NationStates Jolt Archive

After much searching, I've come to a realization. The Left (those who can be clearly identified as socialist, at least) seems to have a paucity of great music associated with it. While Christians, for example, can rattle off a long list of classic songs associated with them, we on the left have to make do with a handful such as the Internationale and Imagine.

While there certainly are bands associated with the left and they certainly do make music that is enjoyable, few, if any that I have heard of have made anything of a quality comparable to, say Bach or Tchaikovsky. Please tell me that there are some truly great leftist songs out there.

Bruce Springsteen.

:D After much searching, I've come to a realization. The Left (those who can be clearly identified as socialist, at least) seems to have a paucity of great music associated with it. While Christians, for example, can rattle off a long list of classic songs associated with them, we on the left have to make do with a handful such as the Internationale and Imagine.

While there certainly are bands associated with the left and they certainly do make music that is enjoyable, few, if any that I have heard of have made anything of a quality comparable to, say Bach or Tchaikovsky. Please tell me that there are some truly great leftist songs out there.

What do you mean? According to Bushevics, anything but Toby Keith is lefty/subversive!

More seriously, though, the world is filled with much lefty-friendly music...we just don't feel the need to label it such and put it in special categories.

...it's much easier to keep our global conspiracy going that way... :D

I wouldn't call it leftist, but it's certainly a protest song, and it's perfect for the current Moron-in-Chief.
Fortunate Son

Some folks are born made to wave the flag,
ooh, they're red, white and blue.
And when the band plays "Hail To The Chief",
oh, they point the cannon at you, Lord,

It ain't me, it ain't me,
I ain't no senator's son,
It ain't me, it ain't me,
I ain't no fortunate one, no,

Some folks are born silver spoon in hand,
Lord, don't they help themselves, oh.
But when the taxman come to the door,
Lord, the house look a like a rummage sale, yes,

It ain't me, it ain't me,
I ain't no millionaire's son.
It ain't me, it ain't me,
I ain't no fortunate one, no.

Yeh, some folks inherit star spangled eyes,
ooh, they send you down to war, Lord,
And when you ask them, how much should we give,
oh, they only answer, more, more, more, yoh,

It ain't me, it ain't me,
I ain't no military son,
It ain't me, it ain't me,
I ain't no fortunate one,

It ain't me, it ain't me,
I ain't no fortunate one, no no no,
It ain't me, it ain't me,
I ain't no fortunate son, no no no,

That's a damn sight better than "I Raq and Roll" by Clint Dumbfuck Black.

Rage Against the Machine is supposed to be a left-wing political based group. At least that's what I heard on "The Communist Test" from OKCupid

Don't forget U2.

I'm not really a punk or metal fan. They seem to be more about satire and angry rants, for one. I was hoping for something that was made with the same level of effort and talent that classical composers might put into their work.

While there certainly are bands associated with the left and they certainly do make music that is enjoyable, few, if any that I have heard of have made anything of a quality comparable to, say Bach or Tchaikovsky.

Hey, is Beethoven not good enough for you?

I'm not really a punk or metal fan. They seem to be more about satire and angry rants, for one. I was hoping for something that was made with the same level of effort and talent that classical composers might put into their work.

RatM was probably one of the best heavy metal groups ever, as Tom Morello is a phenomenal guitarist, they had an excellent rhythym section in Wilk and Commerford, and Zach de la Rocha may have been an ass, but he was definately the best lyricist in the whole rap-rock genre (which, I know, is not really a ringing endorsement, but I would rank de la Rocha over most hip-hop artists in skill period, and that is a respectable endorsement). Plus, if you listen to a lot of their work, it sounds downright eerie in the Bush administration. Take for example the song Testify out of the Battle of Los Angelos album:

UGH!

The movie ran through me
The glamour subdue me
The tabloid untie me
I'm empty please fill me
Mister anchor assure me
That Baghdad is burning
Your voice it is so soothing
That cunning mantra of killing
I need you my witness
To dress this up so bloodless
To numb me and purge me now
Of thoughts of blaming you
Yes the car is our wheelchair
My witness your coughing
Oily silence mocks the legless
Ones who travel now in coffins
On the corner
The jury's sleepless
We found your weakness
And it's right outside our door
Now testify

Now testify
It's right outside our door
Now testify
Yes testify
It's right outside our door

With precision you feed me
My witness I'm hungry
Your temple it calms me
So I can carry on
My slaving sweating the skin right off my bones
On a bed of fire I'm choking on the smoke that fills my home
The wrecking ball rushing
Witness your blushing
The pipeline is gushing
While here we lie in tombs
While on the corner
The jury's sleepless
We found your weakness
And it's right outside your door
Now testify
Yeah testify
It's right outside our door
Now testify
Now testify
It's right outside our door

Mass graves for the pump and the price is set
Mass graves for the pump and the price is set
Mass graves for the pump and the price is set
Mass graves for the pump and the price is set

Who controls the past now controls the future
Who controls the present now controls the past
Who controls the past now controls the future
Who controls the present now?

Now testify
Testify
It's right outside our door
Now testify
Testify
It's right outside our door

Keep in mind, this was produced in 1999-2000, and the album was out before Bush was even elected.

We must talk in every telephone
Get eaten off the web
We must rip out all the epilogues in the books that we have read
And in the face of every criminal
Strapped firmly to a chair
We must stare, we must stare, we must stare

We must take all of the medicines too expensive now to sell
Set fire to the preacher who is promising us hell
And in the ear of every anarchist that sleeps but doesn’t dream
We must sing, we must sing, we must sing

It’ll go like this:

While my mother waters plants
My father loads his guns
He says death will give us back to god
Just like this setting sun is returned to this lonesome ocean

And then they splashed into the deep blue sea
It was a wonderful splash

We must blend into the choir
Sing as static with the whole
We must memorize nine numbers and deny we have a soul
And in this endless race for property and privilege to be one
We must run, we must run, we must run

We must hang up in the belfry
Where the bats and moonlight laugh
We must stare into a crystal ball and only see the past
And in the caverns of tomorrow
With just our flashlights and our love
We must plunge, we must plunge, we must plunge

And then we’ll get down there to the very bottom of everything
And we’ll see it, we’ll see it, we’ll see it

Oh my mornings coming back
The whole world’s waking up
In the city buses are swimming past
I’m happy just because
I found out I’m really no one

It is a fantastic song, you can take the lyrics as leftist if you want.

Hey, is Beethoven not good enough for you?

He's good, but I was asking for leftist music.

He's good, but I was asking for leftist music.

Yes. A passionate commitment to democracy and republicanism and the French Revolution tied to a seething and burning hatred of Napoleon for betraying its very ideals. Nah - obviously not a leftist.

Yes. A passionate commitment to democracy and republicanism and the French Revolution tied to a seething and burning hatred of Napoleon for betraying its very ideals. Nah - obviously not a leftist.

I suppose that makes him ahead of his time, but wasn't he still basically for capitalism?

Eminem, "MOSH"

Many historical figures look moderate or far right from our perspective now, but they were likely fairly radically left for the time.

Eminem, "MOSH"

I don't think that quite fits.

Even if he didn't release it to ride a publicity wave, I don't believe it advocated communism or socialism.

I wouldn't call it leftist, but it's certainly a protest song, and it's perfect for the current Moron-in-Chief.

It is a good song. Hell yeah!

I suppose that makes him ahead of his time, but wasn't he still basically for capitalism?

What makes you think so?

woody guthrie.

remember that sappy feel-good patriotic song "this land is your land"?..

This land is your land, this land is my land,
From California to the New York Island,
From the redwood forest to the gulfstream waters,
This land was made for you and me.

you seldom hear the last 3 verses he wrote....


In the squares of the city by the shadow of the steeple
Near the relief office I saw my people
And some were stumbling and some were wondering if
This land was made for you and me.

This land is ...

As I went rumbling that dusty highway
I saw a sign that said private property
But on the other side it didn't say nothing
This land was made for you and me.

This land is ...

Nobody living can ever stop me
As I go walking my freedom highway
Nobody living can make me turn back
This land was made for you and me.

turns out he made it as a socialist response to "god bless america"


other classics include:

deportees

union maid

1913 massacre

ballad of sacco and vanzetti

pretty boy floyd (as its through this world you ramble youll see lots of funny men, some will rob you with a six-gun, some with a fountain pen)

there are probably a thousand more american socialist/union songs by him.

woody guthrie.

I was going to mention Pete Seeger here, but got embroiled in the whole Beethoven thang.

What makes you think so?

I suppose you have a point.

I was going to mention Pete Seeger here, but got embroiled in the whole Beethoven thang.

Hmm, according to this wikipedia article, Seeger sounds quite a good one.

Hmm, according to this wikipedia article, Seeger sounds quite a good one.
yeah pete seeger is another great american socialist singer/songwriter, closely associated with woody guthrie

you might also look up woody's son arlo guthrie.

"you can get anything you want at alice's restaurant"

Hmm, according to this wikipedia article, Seeger sounds quite a good one.

And just to tie to two strands together here... Seeger does a version of Ode To Joy on the 5-string banjo under the name The Goofing-Off Suite. Fantastic stuff.

