a student who has been bullied because of their interests and style of dress. I have spent a lot of time working with this student to build them up and to try to get them to be proud of their uniqueness. I have done my best to encourage them to find "their people" so they won't feel like such an outsider. I have also expressed that being an outsider isn't necessarily a bad thing. We always stress that people should be their own person. they shouldn't change just to fit in, yet this kid laments that they can't or won't do that. I try to teach that if you like the person looking back from the mirror at you, that is the most important thing. They should be themselves and be proud of who they are.
Last week, they came into my class wearing Halloween pajamas. In case you didn't know, Halloween was about three weeks ago so to many, their outfit seemed absurd. Because the outfit was legit cool, I told the student that their outfit was cool. They sadly looked down and said "Yeah but everyone is making fun of me."
I started telling them about a song that I liked when I was their age. I explained that it is called "Every Day is Halloween" by Ministry. I recited a few of the lyrics and the kid smiled a bit. They said "sounds familiar". I responded "Yep. Me too". I wanted them to know they aren't alone. In fact their feelings aren't even new. Teenagers have been feeling this way since the ancient times of the 1980s. And even some teachers felt that way when they were 14.
After I was confident the student was in a better headspace, I started to walk away. The student asked, "What's the name of that song again? Who sings it?" I relayed the info and the kid took out their phone. The next day, the student bounced into my room and declared, "I've been listening to that song since yesterday. It's awesome!"
Let me share the lyrcis and let you decide why the kid though the song was so good:
"Well, I live with snakes and lizards
And other things that go bump in the night
'Cause to me every day is Halloween
I have given up hiding and started to fight
I have started to fight
Well anytime, any place, anywhere that I go
All the people seem to stop and stare
They say, "Why are you dressed like it's Halloween?"
"You look so absurd, you look so obscene!"
Oh, why can't I live a life for me?
Why should I take the abuse that's served?
Why can't they see they're just like me?
It's the same, it's the same in the whole wide world
Well, I let their teeny minds think
That they're dealing with someone who is over the brink
And I dress this way just to keep them at bay
'Cause Halloween is every day, hey
It's every day, hey
Oh, why can't I live a life for me?
Why should I take the abuse that's served?
Why can't they see they're just like me?
It's the same, it's the same in the whole wide world
Oh, why can't I live a life for me?
Why should I take the abuse that's served?
Why can't they see they're just like me?
I'm not the one that's so absurd
(Why can't I live a life for me? Oh) Why hide it? Why fight it?
(No! Why should I?) Hurt feelings, best to stop feeling hurt
From denials (oh), reprisals
It's the same, it's the same in the whole wide world
It's the same, it's the same in the whole wide
It's the same, it's the same in the whole wide
Oh, it's the same, it's the same in the whole wide"
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Al Jourgensen
Every Day Is Halloween lyrics © Lovolar Music
Now obviously, the line "I have given up hiding and started to fight" is metaphorical and I would not have shared this with a student if I thought for one second that they would not understand that... but I think it inspired them to not hide who they are. They don't dress like everyone else. They don't look like everyone else. They don't act like everyone else. They don't like what everyone else likes... and they should not hide that. They should be proud of their uniqueness.
We all know that music has healing properties. It helps to know one is not alone in their feelings. Hopefully this poppy sell out song empowers this kid to embrace their uniqueness... like it did for me 40 years ago.