Excommunicated

This was a fun one –– and totally tapping into my graphic design skills. This song has not been released yet, but I've heard it performed live several times in NYC. One of those shows I happened to be with my sister and her husband who, hearing it for the first time in a crowded bar, immediately latched on to all of the religious references and took "offense" as if the was an attack on Catholicism. Not at all. And not to stay that Catholicism is unworthy of criticism, but that's not the topic of the song, which, by the way, totally rocks!

The song does indeed use imagery and language of the church, but very specifically to draw analogy to the false gods, cancel culture, and virtue signaling that is prevalent on our social media platforms. It's scathing commentary on the soul-crushing social game that is being played out before us. My favorite line is the double/triple entendre: "A devine creation... call it Trans Substantiation"

Just as in "Eve and Me" (13/100) the art concept came easily to me. I wanted to go for religious symbolism, a cross on a hill which is made of a crudely drawn Tik Tok logo. Also, I wanted the palette to be mostly black and white reflecting the "you're either in or out" cancel ideology, with an aggressively ripped line of delineation. I decided to incorporate blues too,namely the specific colors from Twitter, and Facebook (Meta) brands. You'll see several iteration of those company logos throughout.

The chaotic energy, lyrics, scribbles and marks on the lower half were inspired by a mixed media art piece that my son Calvin did when he was a teen. At the time he was, (and still is) a big fan of lyrics and music by Green Day, particularly the song "Jesus of Suburbia". Calvin's artwork, which still hangs in his childhood bedroom, is made up of ripped pieces of notebook paper with handwritten lyrics and drawings of crosses, splattered heavily with red paint and actually nailed to a canvas with actual nails. It's jarring and angsty just like the song. Musically, "Excommunicated" has a Green Day, rebel/rock, social commentary vibe to it, so there's some cool kismet happening here for me.

Here are the lyrics. Once the song is recorded later this spring I will post the Spotify link. Or if you happen to be in the NYC area, keep an eye out for @ThesaurusRextunes show and you can hear it live.

Post script: Several days after writing this post, Thesaurus Rex performed "Excommunicated" live at a NYC concert. Here is a small snippet of the song (iPhone recording) so that you can get the vibe.

Excommunicated

By Calvin Rezen

I wait on your reception line

As yes men and their yas queens kiss your ring

Like Christ has risen

Cause baby hit the algorithm

You don’t have any substance

but you got a lot of bread and holy wine

devine creation

Call it Trans Substantiation

Your following is swallowing

Your body, but I ain’t here to be saved

I want an explanation

I’ve been excommunicated

Tik Toc kid, we’re getting older every second

Tik Toc Kid, I guess you’ve gotta die to go to heaven

Might be an understatement

but maybe you're just overrated

Excuse me if sacrilegious

I’ve been excommunicated

You were like my brother

But you traded me for buzzards at you feet

I can’t believe you sold your

soul to be a culture vulture

You’ve been holy ghosting me

You’re posting but you won’t

pick up your phone

And as I reach your throne

suddenly, a change of tone

You say you miss me

Yeah, I miss you too

You lean in whispering

“just do what you came here do”

I kiss your cheek

I turn and leave

You feel the traitors all around you

pull their swords from their sheath

Tik Toc kid, we’re getting older every second

Tik Toc Kid, I guess you’ve gotta die to go to heaven

Might be an understatement

but maybe your just overrated

Excuse me if sacrilegious

I’ve been excommunicated

Might be an understatement

but maybe your just overrated

Paid to be pious, Radio Silence

It’s nauseating

I’ve been excommunicated

© Calvin Rezen. All rights reserved.