Billy Brag - British socialist bsinger/songwriter

When one voice rules the nation
Just because they're top of the pile
Doesn't mean their vision is the clearest
The voices of the people
Are falling on deaf ears
Our politicians all become careerists

They must declare their interests
But not their company cars
Is there more to a seat in parliament
Than sitting on your arse
And the best of all this bad bunch
Is shouting to be heard
Above the sound of ideologies clashing

Outside the patient millions
Who put them into power
Expect a little more back for their taxes
Like school books, beds in hospitals
And peace in our bloody time
All they get is old men grinding axes

Who've built their private fortunes
On the things they can rely
The courts, the secret handshake
The Stock Exchange and the old school tie
For God and Queen and Country
All things they justify
Above the sound of ideologies clashing

God bless the civil service
The nations saving grace
While we expect democracy
They're laughing in our face
And although our cries get louder
The laughter gets louder still
Above the sound of ideologies clashing

Above the sound of ideologies,
Above the sound of ideologies,
Above the sound of ideologies clashing

Eminem, "MOSH"

They were asking for GOOD leftist music

you are already aware of leftist/anti-war songs of the 60's and early 70s arent you? i dont have to dredge up memories of "eve of destruction" "teach your children" and country joe and the fish from woodstock..

do i?



Intro Spoken
Give me an "F! ..."F"! give me a "U"! ..."U"!
Give me a "C"! ..."C" Give me a "K"! ..."K"!
WHATS THAT SPELL? ..."FUCK!" (x5)

Well come on all of you big strong men, Uncle Sam needs your help again,
he got himself in a terrible jam, way down yonder in Vietnam,
put down your books and pick up a gun, we're gunna have a whole lotta fun.

CHORUS
and its 1,2,3 what are we fightin for?
don't ask me i don't give a dam, the next stop is Vietnam,
and its 5,6,7 open up the pearly gates. Well there aint no time to wonder why...WHOPEE we're all gunna die.

now come on wall street don't be slow, why man this's war a-go-go,
there's plenty good money to be made, supplyin' the army with the tools of the trade,
just hope and pray that when they drop the bomb, they drop it on the Vietcong.

CHORUS

now come on generals lets move fast, your big chance is here at last.
nite you go out and get those reds cuz the only good commie is one thats dead,
you know that peace can only be won, when you blow em all to kingdom come.
CHORUS

(spoken)- listen people i dont know you expect to ever stop the war if you cant sing any better than that... theres about 300,000 of you fuc|ers out there.. i want you to start singing..

CHORUS

now come on mothers throughout the land, pack your boys off to vietnam,
come on fathers don't hesitate, send your sons off before its too late,
be the first one on your block, to have your boy come home in a box



so relevant to today

They were asking for GOOD leftist music
I like Eminem. Anyways you should have leftist in capitals.While he is against the war, rappers tend to be quite capitalist. Eminem is no exception.

Billy Brag - British socialist bsinger/songwriter

Yes, I have a version of the Internationale by him. In fact, a huge chunk of my song collection is versions of the Internationale.

Here's a newer one:

John Vanderslice
Heated Pool and Bar

my cousin is in columbia
hunting down the rebels
over fields of bright and shiny coca

over the jungle floor
one-handing a 32
he says: “bring her down low now, I’m ready to go.”

“I hunt kids in camouflage
rain down bullets in flight, white light,
barefoot boys run for your lives.”

but you can’t be nice
you put your gun to their head
and you pull back the pin
and you can’t be good

my friend is based in afghanistan
he goes from cave to cave and pulls the trigger
at the first sight of a man

it’s total anarchy
shooting tracer bullets at night
a high and holy patrol into poppy fields

but you can’t be good
you hold up the bloody knife
and let it shine in the sun
you gotta be everywhere

I’m a guard in guantanamo
I bring the prisoners in
the hoods come off and torture slowly begins

the screams I’ve overheard
it’d fuck up a weaker man
but I’m cold, I’m so untouchable

and you can’t be nice
I got a flak jacket
on my soul with me tonight
and you can’t be good

you are already aware of leftist/anti-war songs of the 60's and early 70s arent you?

Lets mention Phil Ochs, lest he be forgot.

As to more contemporary workers in that vein - Ewan MacColl, Leon Rosselson and the mighty Dick Gaughan.


STAND UP FOR JUDAS

The Romans were the masters when Jesus walked the land
In Judea and in Galilee they ruled with an iron hand
And the poor were sick with hunger and the rich were clothed in splendour
And the rebels whipped and crucified hung rotting as a warning
And Jesus knew the answer
Said, Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, said, Love your enemies
But Judas was a Zealot and he wanted to be free
Resist, he said, The Romans' tyranny

So stand up, stand up for Judas and the cause that Judas served
It was Jesus who betrayed the poor with his word

Jesus was a conjuror, miracles were his game
And he fed the hungry thousands and they glorified his name
He cured the lame and the lepers, he calmed the wind and the weather
And the wretched flocked to touch him so their troubles would be taken
And Jesus knew the answer
All you who labour, all you who suffer only believe in me
But Judas sought a world where no one starved or begged for bread
The poor are always with us, Jesus said

So stand up, stand up for Judas and the cause that Judas served
It was Jesus who betrayed the poor with his word

Now Jesus brought division where none had been before
Not the slaves against their masters but the poor against the poor
Set son to rise up against father, and brother to fight against brother
For he that is not with me is against me, was his teaching
Said Jesus, I am the answer
You unbelievers shall burn forever, shall die in your sins
Not sheep and goats, said Judas, But together we may dare
Shake off the chains of misery we share

So stand up, stand up for Judas and the cause that Judas served
It was Jesus who betrayed the poor with his word

Jesus stood upon the mountain with a distance in his eyes
I am the way, the life, he cried, The light that never dies
So renounce all earthly treasures and pray to your heavenly father
And he pacified the hopeless with the hope of life eternal
Said Jesus, I am the answer
And you who hunger only remember your reward's in Heaven
So Jesus preached the other world but Judas wanted this
And he betrayed his master with a kiss

So stand up, stand up for Judas and the cause that Judas served
It was Jesus who betrayed the poor with his word

By sword and gun and crucifix Christ's gospel has been spread
And 2,000 cruel years have shown the way that Jesus led
The heretics burned and tortured, and the butchering, bloody crusaders
The bombs and rockets sanctified that rain down death from heaven
They followed Jesus, they knew the answer
All non-believers must be believers or else be broken
So put no trust in Saviours, Judas said, For everyone
Must be to his or her own self - a sun

well....

bob dylan (of course) and he just rocks

rilo kiley (kinda, they've got a few songs, but mostly i just recommend them)

harry and the potters (that's only b/c harry potter is incredibly liberal. seriously, read those books another time)

and oh so much more, but i'm sleepy.

I'm not really a punk or metal fan. They seem to be more about satire and angry rants, for one. I was hoping for something that was made with the same level of effort and talent that classical composers might put into their work.

Meh? If you want socialist music, punk's where you're gonna find it. Punk music may not be as musically complex as Beethoven, Bach, or Tchiakovsky (let alone Schoenberg, Berg, Webern, Copland, Shostakovich), but it has its own complexity. Punk is anti-music, like Dada was anti-art, its the message, not the music that's important.


"Greed"

Everything you see you always think you need
You are so crazy motivated by greed
You never take responsibility
You only waste your time when you fuck with me
All you do is take you see my hatred grows
Can't take much more I'm about to explode
You'll see a side Of me I've never shown
You'll feel pain like you've never known
Got enough but you want it all
In it for greed now you're gonna fall
Here we come gonna ruin your day
Time has come It's your turn to pay
The mighty dollar is your only care
You're movin' up but you're going nowhere
You say you only want to get your share
But you still want more no you won't play fair
you'll never ever quit you won't be denied
You sit and watch your money multiply
To get what you want you'll cheat and lie
But I know - you won't be satisfied
Today is a good day for suffering

Meh? If you want socialist music, punk's where you're gonna find it. Punk music may not be as musically complex as Beethoven, Bach, or Tchiakovsky (let alone Schoenberg, Berg, Webern, Copland, Shostakovich), but it has its own complexity. Punk is anti-music, like Dada was anti-art, its the message, not the music that's important.
Yeah, for that matter, anything by the Dead Kennedys would qualify as good leftist music in my estimation.

Yeah, for that matter, anything by the Dead Kennedys would qualify as good leftist music in my estimation.

True, I was trying to find a well formatted form of "Seattle was a riot" by Anti-Flag or something by the Kennedys but I found the Pennywise first.

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

first off, metal and some punk artists put extensive amounts of work into their music. don't put them down because they don't have a full orchestra. they are just as innovative and creative as betthoven and motzart (who i do respect.. although, kabalevsky is my favorite all time pianist)

secondly. if you search for music according to lyrical content you're missing the whole point of music. you're supposed to like music that sounds good and music that makes you happy, not music that reflects your politics (although that kind of music can make you happy too). my point is to search for music on how it sounds, now what it's about.

take for example me. in social and issues like that i'm pretty liberal/centrist. in foreign affairs i'm middle of the road. i beleive in a strong republic. i stand by the iraq war. i think it was a mistake entering, but it would be a mistake leaving. now the music i listen to is hardcore/punk. virtually all of that is left wing. VERY left wing sometimes... but it sounds good, and i do agree with the lyrics in a sense... but, look at these lyrics. i listen to this band, and this is my favorite song... this is an exerpt from trial-war by other means.

