SA1: Critical Acclaim Analysis

Transitioning between multiple view points of what would be the American people in Critical Acclaim, Avenged Sevenfold explains that there's no need to "respect the words" that our government is speaking to us because they are "pompous asses" who "spend their days pointing fingers," feeding us lies, and doing nothing for our country, which is braced by infuriated imagery, antagonistic tone, and critical characterization.

Avenged Sevenfold depicts a hostile outlook on the American government. They say that the politics point "their fingers in every direction," looking for something to blame other than themselves for the problems in this country, also saying that everyone is pissed off and they're sick of them. The problems expand "all the way from the east to the west," meaning that politics haven't created something small, but rather nationwide, and is hurting the country. Avenged Sevenfold further promotes imagery by stating that the politics have had the "heartbeat of this country" and "antagonized [it] too long," leading to the revolting of not only Critical Acclaim, but of the American people too. However, the projected images not only describe what is going on with our politics, but lead to another important tool: tone.

The idea of a terrible government is amplified through Avenged Sevenfold’s tone. The band says that the government should be “Quiet” or they might “piss somebody off”. They come across with harsh language towards the subject, creating a hostile tone. This piece is meant to stick out like a sore thumb, especially with the way the lyrics are worded, really grasping the listener’s attention. The tone is further exploited by the way Avenged Sevenfold sings the song, placing more emphasis on the way the song is to be interpreted, which is proven when they say “I’ll be damned if you count me in” as a part of the “Generous hypocrisy,” in a cold, hard tone of voice. In conclusion, the tone plays the role of sending the seriousness of the song to the listeners, but also triggers another crucial element: characterization.

The song critically, yet indirectly characterizes the politics of the American government. The song specifically points out that they “never contributed a f***ing thing” to the aid of this country, but instead worried about themselves, characterizing these government officials as arrogant, prideful, and narcissistic. The politics are further characterized when they lie and tell the country their actions are “all for something real.” Avenged Sevenfold critically characterizes the government, and tell the people to “ignore the untrue” and read between the lines of the government’s false words they articulate.

In conclusion, Acclaim speaks about the government’s actions and how they lie; how they don’t do anything real for the country. To prove their point, Avenged Sevenfold utilizes imagery, tone, and characterization, aiding the deeper meaning of the song.