Opinions Wont Keep You Warm At Night

No, I'm not being philosophical.

Aussie band Kisschasy released "Opinions Wont Keep You Warm At Night" in June of this year. The lyrics can be interpreted in a number of ways - a message to an ex, a youthful expression of the generation gap, a dig at the media (and bloggers), or, based on the video clip, a statement on world politics.

Either way, it's nice to hear a murmur dissent from the music industry at last.

I've posted both the video and lyrics below - interpret it your way. I'm off to watch Get Up Stand Up.



Wait while jealousy tears you apart
I’m sorry but I cannot help the way you are
That we do the things you can’t

Just wait, can’t you see you’re being weak?
It’s shallow and dark you know every time you speak
You’re just lying through your teeth

Sometimes, days are like you say yet I don’t agree with what you see
But I will never let the bitter things you say ever get to me
Sometimes, days are like you say yet I don’t agree with what you see
But I will never let the bitter things you say ever get to me

We are everything you wish you were
But, I’m feeling kinda concerned
we’re probably friends
But you hide from consequence

Yeah you must have a lot of spare time
To put down the words that you write
But no one cares
You should put your mind to rest

Sometimes, days are like you say yet I don’t agree with what you see
But I will never let the bitter things you say ever get to me
Sometimes, days are like you say yet I don’t agree with what you see
But I will never let the bitter things you say ever get to me

Get to me…Get to me…

Sometimes, days are like you say yet I don’t agree with what you see
But I will never let the bitter things you say ever get to me
Sometimes, days are like you say yet I don’t agree with what you see
But I will never let the bitter things you say ever get to me


Songs played while writing this entry:
"Feel The Pain" Dinosaur Jnr.
"Reactivate" Bismark
"Basket Case" Green Day
"I Could Have Lied" Red Hot Chili Peppers
"Opinions Wont Keep You Warm At Night" Kisschasy
"Special Ones" George
"Closer To France" Cap Project
"Live And Let Die" Guns N Roses

Who's Generation?

Ok, so I may be behind the pack on this one, but I only saw this on Spicks and Specks tonight. Presenting The Zimmers cover of My Generation:



I was fortunate enough to grow up surrounded by elderly people. My mum used to work in a nursing home and I often called in on my way home after school for one reason or another. Despite the smells (a mixture of urine, antiseptic, flowers, medicine, food and feces) and the sometimes off-putting behaviours of the residents, I always found the people in the nursing home to be a great source of entertainment and comfort. My family also attended a number of churches, most of which had a largely aging congregation. I gained a good number of surrogate grandparents from the churches, all of whom took a great interest in the events of my life and offered an abundance of knowledge and experience.

While it is important to focus on the well-being of future generations, we must not neglect those who have seen the world change. Kudos to the Zimmers and the BBC for reminding us all that the elderly are part of this changing world and have as much a part to play as anyone.


Songs played while writing this entry:
"Deeper" Barabas & Od1
"Impact" Sound Enforcer
"Dune Buggy" Presidents Of The United States Of America
"Morphist" Drone
"Have A Drink On Me" AC/DC

Punk Is Dead, Long Live Punk - Rambalations 2

"My little white ass is tickled pink when I listen to the music that makes me think" Red Hot Chili Peppers

Watched a doco on SBS tonight titled Punk:Attitude which explores the history of punk music and the attitudes which drive it. Some of this is captured in the interview below with film-maker Don Letts.



Punk was brought to the fore in the 70's at a major time of unrest, when things had gotten so bad that the people started to stand up and literally say "FUCK YOU". It was a style of music that was in your face and shoved its message down your throat. It rebelled against the establishment and encouraged its audience to take action. It was more than just music and an image - punk was an attitude.

A lot of this attitude carried over into more mainstream music in the 80's with bands like Midnight Oil, Dead Kennedys, U2, Black Flag and Public Enemy. In the 90's Rage Against the Machine, Nirvana and The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy continued the attitude. But what about today? In a market of sanitised commerciality it is hard to find any bands or artists who hold true to the punk attitude. Certainly, there are 'punk-rock' bands such as Blink 182 around, but their sound and attitude is more mum-and-dad radio-friendly than the "FUCK YOU" attitude of the earlier punk bands. Green Day are still holding on to some of their punk roots but have let it slide since their earlier releases of Dookie and Insomniac. Even U2 has moved away from raising social awareness through their lyrics.

Rob Hirst of Midnight Oil made the following comment in his acceptance speech when the Oils were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame last year:

"Maybe complaint rock is still being written, but is ignored by an industry hypnotised by get-famous-fast TV shows. Bless you, John Butler, but you shouldn't have to do it all by yourself."

The challenge was thrown out to the industry, but no-one seems to have taken it up. It appears the music industry has become too obsessed with cheap and un-nasty artists who are going to turn a profit in the least amount of time. It is afraid to sign or promote artists who may have a political or social message in case it upsets the stock-holders. This is unfortunate for any talented, unsigned artists out there as the major record companies are in bed with the radio stations, the media and the retail outlets, so independent releases rarely make it to the mass consumer ears or market.

