It's not often that I can listen to rap music that is highly misogynist and get a laugh out of it, but the women over at Columbia University that form the A Capella group Bacchantae have gotten quite the chuckle out of me this morning.
I happened upon this post over at Sociological Images this morning and felt it appropriate to return to the blogosphere with this share.
This group managed to take a song so violent towards women and put a mirror up in the face of misogyny. They make a mockery of the objectification of women and perhaps the more people who listen to this genre of music can find a way to listen to something that doesn't support being a jerk - to put it nicely...
I hope they get just as many views on YouTube as Lady Gaga got for "Bad Romance"!
I'm rather surprised at how awesome some of the music is at Starbucks. Every once in a while, I catch myself jamming out to their playlist. And then the barista fucks up my shit when they ask for my order--"welcome to Starbucks, how can I help you today?" I mean, you can help me by letting me finish out my last step ball change, for real...
But in seriousness, I was pleasantly surprised a few weeks ago when Starbucks gave me Asa's "Jailer" as a promotional gift (yay recession!) The song has a really good political message, but it doesn't make me want to sob in the way that Tracy Chapman does.
Lyrics: Am in chains you’re in chains too I wear uniforms, you wear uniforms too Am a prisoner, you’re a prisoner too Mr Jailer
I have fears you have fear too I will die, you sef go die too Life is beautiful don’t you think so too Mr Jailer
Am talking to you jailer Stop calling me a prisoner Let he who is without sin- Be the first to cast the stone Mr Jailer
You suppress all my strategy You oppress every part of me What you don’t know, you’re a victim too Mr Jailer
You don’t care about my point of view If I die another will work for you So you threat me like a modern slave Mr Jailer
You don’t care about my point of view If I die another will work for you So you threat me like a modern slave Mr Jailer
If you walking in a market place Don’t throw stones Even if you do you just might hit One of your own Life is not about your policies All the time So you better rearrange your Philosophies and be good to your fellow man jailer
I hear my baby say I wan be president I wan chop money From my government What he don’t know Be say Mr Jailer
Going against highlighting local musicians, I'm blogging about "Everywhere" on Common's newest album, Universal Mind Control.
I first fell in love with Common after hearing his song "Be (Intro)". It's one of those songs that I like to come home to after a stressful day dealing with what Staceyann Chin describes as "that bell hooksian urge to kill motherfuckers who say stupid shit to me." It's unbelievable how much Common can say about race, gender, and justice in a two and a half minute album introduction. And (despite some of the controversy surrounding one of his songs on interracial relationships) that's what I like most about Common--he believes music is a vehicle for change, and he lives it.
Common has been a vegetarian in support of animal rights. He has stood up against anti-gay lyrics after receiving criticism from some in the LGBT community. He was a notable supporter of Barack Obama in the "Yes We Can" ad campaign. And (a shameless plug for my organization), Common has worked with Campus Progress to speak about the intersection of hip-hop and the progressive youth movement at Clarion University's Hip-Hop Symposium. (oh, and he's sexy as hell).
Born Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr., Common was a celebrated underground rapper in the South Side of Chicago. He studied at Southern University of Baton Rouge, LA and Florida A&M University before breaking into the mainstream for his album, Be. (See details on his wiki page.)
With that said, it's a bit unfortunate that Universal Mind Control lost some of the activist flair that brought Common fame from his underground followers. "Everywhere" features Martina Topley-Bird, a British singer with Independiente Records in the same vein as Bjork. But I love "Everywhere" -- it has this indie pop feel with a hip-hop twist.
Enjoy! -Vincent
p.s., who else thought his cameo in Wanted with Angelina Jolie was a little awkward?
Lyrics:
Chorus: How did you know I've been waiting for this time to come? And though it tastes like forever, it may not stay long. Everywhere is summer. (x4)
A shaman since before my birth And I came down to rock the Earth. My mission condition: I give you, you listen. I'm syncing in time in parallel. In binary, no 3rd return. I'm planning intention. With all the redemption.
Chorus: How did you know I've been waiting for this time to come? And though it tastes like forever, it may not stay long. Everywhere is summer. (x4)
Common: No pop, no pop, no pop, no pop. We gon' do this thang till the sky just drop. Lock in to ya mind away we rock, In a rocket is the 87th astronaut. Top of the soul, dove and I got in a hole. At the moment they were sayin "It was outa control" Strap in to your mind Why eyes see some recline Youll see in time your season to shine. When the stadium is dark MCs are defined. Get ready, on your mark, put your feet on the line. The race is on to space beyond You gon' get there by doin what you want Sometimes the most famous feel all alone. So we drift to a place that we call our home. I was known as being spaced and outta my dome. now I know, its all Ive known.
Chorus: How did you know I've been waiting for this time to come? And though it tastes like forever, it may not stay long. Everywhere is summer. (x4)
As many of you already know, I LOVE Janet Jackson. Meggo Trivia: Who owns every single album she has put out since her music career began in the early 80s? Answer: Me. I owe my appreciation of Ms. Jackson (if you're nasty) to my mom and her feminist taste in pop music during my upbringing (Madonnna, Janet, Cyndi Lauper, Pat Benetar, Stevie Nicks...you get the drift). This particular album was one of the first cassette tapes (along with Madonna's True Blue album) that I took from my mom's personal collection to play in my room so I could pretend I was an entertainer in front of my mirror with a hair brush. There's just something about Janet's music that makes me want to get up and DANCE. But this particular album is a favorite of mine for many reasons that move beyond my love of dancing around in front of mirrors and lip-syncing.