"i pledge no allegiance to the flag of the undeniable mistakes of america. and to the plutocracy for which it stands, so many nations under gods that become invisible with liberty and justice reserved for a precious chosen few."

obviously, i don't agree with that. but musically, i love this band, this song especially. my point is don't ever judge music without listening to it, and don't be close minded.

first off, metal and some punk artists put extensive amounts of work into their music. don't put them down because they don't have a full orchestra. they are just as innovative and creative as betthoven and motzart (who i do respect.. although, kabalevsky is my favorite all time pianist)

secondly. if you search for music according to lyrical content you're missing the whole point of music. you're supposed to like music that sounds good and music that makes you happy, not music that reflects your politics (although that kind of music can make you happy too). my point is to search for music on how it sounds, now what it's about.

take for example me. in social and issues like that i'm pretty liberal/centrist. in foreign affairs i'm middle of the road. i beleive in a strong republic. i stand by the iraq war. i think it was a mistake entering, but it would be a mistake leaving. now the music i listen to is hardcore/punk. virtually all of that is left wing. VERY left wing sometimes... but it sounds good, and i do agree with the lyrics in a sense... but, look at these lyrics. i listen to this band, and this is my favorite song... this is an exerpt from trial-war by other means.

"i pledge no allegiance to the flag of the undeniable mistakes of america. and to the plutocracy for which it stands, so many nations under gods that become invisible with liberty and justice reserved for a precious chosen few."

obviously, i don't agree with that. but musically, i love this band, this song especially. my point is don't ever judge music without listening to it, and don't be close minded.

I certainly don't ignore music I disagree with politically. I listen to Bach and Handel, for one. I don't agree with Bach on political or religious issues, obviously, but I enjoy his music.

Some of the best rock from the sixties and seventies were protest songs and songs about leftist politics. Not just the folk stuff like Seegar and Guthrie but rockers influenced by them like Cosby, Stills and Nash. One of my favorite songs by them is "Please come to Chicago" which is about the '68 DNC and the protests there that were broken up enthusiastically in what would later be called a "police riot". They also did the classic "Woodstock" and "Cathedral" which trashes organized religion.

Another folk singer to check out is John Prine.

After much searching, I've come to a realization. The Left (those who can be clearly identified as socialist, at least) seems to have a paucity of great music associated with it. While Christians, for example, can rattle off a long list of classic songs associated with them, we on the left have to make do with a handful such as the Internationale and Imagine.

While there certainly are bands associated with the left and they certainly do make music that is enjoyable, few, if any that I have heard of have made anything of a quality comparable to, say Bach or Tchaikovsky. Please tell me that there are some truly great leftist songs out there.
Excuse me, did the sixties just get Tippex-ed from the history books? There were twenty years when music and politics were synonymous, and the voice was the sound of young people banging their heads against the walls of the establishment, taking copious quantities of mindbending drugs and having sex like people hadn't done for a thousand years or more. Dylan, Springsteen, The Beatles, The Stones, The Who, Pink Floyd, Bob Geldof, Cold Chisel, The Clash, Lou Reed... Do I need to lead everyone in a chorus of "Everybody Must Get Stoned" to get the point across?

LOL

Spoffin named most of the usual suspects...dangit! And I was too slow off the mark to list Billy Bragg... hmm... no, I'm stumped, all the best choices on my lists have been checked off...!

yeah pete seeger is another great american socialist singer/songwriter, closely associated with woody guthrie

you might also look up woody's son arlo guthrie.

"you can get anything you want at alice's restaurant"

You can't get Alice, though. :)

Jello Biafra. :D

I can't believe no one (not even me) has mentioned Steve Earle yet.
Christmas In Washington
by Steve Earle

It's Christmastime in Washington
The Democrats rehearsed
Gettin' into gear for four more years
Things not gettin' worse
The Republicans drink whiskey neat
And thanked their lucky stars
They said, 'He cannot seek another term
They'll be no more FDRs'
I sat home in Tennessee
Staring at the screen
With an uneasy feeling in my chest
And I'm wonderin' what it means

Chorus:
So come back Woody Guthrie
Come back to us now
Tear your eyes from paradise
And rise again somehow
If you run into Jesus
Maybe he can help you out
Come back Woody Guthrie to us now

I followed in your footsteps once
Back in my travelin' days
Somewhere I failed to find your trail
Now I'm stumblin' through the haze
But there's killers on the highway now
And a man can't get around
So I sold my soul for wheels that roll
Now I'm stuck here in this town

Chorus

There's foxes in the hen house
Cows out in the corn
The unions have been busted
Their proud red banners torn
To listen to the radio
You'd think that all was well
But you and me and Cisco know
It's going straight to hell

So come back, Emma Goldman
Rise up, old Joe Hill
The barracades are goin' up
They cannot break our will
Come back to us, Malcolm X
And Martin Luther King
We're marching into Selma
As the bells of freedom ring

Chorus

The "Left" has plenty of artists and songs. In fact, more than any other group, though I don't know why all Christians can't be considered leftist either, but okay.

Just a short list:

Beatles (Lennon)
Neil Young
Rolling Stones
Bob Dylan
Crosby, Stills and Nash
Eagles/Don Henley (seperate activism)
ELP (anti-war)
Radiohead
Green Day
Bonnie Raitt
Carlos Santana
Grateful Dead (so they weren't really activist, but hardcore hippies did follow them around)
Pretty much every band during the 60s and 70s qualify for the aformentioned topic. i.e. Hendrix, Doors, Zeppelin, Pink Floyd (Though Waters did get very political in "The Wall" and "The Final Cut"), all the classics

And for a good anti-Christian dose, just listen to Tool.

I'm looking for music that would compare to the Hallelujah chorus, for example, music beyond the ordinary. Your suggestions are good, but rightists have musicians that are just as good as the ones you have pointed out. I was hoping for someone who stands out.

I'm looking for music that would compare to the Hallelujah chorus, for example, music beyond the ordinary. Your suggestions are good, but rightists have musicians that are just as good as the ones you have pointed out. I was hoping for someone who stands out.

Name some rightist bands that don't play country. And Lynyrd Skynyrd
doesn't count.

Name some rightist bands that don't play country. And Lynyrd Skynyrd
doesn't count.

Yes, but can you name any leftist bands that don't sing punk or rock?

Yes, but can you name any leftist bands that don't sing punk or rock?
Yes.

Thank you for not naming any even though I asked you to.

Band- System of a down
Album-"Steal this album" and "Mezmerize" and the song "War"
Band-Green Day
Album-American Idiot
Band-Alabama

Thats a list I have run across so far. I know Alabama being a country band may not seem liberal but believe it or not they are ...

"Daddy was a souther demorcat try to get a rich man to vote like that"-Song of the South

"Lets leave some blue up above us, lets leave so green on the ground"

So even though they are a country band they are southern democrats. People in rock and roll tend to be more diversified where as most country groups just say bush rocks because most southeners are republican. I listen to everything but rap and new age pop though so...

The "Left" has plenty of artists and songs. In fact, more than any other group, though I don't know why all Christians can't be considered leftist either, but okay.

Just a short list:

...
Neil Young
...

Uh-huh? The chap who publicly endorsed Reagan?

Name some rightist bands that don't play country. And Lynyrd Skynyrd
doesn't count.

Skrewdriver. Landser. Bound For Glory. Burzum. Blue Eyed Devils.


That should be sufficient lest I be accused of giving publicity to these swine and their despicable ilk.

Name some rightist bands that don't play country. And Lynyrd Skynyrd
doesn't count.

You're right to say that because he speaks good of Governor Wallace and he was a democrate, he was shot thought. He didnt die but it caused him to drop out of running for president (thus how a lot people down in alabama believe Carter got elected is Wallace poured all his suppport into Carter for president) . Then right in the same verse he says "now watergate does not bother me..." so he supported both sides in the song.

Uh-huh? The chap who publicly endorsed Reagan?
That's why I left him out when I mentioned CSN....


Wasn't Neil doing a lot of drugs then....

Skrewdriver. Landser. Bound For Glory. Burzum. Blue Eyed Devils.


That should be sufficient lest I be accused of giving publicity to these swine and their despicable ilk.

Kid Rock too. Fuel is also pro bush.

Uh-huh? The chap who publicly endorsed Reagan?

Wow. Maybe you should listen to some of his songs before making a jackass statement like that. Here's a good list to start with: "Southern Man," or his live rendition of "Blowing in the Wind," or maybe "Rockin' in the Free World," or "Ohio," I can go on if you want. And he enraged many of his fans after he did that anyway, so you bringing that up only hurt the point you were trying to make as he had to have been liberal to enrage his fans after endorsing Reagan. Maybe he was high when he did it anyway? Who knows.

Skrewdriver. Landser. Bound For Glory. Burzum. Blue Eyed Devils.


That should be sufficient lest I be accused of giving publicity to these swine and their despicable ilk.
Fortunately, I've never heard of any of those bands...and I have a rather wide taste in music.

Wow. Maybe you should listen to some of his songs before making a jackass statement like that.


