Do they openly criticize capitalism itself or just its most visible symptoms and effects? I'm not a big fan of theirs so I don't know, but I think precedent has shown that criticism for the effects of capitalism is tolerated so long as criticism of capitalism itself isn't mentioned.
Their album "Evil Empire" has a song on it entitled "People of the Sun" which is a positve endorsement of the Zapatistas. They've also performed with an EZLN flag on stage before. Another song on that album quotes Mao. Lyrics can a lot of interpretations (it's actually pretty common for RATM fans to have no clue how socialist they are) so it's often easier just to point to interviews and other activities they've done.
Tom Morello, the guitarist, is probably the most clear. He's said it outright in interviews, in no uncertain terms, using the terms capitalism and socialism. He's blamed capitalism directly for climate change, for instance. He also has a side project where he plays IWW songs.
It's hard to summarize, but at least vocally and where they spend money on charity, the band members seem consistently socialist in their ideology to me. They're rich and work for Sony though, so take that as you want. It's difficult for me to express how much of an anomaly they are. My best guess has always been their symbols and lyrics are obscure enough to fly right over the heads of most Americans to the point where they don't seem threateningly left wing, since they don't focus on the cultural identifiers. How many Americans are going to identify left wing politics through praising Zapatistas and singing Franz Fanon quotes?
I always find it funny that They Might Be Giants is openly communist and their music is used in tons of advertisements.
At their first concert, They Might Be Giants performed under the name El Grupo De Rock and Roll (Spanish for "the Rock and Roll Band"), because the show was a Sandinista rally in Central Park, and a majority of the audience members spoke Spanish.[10]
Do they openly criticize capitalism itself or just its most visible symptoms and effects? I'm not a big fan of theirs so I don't know, but I think precedent has shown that criticism for the effects of capitalism is tolerated so long as criticism of capitalism itself isn't mentioned.
Their album "Evil Empire" has a song on it entitled "People of the Sun" which is a positve endorsement of the Zapatistas. They've also performed with an EZLN flag on stage before. Another song on that album quotes Mao. Lyrics can a lot of interpretations (it's actually pretty common for RATM fans to have no clue how socialist they are) so it's often easier just to point to interviews and other activities they've done.
Tom Morello, the guitarist, is probably the most clear. He's said it outright in interviews, in no uncertain terms, using the terms capitalism and socialism. He's blamed capitalism directly for climate change, for instance. He also has a side project where he plays IWW songs.
It's hard to summarize, but at least vocally and where they spend money on charity, the band members seem consistently socialist in their ideology to me. They're rich and work for Sony though, so take that as you want. It's difficult for me to express how much of an anomaly they are. My best guess has always been their symbols and lyrics are obscure enough to fly right over the heads of most Americans to the point where they don't seem threateningly left wing, since they don't focus on the cultural identifiers. How many Americans are going to identify left wing politics through praising Zapatistas and singing Franz Fanon quotes?
I always find it funny that They Might Be Giants is openly communist and their music is used in tons of advertisements.