"How You Remind Me" was released in August 2001 as the lead single from Nickelback's album Silver Side Up. A "Gold Mix" was made for latter editions of the single with the heavier guitars edited out of the chorus. Lead vocalist and guitarist Chad Kroeger (Writer of the song) refers to this song as the song that put Nickelback on the map as referred to their concert in Sturgis. It is often considered to be their signature song. "How You Remind Me" was named the No. 1 most played song on U.S. radio of the 2000s decade by Nielsen Soundscan, being spun over 1.2 million times on U.S. airwaves since its release in 2001 to the end of 2009. The song was named 4th on the Billboard Hot 100 Songs of the Decade and 75th in the UK decade Chart. It was nominated for the Kerrang! Award for Best Single. "How You Remind Me" was also rated the No. 1 rock song and No. 4 alternative song of the decade of the 2000s by Billboard. The song was featured in the music video game Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock.
Never made it as a wise man
I couldn't cut it as a poor man stealing
Tired of living like a blind man
I'm sick of sight without a sense of feeling
And this is how you remind me
This is how you remind me
Of what I really am
This is how you remind me
Of what I really am
It's not like you to say sorry
I was waiting on a different story
This time I'm mistaken
For handing you a heart worth breaking
And I've been wrong, I've been down,
Been to the bottom of every bottle
These five words in my head
Scream "are we having fun yet?"
Yeah, yeah, yeah, no, no
Yeah, yeah, yeah, no, no
It's not like you didn't know that
I said I love you and I swear I still do
And it must have been so bad
Cause living with me must have damn near killed you
And this is how, you remind me
Of what I really am
This is how, you remind me
Of what I really am
It's not like you to say sorry
I was waiting on a different story
This time I'm mistaken
For handing you a heart worth breaking
And I've been wrong, I've been down,
Been to the bottom of every bottle
These five words in my head
Scream "are we having fun yet?"
Yeah, yeah, yeah, no, no
Yeah, yeah, yeah, no, no
Yeah, yeah, yeah, no, no
Yeah, yeah, yeah, no, no
Never made it as a wise man
I couldn't cut it as a poor man stealing
And this is how you remind me
This is how you remind me
This is how you remind me
Of what I really am
This is how you remind me
Of what I really am
It's not like you to say sorry
I was waiting on a different story
This time I'm mistaken
For handing you a heart worth breaking
And I've been wrong, I've been down,
Been to the bottom of every bottle
These five words in my head
Scream "are we having fun yet?"
[3x]
Yeah, yeah, are we having fun yet?
Yeah, yeah, no, no.
Chad Kroeger wrote the song about his old girlfriend Jodi, with whom he had a dysfunctional relationship. The song is about self realisation,second thoughts, and making choices the right ones. The story in the lyrics is about a person who comes back to his girl friend, or partner, only to make the choice that this is not for him, based on who he thinks he is. We have all had moments of low opinions of who we are. This the scripture passage this morning from 1 Peter 2 we are confronted with our real identity as followers of Jesus.
Who are you? What are you? What is your identity? In today’s verse, we will dive into the topic of our identity as a Christian. In the book of 1 Peter, Peter encourages God’s exiles scattered through the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia to remain steadfast in the face of suffering and persecution, reminding them of their special privilege and identity as God’s chosen people, while instructing them of their proper conduct. In 1 Peter 2:9, their special identity is elaborated. Taking Peter’s words literally have caused confusion for centuries amongst Christians, taking his words symbolically or metaphorically is also a move that cannot avoid confusion. In today’s study, we will attempt to decipher the huge message in this verse bit by bit, word by word, considering what Peter was most likely referring to when he pointed out each of these things.
"you" Who is the ‘you’ that Peter was referring to? Let us refer back to his introductory greetings which all epistles always have –
To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood [1 Peter 1:1-2].
I don’t know about you, but this – God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia – only serves to confuse me further as to who Peter was addressing. Some scholars explain it as the Jewish Christians who have scattered over those locations; others argue that Peter included Gentile Christians as the Christians pilgrims that have scattered all over – we can perhaps go into a more detailed study of all those arguments and their implications when we look at 1 Peter 1; but for this study, I’m going to take the stand that Peter was writing to the scattered Christian pilgrims – both Jewish and Gentiles; if only because it’s a wider and more liberated stand.
"a chosen people; a people belonging to God" – The reason why I went to such lengths to explain who Peter was addressing in this letter is because this verse is talking about the topic of identity. We cannot not know who Peter was addressing if we want to talk about identity. Typically, the people that belongs to God is the Israelites [Deu 7:6]. By blood, by race, by tradition, they are God’s chosen people – though Paul says, Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone [Eph 2:19-20]. Spiritually, those who are not Jews but follow Jesus are also regarded as God’s chosen people. This is a new identity that is given to all followers of Jesus – you are God’s chosen people. By putting your faith in Christ, you become God’s chosen people. You belong to God. You are God’s own possession. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience [Col 3:12].
"a royal priesthood" – traditionally, priesthood in Israelite culture can only be attained by the descendants of Aaron. When Peter says we are a royal priesthood, it didn’t mean that anybody can just become a Jewish priest or anything like that. It just means that we no longer need a third person act as a mediator between us and God. We now have immediate and direct access to God. Also, we are no longer just common believers. We need to actively serve, actively live the life of a royal priest, serving God, serving his people, minister in the presence of God. It’s a priestly service. It’s a lifelong service. What does this identity as a royal priesthood makes us? It gives us a life purpose, if anything – and that is to minister as priests.
"a holy nation"– As a chosen people, you belong to God, and you are no longer part of the world. Being separated by God, you have been set apart, stay that way. Do not navigate your way back to the murky waters. Stay near to God. That is an identity. The Israelites have long been identified as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation [Exo 19:6]. However, throughout the history of Israel, we know that even though God has given identities, they don’t make people holy – it’s not that being given the identity of a holy nation, people suddenly become holy. It’s not that being called a royal priesthood, suddenly everyone lives everyday in priestly service. No – it’s still a conscientious effort to realign ourselves to the identity God has given us everyday.
In the Nickelback song Identity is under threat. the is a constant reminder of what we have done and who we are. In life we are reminded often of our former life and the mistakes we have made. We can choose to live differently. God's word is the reminder this morning that we are have a new identity given to us by God.
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