is a term that first found prominence during the Cold War years (1947-1991). Referring to fear held by the common man of the aftereffects of a potential nuclear war, the term gained popularity following the detonation of bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki (Smith, 1988). The bombings in Japan drove home the great potential of nuclear bombs in unleashing mass destruction of infrastructure and human lives (Ehrlich, 1985). As nuclear weapons began development across an increasing number of countries, the question of a nuclear war changed from being an ‘if’ to a ‘when’ in the minds of the American populace.
Concurrently, mass media reporting depicted an increasingly tense slew of world leaders whose words were heard as highly provocative and carrying the potential to invoke a nuclear fallout. This strained and grey atmosphere was also reflected in popular culture, with musicians writing songs that paralleled the chaotic and fearful inner thoughts of the common man. In these songs, fear played centre stage, dressed up as fear of war, of consequences of war, and even masquerading as a form of motivation.
Nuclear anxiety
For the purpose of analysing the theme of fear, three main songs will be discussed.
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Forever Young by Alphaville: released in 1984, referencing the optimism of youth during the danger of nuclear fallout
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Seconds by U2: released in 1983 in their war album, referencing how nuclear weapons can easily end the world
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Breathing by Kate Bush: released in 1980, from the perspective of a foetus in his mother’s womb, aware of what is happening outside and he fears for his life during the nuclear fallout
Forever Young
Alphaville
Fear of War/ War Leaders and Fear as Motivator
Alphaville’s 1984 hit, ‘Forever Young’ was released at the peak of German nuclear anxiety, with mass expectation of a nuclear apocalypse (Baur, 2020). Sung by the German band, the song was a vocal explication of nuclear doomsday scenarios that were running through the minds of the common people, at a time when it felt like even the sky could not be trusted, for fear of a deadly shower rather than just a simple storm (Baur, 2020).
Can you imagine when this race is won.
Turn our golden faces into the sun.
With these words, the band conveys the bleak and fearful sentiment held by the masses, with any outcome of the nuclear arms race being a losing one. It was a period when the potential impact of a nuclear war was felt so strongly that individuals began taking pre-emptive actions to save themselves from being eviscerated (Hogg, 2012). Britain saw families engage in suicide pacts and killing their children in an attempt to protect themselves from nuclear annhilation (Hogg, 2012). The military advantage provided by being in possession of a nuclear weapon has been widely documented, further emphasising the magnitude of damage that a detonation of one can cause. In an attempt to ease their powerlessness, these individuals decided to take the fate of their death into their own hands, further stressing the paranoia and fear that had engulfed society at that time.
This idea of powerlessness is seen again in the following ‘Forever Young’ stanza,
Praising our leaders, we’re getting in tune.
The music’s played by the, the mad men.
Seemingly left at the mercy of the decision of world leaders, the common man was bogged down by a burdensome amount of helplessness. The American government reportedly inspired poor confidence in their youth, being perceived as reluctant to end the arms race (Goodman et al., 1983). While civilians at home tended to favour a peaceful end to the nuclear arms race, the very leaders they had elected were depicted on screen to preach otherwise - similar to the posturing seen in recent years from Trump and Kim (Hayes, 2017). The potent fear of governmental escalation and distrust in world leaders was thus reflected in music culture.
While felt as a looming sense of unease, fear also manifested as an enabler and motivator. In the stanza
Let’s dance in style, let’s dance for awhile.
Heaven can wait, we’re only watching the skies.
Hoping for the best, but expecting the worst.
Are you going to drop the bomb or not?
the band presents a disillusioned youth population who envision nuclear doomsday scenarios (Baur, 2020). Accepting that the end of the world is to come soon, the lyrics can be construed as a plea for an escape from a bleak reality. Juxtaposed by their resignation of doom, the stanza is an ode to life, resembling youthful excitement. A cry for preservation of childlike zeal, the essence of this stanza can be truly summarised as calling for the encapsulation of the ‘Forever Young’.
