Almost everday when I wakeup, I watch the top 10 countdown on VH1 while drinking my coffee. When I first started watching these videos, I was disappointed that 9 out of 10 of the vids were rock videos and there wasn’t any Hip-Hop. What I found surprisingly, is that much rock music today is blatantly subversive to the current administration, political and thought provoking.
From Fallout Boy’s “I’m Like A Lawyer With The Ways I’m Always Trying To Get You Off (Me & You)” addressing the child-soldier phenomenon in Northern Uganda, to Green Day showing how working class people get sucked into the military, pop-rock has been pretty damn fresh lately. These cats are prime examples of White People refusing to be “Crackers.” (Check out my previous blog entry “White People vs Crackers” for a better understanding.)
Peep game from some ill musicians…
FALLOUT BOY
MATCHBOX 20 – “How Far We’ve Come”
GOO GOO DOLLS – “Let Love In”
GREEN DAY – “Wake Me Up When September Ends”
U2 & GREEN DAY – “The Saints Are Coming”
School of ROCK. Class dismissed.
4 comments
November 11, 2007 at 7:18 pm
Gregory
Yea, i guess white people and their rock & roll kinda go. I just wish they would include a fuckin’ line or two every once in a while to let me know what the hell their message actually is. Kori keeps calling me Gloomy Greg. Maybe so, I just think I’m being real.
Yea, them white folks are tight for doing those music video’s especially the ones that bring up the plight of other races, but they don’t really be sayin’ shit about race in their songs. Granted, maybe I just need to listen harder.
Green Day goes hard. That Matchbox 20 shit was tight too.
November 11, 2007 at 11:06 pm
colinresponse
I definitely feel u on how hard it is to even think about giving white folks a chance after everything that has/is happening today. It’s something I’ve struggled with my whole life.
In my own opinion, the GIFT and the CURSE of being mixed (with european ancestry) is that you are not allowed to write white folks off or just give up on them.
I can see very clearly why all people of color can be pulled to demonize white people: throughout the history of the world, european people have gone to other people’s homelands, stolen their resources, enslaved or murdered their men, raped their women & miseducated their children. I was just discussing the state of Hawaii today and the fact that within the next 50 years, there may not be a single “pure” Hawaiian left. My homegirl I was conversating with said something that I had knwon for a long time but still hit me hard. “This is what they do,” she said, “they go to where you live, and stay there doing what they please until the original inhabitants of that place disappear forever.”
I don’t think you are “Gloomy Greg,” I think you are someone who is truly in touch with the reality of oppression and the history of genocide emplored by the United States. The reason I write about thoughtful white follks like Green Day is because I need some kind of hope that a part of me isn’t tainted or inately evil.
What I see happen to too many mixed race brothers and sisters is that we are forced to identify with the ethnic heritage of only one of our parents. We are made to either feel shame in our brownness, or hate for our whiteness. I am playing devil’s (no pun intended =P) advocate here because I am working my hardest to not go either of these routes. While strongly identifying with my Japanese, Scottish and Native heritages, I realize that the world may or may not see me as all or none of these at the same time.
I have always longed for anything that contradicts the demonic, thoughtless sickness of racism, homophobia, sexism and classism in Amerikan culture. When I see/hear that contradiction, I grab on to it like my life depends on it.
While I agree 100% that all these bands could be doing/saying even more through these music videos, the role they play in speaking to White people in the U.S. (almost ALL of middle Amerika) is important. While Jay-Z and 2pac are 2 of the most influential/amazing artists of our time, there are an ENORMOUS amount of Amerikans who will not listen to a word they have to say because they are not white. So, so sad. So, so true.
I posted these videos because while there are a plethora of musicians making country songs about “Freedom,” and “Patriotism,” (while poor people of color die) these white cats chose to do something else. My hope is that the white people who won’t check for Pac and Jigga may listen to what these dudes have to say for the mere fact that they look like what they see in the mirror. I’m pretty sure that the target audience of these vids were not people like us (of color, raised working class, thinking about Amerika/the world at large, etc.) but suburban white kids. I think by using a “safe” love song like the Fallout Boy joint, these musicians can reel in sheltered white youth to an area of deeper conciousness.
While being a cheesy love song, Fallout Boy’s song had a political and thoughtful music video. You’re point is justified about their lyrics needing to be more thoughtful/say more, but I need to remind you that while the fallout boy video told me to “visit http://invisiblechildren.com if you want to learn more about how you can help,” the video after this was advising me to “superman that hoe…”
I ALWAYS appreciate your realness (not gloominess, REALNESS). Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and allowing me to share mine G-Mitch. You are a God amongst insects. =)
C
p.s.
On another real/gloomy note that I didn’t address (for anyone who don’t know): Rock n’ Roll was invented by Black people and is now accepted as “White Music.” That’s word to Little Richard.
*Wah-Waaaaaaaah…* (Debbie Downer Music)
“let’s see how far we’ve come…”
November 13, 2007 at 2:24 am
thecheddarbox
(In your best sesame street sing along voice): “Gloomy Greg, Gloomy Greg, Always Got A Raincloud Over His Head”
Hahahah yes, I am the true downer. Much love to you both, please continue to keep it real.
November 13, 2007 at 10:07 pm
colinresponse
Daahahaha!! =P Kori you are not the downer either! It’s always useful when you have friends/allies to keep reminding each other that the fight is FAR from over, but also that everything is not lost. U and G-Mitch are wise, old souls (whiskey/McDummy-sippers!) and I appreciate being reminded daily that I’m not alone in this madness.
Stay UP Tallulah!!!
C+