Stating the truth is a 'jackass statement'? Yes, better that we cosset ourselves with lies rather than appear to be jackasses.

Name some rightist bands that don't play country. And Lynyrd Skynyrd
doesn't count.

The Ramones
---

That aside, its silly to think that any of this music isn't on the scale of the Halleluiah chorus just because it isn't classical (unless you mean in terms of "size" of sound, in which canse the chorus can't stand up to any punk/rock). Just because it isn't written for a full symphony doesn't mean that it doesn't stand out.

Failing that...

Beethoven

My band is quite leftist, and we hope to be good pretty soon.

As far as leftist music goes,

Shostakovitch
Prokofiev (actually, you'll find that many composers were at least left leaning, if not radical)
Megadeth
Dream Theater is left-wing I believe
Numerous Punk bands
Virtually every 60's and 70's era band

And if you want something anti-christian, just listen to almost any black metal band. Unfortunately, many of these bands are politically right wing, as well. Though not all.

Repeat after me:

BAD RELIGION
BAD RELIGION
BAD RELIGION

Thank you.

Fortunately, I've never heard of any of those bands...and I have a rather wide taste in music.

All neo-nazi bullshit and best avoided.*



* However, the band Skrewdriver's first few releases when they were a garage influenced R'n'B/Punk band before they went all neo-fascist are actually pretty good examples of early punk rock.

You're right to say that because he speaks good of Governor Wallace and he was a democrate, he was shot thought. He didnt die but it caused him to drop out of running for president (thus how a lot people down in alabama believe Carter got elected is Wallace poured all his suppport into Carter for president) . Then right in the same verse he says "now watergate does not bother me..." so he supported both sides in the song.*sigh* Lynyrd Skynryd isn't a he, it's a they. King, Rossington and Van Zant collaborated on the song.

Wallace mellowed over the years to put it mildly. He stood in the way of civil rights and supported segregation early on but later, especially after he was shot, he seemed to embrace the mainstream democratic platform.

The Ramones

As far as I recall only one of them was avowedly right of centre.

Stating the truth is a 'jackass statement'? Yes, better that we cosset ourselves with lies rather than appear to be jackasses.
Sorry about the hostility, I'm sort of frustrated at the moment...not because of General, but because of other, more personal reasons... :( I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me of an unthoughtout phrase.

Listen to Gloomy Sunday.

Billy Bragg is by far the best leftist performer in my opinion :)

Shostakovitch
Prokofiev (actually, you'll find that many composers were at least left leaning, if not radical)

They were? Wikipedia doesn't say anything about these two being left wing.

I'm really surprised nobody besides me has said BR yet. They're like, the quintessential political punk band, and they've been around since the 80s. They have songs about almost every major issue, and some good songs that are personal as well.

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned sweatshop union or miscellanous underground rap that tends to be a bit more to the left.

After much searching, I've come to a realization. The Left (those who can be clearly identified as socialist, at least) seems to have a paucity of great music associated with it. While Christians, for example, can rattle off a long list of classic songs associated with them, we on the left have to make do with a handful such as the Internationale and Imagine.

While there certainly are bands associated with the left and they certainly do make music that is enjoyable, few, if any that I have heard of have made anything of a quality comparable to, say Bach or Tchaikovsky. Please tell me that there are some truly great leftist songs out there.


You really don't listen to much music at all, do you?

(A large part of the works by...)
The Beatles
The Who
The Greatful Dead
Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young
U2
The Goats
Bob Marley


(Particular songs by)
Ministry
Def Lepard
Eddie Grant
Metallica

That just scratches the surface. Exapnd your horizons...

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned sweatshop union or miscellanous underground rap that tends to be a bit more to the left.

Yeah, that too. Warsawpack is really good if you're into that kinda thing, but they're probably hard to find outside of Ontario, Canada. They're kind of a mix between hip hop and jazz with political lyrics, and it ends up being pretty awesome. I think Sage Francis does kind of the same stuff you're talking about too, but I'm not entirely sure.

In my most humble opinion music of all sorts is severely limited creatively speaking when it is anchored by something like politics.

In my most humble opinion music of all sorts is severely limited creatively speaking when it is anchored by something like politics.

I wouldn't say that. The classical composers were anchored to 17th century Christianity when they wrote their work but still managed to do quite well.

In my most humble opinion music of all sorts is severely limited creatively speaking when it is anchored by something like politics.

I disagree. Music can be a vehicle for expressing personal views on any number of topics, which can be done in a creative manner. As long as the audience realizes that the musician's views are no more valid than anyone else's, it's an interesting experience.

Rage Against the Machine is supposed to be a left-wing political based group. At least that's what I heard on "The Communist Test" from OKCupid

What happened to Zach when they broke up? I've heard that he went to Mexico to be a farmer, that he went to Mexico to stir up rebellion amoungst the landless poor, and that he went to Mexico to be a farmer, and stir up rebellion, from 3 different people. Did he in fact go to Mexico? Is there any truth to the rumors?

Meh? If you want socialist music, punk's where you're gonna find it. Punk music may not be as musically complex as Beethoven, Bach, or Tchiakovsky (let alone Schoenberg, Berg, Webern, Copland, Shostakovich), but it has its own complexity. Punk is anti-music, like Dada was anti-art, its the message, not the music that's important.

Aye, and some punk can be quite inteilligent. Greg Graffin has a PHD, and many of his songs are melodic, filled with vivid imagry, and are much more than an "angry rant." Also, the Dead Kennedys. Trent Reznor is also a fucking genious, in my estimation. Even more so with the release of "The Had That Feeds.

One of my favorite Dead Kennedy's songs:



"When Ya Get Drafted"

Are you believing the morning papers?
War is coming back in style
There's generals here, advisors there
And Russians nibbling everywhere
The chessboard's filling up with red
We make more profits when we blow off their heads

Economy is looking bad
Let's start another war when ya get drafted!
Fan the fires of racist hatred
We want total war when ya get drafted!

Drooling fingers
Panic buttons
Playing with missiles like they're toys
There's easy money, easy jobs
Especially when you build the bombs
That blow big cities off the map
Just guess who profits when we build 'em back up

Yeah, what Big Business wants Big Business gets
It wants a war
When ya get drafted!
Trilateral Commission goonies laugh
and scheme for more when ya get drafted!
Call the Army!
Call the Navy!
Stocked with kids from slums
When ya get drafted!
If you can't afford a slick attorney
We might make you a spy

Forget your demonstrations
Kids today sit on their ass
When ya get drafted!
Just a six-pack
And you're happy
We're prepared
For when ya get drafted!




Drug Me, and Holiday in Cambodia are also good. Chemical Warfare, Stealing People's Mail, I Kill Children, and California Uber Allies are just fun songs to listen to :)

Of course, the band that got me into punk, Anti-Flag. Not sure if I'd call thair music especially complex or intelligent, but they have some gems. They sure get you pumped up :)

They played the counter-inaguration, and get people so worked up that they charged the cops, and a group of people tried to set a building on fire

O! Also, that song "Imagine"

In my most humble opinion music of all sorts is severely limited creatively speaking when it is anchored by something like politics.
I think it depends--does the music start out with a political point to make? Then it's probably going to be limited. But does it start out as a piece of music and then perhaps comment on society? Then it can truly be art. I see the same problem in poetry and literature, and that's the general pattern it follows.

After much searching, I've come to a realization. The Left (those who can be clearly identified as socialist, at least) seems to have a paucity of great music associated with it. While Christians, for example, can rattle off a long list of classic songs associated with them, we on the left have to make do with a handful such as the Internationale and Imagine.

While there certainly are bands associated with the left and they certainly do make music that is enjoyable, few, if any that I have heard of have made anything of a quality comparable to, say Bach or Tchaikovsky. Please tell me that there are some truly great leftist songs out there.

It is this way of thinking that is the REAL PROBLEM in the world.

Why do you insist on catagorizing everything into an us vs them? It is people like you and think like you that should of been the ones Stalin, Saddam, or Hilter killed off..not the innocent people..this world would be so much better off.

I wouldn't say that. The classical composers were anchored to 17th century Christianity when they wrote their work but still managed to do quite well.
I don't feel they were "anchored" to it.

I disagree. Music can be a vehicle for expressing personal views on any number of topics, which can be done in a creative manner. As long as the audience realizes that the musician's views are no more valid than anyone else's, it's an interesting experience.
If a musician doesn't eventually expand his views beyond politics, musical creativity is inihibitted. When you don't want to think outside a particular topic, you tend to repeat the same things you've already said in a previous song in much the same way.

I'm really surprised nobody besides me has said BR yet. They're like, the quintessential political punk band, and they've been around since the 80s. They have songs about almost every major issue, and some good songs that are personal as well.


I love Bad Religion, but they don't focus heavily on socialism, so they really weren't what was asked for.

I don't feel they were "anchored" to it.

Back then, they had no choice. It was highly risky, and in some places illegal, to not be Christian.

It is this way of thinking that is the REAL PROBLEM in the world.

Why do you insist on catagorizing everything into an us vs them? It is people like you and think like you that should of been the ones Stalin, Saddam, or Hilter killed off..not the innocent people..this world would be so much better off.

