Meaning of “Rise” by Extreme
Extreme is a band that has actually been around since 1985 and whose discography dates back to 1989. The crew has endured a couple of hiatuses, which would help explain why they only dropped six studio albums between now and then, with the most recent, “Six”, just coming out a couple of days ago, on 9 June 2023.
It is from the abovementioned outing, which was backed by a label known as earMUSIC, that we get the song “Rise”, which was released a few months earlier, on March 1st, as the project’s first single. This was followed by three other singles:
The producer of “Rise” is guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, one of the co-founders of Extreme who is still active in the band to this day.
The Lyrics of “Rise”
“Rise” speaks to the nature of stardom, i.e. how seducing it can be and how fickle it often proves. To illustrate these points, the vocalist obviously goes about taking on the role of the industry itself, i.e. personifying it.
As presented, the process begins with promises that becoming a star will prove a lot more edifying than the average lifestyle the artist is living pre-fame. And it is the individuals making these promises, i.e. industry figures, who present themselves as having the power to “lift you up” to celebrity status.
But as overtly stated in the chorus, part of their procedure is to subsequently “rip you apart”. And it isn’t really stated what exactly that’s supposed to mean in context. But apparently, as illustrated in the second verse, Extreme is referring to something along the lines of the industry also enjoying it when the selfsame individuals, i.e. celebrities, it has built up later on have a very public “final meltdown”.
“I’m gonna lift you up, up, up, up
Straight to the top
I’m gonna raise you up, up, up, up
Then rip you apart
I’m gonna lift you up, up, up, up
Watch you rise, watch you fall
Gonna raise you up, up, up, up
Rise
Up, up, up, up
Rise”
We can close this analysis by saying that there’s a lot being expressed in these lyrics underneath the surface. For instance, when you’re dealing with these types of tracks – of which actually there are quite a few from different artists – that speak to the shiesty nature of celebrity, obviously the fans themselves are also part of the equation.
In fact it may be well that in the second verse, Gary is taking on the role of the adoring public rather than the industry per se.
But either way, as presented, being a star isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. Or let’s conclude by saying that, as inferred, just as the audience may enjoy a good success story, they just as much take interest in one’s downfall, the two being part of a cycle, i.e. watching someone succeed just to see them fail.
This is something that Gary and the rest of the gang obviously feel that those who feen to be famous should be aware of.
Your Comments
JEREMIAH says:
“This song brilliantly captures the dual nature of stardom and the music industry as a whole. The lyrics personify the industry, painting it as a seductive figure that promises fame and fortune, only to revel in the eventual downfall of the same stars it creates. The line ‘rip you apart’ perhaps hints at the emotional and psychological toll that the pressures and expectations of stardom can exert on individuals. It’s a poignant reminder that fame is not always as glamorous as it appears.”
SANDRA MENDS says:
“What I find intriguing is how this song explores not just the industry but also subtly points at the audience’s role in this vicious cycle of stardom. The second verse, where it talks about a public ‘final meltdown’, seems to hint at how audiences can sometimes revel in the downfall of the very stars they once adored. The song doesn’t shy away from showing that the journey to fame is fraught with perils and that it’s not always the fairy tale success story we imagine.”
