There was a version of The Beatles' "Drive My Car", sung by a Palestinian female with some verses in Arabic that was recorded in 2018 after it became legal to drive in Saudi Arabia. The song was credited to Nano and the 6-2-4. It is a good example of how context can transform a song into a protest song. Also in recent years The Mountain Goats' "This Year" with the chorus "I'm going to make it through this year if it kills me" as become somewhat of a mantra to get through the last few years of political chaos.
For some reason, St. Vincent’s cover of “Major Tom” made me really feel the alienation of the moment in a way that was, paradoxically, humanizing. I suspect a lot of the Bowie catalog would strike me that way now. Then again, I am particularly emotionally labile right now. Your mileage might vary.
Interesting ideas here. I like the bit about left-leaning songs tending to be about pulling people together. I thought if The Clash's obvious, not latent, political song "Washington Bullets" while reading that. I love how it goes out on a complete party vibe.
And that got me thinking of [cue obvious leap] Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance. When it started, the part of me that hates Disney-fied Thanksgiving/New Year's parades groaned. But because of the context of the times we live in, I took a deep breath and decided to let the performance play out.
It was a joyous form of protest, I hope a protest performance that wouldn't have been necessary in earlier, more open-minded times. If that performance had taken place during any other administration of my lifetime, I may have felt free to lead with my hipster, Disney-averse side and ultimately (I hope) concluded that it was "pretty good, for that kind of thing." But after a year of insane, vitriolic build-up to this fun performance, it all took on a deeper, more resonant effect on me.
You can't keep a lid on a boiling pot. A lot of other songs and performances will boil over with added meaning that longer this sh*show continues. That will be q good thing.
Yes! In the wake of the George Floyd execution. I started hearing a lot of Black people in my community talk about joy -- and not letting it be stolen. It's a powerful form of resistance, along with kindness. It's why we need to seek ways to be in community. There's not a lot of joy in isolation I think.
And on the subject of Joy As An Act of Resistance, it is the title of one of my favorite albums, by a band that continues to live what they preach. https://open.qobuz.com/album/klkk3h8rr7oab Thanks for the post!
There was a version of The Beatles' "Drive My Car", sung by a Palestinian female with some verses in Arabic that was recorded in 2018 after it became legal to drive in Saudi Arabia. The song was credited to Nano and the 6-2-4. It is a good example of how context can transform a song into a protest song. Also in recent years The Mountain Goats' "This Year" with the chorus "I'm going to make it through this year if it kills me" as become somewhat of a mantra to get through the last few years of political chaos.
For some reason, St. Vincent’s cover of “Major Tom” made me really feel the alienation of the moment in a way that was, paradoxically, humanizing. I suspect a lot of the Bowie catalog would strike me that way now. Then again, I am particularly emotionally labile right now. Your mileage might vary.
1-2-3-4-5-6! I’m injured, cross & incapable of deep thought right now. Yours was a noble, righteous effort.
Cross! Which convent order do you belong to?
Interesting ideas here. I like the bit about left-leaning songs tending to be about pulling people together. I thought if The Clash's obvious, not latent, political song "Washington Bullets" while reading that. I love how it goes out on a complete party vibe.
And that got me thinking of [cue obvious leap] Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance. When it started, the part of me that hates Disney-fied Thanksgiving/New Year's parades groaned. But because of the context of the times we live in, I took a deep breath and decided to let the performance play out.
It was a joyous form of protest, I hope a protest performance that wouldn't have been necessary in earlier, more open-minded times. If that performance had taken place during any other administration of my lifetime, I may have felt free to lead with my hipster, Disney-averse side and ultimately (I hope) concluded that it was "pretty good, for that kind of thing." But after a year of insane, vitriolic build-up to this fun performance, it all took on a deeper, more resonant effect on me.
You can't keep a lid on a boiling pot. A lot of other songs and performances will boil over with added meaning that longer this sh*show continues. That will be q good thing.
Yes! In the wake of the George Floyd execution. I started hearing a lot of Black people in my community talk about joy -- and not letting it be stolen. It's a powerful form of resistance, along with kindness. It's why we need to seek ways to be in community. There's not a lot of joy in isolation I think.
And on the subject of Joy As An Act of Resistance, it is the title of one of my favorite albums, by a band that continues to live what they preach. https://open.qobuz.com/album/klkk3h8rr7oab Thanks for the post!
Keep on Rockin in the Free World has kinda been inverted.
The fundamental satire of the song replaced by earnestness
resending this to my culture vultures. with love & caffeine
Thank you, friend.
So great Joyce!