Beat Breaker: “Alive” by Swedish Revolution and Matthew Parker

Song Title: “Alive – Original Mix”
Artist: Swedish Revolution & Matthew Parker
Album: #Pandastruction
Released: 2013
Genre: Electronic Dance Music

Spotify

MusixMatch Lyrics

Electronic Dance Music, or EDM, is the amalgamation of upbeat, driving rhythms and the incredible sounds you can make through a machine.  Just a few tweaks to a sine wave, and BAM! Musical excellence.

Well… not quite.  It takes a lot more to make a good EDM song.

In 2013, two EDM artists came together to create one of those excellent tunes.  Mixing great beats with great lyrical intent, Swedish Revolution and Matthew Parker crafted the original mix of their song Alive on Swedish Revolution’s album, #Pandastruction.

If you haven’t already, give it a listen; just make sure you get moving to the beat!

Musical Breakdown

The synth starts it off with an interesting pulse and large register of tones.  Next, the bass kicks in and the main melody starts.  Further introductions are made, and then some more layers get added in for an epic mix. The song continues in this ebb and flow manner, layers dropping out as the vocals drop in.

After sets of deconstruction and build up, the breakdown happens where a whole new set of layers get stacked on top of one another until it falls back to the original sounds.  The bass beat at 3:50 really ties everything together from the breakdown, bringing you back into the dance groove by the time the vocals pick back up.

The song blasts the chorus one more time with all the layers of beats and timbres mixing it. Slowly, the layers drop off one by one and the song comes to an end.

Lyrics and Meaning

Regret is a killer.  Looking back at past mistakes and things we’ve done that have hurt others can keep us trapped in a vicious cycle.  The wages of sin is death, and lingering regret is some extra baggage along with it.  While the lyrics of this song aren’t necessarily deep and complex, it’s a direct confrontation to that lie that you have to live in regret.

God you brought me to the truth, from a lie
Then I used to be so dead, now I’m alive
Everything inside screams
I’m alive! I’m alive!

If you know Jesus, he’s brought life to your once dead heart.  Remember when you first came to know Jesus?  Everything in life felt bright?  Or if you don’t have a singular time, surely you remember that inexplicable peace in troubling times, right?

Jesus’ sacrifice for you did more than just give you a 1-up or extra life.  It put you in a different game altogether.  The old rules don’t apply to you like they did before you met Jesus.  You don’t have to tear your clothes, rub ashes on your head or take out an animal for your sin anymore.  Jesus has taken care of that.

Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

Ephesian 2:1-7 (NLT)

If you’ve repented, you don’t have to live in the regret, shame, or pain of the past.

You’re alive.

Practical Application

The best way to combat a lie is with the truth.

When the temptations come and you’re tempted to sin, just remember that you’re dead to those things now.  Paul, in his letter to the Roman church, said it well, “When [Jesus] died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:10-11)

When the enemy tries to bring up past regrets, just remember that Jesus has paid for those and that you don’t need to live in that regret.  In Paul’s letter to the church in Colossae, he wrote, “You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:13-14)

So when you feel under attack, turn this song on, sway to the beat or even belt it out.  Remember that you’re alive through Christ.