THE ADITYA CONFEDERACY
Song #45 - Means to an End to the tune of Lake Malawi - Friend Of A Friend
By Hari Kibe
To be here tonight, Hari has travelled a long way from the streets of Gamont. Born in the slums with a musical talent just waiting to be discovered, Hari is emblematic of what success and hard work can bring. It's a sharp contrast to the story he reflects on in the song - that of his friend, who sadly passed away two years ago. Danni was a longstanding childhood friend, and they'd hang out in the streets together, playing sports such as cricket and flirting with other people. But there was also a dark side to their friendship - the underground scene in the slums of Gamont holds a lot of sway on the planet. Harri and Danni were caught up in it - the sex, the drugs, the euphoria they felt every time they took a shot or took someone to bed. But this is where their stories diverged - Harri was able to break out of that cycle, and make the successful career he has today, while Danni went on a downward spiral. This song reflects on that - the sense of euphoria that comes with the experiences in that scene, but also the way it takes the joys and pleasures of life out of you, until only a shell remains.
The Aditya Confederacy flashes up on the screen. Almost time. Hari prepares himself. He's done all his warmup vocal drills, and has memorised the lyrics. He knows - this is it. Take a deep breath. Relax. And walk out. He walks on to the stage from the rear, a spotlight immediately shining on him as he enters. It's not that long a walk to the front of the stage as he starts singing, but in Hari's mind it's an absolute age. Every second drags. He's nervous. But he's also never felt more alive. The tv coverage shows this well - it slowly zooms in on his face as he's singing, capturing that passion which Hari has in abundance.
As Hari is walking out, five platforms rise out of the ground. Two of them have bearded men playing the electric guitar, one of them is a man playing on the drums, and the final two are a young man and woman, dressed with hoodies and chains to emphasise the sense of place and time that this song reflects on about the streets of Gamont. Those two are dancing (more jerking about, it's not particularly smooth dancing). The rear of the stage holds a screen which shows different people's faces - people from Gamont - smiling, happy and delightful, and contrasting that to the slums.
I don't feel it.
Pleasure or pain no longer make my heart race.
I can't will it.
My right-hand man is waiting up at my place.
I feel it.
Last night I felt a rush that I can't recreate.
Hari pauses at the front of the stage, stood between the rest of the people on the stage. He looks out to the audience and points. As it comes towards the end of the pre-chorus, he spins round and looks towards the back of the stage. The camera follows him as he spins, keeping his face in focus while also bringing the other stage members into focus. The rear screen has some psychedelic patterns showing on it, coloured wheels spinning, and a clock ticking - it's a bit of a jumble.
Up against that tree, felt like LSD.
I was carefree.
Spent a moment in the sun
When I followed your lead.
The lights illuminating the stage are now bright and colourful, and have a lot of variation with flashing and vibrancy. The boy and the girl rush up behind him and physically spin him around, positioning Hari between them as the rub their bodies up against him in a much smoother dance. They're running their hands up against his sides gently but with pace. Hari is smiling - he is turned side-on from the perspective of the audience, but he turns his face towards the audience with a massive grin. The other members on the stage playing the instruments are also vibing out.
Hari then grabs both the dancers by their hands and rushes forward to the edge of the stage at the front, and pushes them over the edge, they hold a rope and swing forward and then turn, come back towards Hari and pick him up in their arms, pushing him back a few metres in the air before dropping off themselves.
Its a means to an end to an end to an end to an end,
Get into bed and make our amends,
But pleasure is only short-lived.
Its a means to an end to an end to an end.
The counter, the stairs, through the bathroom door,
Up on the bed and down on the floor,
2am or half-past four,
Its a means to an end to an end to an end
(A means to an end).
Ooooh.
The lights pare back a little as Hari and the dancers also return to their positions as well, no longer dancing in harmony with each other.
I don't feel it
Until I take a shot down in your kitchen.
Freedom. Sepia turns vibrant when I'm born again.
(colour shows your face)
Hari starts to vibe again, and is moving about the stage with more energy. His grin is still planted on his face, but the camera is starting to focus a bit more on the dancers as well who are moving in synchrony with him.
Up against that tree, felt like LSD.
I was carefree.
Spent a moment in the sun
When I followed your lead.
The staging from the previous chorus returns, but the rest of the members on stage are now moving about together as well. Hari also seems to be going a little crazy and out of his mind (as an act only). He's moving around the more stage frequently, and the dancers are struggling to keep up with him - more running behind him and trying to grab his hands than moving in synchrony with him.
Its a means to an end to an end to an end to an end,
We'll get in bed and make our amends,
But pleasure is only short-lived.
Its a means to an end to an end to an end.
The bench and the grass and under the stars,
Take you down in the back of the car,
Eager to ask you for more,
Its a means to an end to an end to an end
(A means to an end).
Ooooh...
(A means to an end)
Ooooh...
Hari rushes towards the front of the stage again, where he surrenders to the dancers chasing him, and lets them sandwich him between them again. His hoodie and shirt come off too, leaving him bare-chested, which the dancers, the audience, and the camera lap up. While he may be a little rough around the edges, he does have a well-refined look that will probably haunt the dreams of some tonight with his bold brown eyes, the dimples that curve up at the edge of his lips as he beams his smile, and that messy brown hair that keeps slipping over his eyes. As the chorus comes to an end, he sits down at the front of the stage with the two dancers - male and female - interlocking their arms with him and dragging him down to a sitting position, while all the rest of the members of the group gather in close proximity behind him and look down at him.
Its a means to an end to an end to an end to an end, (it's a means to an end...)
We'll get in bed and make our amends,
But pleasure is only short-lived.
Its a means to an end to an end to an end.
On a street corner with a hip old man,
Holds out his hand and gives me the toy,
But last night I went too far,
Its an end of an end of an end of an end...
Hari stands up. "Thank you all so much, I love you", he shouts across the arena, joined in the call by the rest of the members of the stage together in unison. And then he exits.
ppppp we love your songgg
