Sigh.
A few weeks/months ago I said on Twitter that if Trump won I might quit writing this blog. Just because I didn’t know if I’d have the motivation to keep it going, living in a world that would readily elect a fascist conman to the world’s most powerful position really puts a damper on my desire to write about music.
Well, I guess the good news is that I’m reneging on that thought. In times of extreme strife, writing is one of the only things that keeps me remotely sane. So unless I want to plunge headfirst into depression and/or insanity, I best keep this thing going.
Right now a lot of people are talking about the importance of diversions and distractions. Even in the harshest of times, people need to escape with something that gives them joy. For example, I was exceptionally happy that the Giant Bomb guys avoided politics with their podcast this week. I needed some stupid laughs about video games.
But, I don’t know if I can do that. As long time readers of this blog know, I write what I feel, especially when what I feel makes me angry. This was especially true a few years back, when this blog could’ve been more accurately titled “Angry Ramblings and Synthpop.” But those were stupid little posts about how much I hate the VMAs or the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame. Rambling off a few hundred words about a pop culture event that makes you angry isn’t exactly the same as crafting an in-depth and well-researched essay on the dangers of fascism.
What I’m basically saying is that I don’t know what the fuck I’m going to do right now. Probably a little bit of everything. So if you were hoping this blog would be a respite away from the horrible world we find ourselves in, sorry that’s not going to happen. And at the same time, if you wanted me to rebrand this site as an anarcho-punk blog showcasing protest music and anti-fascist action, sorry that probably won’t happen either.
If for nothing other than the fact that most anarcho-punk sucks.
Here are some songs from a movie about a future I wish we had.
Peter Gabriel and Deep Forest
While The Earth Sleeps (Album Version)
While The Earth Sleeps (Long Version)
The “album” from which the album version comes from is the soundtrack to the film Strange Days, an absolute masterpiece of 90s cinema that is 100% required viewing in the world we live in today. Want to see a movie that predicts by about 20 years the Black Lives Matter movement, smartphone video culture, and the struggles of living in a thinly veiled fascist society? Check out Strange Days. You also get to see Angela Bassett beat the fucking shit out of people. And that’s just cool.
Anyways I was browsing a record store in Yokohama today and I came across a single for said song, which also includes the long version. I had no idea there was a long version of this song, so hey, nice surprise. The long version is basically just an extra two minutes of vocalizing by Peter Gabriel, but there are worse ways to make a song longer so I’m not really going to complain about it. But I really bought the single for the next track.
Juliette Lewis
Rid Of Me
Strange Days is a sci-fi neo-noir, and you can’t have a noir with a femme fatale. In the case of Strange Days, the femme fatale is played by Juliette Lewis, who plays an indie-rocker named Eve. For some reason, all the songs Eve sings are PJ Harvey cover tunes. I guess someone involved in the production of the film really dug PJ Harvey. The soundtrack has Lewis’ cover of “Hardly Wait,” which is featured prominently in the film. The other PJ Harvey cover is this tune, which didn’t make it onto the soundtrack proper. I always figured it wasn’t even recorded in full so imagine my surprise when I discovered it today. It’s a really great cover of a fantastic song.
And if you’re chuckling at the idea of Juliette Lewis singing, stop it, her voice has an angry intensity that serves the PJ Harvey track well. Listen to her actual albums of original material sometime, they’re not bad.
This is your space, you just say what you want!
Please don’t stop updating this blog, if you’re up for continuing. I’m not much of an internet commenter but I do enjoy your blog, regardless of the topics. So a mix of distraction and ranting is probably just right. As of what I am calling “the horrific events of Nov. 7,” just existing is really a form of protest in many ways. Now that I’m past the hysterical crying phase of Nov. 8, I’m into the I’m Angry/What Can I Actually Do phase. I thought about it and realized that we normal people (i.e., those who see that the orange would-be emperor has no clothes, etc.) can’t let a basket of whatever-they-are destroy the things we enjoy. I’m clinging to that right now.
Off topic? – I LOVE Strange Days, I think it’s woefully underrated, I’m so glad to see it here. In fact I should watch it again. Thanks for posting these tracks!
I think the time has come when we all need to stand up and be counted. Those left leaning have allowed the right to drive the agenda for too long now and look were we have ended up. They need to be confronted at every turn. I wish it wasn’t the case, it would be nice to not care but it’s no longer an option.
Love your posts by the way. I don’t love all the music but that’s by the by. It’s a good blog to visit anyway. THANKS.
I’ve been a big fan of your blog(s) since the beginning (10 years or so). Please keep going!
I saw Strange Days in the theater and was really wowed by it as it was original with lots of interesting themes. The ending sequence featuring this song is just really cool. I saw this single once and have kicked myself for not buying it, so thanks for doing the right thing by picking it up. I’m also a YMO and J-80’s music fan (I like Kome Kome Club – THE sound of the Japanese bubble) so I enjoy your findings and post on those topics. Keep it up! Gambare!