What? I'm just asking for some music associated with socialism. I'm feeling ashamed of the Left's lack of good art.

After much searching, I've come to a realization. The Left (those who can be clearly identified as socialist, at least) seems to have a paucity of great music associated with it. While Christians, for example, can rattle off a long list of classic songs associated with them, we on the left have to make do with a handful such as the Internationale and Imagine.

While there certainly are bands associated with the left and they certainly do make music that is enjoyable, few, if any that I have heard of have made anything of a quality comparable to, say Bach or Tchaikovsky. Please tell me that there are some truly great leftist songs out there.

I'd say that artists are more likely to be liberals than conservatives, given that the conservative stereotype (this is just a stereotype and certainly probably just that) is that art should not be a way to make a living, that there is very likely a LARGE body of music of all genres coming from liberally minded individuals.

I'm a fan of industrial and ambient / heavenly voices (sometimes called neo-classical) music. The vast majority of this music comes from extremely liberal artists, and more than a fair amount of it is highly politically motivated. I'd be happy to make recommendations, but I guess it depends upon what you want. Industrial music with political content is often considered highly satirical, whereas ambient political pieces will tend to be rather depressing (moving, but still dark and sad).

I think it depends--does the music start out with a political point to make? Then it's probably going to be limited. But does it start out as a piece of music and then perhaps comment on society? Then it can truly be art. I see the same problem in poetry and literature, and that's the general pattern it follows.
I fully agree. I was talking about "purely" political bands... like Rage Against the Machine or something of the sort.

I mean I do enjoy an occasional RATM song every now and then... but it all ends up sounding samey.

Back then, they had no choice. It was highly risky, and in some places illegal, to not be Christian.

They didn't quite focus on religion. They worked within commonly accepted boundries (which were by the way limiting their creativity), but expanded their musical pieces beyond mere bible stories.

The "Left" has plenty of artists and songs. In fact, more than any other group, though I don't know why all Christians can't be considered leftist either, but okay.

Just a short list:


Actually that is a very good list. Not that I like those musicians, but the majority of them are well known to be extremely liberal and some of them incorporate many of their personal beliefs into their music.

I'm a fan of industrial and ambient / heavenly voices (sometimes called neo-classical) music. The vast majority of this music comes from extremely liberal artists, and more than a fair amount of it is highly politically motivated. I'd be happy to make recommendations, but I guess it depends upon what you want. Industrial music with political content is often considered highly satirical, whereas ambient political pieces will tend to be rather depressing (moving, but still dark and sad).

What can you recommend in terms of the ambient music?

I don't know as though you're going to find anything with overtly left-wing political content within the classical genre, and certainly nothing that compares to Ode To Joy (which, on a political note, has of course been adopted as the anthem of the European Union, although the EU itself is not particularly "leftist" unless you're one of those hardcore "Bushies" who believes that anyone to the left of Rush Limbaugh on any given issue is an obvious Marxist/Leninist).

Popular music, on the other hand, contains a proud, distinguished subculture of openly left-wing dissent. Others have already mentioned a number of very talented leftist artists like The Clash (who were the first to introduce me to the word Sandinista), Billy Bragg, Bruce Springsteen, etc. With hip-hop/rap being the source of much political content within music during the last 25 years, I would certainly add Public Enemy to the list. "Fight The Power" indeed!

After much searching, I've come to a realization. The Left (those who can be clearly identified as socialist, at least) seems to have a paucity of great music associated with it. While Christians, for example, can rattle off a long list of classic songs associated with them, we on the left have to make do with a handful such as the Internationale and Imagine.

While there certainly are bands associated with the left and they certainly do make music that is enjoyable, few, if any that I have heard of have made anything of a quality comparable to, say Bach or Tchaikovsky. Please tell me that there are some truly great leftist songs out there.

Ted Nugent

Yeah, that too. Warsawpack is really good if you're into that kinda thing, but they're probably hard to find outside of Ontario, Canada. They're kind of a mix between hip hop and jazz with political lyrics, and it ends up being pretty awesome. I think Sage Francis does kind of the same stuff you're talking about too, but I'm not entirely sure.

Yeah, I saw them once play over here in S'toon, they weren't too bad I thought. While they are not the greatest rap group I ever heard, I definately appreciated listening to them and would recommend them to anybody.

It is this way of thinking that is the REAL PROBLEM in the world.

Why do you insist on catagorizing everything into an us vs them? It is people like you and think like you that should of been the ones Stalin, Saddam, or Hilter killed off..not the innocent people..this world would be so much better off.

Dude, that's fucking harsh.

I fully agree. I was talking about "purely" political bands... like Rage Against the Machine or something of the sort.

I mean I do enjoy an occasional RATM song every now and then... but it all ends up sounding samey.

Same with alot of purely political bands, like Anti-Flag. Bad Religion, though, seems to have avoided this trap

Same with alot of purely political bands, like Anti-Flag. Bad Religion, though, seems to have avoided this trap

They have reinvented their sound a lot of times (especially in "Empire Strikes First"), but Process of Beleif and New America sound musically very similar to me (The albums, not the songs... Process of beleif is a line out of Materialist anyway I think... but I'm not sure. Edit: yeah "The process of belief is an elixir when you're weak").

BR is more phillosophical than political in many ways anyway.

Bad Religion, though, seems to have avoided this trap
Well I don't much like Bad Religion. Mostly instrumentally speaking...

Although... I never new they were at any time purely political.

I believe the answer I posted the last time you asked about socialist composers (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=9308060&postcount=64) explained this.

They tried to get socialist music after the Prague
manifesto. They wanted music that celebrated the
ideals of communism and such. In a preface to a book
by serialist composer rene Leibowitz, Jean paul
Sartre, himself a serious communist, wrote about their
plan to celebrate communism and socialism by setting
texts that did the same. He was pointing out that
music could not carry significance and can only have
meaning, pointing out something about how the music
couls remain the same, and the text could be changed
to something celebrating any nation, capitalism, or
even the glories of the TVA!
So, some may have tried socialist music, but they
failed.

(Note: that answer was from my brother, Dr. McIntyre, a professor of Music thoery and composition.)

this is true.


I personally like The Empire Strike First. I know alot of folk don't, but I enjoy it. I especially like the opening track (not for it's lyrics or message, but because it's damn fun to listen to) and Boot Stomping on a Human Face Forever.

Oh I suddenly remembered of a mostly political leftist band that I really like...
(probably because they don't take them as overly serious as most purely political bands)

Suicidal Tendencies!

I wonder if they're still around?

Gang of Four is the Marxist band. They took the vitrol of punk--the lyrics and abrasive guitar--and wed it to funk bass and drums. Also one of the most intelligent bands in rock/punk. Their debut, Entertainment!, is a classic.

The problem of leisure
What to do for pleasure
Ideal love a new purchase
A market of the senses
Dream of the perfect life
Economic circumstances
The body is good business
Sell out, maintain the interest
Remember Lot's wife
Renounce all sin and vice
Dream of the perfect life
This heaven gives me migraine
The problem of leisure
What to do for pleasure

Coercion of the senses
We are not so gullible
Our great expectations
A future for the good
Fornication makes you happy
No escape from society
Natural is not in it
Your relations are of power
We all have good intentions
But all with strings attached

Repackaged sex keeps your interest
Repackaged sex keeps your interest
Repackaged sex keeps your interest
Repackaged sex keeps your interest
Repackaged sex keeps your interest
Repackaged sex keeps your interest

The problem of leisure
What to do for pleasure
Ideal love a new purchase
A market of the senses
Dream of the perfect life
Economic circumstances
The body is good business
Sell outs [? out ?] maintain the interest
Remember Lot's wife
Renounce all sin and vice
Dream of the perfect life
This heaven gives me migraine
This heaven gives me migraine
This heaven gives me migraine

Most Pink Floyd concept albums have political (leftist) undertones....

Dark Side of the Moon (Money, Us and Them, Brain Damage, Eclipse)
Animals (the entire album)
The Wall (Goodbye Blue Sky, Vera, Comfortably Numb)

this is true.


I personally like The Empire Strike First. I know alot of folk don't, but I enjoy it. I especially like the opening track (not for it's lyrics or message, but because it's damn fun to listen to) and Boot Stomping on a Human Face Forever.

I love Beyond Electric Dreams, Sinistrer Rouge, All There Is, and Let Them Eat War.

Boot Stomping on a Human Face Forever wins points for being just plain cool in terms of ideas for a song.

I love Beyond Electric Dreams, Sinistrer Rouge, All There Is, and Let Them Eat War.

Boot Stomping on a Human Face Forever wins points for being just plain cool in terms of ideas for a song.

I like the line
"it only hurts when I laugh, she said"

"She made certain the curtains were red
To dream better by the light they would shed"


Beyond Electric Dreams is a fun song, and I like the hip-hop interlude in Let Them Eat Ear

I like the line
"it only hurts when I laugh, she said"

"She made certain the curtains were red
To dream better by the light they would shed"


Beyond Electric Dreams is a fun song, and I like the hip-hop interlude in Let Them Eat Ear

what can be cooler than the single most complicated set of lyrics in a Punk Rock song ever

"Ratiocination is a practicable way to derive
An atitude of altitude and probity by which to abide
Or maybe a theophany of flaming creosote in disguise."

