Thursday, November 11, 2010

Why must we look to the past for the anti-war songs that define a generation?


Our very own national propaganda radio, NPR as it's known, occasionally has a feature that tells a good story if you read between the lines. This time it's "why don't we hear a few anti-war songs today in our time of war?"  Once upon a time people loved these songs, they were played on the radio, they just maybe had the power to open a fence sitter's eyes, they elicited emotion.

Now you never hear one, even on college radio. They don't write 'em like they used to, major labels won't record them or promote them. It wouldn't sell, it's passe, it's the era of terror say the ones who run what we are allowed to hear on the public airwaves. Radio seems to be controlled by the war machine doesn't it?  Going against the corporate play list is not career enhancing.

The Vietnam War was different. Some folks had something to say about war and many wanted to hear it.
'Next Stop Is Vietnam': A War In Song - NPR
The history of the Vietnam War has been told many times in hundreds of books, movies and plays. But Next Stop Is Vietnam explores the impact of that conflict through the popular music it inspired. {more}

So where are the great anti-war songs of our time. The current theaters of imperialism and genocide are begging for a voice.       I'm waiting ...


I've listened to this one since I was a kid. It's still relevant.

One of John Lennon's least known efforts. It should still be relevant ... especially with the youth who will pay the price if they allow themselves to be a soldier.

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