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BY: Phoenix & Sunstar
CANNON - SELF
Cannon - Are you unnecessary noise?
Cannon - Firing on all of your toys
Cannon - Thinks we're the same but we are
Cannon - Destiny's towing your car
When fire
Meets powder
You take your cover
I fly over and
When fire
Drowns water
It spreads it farther out of my hands
Asking advice from all the clowns
Cannon - Take your frustrations to the ground
Cannon - They wait in the wings for you to fall
Cannon - Can't you make dust of them all?
When fire
Meets powder
You run for cover
I fly under and
When fire
Drowns water
Don't even bother
Out of my hands
In some untimely way
The world asks us to leave
Suddenly we're afraid
No longer can we stay
The thread of life was strung
To each and everyone
I knew it all along
Your call to arms was wrong
Cannon - Are you just unwated noise?
Loose cannon - Remember all those you destroy
When fire
Meets powder
The strongest cower
Half heart
Underhand
When fire
Drowns water
It spreads it farther out of my hands
-Self, Cannon
How this song might relate to Starscream, Megatron and Galvatron.
The Point of view of this song is Starscream's. Cannon refers to Megatron for the most part and "Loose cannon" specifically refers to Galvatron.
"Cannon - Are you unnecessary noise?"
The Dictionary defines cannon as "A large mounted weapon that fires heavy projectiles. Cannon include guns, howitzers, and mortars."
Megatron primary weapon is the Fusion Cannon, one that wields awesome destructive power. However he never seems to use it at such levels. If he did he would have wiped the Autobot problem by turning Mt. St. Hillary into dust. "Are you unnecessary noise?" This could mean two things one that a cannon shoots its projectile with a massive boom.
To Starscream; this could mean that with all the big speeches the fancy words nothing really happens. Starscream stands there watching as opportune moments slip by Megatron. If he had shut his mouth and fired his cannon the war could have ended long ago.
"Cannon - Firing on all of your toys"
Another interesting line to pick apart. I can see a couple different meanings to this line. For Megatron; he is well known for shooting at his own troops namely Starscream, although his weapon is rarely powerful enough to do physical harm. Only one occasion has he attacked Starscream and did real visible harm to him (Hoist goes to Hollywood) and I think there was no real reason for that attack. Galvatron; is more fanatical about it. He shoots at his own troops, killed Starscream without even giving him a real answer. Toys could refer to the troops in either Megs or Galvys situation, or to the Transformer toys in general.
"Cannon - Thinks we're the same but we are"
I had to ask what this one was thought of as. If Starscream was to rule he would be as mean as Megatron. If not I could see him being meaner. Personally, Starscream being relatively unpopular amongst his comrades, I could see him eliminating resistance or dissenters as he finds them. He would end up ruling by fear and tyranny.
"Cannon - Destiny's towing your car"
I can put it more from Starscream's point of view here. "You can't rule forever, you can't last forever and eventually my time will come."
"When fire meets powder, you take your cover. I fly over "
Cannons use gunpowder to push the projectile from its barrel. When this happens sometimes is advisable to take cover incase of misfire. Invisible stress fractures can easily eliminate the cannons crew as easily as the projectiles can kill the enemy.
This could be Starscream's observations of Megatron's activities in battle. Bad decisions, a wrong choice and Megatron is calling for retreat. Starscream on the other hand can sometimes spot a weakness in the enemy and want to leap forward and attack or he makes note of fractures in a plan that would jeopardise a mission.
"and when fire, drowns water; it spreads it farther out of my hands"
However his objections and suggestions are often ignored or ridiculed. When a plan goes bad he frequently gets the blame or the wrath of Megatron. From more of his Point of view, "It's out of my hands, so why should I take the brunt of your anger when you did not listen to my observations or ideas. It's not necessarily my fault. Look in the mirror and that's whom you should blame."
