The song that I'm focusing on tonight is called "Tell Me a Story." In ways, the song is reflecting on what the world's become. The song opens with Strutters saying that everywhere she looks, theres' pain and sadness. Our world is entirely full of negative news, but particularly in this new century, we've seen so much tragedy as a country. Terrorism, riots, wars, diseases, and other such things. I've heard that taking in too much news coverage (regardless of political leanings) can make people too cynical negative.
The rest of the song is about the singer asking to be told a story from long ago. Of medieval knights, divers searching for lost treasures, or even fairy tales. That need for escapism is often our cultural go-to when times are hard. During the Great Depression, children and adults alike would read comics and pulp novels. While there wasn't enough money to take the people out of poverty, there were stories to give them some creative consolation. This notion may similarly also be why we (in general) pay much more attention to comics and superhero stories now. With all these "popcorn" movies that come out during the late spring and summer, people seem to crave movies with big names, funny quips, and plenty of action. Sometimes even some underlying social rhetoric.
I've heard from some people in the comics community that they want comic book stories that are literally fantastic, and unlike anything that could happen in the real world. It's a subject that comic fans are divided about (surrealism vs. super surrealism), and I guess that the motivation behind this preference is that with unbridle violence and badass-ery, people can be very entertained while feeling protected from the world of the film's characters.
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