Black & Gold

Take a minute to listen to the song above, and see if you can figure out why I would be writing about it...

As usual, I stumbled upon this tune via my weekly iTunes releases search, and as I typically do, I added it to my wanted list without thinking about the words. After a little more listening however, I discovered that although I love the musical aspects of the song, the lyrics are quite disagreeable. If you couldn't make it out from the video, the singer has essentially written out the stereotypical defense most people use against evolution.

He hits on all the big non-arguments: things like comparing us to fish and apes (as if that were a bad thing); saying that if sight were the only criterion for reality then "most of [his] life isn't real"; saying evolution would mean that "we're all just a bunch of matter"; and finally saying that if god didn't really exist, then he wouldn't want to.

As you are probably aware, none of these ideas make even a small difference in the argument against evolution, as they're only based on sentiments, not evidence or reality. First off, our link to the other animals of this world is a beautiful and life-affirming thing, not something to feel ashamed by. Second, no evolutionary biologist is claiming that things that are invisible aren't real or that "vision is the only validation" of truth. Thirdly, even though we ARE "just a bunch of matter," that doesn't take away from the great value of human life, our relationships, and our myriad of significant achievements. And finally, saying that one wouldn't want to be alive were he/she to realize there was no god is about as ridiculous as saying that without god we would all be totally immoral.

So, despite my qualms with this song, it's ultimately too damn catchy not to own, so I went ahead and got it anyway! Who knows if I'll ever spin it at a club (for fear of someone thinking I'm a creationist), but I certainly think the music is worth dancing to...