Fear of Consequences of War
As part of their War album, U2 released a song titled ‘Seconds’ in 1983. The song aims to show the fragility of human lives and how the use of nuclear weapons is able to leave an impact on many people.
During the start of the nuclear age,
the possession of nuclear weapons was seen as a strategy for nuclear deterrence where countries will be able to protect themselves from attacks as the opponents will fear retaliation. Hence, more countries were developing / making plans to develop their own nuclear weapons. Sung by US, the lyrics
In an apartment on Time Square
You can assemble them anywhere
describes a situation where the bomb can be built anywhere and anytime. The making of the bomb is described as easy and everyone is able to get their hands on this weapon if they wanted to. This results in increasing fear of people as there are more people in control of nuclear weapons, making it a dangerous situation.
Seconds
U2
Held to ransom, hell to pay
A revolution everyday
USSR, GDR, London, New York, Peking
Stating the major key cities that were part of the cold war (USSR and GDR) other cities such as London, New York and Peking were also stated as they are in possession of their own nuclear weapons as well. Despite not being involved in the cold war, the development of nuclear weapons in other cities gives a possible indication that the whole world is at risk of going to war and everyone is being threatened. It does not matter which side has launched an attack as the other side will retaliate by launching their own weapons as well. In the end, both countries will still suffer devastating damages that includes human, political, economic and environmental damages (Mehan, H., Nathanson, C. E., & Skelly, J. M. ,1990). As sung by U2, the “hell to pay” refers to all the damages the countries will suffer from after an attack.
Lightning flashes across the sky
East to west, do or die
Like a thief in the night
See the world by candlelight
Setting the scene of detonation, the song lyrics paints a picture of a nuclear bomb launching and flashes across the sky and how the world will be literally lit up as though we are looking at the world with a candle light when it hits. The use of nuclear weapons are also referenced as the thief that steals lives.
Breathing
Kate Bush
During the 1980s where nuclear scares were prevalent and countries were stockpiling on nuclear weapons, it was also a time where the British government handed out government booklets on how to keep homes and families safe. In the booklet, it is mentioned that one of the consequences of the nuclear attack is nuclear fallout, a dangerous radioactive dust that cannot be seen or felt (History and Public Policy Program Digital Archive, 1980). ‘Breathing’ by British singer and songwriter, Kate Bush, released in 1980 depicts an unborn foetus in his mother’s womb, terrified of being born into a nuclear winter (Burke, 2020). Although he is not able to see and experience the outside world, he understands what is happening and fears for his life as he breathes in the radioactive material that the people were warned about through his mother.
Outside
Gets inside
Through her skin
Even though he is not exposed directly to the situation, he knows that he will be affected too as long as his mother continues to inhale the radioactive material.
My radar send me danger
But my instincts tell me to keep
Breathing
Aware of the dangers, his instinct was to keep breathing as he will not be able to survive once he stops breathing. This feeling of helplessness from the foetus also reflects what everyone is feeling as they could only live everyday in fear and hope that a nuclear attack will never come.
We are all going to die without...
Breathe in deep!
What are we going to do without..?
Oh, leave me something to breathe!
In the song, the child is begging for help, for someone to leave something for him to breathe. The foetus also reminds mankind that we all need air to breathe, he is not the only one that is affected by the lack of clean air. Bush’s song acts as a warning to people, reminding them of the dangers of the nuclear war through the voice of an innocent unborn child. This leaves us the impression of our actions hurting human beings even before they have a chance at survival.
From the 1945 bombing on Hiroshima and Nagasaki,
it was estimated that 140,000 and 74,000 people were killed respectively. Amongst the survivors , there were also many that faced health related issues such as leukaemia, cancer or other side effects from radiation (ICAN, n.d.).
It takes a second to say goodbye
Along with the statistics, ‘Seconds’ further emphasises the point that the use of nuclear weapons is enough to end civilizations. Repeating the verse “It takes a second to say goodbye” throughout the song, listeners are reminded of how a single weapon, crafted/created by fellow humans too, can have the capacity to take away the lives of others.