I was thinking about leftist music in these terms recently. Punk and folk can talk straight up about politics. But country, pop, metal, etc cannot without sounding corny as fuck.
This is why I like A Brighter Day by Jellyfish — I think it's about joining the FBI or MI6 during the cold war, but it's really oblique about it, and it sounds fuckin' great. If they wrote a song in that style but mentioned an org or a person by name, I think it'd lose its appeal.
This is a really great point. Pumped Up Kicks is another pop song that manages to nail a message without getting too corny.
Hip Hop also has a long tradition of revolutionary music to it which is awesome.
“Run To The Hills” by Iron Maiden feels a little dated now, but had a lot of bite to it and really pissed people off when it first released. An anti-colonialist metal song in the 80’s was a big deal.
Right? Phil Ochs left some huge shoes to fill, but this guy nailed it. The barely contained rage and bitterness in his voice also sells it.
I really want to hear this song covered by a powerviolence band.
I was thinking about leftist music in these terms recently. Punk and folk can talk straight up about politics. But country, pop, metal, etc cannot without sounding corny as fuck.
This is why I like A Brighter Day by Jellyfish — I think it's about joining the FBI or MI6 during the cold war, but it's really oblique about it, and it sounds fuckin' great. If they wrote a song in that style but mentioned an org or a person by name, I think it'd lose its appeal.
This is a really great point. Pumped Up Kicks is another pop song that manages to nail a message without getting too corny.
Hip Hop also has a long tradition of revolutionary music to it which is awesome.
“Run To The Hills” by Iron Maiden feels a little dated now, but had a lot of bite to it and really pissed people off when it first released. An anti-colonialist metal song in the 80’s was a big deal.
Oh, Run To The Hills is a great point! Hiphop as well. Seems like it can do it direct or indirect.
I spose I'm being too hard-and-fast — good lyrics are good lyrics.
metal as a genre is already corny, and the best metal embraces that