Odi Et Amo
Omnia
The Agony of Contradictory Emotions in 'Odi Et Amo' by Omnia
Omnia's song 'Odi Et Amo' delves into the complex and often contradictory nature of human emotions. The title itself, 'Odi Et Amo,' is Latin for 'I hate and I love,' a phrase borrowed from the Roman poet Catullus. This duality is the central theme of the song, capturing the torment of feeling two opposing emotions simultaneously. The lyrics are succinct yet profound, reflecting the timeless struggle of reconciling love and hate within oneself.
The song's lyrics are presented in multiple languages—Latin, English, and Dutch—emphasizing the universality of these conflicting emotions. The repetition of the phrase 'Odi et amo' in different languages underscores that this emotional turmoil is not confined to a single culture or era. The lines 'Why, you ask me / I do not know / Yet I feel it / And it hurts' encapsulate the bewilderment and pain that come with such contradictory feelings. The inability to understand why one can feel both love and hate towards the same person or situation adds to the emotional agony.
Omnia, known for their eclectic blend of folk, pagan, and world music, often explore themes of nature, spirituality, and human emotion. In 'Odi Et Amo,' the band strips down their usual complex instrumentation to focus on the raw, unfiltered emotions conveyed through the lyrics. This minimalist approach allows the listener to fully immerse themselves in the emotional landscape of the song, making it a poignant and relatable experience for anyone who has ever grappled with conflicting feelings of love and hate.