"Asking advice from all the clowns"
Clowns or puppets: Soundwave and Shockwave. They are often the "trusted" advisors of Megatron. When Megatron should really be giving Starscream's thoughts the benefit of the doubt, he is the second in command after all. Granted Starscream is not really trustworthy by Megatron's standards but has he really given Screamer a reason not to be so hostile? Ok I am digging too deep here and no one really knows why those two are at odds.
"Cannon - Take your frustrations to the ground"
Several meanings I can fish out here. The war has stagnated, Megatron's getting pissed. Starscream inadvertently had the Autobots re-activated. But again why did Megatron not slag them when they were helpless? Could have saved him a lot of trouble, he could of had the ship built and be living it up on Cybertron by now.
But when the going gets tough, shoot, throw or insult Starscream anything to knock him down a peg or two. This way he can feel on top, by bullying his underlings. Again one way or another he is taking his inadequacies out on his troops rather than show his weaknesses he superimposes them on the others. Humiliating them publicly. His control is starting to slip. Where the next line of the song fits.
"Cannon - They wait in the wings for you to fall"
Now this line I can see from both Starscream's or Megatron's Point of view. Early on in the season when Starscream explained that he would one day lead Megatron replied something akin to this "and when I am gone there will be others waiting in the wings to take you out." which in retrospect was exactly what happened.
From Starscream's Point of view he is waiting for the right moment to step in. He tests the water, so to speak, every so often seeing if it's ready to jump in. He does this so often that it almost becomes tradition. So every one expects this. There might be an ulterior motive behind this activity. He fails in his take over attempts so often that no one thinks he can do it. When the time is right no one will be really prepared for Starscream's true power.
Starscream was once a brilliant scientist. So he is not necessarily stupid. He might be making himself look a little less bright than he really is. Think about it. Sometimes he shows real brilliance then he goes and does something that makes him look daft. Biding his time that's what he is doing. An experiment's results can never be rushed. He is loopy and scientists often get the label of madness. Being child like? That's only a mask to make others feel more at ease. Catch my drift?
"Cannon - Can't you make dust of them all?"
I could hear Starscream saying this. "Come now, Mighty Megatron, Your fusion cannon can tie into a black hole. Just shoot the daffy bastards." Ok let me play with this I think sometimes there is some confusion as to what a Fusion canon does Fusion and fission. Atomic weapons are fission. They get their energy from splitting of an isotope of Uranium or some heavy metal. This releases an astounding amount of energy. Fusion on the other hand is the mergence of two atoms i.e., Hydrogen fuses into helium in the Sun. This also releases a huge amount of energy. I also found fusion defined as "The act or procedure of liquefying or melting by the application of heat." in other words slagging. Megatron has a weapon that has the same sort of power as the Sun. He should have used it.
Megatron could have cremated his enemies from the beginning, so precisely why did he not? Could he be afraid of the enemy unknown? If he destroyed Optimus prime and the Autobots, who would be his new enemy in the Galaxy? Someone stronger? Same thing with Starscream, he has not killed him because he knows him, knows his weaknesses, knows his strengths. Who would replace Starscream in his desire for leadership? Would be best to leave things as it is.
"When fire meets powder, you run for cover. I fly under and when fire drowns water don't even bother out of my hands"
Starscream -"You've really botched it this time."
Megatron - "Decepticons Retreat!"
Starscream - "Don't blame me for your failings Mighty Leader, I was not the one who made the plans, you called the retreat and you called me back when I could have gone in and finished the job. I had them in my sights."
"In some untimely way, the world asks us to leave."
This line is rather sad. I can see Starscream hovering in the background as a spectre, thinking reflecting on his life. All his plans have finally succeeded, he is being made leader. His life's desire has come true. Suddenly Megatron is back reborn as Galvatron and he immediately destroys him. It was untimely because he was taken out of turn. It was his time to shine; he was never given that chance.
Phoenix: I have to disagree with you here. I think it's geared more to the Decepticons as a whole rather than just Starscream. On Earth, the Cons not only have to deal with the Bots but humans too. Remember, in G1 humans are aware of the Transformers and often help the Autobots to defeat the Decepticons.
