Expert: Jon Katz - 2/26/2004

Question
I absolutely love the song "Helicopter" off the "Maroon" CD, but for the life of me, I can't figure out it's meaning. I'm a Vietman junkie, and it really reminded me of the Vietnam war, but maybe that's just because I'm so obsessed with it's history that I see it everywhere. I mean, all the band members are too young to have fought, and the war has been over for thirty-one years! So...help?

~ Erin

Answer
Hey Erin,
This is my favorite song from Maroon!
I think the song is about a singer-songwriter who is touring to entertain the troops during a war and is reflecting on all that he sees. Clearly, he is against this war but he goes anyway and doesnt understand everything he is seeing.
Some see the song as a deeper metaphor for the music industry: starting with the rise of his career, going into his huge success years, and ending with him being a washed up has-been.
a great song nonetheless which elequently features steve's vocal talents.
thanks for asking!
-jon