Music Gets Political

[The Guy]

Despite this being about music, I think the lyrics of this song can be taken aside and experimented with.

Recently, especially after the EDL site hacking, I came across the artist Lowkey, a controversial yet brilliant artist who is involved with the hip-hop/rap scene. Anyway, I saw a song named 'Obamanation', which, to my surprise, gives a mention to communism along with an anti-American theme. See what you think and what we can take away from this song:

z4OI0GUCI_A

A very strong message.

[RedScare]

Yea, Lowkey is pretty awesome. He did a collaboration with Immortal Technique that was pretty good to.

[Adi Shankara]

Music get's political? You're saying it like it's a new thing?

[The Guy]

Music get's political? You're saying it like it's a new thing?

In terms of the mainstream tripe. As he says in the song: "I have the guts to say what all these other rappers aren't."

[RadioRaheem84]

"I have the guts to say what all these other rappers aren't."

Most of the other rappers do not believe in what Lowkey is saying. They're just liberals (with some rather reactionary views, I may add).

[Pirate Utopian]

In terms of the mainstream tripe.
Except Lowkey isnt mainstream and Public Enemy back in the day were. In fact alot of rappers have political songs. Ludacris had Slap for example.

[Shokaract]

What I like is that he understands that the changing appearance of the leadership means nothing, and that at its core is still capitalism-imperialism.

[The Guy]

Except Lowkey isnt mainstream and Public Enemy back in the day were. In fact alot of rappers have political songs. Ludacris had Slap for example.

I understand that Lowkey isn't mainstream. My point was that all the mainstream media which the majority of us are subjected to just talks about the same old, ear-candy shit day-in-day-out. However, I do hear Lowkey is quite an upcoming talent in the underground scene.

Aye, so he did, but I feel this has a very strong message behind it. "Free Palestine" by Lowkey is another good song which I'd recommend.

[RadioRaheem84]

What I like is that he understands that the changing appearance of the leadership means nothing, and that at its core is still capitalism-imperialism.

How this hasn't reached the attention of the mainstream "left" in the US is beyond me.

[727Goon]

I don't think mild socialist themes are anything new in hip hop I mean Jay Z has used maoist and anarchist imagery in his videos and has rapped on a Dead Prez track, even though he is a member of the capitalist class. Lil Wayne has referred to himself as "The Hip-Hop Socialist" and there have been other examples of rappers trying to adopt a somewhat anti-capitalist image. I don't think its fair that people criticize rap for not being political enough though, I mean the reason mostly white boys listen to political hip hop is because we don't want to listen to music and be reminded of our problems, music should be more of an escape. Besides most political artist's politics are shit (look at anarcho-punk or Immortal Technique) and the ones that aren't are usually hit or miss (Dead Prez). I prefer non-political music myself.

[IllicitPopsicle]

I've heard some good anarcho-punk (Chumbawamba for example) but I see what you're saying. Honestly, I think there should be a divide between politics and music. Not in the sense that people who play music should be apolitical drones, but in the sense that genres like anarcho-punk shouldn't necessarily exist.

[Pirate Utopian]

My point was that all the mainstream media which the majority of us are subjected to just talks about the same old, ear-candy shit day-in-day-out.
Most of those rappers have some political songs. It's just that most of those songs arent catchy or promoted enough and therefor get no airplay.

To be fair, I think the mainstream isnt that bad as it was a few years ago anymore, there's actually alot of rappers on TV now that arent half-bad.


However, I do hear Lowkey is quite an upcoming talent in the underground scene.
He's alright. A little sober, nothing renewing.

[Boboulas]

Revoultion Music is also a good song by lowkey.

[bricolage]

Lowkey is a good mc but to be honest he sounds better when he isn't doing his political shit which is generally just pretty bait.
This one is alright; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yCeqM6W4iQ

[Leo]

I will be more impressed when politics get musical.

[Sir Comradical]

Good song.

[The Vegan Marxist]

I always love political music, especially by singers like Lowkey, Immortal Technique, & The Narcicyst:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2r8kBnGtAU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtoHCUMpNMY

[Prairie Fire]

Leo

I will be more impressed when politics get musical.

For someone hailing from a tendency so uncompromisingly hostile to the new left, this grossly simplistic statement has all of the infantile hallmarks that I would expect from the largely hedonistic and individualistic new left forces that came to characterize all of the faults of the 60's-70's.

Your above single-sentence response was obviously easy to say, and it sounds good to those only passively skimming your remarks, but upon actual comprehension, it is feel-good metaphyical crap, devoid of any redeeming content and bordering on liberalism.

So, your basic premise, if taken literally, is that somehow contemporary politics must incorporate some elements of music (which, you could say, the presented clips are examples of), presumably because lack of lyrics and song in our tangible political work is detrimental in some way.

On the contrary, I would propose that the tactics of the contemporary left have often been consumed, and even hindered, by the use of music as the primary mode of conveying political education to the apolitical, as a measure of "protest" in demonstration against tangible reactionary policies, and basically as a diversion from any sort of organizing that might yield results (ie. politically themed concerts in the place of rallies, etc).