Didn't read past page 4, but I'm fairly confident noone's mentioned The Tiger Lillies yet. Not that I have any idea what to call their music.. Carberet style mayhem perhaps? Anyway, they're a very leftist bunch.

Stuff like Mr. Bungle or Fantomas (Crossover/experimental) are pretty leftist too.

Ramones is a special case. While plenty of their lyrics was about social issues, they intentionally stayed out of politics, as one half of the brains was a rightwinger and the other a leftwinger.

Plenty of Oi! (though usually of the purely skinhead sort) is extremist rightwing. NeoNazi scum abounds in the genre.
Likewise, plenty of punk and Oi! is totally a-political (unlike the band of that name), and is all about having a good time.

I love Beyond Electric Dreams, Sinistrer Rouge, All There Is, and Let Them Eat War.

Boot Stomping on a Human Face Forever wins points for being just plain cool in terms of ideas for a song.

Don't forget the even more anthemic "I Wanna Conquer the World". Bad Religion has a LOT of good tunes, even considering the fact that they first got together in 1980.
We also have classics such as "Bonzo Goes To Bitburg" (Anti-Reagan song) by the Ramones, "London Calling" (anti-conformism) and "Spanish Bombs (against the bloodlust of Grenada) by the Clash, "Don't Drag Me Down" by Social Distortion, "Methodist Coloring Book" (anti-religious factioning) by the Dead Milkmen, and about a third of everything that Operation Ivy wrote, which is geared around unity.
I have to ask. If punk is just rants and anger, then why are the Ramones and Joe Strummer of the Clash in the Rock and Roll hall of fame? In Bad Religion, lead singer/songwriter Dr. Greg Graffin has a PhD in evolutionary biology, and Greg Hetson has a Master's in Microbiology. It's more than just rants.

They were? Wikipedia doesn't say anything about these two being left wing.

Shostakovitch certainly was, though I'm not quite as sure about Prokofiev.

Stuff like Mr. Bungle or Fantomas (Crossover/experimental) are pretty leftist too.

How is Mr. Bungle noticeably leftist in its music?

How is Mr. Bungle noticeably leftist in its music?
Ok actually you're right. They aren't. The musicians are, however. But that doesn't really matter in this context. My bad.

what can be cooler than the single most complicated set of lyrics in a Punk Rock song ever

"Ratiocination is a practicable way to derive
An atitude of altitude and probity by which to abide
Or maybe a theophany of flaming creosote in disguise."

Yeah, I had to look like half of those words up the first time...

"A reasoned way of thinking is a practical way to derive
An attitude an altitude a probable thing by which to abide
Or maybe a divine manifestation of flaming yellowish oily liquid in disguise."

TESF was a good album, the first song I ever heard by BR was "Stranger Than Fiction" which is still one of my favourites. I ended up writing a song about Jack Kerouac for my album called "King of Beats."

The first album I ever bought by them was Process of Belief, so I got into them fairly late. I own about six or seven of their albums now though. Against the Grain and Suffer are probably my favourites. I just discovered a few songs from American Lesion and I'm trying to find the CD now...scoured every record store I could find in Toronto last week and nothing. Oh well.

You think Beyond Electric Dreams has complicated lyrics? Listen to "The Positive Aspect of Negative Thinking" off Against the Grain. For your consideration:

let's gather 'round the carcass of the old deflated beast,
we have seen it through the accolades and rested in it's lea,
syntactic is our elegance, incisive our disease,
the swath endogenous of ourselves will be our quandary,

we've nestled in it's hollow and we've suckled at it's breast,
grandiloquent in attitude, impassioned yet inept,
frivolous gavel our design, ludicrous our threat,
excursive expeditions leave us holding less and less,

so what does it mean?
when we tell ourselves it's only for a while we've been deceived
and it's only for a moment that the treasures of our day
make life easier to complicate,
the treasure thrown away,

I'm so tired of all the fucked up mind
of all the terrorist religions and their bullshit lines,
of all the hand-me-downs from all industrial crimes
and the weeping mothers and those who are led so blind,
from the plastic protests and the hands of time
and the pursuit of mirth and all hating kind

Whaaaaa?

Don't forget the even more anthemic "I Wanna Conquer the World". Bad Religion has a LOT of good tunes, even considering the fact that they first got together in 1980.


Yes, I was just reffering to Empire Strikes First.

otherwise I would have had a list much longer than that.

and as to Eura's translation: not quite.

"A reasoned way of thinking is a practical way to derive
An attitude an social understanding and proper behaviour by which to abide
Or maybe a divine manifestation of flaming yellowish oily liquid in disguise."

seems a bit odd, ne?

Yes, I was just reffering to Empire Strikes First.

otherwise I would have had a list much longer than that.

and as to Eura's translation: not quite.

"A reasoned way of thinking is a practical way to derive
An attitude an social understanding and proper behaviour by which to abide
Or maybe a divine manifestation of flaming yellowish oily liquid in disguise."

seems a bit odd, ne?

Yeah, I got lazy and didn't look up some of them again, so I just guessed from memory haha...but yeah, it's nuts. Listen to the other song I suggested, I think Jay broke the thesaurus when he wrote it.

i'm not sure i understand who it is that the right can claim as their own. throughout history, most artists have aligned themselves with liberal ideas. the only music that i can think of that is decidedly conservative is pop country music and rock equivalent to the liberal stuff that you think is too lowbrow for you. if conservatives claim classical music as their own, because of religious influence, then claim jazz. i assure you that no matter how religious john coltrane or charles mingus may have been, they were not conservatives. furthermore, it is wholly unfair to judge the importance of a given writer or group based on your personal music tastes. many believe that the beatles (a decidedly left-leaning group of lads) are/were musical geniuses.

basically, in answer to your request: any black jazz artist.

Not sure I understand you peoples fascination with Bad Religion. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against the band, but praising a band for disguising anti-religious lyrics behind obscure words noone uses, and most people don't even know what means... I mean.. I would never ever cite BR as a source of great political lyrics. a third is incomprehensible to mere mortals, another third too ambivalent, and the last third are like listening to a horde of crazed, trenchcoat wearing, uni politics students... To me none of those things are good. I'd take something straightforward like Sore Throat any day of the week.

Here's a few choice songtitles from Unhindered by Talent, just to illustrate what I mean:
horrendous cut throat system
war is horrendous
fuck the poll tax
noise not war
our leaders horrendous policies
consumer terrorism
dead rich individuals
two horrendous nuclear arsenals
more damn capitalists
yankees go home
a bow to capital

If you've something to say, why not make it plainly obvious to even the most retarded listener? Who'll ever take any notice of your protests or the alternatives you offer, if they can't understand what you're saying?
Or take bands like Angelic Upstarts, The Business, The Oppressed... All people who actually grasp what communication is - namely getting your message across, without any misunderstandings.

I'd take something straightforward like Sore Throat any day of the week.

Yay!

When DRI play in our town/We'll lock them in the venue/And burn the fucker down.

They have reinvented their sound a lot of times (especially in "Empire Strikes First"), but Process of Beleif and New America sound musically very similar to me ...

Lets not forget the psychedelic/light prog/new wave pop driven Into The Unknown LP...

Um… well… one Hammerfall song uses the word "revolution". :)

I'm pretty sure The Suicide Machines are at least socialist if not communist. I haven't heard much of their music, but their song titles suggest that they are a very liberal band.

Lets not forget the psychedelic/light prog/new wave pop driven Into The Unknown LP...

Even though most BR fans do their best to. Although, the complaint that it didn't sound at all like Bad Religion seems to be contradicted by the fact that they've done something different with almost every album and there've been no complaints.

anybody remember Jefferson Airplane?

No mention of Refused yet? Probably not what Letila is after, anyway. :p

No mention of Refused yet? Probably not what Letila is after, anyway. :p

I was about to scream "REFUUUUUUSED PAAAAAARTY PROOOOGRAAAAAAMME!" but I read that he doesn't want punk and metal.

There is a Cinematic Orchestra song featuring Roots Manuva that you could try, Letila. In fact, just download the album, it's called "Every Day". The particular song I was referring to is "All Things To All Men". There's 3/4 versions, you want the 11 minute version.

Also worth checking out as entertaining oddities: the Red Army Choir/Red Army Ensemble/Soviet Army Choir. Fantastic stuff. Hmmm... Sacred War.

hmm.... does punk music done classical count?

in that case:

www.Punkrockorchestra.com

Shostakovitch certainly was, though I'm not quite as sure about Prokofiev.

The Bolshevik takeover in 1917 was a watershed event for most artists in the former Russia. While on the one hand most artists, musicians and composers became part of the privileged class in Soviet society, they lost all artistic freedom. Music could be neither published nor performed without official authorization. Given many of the composers and musicians had allied themselves with the Whites during the Revolution, it is understandable that many fled the country. Foremost among the early emigres was Stravinsky, who left Russia for the West in 1914. Prokofiev, on the other hand, was less ideologically opposed to the Bolsheviks and preferred to walk a fine line between staying in good graces with them, and continuing his musical development in the West.

Maybe that sheds a light on Prokofiev's political stance it looks to me as if he was apolitical and just plain good at keeping his work and his political preferences separated.

