Rage Against the Machine, after 7 years, has reunited. Taking their unabashedly socialist yet undeniably innovative hard rock songs again to the streets as once before. Zach De La Rocha comes back from wherever he's been for the last 7 years to spout out at the Bush administration: "This current administration... should be hung and tried and shot. But the challenges we face go beyond the current administration. It's not a system that changes every four years." read here.
I will say that I love Rage's music. Rolling Stone considers Tom Morrelo #26 in the 100 greatest guitarists of all time and Rage's music is considered by many critics to be some of the most innovative in recent rock history. Zach De La Rocha is extremely passionate and talented. It's a shame for me that he is so misguided in his approach. That being said, I have a tremendous respect for the passion with which he pursues his beliefs. If only part of evangelical Christians contained such vigor the course of this country would be much different. Although I fundamentally disagree with his world view, he comes up with observations about our culture that are hard to ignore. His eloquence is clouded by a deep set distrust of any authority if only because it is an establishment. Very educated in the history of oppression, he seems to see everything through that lens.
"Voice of the Voiceless"-ratm
UGH!, UGH!
C'mon, check it
Through steel walls
Your voice blastin' on
True rebel my brother Mumia
I reflect upon
You be tha spark
That set tha prairie fires on
Make tha masses a mastodon path
To trample tha fascists on
At fifteen exposed Philly's finest killing machine
With boots and mad guns
They tried to pacify you young
Cause and effect
Smell tha smoke and tha breeze
My panther my brother
We are at war until you're free
You'll never silence tha voice of tha voiceless
You'll never silence tha voice of tha voiceless
You see tha powerful got nervous
Cause he refused to be their servant
'Cause he spit truth
And burned like black churches
Prose and verses
A million poor in hearses
Watch tha decision of Dred Scott
As it reserves
So long as tha rope
Is tight around Mumia's neck
Let there be no rich white life
We bound to respect
Cause and effect
Can't ya smell tha smoke in tha breeze
My panther my brother we are at war until you're free
You'll never silence tha voice of tha voiceless
You'll never silence tha voice of tha voiceless
You'll never silence tha voice of tha voiceless
You'll never silence tha voice of tha voiceless
And Orwell's hell a terror era coming through
But this little brother's watching you too
And Orwell's hell a terror era coming through
But this little brother's watching you too
Perhaps Rage and De La Roch are still caught up in the spirit of protest that drove the 60's music scene that so influenced a generation that our culture now deals with the religious and political ramifications of it- "tolerance" and "peace." At the time, it might have seamed that "harmless" hippies were not much of a threat.
Evangelist for social change? Maybe. If what he did actually incited people to do something other than protest ignorantly screaming at the powers that be. Problem is I don't think it does. Funny thing is that he actually does take action upon his beliefs, but I don't think Rage's lasting testimony has been to instill a sense of social justice in the 16-25 year olds who actually listen to their music.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
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2 comments:
Good post. I don't know much about RATM, but since, as you say, their rhetoric doesn't have a huge impact on their young audience, they probably magnify the message knowing that only a small portion will get through. Many preachers do the same. :) I'm always interested in artists who want to say something.
Good point.
De La Rocha really does intrigue me and I definitely listen to what he has to say, even in disagreeing.
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