The internet does give these unsigned artists the chance to self promote, and we have seen successful acts, such as Jet, emerge this way, but only a very few. And again, Jet's music and attitude is far from punk. Today's generation are being feed corporation pleasing lyrics, sometimes blatantly incorporating product placement. A new voice is needed - one that isn't afraid to speak its mind, to challenge business, government and society, to motivate its audience, and to say "FUCK YOU".

"All you need is one guy or girl to stand up and say "fuck this", and everyone goes: "Voice of a generation"."
Henry Rollins

Songs played while writing this entry:
"My Lovely Man" Red Hot Chili Peppers
"Love For" Glenn Underground
"Why Go" Pearl Jam
"Cranium Accelerator" Sven II
"Defiant" Christopher Lawrence
"Welcome To The Jungle" Guns N Roses
"Khe Sanh" Cold Chisel
"Breaking The Girl" Red Hot Chili Peppers
"Coded Language" DJ Krust feat Saul Williams
"Anything Goes" Guns N Roses
"Time Out In Toronto" SS
"Back Porch" Presidents Of The United States Of America
"Come and Die" Therapy? & Fatal

Times Like These

"Times Like These"
Foo Fighters
Skin and Bones (2006)
mp3 -> save target as to download

I, I'm a one way motorway
I'm the one that drives away
then follows you back home.
And I, I'm a street light shining
I'm a wild light blinding bright
burning off alone.

It's times like these you learn to live again
It's times like these you give and give again
It's times like these you learn to love again
It's times like these time and time again

I, I'm a new day rising
I'm a brand new sky to hang
the stars upon tonight.
I, I'm a little divided
do I stay or run away
and leave it all behind?

It's times like these you learn to live again
It's times like these you give and give again
It's times like these you learn to love again
It's times like these time and time again

It's times like these you learn to live again
It's times like these you give and give again
It's times like these you learn to love again
It's times like these time and time again

Upside down Miss Jayne

For those not dwelling in Australia, a brief explanation.... During the 70's, 80's and 90's, the ABC produced a show called Mr Squiggle (the man from the moon). As you can see, Mr Squiggle had a rather large appendage attached to his face - a pencil for a nose. His primary talent was being able to take a group of lines on a piece of paper sent in by a viewer and transform these lines into a picture. Being a marionette, Mr Squiggle was operated from above and, as such, had a tendency to draw his pictures upside down. This often lead to the catch-cry of "Upside down Miss Jayne" (Miss Jayne being the long-running human host of the show).

For Mr Squiggle, it was all about potential and perception. Take 3 random lines and see the potential of what they could be and evolve into. What the viewer perceived to be a bigger bunch of squiggles at the end of the drawing, Mr Squiggle (or his puppeteer at least) would see a completed picture - it just happened to be upside down.

Over at R World, Ron posted a short commentary on the new media, including this link discussing how the existing media is needing to change and adapt to new technologies and demands. It got me thinking about how other industries are needing to adapt and change. As examples: the recording and film industries due to pirating and P2P technologies, the car and energy industries in light of the demands to decrease global warming. A lot of noise has been made by these industries on how devastating these changes are, how they will lead to a loss of jobs, and more importantly, profits. Hell, even little Johnny Howard today slammed the concept of cutting green-house emissions by 30% by 2020, stating

"Sir Nicholas Stern is reported in The Sydney Morning Herald today as advocating a reduction of what? Thirty per cent in greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2020. Now that would have a devastating effect on the Australian economy.

The idea that this country could achieve that kind of reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2020, which is a bare 13 years from now, the kind of economic dislocation, the level of unemployment, the damage that would be done to Australia's competitive position, is self-explanatory, Mr Speaker."

Let's face it - things are in a real mess at the moment. We've managed to successfully and completely fuck up ourselves and the planet over the past century. It is time to change our perception on how we have traditionally done things and see the potential in implementing changes. If this means rethinking the way we work and earn money (both as individuals and corporations), then so be it. Like any revolution, there will be sacrifices made - how many traditional jobs and industries had to change or disappear due to the Industrial Revolution?

Like the little guy below, we need to be creative in the solutions we develop - adjust our thinking beyond what has been done and start looking at what can be done.



Songs played while writing this entry:
"Holiday" Weezer
"Helter Skelter" U2
"Blister In The Sun" The Violent Femmes
"The Chain" Breeder
"Sunsets" Powderfinger
"Human Behaviour" Bjork
"Come As You Are" Nirvana
"Calling Earth" Yves Deruyter
"No Good (Start The Dance)" The Prodigy
"Zebra" John Butler Trio

"Surf Wax America" Weezer

A little bit political

Ok, so I'm on a bit of a social/political awareness kick at the moment.