Willy Mason always sounded pretty lefty to me? Oxygen in particular.

hmm.... does punk music done classical count?

in that case:

www.Punkrockorchestra.com

See also the London Punkharmonic Orchestra for the punk hits of circa '78 done by a string quartet.

...tangentially connected - Black Velvet Flag with their lounge versions of Institutionalised, Wasted, Amoeba and the like.

...and who can forget The Nutley Brass's LP of Ramones songs done by a brass band? I believe they also have an LP out now of Misfits ditties.

Heres a short list of some major leftwing musicians/songs
Classic/Softer Stuff-
The Red Flag- originally written by Jim Connell is always a classic
Woody Guthrie
Billy Bragg
"Hasta Siempre Commandante Che Guevera"- by a bunch of different people

Punk, Hardcore, Metal, etc.
Obviously, Rage Against the Machine
Some Greenday can be seen as left wing
Oi Polloi
Angelic Upstarts

Hip Hop/Rap
KRS One
Dead Prez
Public Enemy
NWA

Also, not all of these are anarchist but you can give them a shot http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_anarchist_musicians

the suggestions on this thread would make a great leftist song playlist

After much searching, I've come to a realization. The Left (those who can be clearly identified as socialist, at least) seems to have a paucity of great music associated with it. While Christians, for example, can rattle off a long list of classic songs associated with them, we on the left have to make do with a handful such as the Internationale and Imagine.

While there certainly are bands associated with the left and they certainly do make music that is enjoyable, few, if any that I have heard of have made anything of a quality comparable to, say Bach or Tchaikovsky. Please tell me that there are some truly great leftist songs out there.

The Way It Is -- Bruce Hornsby And The Range

lots of rap/hip-hop

Bah, the message isn't overly important to me, it's the music that counts. That is why I love Johnny Cash.

Heres a short list of some major leftwing musicians/songs
Classic/Softer Stuff-

Victor Jara, obviously.

Punk, Hardcore, Metal, etc.
Far too many to mention, and not what Letila is looking for.

Hip Hop/Rap
Consolidated.

After much searching, I've come to a realization. The Left (those who can be clearly identified as socialist, at least) seems to have a paucity of great music associated with it. While Christians, for example, can rattle off a long list of classic songs associated with them, we on the left have to make do with a handful such as the Internationale and Imagine.

While there certainly are bands associated with the left and they certainly do make music that is enjoyable, few, if any that I have heard of have made anything of a quality comparable to, say Bach or Tchaikovsky. Please tell me that there are some truly great leftist songs out there.


If Bach or Tchaikovsky are "right", Strauss and Bethoven are "left".

Especially Strauss, that wrote a song based on a mostly anti-christian book :p

I don't know if anyone's mentioned it yet, but one of the finest "classical" composers of the 20th century, Aaron Copland, was a communist sympathizer in the 1930's and was blacklisted for a while for it. Bela Bartok was a leftist, as were Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel. Erik Satie was a total anarchist nutjob. There's Kurt Weill, of course. And probably the better portion of jazz musicians. That's not even to get into rock and roll, which is mostly lefty-anarchist-devil music.

Also, Tchaikovsky was hardly anyone's model christian. He was into young boys, for one thing. And just because someone is a christian doesn't mean they can't be leftist as well. If your definition is "socialist" then you are stacking the deck because socialism is a relatively recent movement whereas christianity was around for much longer. Compare 20th century music to other 20th century music and the left comes out at least even.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, who wrote a lot of Elvis Presley's early hits and all the big hits by the Coasters and Drifters were communists.

Anything by Pink Floyd instantly beats any classic composers and it's lefty, go the Floyd!

Allright: Rage against the machine is obvious
But of course:
Bad religion
The exploited
Oi polloi
Flogging molly have some political songs
and, well allmost every punk group

After much searching, I've come to a realization. The Left (those who can be clearly identified as socialist, at least) seems to have a paucity of great music associated with it. While Christians, for example, can rattle off a long list of classic songs associated with them, we on the left have to make do with a handful such as the Internationale and Imagine.
Christians have a long list of cool songs? When did Christian rock get cool and classic? It's by definition uncool geekdom. Aside from that song in the early 70s. God, I can't remember what it is at all right now. It's about a train or something and was done by a band who didn't have any hits other than that. Always ends up on 70's compilations and is played by pub bands the world over. Someone help me out here. It's starting to bug me.

Anyway, back to the question. There's Dead Kennedys, Radiohead (to an extent re: Paranoid Android), RATM, Bob Dylan, Consolidated and I think you could slot Marvin Gaye, Billie Holliday and Nina Simone in as leftist singers. They certainly weren't singing about maintaining the status quo at any rate.

godspeed you! black emperor

and i suppose i should toss in my near constant plug for Against Me!

What happened to Zach when they broke up? I've heard that he went to Mexico to be a farmer, that he went to Mexico to stir up rebellion amoungst the landless poor, and that he went to Mexico to be a farmer, and stir up rebellion, from 3 different people. Did he in fact go to Mexico? Is there any truth to the rumors?

zack kind of disappeared after the split "to work on his solo album". he has been at a number of anti-war and anti-neoliberal protests. he also showed up to speak at a benefit show for sherman austin awhile ago. he had been working with the zapatistas from time to time before, so it would not surprise me at all if he still was - no need to stir up rebellion, the rebellion is already in action.

After much searching, I've come to a realization. The Left (those who can be clearly identified as socialist, at least) seems to have a paucity of great music associated with it. While Christians, for example, can rattle off a long list of classic songs associated with them, we on the left have to make do with a handful such as the Internationale and Imagine.

While there certainly are bands associated with the left and they certainly do make music that is enjoyable, few, if any that I have heard of have made anything of a quality comparable to, say Bach or Tchaikovsky. Please tell me that there are some truly great leftist songs out there.

All Spanish rock/heavy metal music is leftist:

Los Canallas
Def Con Dos
Barricada
Barón Rojo

and so on...

All Spanish rock/heavy metal music is leftist:

Los Canallas
Def Con Dos
Barricada
Barón Rojo

and so on...
I only listen to political music, and most of it is in Spanish.

Any of the cancion nueva or trova...Victor Jara, Silvio Rodriguez, Inti-illimani (the older stuff), Sol y Lluvia, Mercedes Sosa...

And there is SO much lefty music out there. It just doesn't get radio play the way political music did in the 60s.

Wasnt there the whole "rock against bush" thing over in the US before the last elections? I would have figured that some of those bands may have counted as "good leftist music".

Over here in Australia most bands that state any political leanings tend to be lefist. John Butler Trio being possibly the most noteworthy.

Wasnt there the whole "rock against bush" thing over in the US before the last elections? I would have figured that some of those bands may have counted as "good leftist music".


Yeah, there are tonnes of CD compilations, with various groups writing protest songs. Visit your local library to access them!!

I only listen to political music, and most of it is in Spanish.

Any of the cancion nueva or trova...Victor Jara, Silvio Rodriguez, Inti-illimani (the older stuff), Sol y Lluvia, Mercedes Sosa...

And there is SO much lefty music out there. It just doesn't get radio play the way political music did in the 60s.

I am keen on rock music, but... have you heard Manolo García? He's great.

And Manu Chao... :rolleyes:

It's not just classical musicians I'm looking for, but music that has the same level of craftmanship and work put into it as the works of Bach or Beethoven.

Not sure I understand you peoples fascination with Bad Religion. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against the band, but praising a band for disguising anti-religious lyrics behind obscure words noone uses, and most people don't even know what means... I mean.. I would never ever cite BR as a source of great political lyrics. a third is incomprehensible to mere mortals, another third too ambivalent, and the last third are like listening to a horde of crazed, trenchcoat wearing, uni politics students... To me none of those things are good. I'd take something straightforward like Sore Throat any day of the week.

Here's a few choice songtitles from Unhindered by Talent, just to illustrate what I mean:
horrendous cut throat system
war is horrendous
fuck the poll tax
noise not war
our leaders horrendous policies
consumer terrorism
dead rich individuals
two horrendous nuclear arsenals
more damn capitalists
yankees go home
a bow to capital

If you've something to say, why not make it plainly obvious to even the most retarded listener? Who'll ever take any notice of your protests or the alternatives you offer, if they can't understand what you're saying?
Or take bands like Angelic Upstarts, The Business, The Oppressed... All people who actually grasp what communication is - namely getting your message across, without any misunderstandings.

You fail at the internet. To me, listening to a bunch of songs that don't have any sort of melody, are blatantly about the same political views, and are all titled as such, gets rather boring. Bad Religion's songs aren't just "FUCK CAPITALIZM LOLZZZ" they're actually intelligent.

But, you know what they say. You'll never go broke appealing to the lowest common denominator.

authoritarian music is good. wagner, shostakovich(though i'm not shure if he himself was a bolshevik) and others.

After much searching, I've come to a realization. The Left (those who can be clearly identified as socialist, at least) seems to have a paucity of great music associated with it. While Christians, for example, can rattle off a long list of classic songs associated with them, we on the left have to make do with a handful such as the Internationale and Imagine.

While there certainly are bands associated with the left and they certainly do make music that is enjoyable, few, if any that I have heard of have made anything of a quality comparable to, say Bach or Tchaikovsky. Please tell me that there are some truly great leftist songs out there.

