Evil Eye

Franz Ferdinand's 'Evil Eye' delves into the unsettling feeling of being constantly scrutinized and judged by others. The song opens with a seemingly random question about the color of the next car, which is answered with 'Red, you bastard,' setting a tone of frustration and defiance. This line, repeated throughout the song, symbolizes the arbitrary nature of judgment and the irrationality of superstitions. The protagonist expresses disbelief in God but admits to believing in the 'evil eye,' a concept rooted in various cultures that suggests a malevolent glare can bring misfortune. This contradiction highlights the tension between rationality and irrational fears.

The chorus reveals the protagonist's awareness of how others perceive them. Lines like 'Some people get a freak out of me' and 'Some people put an evil eye on me' suggest that the protagonist feels alienated and misunderstood. The 'evil eye' here represents the negative energy and judgment cast by others, which the protagonist can sense and see. This ability to 'see your soul' and 'wear it on your face' implies a deep, almost supernatural level of perception, where the protagonist can discern the true nature of those around them, despite their outward appearances.

The song's bridge, with its imagery of 'crawling creatures suspended in solution,' evokes a sense of paranoia and discomfort. It suggests that beneath the surface, there are hidden, unsettling truths that the protagonist can perceive, but others cannot. This lack of 'solution' or resolution adds to the song's eerie and unresolved atmosphere. Ultimately, 'Evil Eye' is a commentary on the human experience of being judged and the psychological impact of feeling constantly watched and misunderstood. It captures the essence of paranoia and the struggle to maintain one's identity in the face of external scrutiny.