At the top of my blog, you'll find a banner for We Will Not Be Silenced which will take you to the video embedded in the Watch This entry below. The first time I viewed this video, I had tears in my eyes. The sheer strength of DJ Paul Edge's music and visuals coupled with the speech by Reverend Graylan Scott Hagler (Senior Minister of Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ and National President of Ministers for Racial, Social and Economic Justice) is so poignant in light of current global matters. At a time when the world is facing mass struggles and injustices, the consciousness of its population shifts toward matters of social justice, equality and humanity. It is up to us as citizens of Earth to demand of our governments that these fundamental rights be applied through their actions as the elected representatives of a global population. In this year of elections, we have the opportunity to make our governments take note of our concerns in the way both local and global matters are presently being handled. It is time to take action, demand change and to be heard.

Currently, on the right hand side of my blog, I have a banner to Blog Against Sexism Day. This event has been organised by Vegan Kid at short notice. I'm not sure what I'm going to write about at this stage - something to do with the bullshit behind why sexism is still prevalent in today's society no doubt. Check back on March 8 to find out!

Lastly, below is a video created by Avaaz.org as part of their effort to stop the clash of civilizations. It highlights the fact that, regardless of race or religion, we are all the same. There is a petition to Israeli, Palestinian & international leaders on the site which will be delivered to world leaders in late March 07 demanding Middle East peace talks. I think we all agree this bullshit has gone on for far too long and it is time to put an end to the death and destruction in the Middle East.





Songs played while writing this entry:
"Rocket Queen" Guns N Roses
"Re:Evolution" The Shamen
"Acid Wiss" DJ Skull
"Don't Go Now" Ratcat
"Disorder" Slayer & Ice-T

WATCH THIS

We Will Not Be Silenced
DJ Paul Edge

Still Vibrating

"I'm picking up good vibrations" The Beach Boys

Recovering from yesterday's Good Vibrations festival so unable to make fully coherent sentences. What follows are thoughts which have not been completely processed....

• The Beastie Boys are still one of the best, tightest live acts I have ever seen. Their performance at Good Vibes yesterday blew me away as much as they have every other time I have seen them play live. Talent is not reliant on age.
  


• Music is a universal language with the capacity to improve the social consciousness, yet its potential to do this is thwarted by the commercial corporate record labels who promote easily marketed, safe and sanitised crap over true talent. Support underground and independent artists.
  


• U2 is not the only band out there pushing a message - they just have a good PR team. Props to Jurassic 5 ("Fuck George Bush") and Nightmares on Wax ("Celebrate you being you").
  


• People on illegal drugs are much nicer and more courteous than people on legal alcohol.
  


• When did the words "excuse me" leave the vocabulary?
  


• Being 1 of 10,000 people of different cultural and social backgrounds enjoying themselves on a glorious summer day in the open air listening sounds from around the globe is an awesome experience.
  

Songs played while writing this entry:
"It Doesn't Matter" The Chemical Brothers
"Satisfaction" Benny Benassi Presents the Biz
"Perception" Cass Vs Slide
"Tomorrow" Alien Factroy
"Voodoo People" The Prodigy
"It's Funky But It Aint House" Carbine
"Red 2" Dave Clark

V for Valentines

"Money can't buy me love" - The Beatles

As I can't be with M tomorrow due the 1,500km that separate us, I sent her a CD of mp3s that make me think of her. The CD was sent in a plain, clear case with no label or track-listing, no card or wrapping in an ordinary Aust Post satchel. All I wrote on the CD was "Music For M". The lyrics of the songs on the CD say everything that I want her to know about how I feel for her and how much I miss her.

It's easy enough to write of Valentines Day as an overly commercialised hallmark event propagated by the media and corporations to mass-market love to a lonely and distanced consumer society (which I think it is). However, there is also the simple view of Valentines Day being a reminder to say "I love you" to those you care about. It's something we don't do enough of. Really, it's a very simple concept - no need for elaborate gifts, cards, flowers, chocolates, bears, lingerie, romantic dinners, jewelery - just an action or 2 and 3 words. A hug followed by a softly spoken "I love you" and a gentle kiss. Any partner who doesn't appreciate the simplicity and sincerity in that is not worth having.


Songs played while writing this entry:
"All I Want Is You" U2
"Sweetness & Light" Itch-E & Scratch-E
"Break & Enter" The Prodigy
"Skylined" The Prodigy

These Days

"These Days"
Powderfinger
Odyssey Number 5 (2000)
mp3

It's coming round again
The slowly creeping hand
Of time and its command
Soon enough it comes
And settles in its place
Its shadow in my face
Puts pressure in my day

This life well it's slipping right through my hands
These days turned out nothing like I had planned

It's coming round again
The slowly creeping hand
Of time and its command
And settles in its place
Its shadow in my face
Puts pressure in my day

Soon enough it comes
Here it is again
The slowly creeping hand
Of time and its demand
Soon enough it comes
And settles in its place
Its shadowing my faith
Undignified and lame

This life well it's slipping right through my hands
These days turned out nothing like I had planned
Control well it's slipping right through my hands
These days turned out nothing like I had planned

Soon enough it comes
Soon enough it comes
To tie us down

Ooh, it's coming round again
Slow, slowly creeping hand

This life well it's slipping right through my hands
These days turned out nothing like I had planned
Control well it's slipping right through my hands
These days turned out nothing like I had planned