Guest Page 99 Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 I was listening back to a few old punk records today and was wandering, do people feel that politically minded lyrics and music are effective ways of spreading ideas. Or do you simply feel that the whole thing is merely a culmination of empty slogans and fashionable posturing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HummerOfIntenseEvil Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 Well as far as schools are concerned, there's no such thing as "other" political ideologies, so somebody's got to inform young folk about these things. Perhaps it was just the Harlaw modern studies department (which I always thought to be rather good to be honest) which was lacking, but I only found out about communism, socialism, fascism, anarchism etc through listening to Manic Street Preachers and The Clash.Sure, there are those who just jump onto political bandwagons to enhance sales, but I'm a firm believer in lyrics about things that affect you, rather than song after song of "oooh baby I want you" or "why don't you love me?" or whatever. And politics affect all of us, so it's the perfect thing to write about. That's what I think anyway.Compare the excellence of Public Enemy's politically fuelled lyrics to the cliched "sex, guns, drugs and money" dross that most hip hop/rap artists come out with. I'd like to see someone tell Chuck D that his lyrics are just empty sloganeering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirkt Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 It might not change the world but listening to political punk bands has certainly influenced the way I think and see the world. So yes, it can make a difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paranoid Android Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 Music can influence the listeners of the music, i know it's slightly different but if you look at the amount of people who claim to have turned vegetarian after hearing meat is murder by the smiths you can see that music can make a difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 some bands do it well, like; greenday and sum41, i like listening to a bit of antiwar music, but rock against bush is just getting anoying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HummerOfIntenseEvil Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 some bands do it well' date=' like; greenday and sum41[/quote'] o_O o_O o_O o_O Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Lizard King Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 o_O o_O o_O o_Ohaha my point exactly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afro Droid Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 o_O o_O o_O o_OAgreed, putting the lyrics of Sum 41 into the same category of Richey-era Manics is like comparing the Tweenies to Kafka. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paranoid Android Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 sum 41 are political? o_O Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swingin' Ryan Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 I continue that motion, there is no way Sum 41 have ever written good political lyrics.I'd say a pretty large portion of my favourite bands write social/politically concious lyrics (particularly the manics), and I find it quite a refreshing change to streams self-absorbed love songs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teabags Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 the majority of stuff I listen to is. My favourite lyrics being those by oi polloi and recently, Behind Enemy LinesBehind Enemy Lines - The Global CannibalImporting oil exporting bloodWell take their barrels of oil by the barrel of a gunImporting capital, exporting deathWell keep dropping our bombs until theres none of them leftWe dont need actual evidence to seal a nations fatejust the promise of profit that their resources createUnleashing our forces to preserve the American dreamby tapping their oil reserves to run our machinesWe rule this worldWe answer to no oneWeve used the U.N. in the past to legitimize our crimesbut if they wont stand with us now, then fuck themWe are the most powerful empire this world has ever seenand well have you either on your knees or under our heelWell force you to disarm while our fingers on the buttonto continue our reign as the worlds biggest gluttonsWar propaganda plagues our countryAmerican perception is not realityOur leaders have a war mentalityWere living in a war mentalityWe feed on fearWe prey on weaknessWe drop bombs on people in the name of freedomWe shower civilians with shells of depleted uraniumWe want you disarmedso you cant resist uswhen we liberate your land for American interestsThe companies anxiously await their sound investmentWar propaganda plagues our countryAmerican perception is not realityOur leaders have a war mentalityWere living in a war mentalityWe devour it allWere the global cannibalWith the brits by our side well bomb them back into the Stone Ageto punish them for how uncivilized they areOur superiority and first-world arroganceentitle us to the double standardselevating ourselves above criticism and consequenceand justifying anticipatory self defenseWe see through your liesYou can stand on your ownWere not with the terrorists,were not with you and were not aloneYoure spilling blood to make oilmen richerand redeem daddy for his miserable failurebut the people youre killing, have a right to existWe cant let in come to thisWar propaganda plagues our countryAmerican perception is not realityOur leaders have a war mentalityWere living in a war mentalityall images by Behind Enemy Lineshttp://www.wearebehindenemylines.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lepeep Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 I always think that Political Music is "preaching to the converted", I mean, are you going to get a new point of view across to someone "right wing", if they are never going to listen to "left wing" music ?...There was an ace "mic slot" in one of the consolodated lp's, with a consolodated fan saying "this is preaching to the converted, you are all sheep" (and he got booed heaps, proving his point).it's a real shame, not even protest these days (violent or not) gets things done. I mean 100000 people marching in london didn't stop a war... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Cowboy Dan Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 When the President talks to God... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 there is no way Sum 41 have ever written good political lyrics.the new album "chuck" has political songs on it yes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Page 99 Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 Yes, but most probably knowing the lyrical standard of sum 41 these will be points and comments which a deaf blind and dumb mute could have picked up upon and also most probably highly contrived attempts to fit in with current mainstream trends. Even Green Day's recent stabs at political writing sound uncontrived enough to possibly do some good. (Although the cynic in me does doubt their intentions from time to time) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teabags Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 I always think that Political Music is "preaching to the converted"' date=' I mean, are you going to get a new point of view across to someone "right wing", if they are never going to listen to "left wing" music ?...There was an ace "mic slot" in one of the consolodated lp's, with a consolodated fan saying "this is preaching to the converted, you are all sheep" (and he got booed heaps, proving his point).it's a real shame, not even protest these days (violent or not) gets things done. I mean 100000 people marching in london didn't stop a war...[/quote']I was in the middle somewhere a few years back. was kinda apathetic to the whole thing after growing in a "utopian paradise" which was the United Arab Emirates, where politics doesn't seem to affect anybody. Or maybe I was just an apathetic teenager. Anyway, I started listening to the music because it sounded ace. Mainly hardcore d-beat like Skitsystem and Wolfpack etc. After that, got more and more into it, and through the lyrics and the message it has turned me into the dread-headed left wing anti-fascist I am today.So it's not always preaching to the converted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HummerOfIntenseEvil Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 I was in the middle somewhere a few years back. was kinda apathetic to the whole thing after growing in a "utopian paradise" which was the United Arab Emirates' date=' where politics doesn't seem to affect anybody. Or maybe I was just an apathetic teenager. Anyway, I started listening to the music because it sounded ace. Mainly hardcore d-beat like Skitsystem and Wolfpack etc. After that, got more and more into it, and through the lyrics and the message it has turned me into the dread-headed left wing anti-fascist I am today.So it's not always preaching to the converted.[/quote']Same here. I was definitely right-of-centre when I was growing up. But when I did that "Who should you vote for?" thing that was on the Wasteland during the election, it came up with SSP!The reason music can be so good at getting a political message across is that you more than likely love the music first, and then start investigating the lyrics, and the more you listen to it, the more you think "hey, that's a good point". Or something.The vast majority of Manics fans take an interest in politics. I don't believe for a second that they were all politically minded before listening to the Manics, so they certainly haven't just been (Manic Street) Preaching to the converted... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 Yes' date=' but most probably knowing the lyrical standard of sum 41 these will be points and comments which a deaf blind and dumb mute could have picked up upon and also most probably highly contrived attempts to fit in with current mainstream trends.[/quote']i think you should listen to the album before putting it down, i do however think your right in the " attempts to fit into the mainstream trend", last year it was reaaly cool for bands and music fans to be anti bush and blair, this has died off since both won the elections again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swingin' Ryan Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 The vast majority of Manics fans take an interest in politics. I don't believe for a second that they were all politically minded before listening to the Manics' date=' so they certainly haven't just been (Manic Street) Preaching to the converted...[/quote']Agreed, I started reading a lot more after I started listening to the Manics and I've actually been aided in exams by stuff I've remembered from manics songs.I'd also credit RATM aswell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HummerOfIntenseEvil Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 Agreed' date=' I started reading a lot more after I started listening to the Manics and. I've actually been aided in exams by stuff I've remembered from manics songs.I'd also credit RATM aswell.[/quote']Rage Against The Machine.... now there's a band who can hardly be accused of political bandwagon jumping! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laxton's Superb Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 i dont think you can really accuse Rage of jumping on a bandwagon...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Page 99 Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 No... But empty sloganeering could be a very good accusation to make against said band. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laxton's Superb Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 as far as i know Zach and Tom at least have been pretty active in fighting for what they see as 'just' causes..its the moronic element of their fanbase who wear Che Guevara hoodies without a thought as to who he is that make accusations like yours commonplaceincidentally, not suggesting YOU are a moronic fan, just saying it makes accusations like that easier to make.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HummerOfIntenseEvil Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 No... But empty sloganeering could be a very good accusation to make against said band.Nah, I'd say Zach was clearly a very pissed off young man and therefore presumably meant every word. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HummerOfIntenseEvil Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 as far as i know Zach and Tom at least have been pretty active in fighting for what they see as 'just' causes..its the moronic element of their fanbase who wear Che Guevara hoodies without a thought as to who he is that make accussations like yours commonplaceincidentally' date=' not suggesting YOU are a moronic fan, just saying it makes accussations like that easier to make.. [/quote']Swift bit of editing there Che Guevara hoodies... my god. I can just imagine the folk who designed them now."How can we make more money?""Let's sell Communist things!""Brilliant!"The amount of times I've felt like smacking someone with one of those fucking Cuba hoodies... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.