Politically Relevant Music

Music! Music touches almost every aspect of human life. Politics are certainly not excluded from the list. Dr. DeWitt assigned to choose two political songs of our choice and I think this assignment is a great idea. My two choices were from the band Muse. I love them for their deep meaning songs. I chose them for both my choices because I couldn't think of any other artists, but them at the time.


My first choice is the song Uprising from the album The Resistance:





The lyrics are the following:


The paranoia is in bloom, the PR

The transmissions will resume
They'll try to push drugs
Keep us all dumbed down and hope that
We will never see the truth around
(So come on!)


Another promise, another scene, another
 packaged lie to keep us trapped in greed
With all the green belts wrapped around our minds
And endless red tape to keep the truth confined
(So come on!)


[Chorus]
They will not force us
They will stop degrading us
They will not control us
We will be victorious


Interchanging mind control
Come let the revolution take its toll if you could
Flick the switch and open your third eye, you'd see that
We should never be afraid to die
(So come on!)


Rise up and take the power back, it's time that
The fat cats had a heart attack, you know that
Their time is coming to an end
We have to unify and watch our flag ascend


[Chorus]
They will not force us
They will stop degrading us
They will not control us
We will be victorious


Hey .. hey ... hey .. hey!
(repeat)


[Chorus]
They will not force us
They will stop degrading us
They will not control us
We will be victorious


Hey .. hey ... hey .. hey!
(repeat)

The lead singer and writer of the song told MTV that,  “The lead single, ‘Uprising’, was kind of inspired by the G20 protests which took place last year. I was in London at the time and I saw it all going on outside where I live.”

He added: “I sort of found that whole protest quite inspiring really; just the idea that people just having a good time, putting together a peaceful protest but the police still do their best to make it become violent and I find that quite aggravating. So, that’s what the song’s about.”

The Muse front-man went on to explain further: “There was a whole economic crisis and the MP scandal which took place last year where everyone felt like they were being ripped off by the powers that be.”

“I sort of wanted to write a song that summed up that feeling like you’ve been done over by people you’re supposed to trust. That’s kind of where the song’s coming from really.”

I think it is also about government corruption and the lies that are hidden from people. 

My second choice is United States of Eurasia/Collateral Damage, also from the same album as the above. The video is not the original music video because they don't have one. However, this  fan made one pretty much sums up what I think the song is about. 

The lyrics are the following:


You and me are the same
We don't know or care who's to blame
But we know that whoever holds the reins
Nothing will change
Our cause has gone insane

And these wars, they can't be won
And these wars, they can't be won
And do you want them to go on
And on and on
Why split these states
When there can be only one?

And must we do as we're told?
Must we do as we're told?

You and me fall in line
To be punished for unproven crimes!
And we know that there is no one we can trust;
Our ancient heroes, they are turning to dust!

And these wars, they can't be won
Does anyone know or care how they begun?
They just promise to go on
And on and on
But soon we will see
There can be only one

United States!
United States!
Of...

Eurasia!
... sia!
... sia!
... sia!

Eurasia!
... sia!
... sia!
... sia!

Eurasia!
... sia!
... sia!
... sia!


I think the song is about war and the pointless politics that go into it. The unfairness of war and so called war crimes are questioned. The rights of others are sacrificed during this time, especially the rights of the country where the war is taking place. It reminds me a lot of Iraq and the video we watched in class on it. The song has nothing to do with the U.S, obviously, but I think it can certainly be applied to it. The lyrics are pretty clear and I don't think they need further explanation.


What do you guys think?!