"Suddenly we're afraid, No longer can we stay."
He had died in the most sudden violent way possible. It makes me hurt thinking about it. He realises that this is final. He can never go back. His life is done. He could probably fear an eternity of existence of non substance.
Think about it. Time does not end. A Transformer's life span is long if I had to place an age on Starscream I would plop him between twenty five and thirty human years. He is young enough to still be rebellious and hot headed but he is also old enough to know his dreams.
If he were given a chance he would have looked back on his impetuous ways and have likely said, "Primus I was brash." he suddenly wonders if there was a time and place he could have changed his path. And if there had to be one thing he should never have done and that was to shoot at the damned volcano after they were re-activated.
Phoenix: Again I have to disagree. I think it's more Starscream realizes that the Cons can't win over Earth. The Decepticons will surely perish on Earth if the Autobots continue to assist the humans with weapon technology. Remember, on Earth, the Cons are fighting against two armies (even if one army *is* made up of tiny squishie things)
Whats really weird is I can agree with her on her points.
"The thread of life was strung, to each and everyone."
Fate is seen as a big fat spider with three aspects, a young maiden who spins the threads of life, a middle aged mother who carefully weaves it into the complex tapestry of life binding threads around one another and the old crone who is blind. She can't see the threads so she cuts them where ever she sees fit.
From the time of his creation Starscream's thread of life was irrevocably woven into the lives of others. His path by the view of fate was unavoidable. Nothing he could have done should or would have changed it. To look at it that way, he was in a way condemned from the start. He was never to reach his goals. This is very sad and tragic. What is the point in living if you have no control over your destiny?
But fate was clumsy, she only cut his thread of life binding him to the world, she did not sever it. Perhaps she had some other plan for him that only by dying then would make him available for making a difference later. The middle age fate could again pick up his thread and start weaving it in the great tapestry only to have it cut when he had finished his time and tasks in life.
"I knew it all along your call to arms was wrong."
I could see Starscream thinking about this. "Why did you rally us? You said we were superior to the Autobots, yet we have gained nothing by your leadership." The reason for Megatron's war might be pretty shallow. Extermination of another race, genocide. Starscream being a scientist might see it from another point of view. However he agrees that Decepticons are superior he might not agree completely to the cause. As a scientist he might be recognised by small groups as a leader he would be recognised by all. Ah power, it has such a lovely way of corrupting decent people. And the only reason why Megatron and Starscream are in the war is for the power, control over others and he might see this as wrong, yet he has no control over it.
"Cannon - Are you just unwanted noise?"
Starscream - "You talk to much shut up and fight!"
"Loose cannon - Remember all those you destroy"
Define loose cannon: "One that is uncontrolled and therefore poses danger." This is old navel slang. It means that a loose cannon on a warship that is underway is a huge threat. If the boat bucks in the waves this several hundred pound piece of equipment if going to cause massive damage to the ship and the crew if it's left untied.
This can be easily applied to Galvatron, he is a loose cannon. Insane, mad whatever he is he is bad news to both Decepticons and the Autobots. If there had to be a choice between Starscream and Galvatron as who would have been the better leader, Starscream would have been the lesser evil.
In web world; Galvatron is seen firing on his own troops. He is down right attacking them, out of control. It's really scary because of his animosity towards his own troops the Autobots manage to escape almost unbothered. He fires upon them with out cause.
Galvatron - "Starscream you're a dead mechanism."
Starscream - "Of course I'm dead, but not for much longer and then are you gonna be sorry!"
Galvatron - "I am already sorry!"
Galvatron better not forget his misdeeds because what goes around will come around. Think Galvatron, your troops won't put up with that sort of abuse. They will retaliate.
"When fire Meets powder, the strongest cower, half heart underhand."
Ok let's make a more literal translation of this sentence first. Starscream's cowardly ways are half hearted. He begs for his life but if he thought it was under a real threat he would act in self defense. He would seem submissive to the one who is causing him to cower, that person might think he has him under control until the sneaky bastard attacks.