I also take issue with the way that you phrased things, because the implications are that politics must be subordinated to art.

That tangible form must be subordinated to it's own reflection , that method must be made to serve expression, that empirical reality must conform to metaphysical interpretation and impression.

While I am not opposed to a revolutionary political organization, and ultimately any social system brought into being by said revolutionary forces, possessing their own cultural contributions and achievements (this becomes a necessity in any society where one class has assumed political/social/economic supremacy, and therefore must remake everything of society including the ideological superstructure in their own image), ultimately these achievements must serve politics, not the other way around.

Returning to tactics, even the Internationale itself has never precipitated a revolution.

In the entire history of the revolutionary political left, and in the history of reactionary politics as well, there have been no shortage of songs. The issue is that it has never been songs that have enacted any sort of social change on any level.

Social change occured, and songs came into being to commemorate it. It has never happened the other way around.

So, no, politics do not need to become "musical"; politics need to become practical and need to be organized on a basis of victory.

I realize that perhaps your desire to see politics become "musical" was perhaps a desire to make politics more accessible to the proletariat ( just as religious organizations have hymns,), but ultimately I would say that this is still unnecessary. In the course of doing tangible revolutionary work among the proletariat, new revolutionary culture will be created as a by product of this work. On the other hand, if tangible revolutionary work is not done, if political orientation is not undertaken, then no amount of cultural contributions are going to make an impact on anything or bring organizations into being.

[this is an invasion]

I realize that perhaps your desire to see politics become "musical" was perhaps a desire to make politics more accessible to the proletariat ( just as religious organizations have hymns,)

Or he was just making a play on the words used in the title, you crazy person.

[bcbm]

hahahaha

[What Would Durruti Do?]

Leo


For someone hailing from a tendency so uncompromisingly hostile to the new left, this grossly simplistic statement has all of the infantile hallmarks that I would expect from the largely hedonistic and individualistic new left forces that came to characterize all of the faults of the 60's-70's.

Your above single-sentence response was obviously easy to say, and it sounds good to those only passively skimming your remarks, but upon actual comprehension, it is feel-good metaphyical crap, devoid of any redeeming content and bordering on liberalism.

So, your basic premise, if taken literally, is that somehow contemporary politics must incorporate some elements of music (which, you could say, the presented clips are examples of), presumably because lack of lyrics and song in our tangible political work is detrimental in some way.

On the contrary, I would propose that the tactics of the contemporary left have often been consumed, and even hindered, by the use of music as the primary mode of conveying political education to the apolitical, as a measure of "protest" in demonstration against tangible reactionary policies, and basically as a diversion from any sort of organizing that might yield results (ie. politically themed concerts in the place of rallies, etc).

I also take issue with the way that you phrased things, because the implications are that politics must be subordinated to art.

That tangible form must be subordinated to it's own reflection , that method must be made to serve expression, that empirical reality must conform to metaphysical interpretation and impression.

While I am not opposed to a revolutionary political organization, and ultimately any social system brought into being by said revolutionary forces, possessing their own cultural contributions and achievements (this becomes a necessity in any society where one class has assumed political/social/economic supremacy, and therefore must remake everything of society including the ideological superstructure in their own image), ultimately these achievements must serve politics, not the other way around.

Returning to tactics, even the Internationale itself has never precipitated a revolution.

In the entire history of the revolutionary political left, and in the history of reactionary politics as well, there have been no shortage of songs. The issue is that it has never been songs that have enacted any sort of social change on any level.

Social change occured, and songs came into being to commemorate it. It has never happened the other way around.

So, no, politics do not need to become "musical"; politics need to become practical and need to be organized on a basis of victory.

I realize that perhaps your desire to see politics become "musical" was perhaps a desire to make politics more accessible to the proletariat ( just as religious organizations have hymns,), but ultimately I would say that this is still unnecessary. In the course of doing tangible revolutionary work among the proletariat, new revolutionary culture will be created as a by product of this work. On the other hand, if tangible revolutionary work is not done, if political orientation is not undertaken, then no amount of cultural contributions are going to make an impact on anything or bring organizations into being.

.... wut

[Nachie]

This reminds me of a magazine cover I saw back in 2004,

GREEN DAY: PUNK GOES POLITICAL

[What Would Durruti Do?]

This reminds me of a magazine cover I saw back in 2004,

GREEN DAY: PUNK GOES POLITICAL

woah woah woah. hold on...


green day is punk?

[Wanted Man]

This reminds me of a magazine cover I saw back in 2004,

GREEN DAY: PUNK GOES POLITICAL

:lol: Wow.

[IllicitPopsicle]

woah woah woah. hold on...


green day is punk?

Lol. Not in the slightest. On an unrelated-yet-related note, Billie Joe's kid is starting to play in a band, at shows now.

[Leo]

Or he was just making a play on the words used in the title

Its the dialectics!


