Political Music

JOKER96BRAVO

Senior Member
Aug 13, 2004
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I've been over this before, but I'll do it again.
Last night I bought the new Ministry album and I wasted my money.
I knew the album was going to be a little anti-Bush but it was a little much.
The entire album is nothing but a musical rant. They even took quotes from
Bush and changed them around to say such things as "I am a terrorist",
"I want your money", and "we need crude oil". Don't get me wrong, I can take
an opinion but this crap covered the entire album. It's sad too because I've
always credited Ministry for being the "I don't give a shit" band that plays
music not to be considered mainstream. A few political blurbs here and
there, but never so thick. I guess you would have to hear it and know
what music Ministry USED to release.Someone tell me when I'll be able to buy an album again to hear real musical talent, and not political views?
 
Seems to me music has always been political. Back in WWI and WWII, it was used to rev people up. During Vietnam, it was mostly protest music that made political statements. Now you get stuff on both sides. Pro stuff from the country music folk and anti from the rockers/folkies.


Chimes of Freedom
By Bob Dylan

Far between sundown's finish an' midnight's broken toll
We ducked inside the doorway, thunder crashing
As majestic bells of bolts struck shadows in the sounds
Seeming to be the chimes of freedom flashing
Flashing for the warriors whose strength is not to fight
Flashing for the refugees on the unarmed road of flight
An' for each an' ev'ry underdog soldier in the night
An' we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing.

In the city's melted furnace, unexpectedly we watched
With faces hidden while the walls were tightening
As the echo of the wedding bells before the blowin' rain
Dissolved into the bells of the lightning
Tolling for the rebel, tolling for the rake
Tolling for the luckless, the abandoned an' forsaked
Tolling for the outcast, burnin' constantly at stake
An' we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing.

Through the mad mystic hammering of the wild ripping hail
The sky cracked its poems in naked wonder
That the clinging of the church bells blew far into the breeze
Leaving only bells of lightning and its thunder
Striking for the gentle, striking for the kind
Striking for the guardians and protectors of the mind
An' the unpawned painter behind beyond his rightful time
An' we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing.

Through the wild cathedral evening the rain unraveled tales
For the disrobed faceless forms of no position
Tolling for the tongues with no place to bring their thoughts
All down in taken-for-granted situations
Tolling for the deaf an' blind, tolling for the mute
Tolling for the mistreated, mateless mother, the mistitled prostitute
For the misdemeanor outlaw, chased an' cheated by pursuit
An' we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing.

Even though a cloud's white curtain in a far-off corner flashed
An' the hypnotic splattered mist was slowly lifting
Electric light still struck like arrows, fired but for the ones
Condemned to drift or else be kept from drifting
Tolling for the searching ones, on their speechless, seeking trail
For the lonesome-hearted lovers with too personal a tale
An' for each unharmful, gentle soul misplaced inside a jail
An' we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing.

Starry-eyed an' laughing as I recall when we were caught
Trapped by no track of hours for they hanged suspended
As we listened one last time an' we watched with one last look
Spellbound an' swallowed 'til the tolling ended
Tolling for the aching ones whose wounds cannot be nursed
For the countless confused, accused, misused, strung-out ones an' worse
An' for every hung-up person in the whole wide universe
An' we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing.

Copyright © 1964; renewed 1992 Special Rider Music
 
I understand that but an entire album???
The type of stuff they use makes it seem as if
they don't even need music, they just wanna bitch.
I buy the album under false pretenses (which comes from owning their
previous albums) that I'm buying it to hear some musical talent.

Plain and simple, I like my politics seperated from my music.
At least 90% of the album anyway.
 
JOKER96BRAVO said:
I understand that but an entire album???
The type of stuff they use makes it seem as if
they don't even need music, they just wanna bitch.
I buy the album under false pretenses (which comes from owning their
previous albums) that I'm buying it to hear some musical talent.

Plain and simple, I like my politics seperated from my music.
At least 90% of the album anyway.

