Sitting around with a bunch of upper middle class hipsters when the topic of politics comes up. Lightly of course scattered in the topic of this sales at Nordstroms (shoes!)
I will state again here that politics and the military are topics you don’t want to discuss with me. I ain’t bending and I don’t really care what you think- even if you agree with me.
Drop it- order a pizza, get on with your life.
But as a dedicated music bla bla bla-ger, my mind goes to music.
When suddenly it hit me BAM
Where the hell are our protest songs?
In cas you didn’t notice- we’re at war. Call it what you want but its domestic, its foreign its behind our front doors and we’re singing “do you wanna have a slumber party in my basement’?
What the hell theres head in the sand and theres head up your ass.
Check this playlistThe 60’s and 70’s knew how to rock the dial.
1- War -Edwin Star
-HUH ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
-HUH ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
2- Sky Pilot- Eric Burdon and The Animals
Eric blesses the boys as they stand in line. The stench of gun grease on their bayonets they shine
Eric blesses the boys as they stand in line. The stench of gun grease on their bayonets they shine
3- I Dont Want To Be A Solider- John Lennon.
Talk about a sexy protest song…wooo nelly here’s one
4- People Just Wanna Be Free-
The Rascals sounds like Tony Orlando dontcha think?
Ok so you with me- that’s some powerful stuff. Songs with longevity. Yeah they may be overdone- used in advertising but shut up and listen to the passion of the words. Its amazing. These musicians weren’t singing their pop songs about screwing and dancing to the masses on some dumb fundraiser telethon- they were thinking about the world and using their talent to convey their position on the world. Gaga maybe wearing a fillet and screaming about gays in the military but shes singing ‘Poker Face’, sing something that makes sense.
I guess the punk days gave us some stuff but it wasnt really aimed at anything more than politics in general, The Ramones ‘My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down” The Dead Kennedys “California Uber Alles” great stuff no target. Those songs were just ‘stick it to the man’ songs. We hated Reagan, we hated the government, we were busy donuts and snorting drugs. Even the DK’s chant of “Pol Pot” was just stupid and out of time. Yet cool then. Sorta like me.
Now? Well we’re still at war. Our economy is screwed, your sorta screwed cuz if you have a job you took a cut and if you don’t have a job you’re sorta not gonna recover for a long time. Oh and your kids? Yeah they’re totally screwed but hopefully we cash out before they realize what we left um (sorry Mar)
So ok can music be the escape from your home going into foreclosure and your cousin dead in a ditch in the Middle East? Yeah it can but is there anything else?
Ushers singin about booties like pow pow pow.. maybe that’s a military metaphor? Pink tried it, shes sorta skanky though “Dear Mr. President”, she sounds like an ass. Her theory is spot on, her delivery ain’t gonna earn her the accolades of our original rock protests that’s for sure.
U2? The Clash? That’s the 80s….90s? zip 2000? errrr unless you’re listening to country you got nothing