The Red Kiss

The Aikiu's song 'The Red Kiss' delves into the complex and often unsettling relationship humans have with death. The lyrics personify death as an omnipresent and almost seductive force, one that is both feared and strangely alluring. The repeated imagery of death floating and spinning around, being 'everybody's darling under the ground,' suggests a universal inevitability that no one can escape. This personification makes death seem almost like a lover or a persistent admirer, always present and impossible to ignore.

The chorus introduces the concept of 'the red kiss,' a metaphor for the finality and allure of death. The 'darker eye' and the act of being 'put to sleep' evoke the idea of death as a peaceful, albeit permanent, rest. The lyrics question how one could resist such an inevitable force, highlighting the paradox of fearing yet being drawn to the idea of death. This duality is further emphasized by the lines 'Death is like you, so hard to stop,' comparing the relentless nature of death to a persistent lover.

The song also touches on themes of self-deception and the masks people wear. The narrator admits, 'I'm not as good as I pretend to be,' suggesting a facade that hides their true self. This could be interpreted as a reflection on the human condition, where people often hide their fears and vulnerabilities. The interplay between the narrator and death, with death 'searching' and 'running' for them, adds a layer of tension and inevitability, making the listener ponder their own mortality and the masks they wear in life.