Scene by Envy- Dionysus v Apollo

“Only the spirit of music allows us to understand why we feel joy at the destruction of the individual. For individual instances of such destruction merely illustrate the eternal phenomenon of Dionysiac art, which expresses the omnipotent Will behind the principium individuationis, as if it were, life going on eternally beyond all appearance and despite all destruction” (BOT 16)

‘Scene’ by the group Envy, is a song that seems, to me, to capture the struggle of the Apollinian forces and the Dionysiac Will. The song starts by keeping the individual within a state of principium individuationis- the beginning reveals the world of images and a the dream-like state of Apollo. In fact, the introduction seems as if it were a lullaby- allowing us to trust the stability of its calm melody. However, this stability is easily shattered as the tragic hero- the lead singer- soon screams with such an abrupt, deep pain and suffering. It as if the tragic hero is dying from a great suffering or sadness. This rips one (the listener) from the comfortable state of images and semblance and pulls one into the suffering of the Will- the Dionysiac state. The suffering within this melody is infused with the intoxication of the Dionysiac Will. It seems as if it will remain an eternal suffering- nothing could be greater than or overcome this state of chaotic passion.We, no longer as individuals, are caught in the struggle and suffering of the Will itself.

One can feel the utter desperation and destruction of the self within the singer’s cries, yet, at the same time a feeling of joy arises- at least a joy for the intensity of passions. “We take pleasure in the negation of the hero, the supreme appearance of the Will” (BOT 16).. His cries are beautiful (not in the sense of the beauty of appearance) and truly tragic.

And yet again, the calmness of Apollo reemerges as the Dionysus recedes behind the Apollinian semblance. Throughout the song, these too parts- between the calmness and the height of passions within the tragic cries of the lead singer- there is a constant struggle between the structure of Apollo and the intoxication of Dionysus: “Apolline and Dionysiac.. co-exist in a state of perpetual conflict interrupted only occasionally by periods of reconciliation (Birth of Tragedy 1).