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Music can change the world, rearrange the world. Almost nobody from my generation doubts this. We found no contradiction between All You Need Is Love and Stop! In The Name of Love and Love Potion #9. We knew that the answer, my friend, was blowing in the wind and when Jimi Hendrix played the Star Spangled Banner, it took on a whole new meaning. We heard the drummin' when four died in Ohio and we knew we could overcome. We said we wanted a revolution yet nothing's gonna change our world. Nothing but music and poetry and Dionysian wonderment and revelry and dancin' in the streets and pure abandoned profligate humor will put a bridge over troubled waters.
We've known for a long time that you can't get no satisfaction and you can't always get what you need, but you get what you can and that there ain't no place for a street fightin' man.
So now come the Rolling Stones with the release of their new album, the first studio album in eight years which coincides with the beginning of their latest concert tour. I suppose that it is no surprise that the pre-release buzz should be about a politically outspoken tune on the new disk called My Sweet Neo Con. I haven't seen any bootlegged copies of the tune available on the internet yet, but they are probably out there somewhere.
The lyrics have already been released. Here are some of them:
"How come you're so wrong? My sweet neo-con, where's the money gone, in the Pentagon,"
It's liberty for all, democracy's our style, unless you are against us, then it's prison without trial.
You call yourself a Christian,
I call you a hypocrite,
You call yourself a patriot,
well I think you're full of shit."
There is not much metaphor here. It's pretty much to the point. Yet Mick, ever the wise businessman, shows his palms and shakes his head when someone suggests that he is talking about BushCo. I'm sure he's thinking about preserving his access to Clear Channel.
Am I just getting old and out of touch or is music somewhat less of a revolutionary force than it used to be? My teen aged cultural consultant is lounging as I write and watching music videos. Am I correct in observing that music videos are a perfect example of image over substance? I watch as one after another pin-up girl is passed off as recording talent. I'll admit that Gwen Stefani is to die for and not a bad dancer, but this is pure product. These aren't musicians, let's face it, they are strippers. This isn't music, this is fashion advertising and semi-soft porn.
Now, I have nothing against either fashion advertising or porn, but let's call a spade a spade. This ain't real music because it's just a bunch of kids dancing in lock-step to drum machines and it has no message beyond product placement. This is why, when the Rolling Stones release a tune with some actual statement, it creates a buzz. Oh yeah, and plus they are the Rolling Stones.
I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
In their eyes there's something lacking
What they need's a damn good whacking.
I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
No, no!
But what can a poor boy do
Except to sing for a rock 'n' roll band
'Cause in sleepy London town
There's just no place for a street fighting man
No
I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody
Outside of a small circle of friends
We can change the World.
Rearrange the World.
It's dying
to get better.
else
Happiness is a warm gun.
--Buffalo Springfield, Beatles, Who, Stones, Ochs, Nash