"When fire drowns water, it spreads it farther out of my hands"
"It's out of my control."
And now for Phoenix's POV:
I fisrt heard this song about 9 years ago and ran out to buy the CD because I knew this song just HAD to be about Starscream. I've waited this long to find another soul to discuss it with. Thank Primus for the internet and Sunstar!
I don't look too deeply because I believe the song is pretty straight forward. I can see where Sunny gets some of her points and I can agree with them. However, I'm a bit of a simpleton.
"Cannon are you unnecessary noise?"
Starscream sees Megatron as unneeded. He thinks he would make a better leader. Nuff said.
"Cannon firing on all of your toys"
Toys being his own troops, Megatron often fires upon them.
"Cannon thinks we're the same but we are"
I believe I used parenting as an analogy to explain my view on this to Sunstar. As a kid, you swear you'll never do or say things your parents do and say to you. Then one day, you yourself become a parent and those actions and words spring forth uncontrollably. Like Sunstar said, Starscream thinks he can do it better, but he'd be just as mean as Megatron.
"Cannon destiny's towing your car"
Ditto what Sunstar said.
"When fire meets powder you take your cover. I fly over and when fire drowns water, it spreads it farther out of my hands."
I think Sunstar picked these lines apart too much. I feel they go together. Starscream is telling Megatron "You goofed up and I saved your sorry afterburner. But just as I had the Autobots in my sight, you pulled me back and demanded we retreat."
"Asking advice from all the clowns"
Starscream is upset that Megatron turns to other Cons like Soundwave and Shockwave for advice. Starscream does have valid points at times but is ignored by Megatron.
"Take your frustrations to the ground"
I agree with Sunstar here. Starscream is tired of being beaten down, even when it's not his fault.
"Cannon they wait in the wings for you to fall"
Hmmmm here's food for thought, Sunstar. Ever think that Starscream is saying this to make Megatron nervous? Maybe the "they" he is referring to is the likes of Skywarp and Rumble who seem quite loyal. I think Screamer is trying to shake Megatron's confidence by making him question his soldiers' loyalty.
"Cannon can't you make dust of them all?"
Starscream secretly admires Megatron's power and can't understand why he can't bring down the Autobots.
"When fire meets powder, you run for cover. I fly under and, when fire drowns water, don't even bother out of my hands."
Starscream gloating again. The "out of my hands" part could be him trying to explain why his missions fail. "I swear, it wasn't my fault!"
"In some untimely way the world asks us to leave. Suddenly we're afraid. No longer can we stay."
Here's where Sunstar and I differ. I believe this is Starscream referring to the fact that the Cons are fighting 2 armies on Earth: the Autobots and the Humans. The Autobots share their technology with the humans which makes the little squishies a bit of a threat. Starscream is afraid that the Decepticons will perish on Earth if the Autobots and humans continue to work together. Megatron is aware of this as well. That could be why he tricked the humans into turning on the Autobots (Megatron's Master Plan)
"The thread of life was strung to each and every one. I knew it all along. Your call to arms was wrong."
I see this as Starscream finding religion. He sees his joining the Decepticons as fate. It was his destiny to do so. He is doubting Megatron's power and ability to defeat the Autobots and wonders why Megatron has picked a fight he can't win.
"Cannon are you just unwanted noise. Cannon remember all those you've destroyed"
Screamer with a heart? I think this line is a warning. Whether he likes it or not, Megatron made Starscream. Starscream is what he is because of the way Megatron treats him. The scientist is dead and the warrior wants revenge.
"When fire meets powder the strongest cower half hearted under-hand. When fire drowns water, it spreads it farther out of my hands."
Yes, this does bring Screamer's begging for mercy to mind. I think he's punishing himself here. He hates that Megatron has turned him into a coward. Whenever he apologizes to Megatron and begs for forgiveness, it leaves a bad taste in his mouth. And that's my two cents. Heh, you think that was fun, just wait until you get that CD. Sons of Elvis's Rattle is very screamerish ;op
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