We’re Not Gonna Take It

[The Sum of Awe]

 

[PureX]

It's interesting, to me, to contemplate these examples of creative people speaking out on behalf of their peers. In most instances they succeed in the short term, and within their specific groups, but fail in the long term and at the more universal level.

I think this happens because the true purpose of the artist is to render his own experience of truth, not some collective, distilled, idealized version of it. Most of these wanna-be rock anthems fail in the long run, and become trapped in their time because they lack real depth. A depth that can only come from the individual artist's experience, and not from his sub-group's meme.

Listening to this, now, it just sounds like a hollow echo from the past. A snapshot of teen rebellion from 1980-whatever.

 

[Stevicus]

Another song with the same title.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

It's interesting, to me, to contemplate these examples of creative people speaking out on behalf of their peers. In most instances they succeed in the short term, and within their specific groups, but fail in the long term and at the more universal level.

I think this happens because the true purpose of the artist is to render his own experience of truth, not some collective, distilled, idealized version of it. Most of these wanna-be rock anthems fail in the long run, and become trapped in their time because they lack real depth. A depth that can only come from the individual artist's experience, and not from his sub-group's meme.

Listening to this, now, it just sounds like a hollow echo from the past. A snapshot of teen rebellion from 1980-whatever.

You don’t think the concept of rock and roll rebellion changed anything? Have you been living under a rock this last century?

 

[Stevicus]

You don’t think the concept of rock and roll rebellion changed anything? Have you been living under a rock this last century?

I can see where @PureX might be coming from, though. Comparing stuff from the 60s, where we might find Thunderclap Newman's "Something in the Air" or Ten Years After's "I'd Love to Change the World," which addressed serious social issues of the day. By the 80s, most everyone had sold out to Reagan's ultra-capitalism and excessive consumerism, and a lot of music became more vacuous and puerile, where the most compelling political/social cause of the time seemed to be "Fight For Your Right to Party."

 

[The Sum of Awe]

I can see where @PureX might be coming from, though. Comparing stuff from the 60s, where we might find Thunderclap Newman's "Something in the Air" or Ten Years After's "I'd Love to Change the World," which addressed serious social issues of the day. By the 80s, most everyone had sold out to Reagan's ultra-capitalism and excessive consumerism, and a lot of music became more vacuous and puerile, where the most compelling political/social cause of the time seemed to be "Fight For Your Right to Party."

RATM were political/social movers
Bon Jovi gave a different taste of love
The thrash scene, among many others, brought inspirational lyrics to those who were lost in life
Slayer likely sparked more critical thinking of religion

Etc

 

[Stevicus]

RATM were political/social movers
Bon Jovi gave a different taste of love
The thrash scene, among many others, brought inspirational lyrics to those who were lost in life
Slayer likely sparked more critical thinking of religion

Etc

Good points, though the bands you're referring to had a somewhat selective appeal. In any case, there was no great social movement or any inspiration for change evident among the generations at the time - or even since then. I know that there are those who tried, such as RATM, as you mention. They tried to get people to "Wake Up," yet here we are 30 years later, and most people are still asleep.

 

[PureX]

You don’t think the concept of rock and roll rebellion changed anything? Have you been living under a rock this last century?

Sure, the "rock rebels" all became millionaires while their followers went to work for Walmart.

Turns out the musical pretense of rebellion doesn't actually change much.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

Sure, the "rock rebels" all became millionaires while their followers went to work for Walmart.

Turns out the musical pretense of rebellion doesn't actually change much.

Maybe there hasn’t been any revolutions in this degree lately, but maybe that’s because the message is already out there since the 60s and 70s. Don’t you think it’s useful to keep the message going instead of letting it fall from existence?

 

[PureX]

Maybe there hasn’t been any revolutions in this degree lately, but maybe that’s because the message is already out there since the 60s and 70s. Don’t you think it’s useful to keep the message going instead of letting it fall from existence?

To be honest, I think the fantasy of revolution stifles the actual possibility of it. Just like the fantasy that we are still a democracy tends to inhibit us from realizing that we have been a full blown plutocracy for the last 40 years.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

To be honest, I think the fantasy of revolution stifles the actual possibility of it. Just like the fantasy that we are still a democracy tends to inhibit us from realizing that we have been a full blown plutocracy for the last 40 years.

I might agree if the rebellious music was more mainstream.