I hear ya. But maybe that's mostly because you disagree with their politics. Maybe they're pissed and this is their outlet? Would you be as put off by it if they were mirroring your feelings? Don't get me wrong, I can see where it would bug you (Springsteen has some stuff that makes me cranky that way). Just asking :)
 
jillian said:
I hear ya. But maybe that's mostly because you disagree with their politics. Maybe they're pissed and this is their outlet? Would you be as put off by it if they were mirroring your feelings? Don't get me wrong, I can see where it would bug you (Springsteen has some stuff that makes me cranky that way). Just asking :)
No, it's all politics.
Sex drugs and all that other stuff for me please.
Love on occasion, but I'll watch CNN for political views not MTV.
 
I can even do politics (both sides) in music with moderation.
I grew up Idolizing Metallica, but they knew when too much was too much.
An entire album is too much.
 
I think the big difference now is that most political music these days just feels forced. The lyrics don't quite work because they're trying to squeeze too much into a song. I'd settle even for a little creativity in songwriting, vague metaphors and the what not. This blatant don't-have-to-think-to-figure-out-the-meaning shit is depressing.
 
JOKER96BRAVO said:
I can even do politics (both sides) in music with moderation.
I grew up Idolizing Metallica, but they knew when too much was too much.
An entire album is too much.

I don't know most of Metallica's stuff, so am not sure what they wrote about. Sorry.

The ClayTaurus said:
I think the big difference now is that most political music these days just feels forced. The lyrics don't quite work because they're trying to squeeze too much into a song. I'd settle even for a little creativity in songwriting, vague metaphors and the what not. This blatant don't-have-to-think-to-figure-out-the-meaning shit is depressing.

I dunno. I thought Jesus of Suburbia was pretty creative. Though I can see where it would be off-putting to a lot of people.
 
To offset my claim that "most" music feels forced, you list one song :laugh:


Can you name 10 creative political songs? That's my point.
 
jillian said:
Heh! :beer:

Can you name 10 creative political songs? That's my point.

1. Jesus of Suburbia
2. Ohio
3. Chicago
4. Woodstock
5. Blowin' In the Wind
6. Chimes of Freedom
7. Roulette
8. War
9. Ball of Confusion
10. Fortunate Son

:cheers2:[/QUOTE]

" Drop kick me Jesus through the goal posts of heaven" :cof:
 
JOKER96BRAVO said:
No, it's all politics.
Sex drugs and all that other stuff for me please.
Love on occasion, but I'll watch CNN for political views not MTV.

So you're not gonna buy Toby Keith's "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue?"
 
jillian said:
Heh! :beer:



1. Jesus of Suburbia
2. Ohio
3. Chicago
4. Woodstock
5. Blowin' In the Wind
6. Chimes of Freedom
7. Roulette
8. War
9. Ball of Confusion
10. Fortunate Son

:cheers2:
Now you need to go back and read my post about current political songs.

Can you name 10 CURRENT creative political songs?
 
jillian said:
Heh! :beer:



1. Jesus of Suburbia
2. Ohio
3. Chicago
4. Woodstock
5. Blowin' In the Wind
6. Chimes of Freedom
7. Roulette
8. War
9. Ball of Confusion
10. Fortunate Son

:cheers2:

You forgot the best one "Feels Like I'm Fixing to Die" Country Joe and the Fish.\

But I"m sure you'll argue it's "not" the best one, just to be different. :laugh:


And yes Clay, I know you said "current".
 
The ClayTaurus said:
Now you need to go back and read my post about current political songs.

Can you name 10 CURRENT creative political songs?

Yeah...yeah .... saw you slipped CURRENT by me :p:

Will think on it. Generally I don't listen to my music for politics either. But ya gotta admit, I found some good ones.
 
Said1 said:
You forgot the best one "Feels Like I'm Fixing to Die" Country Joe and the Fish.\

But I"m sure you'll argue it's "not" the best one, just to be different. :laugh:


And yes Clay, I know you said "current".

I didn't know what that one was called. I thought it was the *F*I*S*H* Cheer. It's a great one, though. :D

Check out this soundtrack:

http://www.towerrecords.com/product...e=Steal+This+Movie&artist=Original+Soundtrack

I also forgot Alice's Restaurant, For What It's Worth and Jackson Browne's Lives In The Balance.
 
jillian said:
Yeah...yeah .... saw you slipped CURRENT by me :p:

Will think on it. Generally I don't listen to my music for politics either. But ya gotta admit, I found some good ones.
:laugh:

If I could cherry pick over the last 45 years, I could find some good ones too :laugh:
 

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