You obviously don't listen to Punk Rock.

You obviously don't listen to Punk Rock.

Or folk music. Or blues.

Anything by Woodie Guthrie or Arlo Guthrie. Much by Leadbelly, Pete Seeger, Sweet Honey on the Rock, etc.

This Land is Your Land
Jesse James
Bourgeois Blues
Pretty Boy Floyd
If I Had a Hammer

Plus, lots of "Christian" or "Gospel" music is leftist. Think MLK, Jr. "We Shall Overcome."

EDIT: Bob Dylan.

Also checkout the Smithsonian's Folkways Recordings (http://www.folkways.si.edu/index.html).

Green Day

Green Day

A lot of people think they suck these days, though.

For very good reason, I might add.

I'm not really a punk or metal fan.

You obviously don't listen to Punk Rock.

How many points should we award Potaria for this one?

How many points should we award Potaria for this one?

Well excuuuuuse me for not reading the entire post.

Wasnt there the whole "rock against bush" thing over in the US before the last elections? I would have figured that some of those bands may have counted as "good leftist music".


Yes, there were two albums released before the elections under the title Rock Against Bush. The bands on the albums ranged from hardcore to pop-punk to a style I'm hardpressed to describe (Denali - "These Days"). Most of the tracks are good, but very few are excelent (excepting the ones which are also on other albums...)

The Left (those who can be clearly identified as socialist, at least) seems to have a paucity of great music associated with it. While Christians, for example, can rattle off a long list of classic songs associated with them, we on the left have to make do with a handful such as the Internationale and Imagine.
Why do you compare Leftists to Christians? One is a political group, and one is a religious group. They share many members.

The Manic Street Preachers are a good left-wing band.

*sigh* Lynyrd Skynryd isn't a he, it's a they. King, Rossington and Van Zant collaborated on the song.

Wallace mellowed over the years to put it mildly. He stood in the way of civil rights and supported segregation early on but later, especially after he was shot, he seemed to embrace the mainstream democratic platform.

I was talking about van zant thats was the lead singer, before he died in plane crash. Calm yourself.

Well, there's always Moxy Früvous. I'd characterize them as being moderately left-wing.
*Warning. Früvous Fan rant follows.*
Moxy Früvous' first two albums ("Bargainville" and "You Will Go To The Moon") have a nice blend of serious songs and plain ol' silly stuff. (Some of the serious songs can be pretty silly too at times.) The band's got a nice blend of voices, and they have a few a cappela numbers. ("The Gulf War Song" is quite good, and amazingly topical for a song recorded in the early '90s.)
Some of their songs are available on iTunes, but the CDs should be available at online stores like Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble. Heck, even if you're not a leftist, check 'em out. They're good fun. ("King of Spain" and "Kick in the Ass" are probably the most fun songs on the first and second albums, respectively.)
Happy listening!

I'm looking for music that would compare to the Hallelujah chorus, for example, music beyond the ordinary. Your suggestions are good, but rightists have musicians that are just as good as the ones you have pointed out. I was hoping for someone who stands out.

Frank Zappa!

Grant Hart and Bob Mould are exceptional left-wing musicians.

I try not to mix music and philosophy if I can help it. I really like Green Day for instance, but they're goddamn pinkos. "Imagine" is not a bad piece of art by any stretch, but I have no tolerance for its message. The Dead Kennedys was the best punk band ever and even though I've met Jello Biafra, I can't bring myself to get too enthusiastic about the concepts or ideas he sings [or speaks] about.

Rap, for example, is probably the only existing possibility for what I would call 'Objectivist' music, since the rappers generally only sing about how badass they are and how much bling they've got and shit. Bearing all of this in mind, I still don't much care for it as an art form: not because I don't appreciate it, but simply because I like the sound of Rock more.

Just about the only act I can think of offhand that I endorse musically and philosophically would have to be Tenacious D. Jack Black's ego is larger than Texas and I love it.

EDIT: and Frank Zappa was not a leftist. He's been aptly described as a 'self hating capitalist' by Reason magazine. I've read his autobiography [which is really more like a guy getting really drunk at a party and offering lengthy discourses about anything under the sun] and he was actually something of a centrist-leaning-libertarian.

The Dead Kennedys was the best punk band ever and even though I've met Jello Biafra, I can't bring myself to get too enthusiastic about the concepts or ideas he sings [or speaks] about.

I don't see what's so bad about speaking out against truly despicable practices...

You simply have no idea what you're talking about. Go listen to 'A Bow to Capital' and then reveiw your statements.

Or in the spirit of keeping it simple: Cut back on the veiled insults & go learn something.
If you're going to call someone out for flamebait, it's not generally a good idea to respond in kind. If you two stop now, I'll pretend this didn't happen.

I don't see what's so bad about speaking out against truly despicable practices...
Depends on the song. Some, like "MTV Get Off the Air" and "Government Flu" are both hilarious and apt. Others, like "Winnebago Warrior," and "Trust Your Mechanic" are a little more questionable, at least from a moral standpoint.

Jello Biafra has always been very, very good at identifying the problems this country has been having. He is, however, remarkably poor at reccommending ways by which we might solve them.

Depends on the song. Some, like "MTV Get Off the Air" and "Government Flu" are both hilarious and apt. Others, like "Winnebago Warrior," and "Trust Your Mechanic" are a little more questionable, at least from a moral standpoint.

Jello Biafra has always been very, very good at identifying the problems this country has been having. He is, however, remarkably poor at reccommending ways by which we might solve them.

All true, but the last point is what makes those songs so darkly funny.

I know this is going back aways but wow, that "this land" thing is a real eye opener.

what can be cooler than the single most complicated set of lyrics in a Punk Rock song ever

"Ratiocination is a practicable way to derive
An atitude of altitude and probity by which to abide
Or maybe a theophany of flaming creosote in disguise."

This guy I know who fallowed Phish around selling grilled cheese sandwhiches to support himself once said he needed a thesurous to listen to Bad Religion. They were in favorite band, partly because they were so educational :)


Don't forget the even more anthemic "I Wanna Conquer the World". Bad Religion has a LOT of good tunes, even considering the fact that they first got together in 1980.

Twidgets! How ya been?

"I Wanna Conquer The World" is one of my favorite songs. I love the "No Control" CD. It's got No Control, Billy, American Jesus, I Wanna Conquer the World, and the opening 5 songs take about 7 min total :) Fun fast punk music.

There are also a few gems in Recipe For Hate

zack kind of disappeared after the split "to work on his solo album". he has been at a number of anti-war and anti-neoliberal protests. he also showed up to speak at a benefit show for sherman austin awhile ago. he had been working with the zapatistas from time to time before, so it would not surprise me at all if he still was - no need to stir up rebellion, the rebellion is already in action.


OK, thanks for clearing that up.


A lot of people think they suck these days, though.

For very good reason, I might add.


'Cause they do.

Rap, for example, is probably the only existing possibility for what I would call 'Objectivist' music, since the rappers generally only sing about how badass they are and how much bling they've got and shit.

Come now, there must be more to Objectivism then that :p

Just about the only act I can think of offhand that I endorse musically and philosophically would have to be Tenacious D. Jack Black's ego is larger than Texas and I love it.

Tenacious D kicks so much ass, I can't even find an apt discriptor for them

A Perfect Circle's newest album I would certainly consider to be leftist. eMOTIVE is a pretty good one fer sure, with some snazzy covers.

Eminem, "MOSH"


I believe he asked for "Music" not talentless white guys that can talk fast.

Sorry, but most of the leftist music I ever came across was punk, or has been mentioned all ready...

Crass - anarchists; noisy, poor musicianship (but not in a bad way), creative, and ideologically sound
Subhumans (UK) - unknown affiliation; punk, good musicianship, and creative

Also,

Ca ira - French Revolutionary hymn
La Marseillaise - singing about killing tyrants, those were the days; began as a Revolutionary marching ballad

I believe he asked for "Music" not talentless white guys that can talk fast.

Hey, I like that song

Hey, I like that song

I just hate Eminem. He only has two songs: one where he talks about how he's better than everyone and everyone can go to hell, and the one where he's asking everyone to treat him like a normal joe and saying he has problems too.

Since "Mosh" is neither of those, I have to conclude that he simply wrote it to jump on the political bandwagon.

Plus, I just can't stand the guy's damn voice.

Depends on the song. Some, like "MTV Get Off the Air" and "Government Flu" are both hilarious and apt. Others, like "Winnebago Warrior," and "Trust Your Mechanic" are a little more questionable, at least from a moral standpoint.

Jello Biafra has always been very, very good at identifying the problems this country has been having. He is, however, remarkably poor at reccommending ways by which we might solve them.

All true, but the last point is what makes those songs so darkly funny.

Yeah, I don't think providing solutions was his aim. I never saw their music as such...It's all meant to be ironic.

Yeah, I don't think providing solutions was his aim. I never saw their music as such...It's all meant to be ironic.
If you've ever heard Biafra's spoken word albums, you'd quickly learn to understand that the man takes himself fairly seriously. While I tend to regard your statement is apt pre-1985, I think he sort of lost it with Bedtime for Democracy.