For someone hailing from a tendency so uncompromisingly hostile to the new left, this grossly simplistic statement has all of the infantile hallmarks that I would expect from the largely hedonistic and individualistic new left forces that came to characterize all of the faults of the 60's-70's.

Has got more to do with the situationist aesthetics than the opportunist new left recruiting by appearing cute like a teddy-bear tactics.



GREEN DAY: PUNK GOES POLITICAL

green day is punk?

Green Day is political?

[IllicitPopsicle]

Its the dialectics!



Has got more to do with the situationist aesthetics than the opportunist new left recruiting by appearing cute like a teddy-bear tactics.



Green Day is political?

Remember American Idiot, followed by 21st Century Breakdown? Very liberal "critiques" of The War, poverty, etc. They were seen as very edgy statements.

It's ironic and a little sad how the harder they try to be political the more they... Aren't? Welcome To Paradise had more class consciousness than the rest of Green Day's recorded material put together, and even then it's not much more than CrimethInc.-esque escapism/lifestylism.

[Leo]

Remember American IdiotI really don't want to, I deeply dislike Green Day and everything about it.


It's ironic and a little sad how the harder they try to be political the more they... Aren't? Yeah, pop-politics - never even a tragedy, always a farce.

[BLACKPLATES]

Is there a "new" NEW left?? Im an amateur nobody of course but I always thought, read, and understood the New Left to be Like Noam Chomsky and Huey Newton? The late 50's and the 60's?

EDIT: strike that question...assuming you even read it, which is unlikely, since the post is so old....

[Delenda Carthago]

So to the parents of America, I am the derringer aimed at little Erica, to attack her
Character, the ringleader of this circus of worthless pawns, sent to lead the march right up to
The steps of congress, and piss on the lawns of the White House, to burn the casket and replace
It with a parental advisory sticker, to spit liquor in the faces of in this democracy of
Hypocrisy, fuck you Ms. Cheney, fuck you Tipper Gore, fuck you with the freest of speech this
Divided states of embarrassment will allow me to have, fuck you

[Blackscare]

Oh, Di
They've gone and left me for her other way.
Each every time I think the wheel around,
It's gone.

I've got a reason for heading home
It's not serene,
It don't make sense to me.
I've got the four eyes blooming under half of my bed
Seems to tingle as the razor ball it cover and claw
I see it shine.
I see it stare.
Holding heart
In my hand.
Take the master morgue and make her have him sitting offside
Let the glory boy of Mr. Henry have it on rye.

Pass us some normal meat
Keep us insane.
Bores who take away
Feel it.
The habits survive
But old of his hand
Guised in moment he
Teeny hate.

Oh, Di
You should've known you could have rested on me.
Each every time I kept the real alive
You took me for the drive to feel the feat
And it's hard.


Most chilling political song I've ever heard. Boldened parts done by me to emphasize certain significant bits.

[Jolly Red Giant]

The political content of current music is not a patch on the music of the late 1970's up to mid-1980's.

Some of the punk stuff in the USA offers potential but it is confused and has a long way to go. There is also some rap stuff in the same vein - but most of it is ruined by the commercialised nonsense.

The music industry learned from its mistakes in the late 1970's where independent labels led to a proliferation of political music - however, the music industry is currently losing its control through the use of the internet by bands and musicians that wouldn't be manufactured as the music industry would like. Music is on the verge of a significant upheaval (possible on the scale of 35 years ago) - how long it will take to happen and in what form is not possible to predict.

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

Frank Turner. Even though he's not an active anarchist any more, his music has some pretty strident anti-capitalist, anti-establishment tones.

[IllicitPopsicle]

World/Inferno Friendship Society is probably the best straight-up leftist punk rock band in the US right now, IMO.


Every commercial makes us die, a little bit
Every pop star makes us doubt, a little bit
Every new car makes us choke
On how little air we get and how we get it

The celebrity makes us filthy, a little bit
Every single ad makes us gag, a little bit
Every photograph makes us age
Each sound bite deafens, each sales event condemns

Talk about luck, you tell me, tell me what I got
You fucking give it to me, I won, I win a lot
Youre not happy, well, no one gives a shit
This is a game and youre a part of it
Maybe it's time for you to quit

Because every new car you buy
It makes the poor baby Jesus cry
Nothing bought or sold is good for him
For you, for me, not good for anybody

Give me your coins and Ill spend them away, one by one
Give me the chips and Ill play them, before the game has begun
No one is happy and no one gives a damn
No one can tell me who I am or make me pay them back

Come on, every new car you buy
It makes the poor baby Jesus cry
Nothing bought or sold is good for him
For you, for me, not good for anybody

Guitar

Because every new car you buy
It makes the poor baby Jesus cry
Nothing bought or sold is good for him
For you, for me, not good for anybody

Every new car you buy
It makes the poor baby Jesus cry
Nothing bought or sold is good for him
For you, for me, not good for anybody

And every bar you pass
Is filled with musicians who want to kick your ass
Nothing bought or sold is good for posterity
And is not played at this party

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ai0MsmTcil8