Some people spend years searching for who they truly are. Weather they’re living as someone that they’re not, or they simply don’t know where they belong, it’s not easy to become yourself and establish a true identity. It may be difficult to stand out, but it’s something that we’re all capable of. The Canada based hardcore band, Counterparts, often uses songs as messages; portraying individuality and comfort with who you are as a person. Creating an uplifting message in “Prophets”, Counterparts utilizes forceful points of view, invincible mood, and all-powerful hyperbole in order to illuminate that everyone can “be what you want to be” and even though “others may tell you how to live” you must “chase your dreams”.
The point of view effectively shifts from first to second point of view, but in an assertive way. The start of the song is in second person point of view, “Others may tell you how to live/but I can assure you that your life is in your own hands”. Paired with lines like, “Anyone can follow blindly/but it’s up to you to rise above the masses” the speaker is telling listeners directly and forcefully that in the end, a person’s life is up to them and them only. The speaker may be dominant and almost punchy, but he shifts from second to first with “You cannot lead us from our path”. Instead of an almost overwhelming message being thrown violently on the listener, the shift reveals that the speaker is on the reader’s side by using the word “us”. Furthermore, a sense of togetherness is reestablished a couple lines later, “And all the force in the world cannot make us falter”. Here, the speaker’s assertive voice is shown true as someone that simply wants listeners to know that they have strength no matter what. Finally, the use of the word “us” is dropped and replaced by “I”, “I know exactly who I am”. The speaker finally shows that he is proud of who he is and that he wants listeners to feel the same way.
The mood conveyed by Counterparts is one of indestructibility, which correlates nicely with the confident point of view. The mood is overall very confident, proud, and invincible with previously mentioned lines like “It’s up to you to rise above the masses”. The word “rise” is used to show the speakers growing hope. Meanwhile, “the masses” are representative of everyone who blends in and are accepted in society. The speaker is encouraging being different, standing out, and individuality. Later on, he states, “We are all prophets in the making/and our legacies are beginning to unfold”. Words like Legacies and prophets give a feeling of strength to listeners who may be questioning their purpose. Also, the lines repeated for emphasis at the end are “I know exactly who I am/and I know exactly what I will become”. Confidence is key in the speaker’s mood here, as he knows “exactly” who he is and knows “exactly” what his future holds. The mood of the speaker is extremely uplifting to listeners to say the least.
The exaggerations used in “Prophets” fit well with the message the song displays. They have a larger than life aspect to them, “But I can assure you your life is in your own hands/and you can mold it into any shape you want” is representative of making choices and choosing paths that are right for you. The speaker uses hyperbole to point out the persons control of their life, and ultimately they’re happiness. The lines, “We are weighed down by our own ambitions/and all the force in the world cannot make us falter” are amplified in order to show the speakers strength. His confidence and pride are showcased throughout the entire song, but the exaggerations add to the effectiveness of the song.
We all have an identity waiting out there for us. Each and every one of us is unique in our own ways, but only some are confidant with who they truly are. Society is strict with radical people and being “normal” is something people want in their lives. Counterparts argue against “the masses” in their song “Prophets”. They send a positive message of individuality and self-confidence through the eyes of someone who is proud of who they are, and they encourage us to “chase our dreams”.
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