Not only does this album include R&B, Rock, Dance-Pop, and Funk styles, it was conceptualized to be a social justice album, which Janet intended to deliver a socially conscious message to people - strong enough for people to notice and take that first step of activism, listening. I would like to think optimistically and think that the fact that this album made history by becoming the ONLY album to have 7 top 5 hit singles ("Miss You Much", "Rhythm Nation", "Escapade", "Alright", "Come Back to Me", "Black Cat", and "Love Will Never Do (Without You)") AND the ONLY album ever to achieve number one hit singles in three separate calendar years (89-91) as evidence enough that Janet's message got through to SOME people...
Here's to Janet and one of my all time favorite albums! The end. Love, Meggo.
Pledge: We are a Nation with no Geographic Boundaires Bound together through our beliefs We are like-minded individuals Sharing a Common Vision Pushing toward a world rid of color lines.
With music by our side To break the color lines Lets work together To improve our way of life Join voices in protest To social injustice A generation full of courage Come forth with me
People of the world today Are we looking for a better way of life We are a part of the Rhythm Nation People of the world unite Strength in numbers we can get it right One time We are apart of the Rhythm Nation
This is the test No struggle no progress Lend a hand to help Your brother do his best Things are getting worse We have to make them better Its time to give a damn Lets work together, come on now
People of the world today ( Rhythm ) Are we looking for a better way of life ( Rhythm ) We are a part of the Rhythm Nation ( Everybody sing it ) People of the world unite ( Rhythm ) Strength in numbers we can get it right ( Rhythm ) One time We are apart of the Rhythm Nation ( Whoo )
Say it People, Say it Children ( Rhythm Nation ) Say it if you want a better way of life Say it People, Say it Children ( Rhythm Nation ) Say it if you want a better way of life
(Rhythm) People of the world today Are we looking for a better way of life ( Say it ) We are a part of the Rhythm Nation ( Whoo ) People of the world unite Strength in numbers we can get it right One time ( Sing it up now ) We are apart of the Rhythm Nation (Rhythm Nation sing the story)
Say it for the People( Rhythm Nation ) Say it for the Children Say it for the Babies Say it for the People( Rhythm Nation ) Say it for the Children Say it for the Babies Say it for the, Say it for the, Say it for the..... ( Rhythm Nation )
We are apart of the Rhythm Nation
Random Trivia thanks to Wikipedia!: The album's title was a composite of Jackson's pledge, "We are a nation with no geographic boundaries, bound together through our beliefs. We are like-minded individuals, sharing a common vision, pushing toward a world rid of color-lines" and its supporting creed, "Music, Poetry, Dance, Unity". 1814 referred to the year "The Star Spangled Banner" was written; in addition, 'R' is the 18th letter of the alphabet and 'N' the 14th, hence Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814.
Again, I probably reveal my nerdiness by posting this song. However, I hope, like with "Great Divide," the Hanson song I posted now nearly a year ago, you will all give this one a shot. Recently I heard another musician call Hanson "the most unerrated band on the planet" and though that statement is a bit exaggerated, I can't help but agree to some extent. The band is currently on tour in the U.S. Their tickets seem to be fairly reasonable - I would highly recommend seeing a show. Check hanson.net for details. "Fire on the Mountain" is probably the shortest song on their new album The Walk (2007), but I think it's one of the best. It features Zac (the youngest one - the drummer) on lead vocals and guitar, who in my opinion, is the best lyricist of the group.
The song speaks to some of my feelings as we approach election day 2008. The refrain "There's fire on the mountain, fire and it's coming our way," I think has particular resonance at this moment in history. Whatever Zac means by that phrase, to me it speaks of the challenges facing our world at the present - war, poverty, global warming... and that here in the United States, many of us, particularly those who are white, middle or upper class, educated, what-have-you, are quite sheltered from the realities of the world we've created. But we won't be "safe" forever and the choices we make will reflect our ability to pull our heads out of our asses long enough to see the bigger picture. I think we have a lot to answer for as a country on November 4 and if we make the wrong choice this fire might consume us all.
"Fire on the Mountain" We sit secure in time-honored traditions made Never wondering where or when the sickle may come If we don't seek our knowledge to be greater men When the rain starts falling gonna drown before we get our feet wet
We build our ivory towers to protect us from the flood A fleet of vessels made of wood so they won't rust But can we see the bottom of the bottle when we start to drink? There's fire on the mountain, fire and it's coming our way
Can we pick the pieces up We're mending Babylon, tryin' to right the wrong Can we pick the pieces up Live, learn, life, love, die, dust, gone
There's fire on the mountain
Can we pick the pieces up We're mending Babylon, tryin' to right the wrong Can we pick the pieces up Live, learn, life, love, die, dust, gone
Thinking about the Republican National Convention invading my fair city makes me feel so... sad and discouraged. The black helicopters hovering everywhere, the appearance of strange East Coast people wearing Bluetooth devices, the general prevalence of the color red... plus, apparently it is illegal to be an anarchist nowadays. Your house will be raided just like you're an enemy combatant.
I thought to myself, I need one of those feel-good social consciousness songs! Like one of those Marvin Gays songs from the 70s. And then I remembered the best "issues" song ever- "Think About It" by Flight of the Conchords.
Children on the streets using guns and knives Taking drugs and each other`s lives Killing each other using knives and forks And calling each other names like dork
There`s people on the street getting diseases from monkeys Yeah that`s what I said, their getting diseases from monkeys Whys this happening, please, whose been touching these monkeys Leave these poor sick monkeys alone There sick, they`ve got problems enough as it is
A man is lying on the street, some punk has chopped off his head And I`m the only one who stops to see if he`s dead, aaoohhh Turns out he`s dead
That`s why I`m singing, Aaaaoooh what is wrong with the world today? What`s wrong with the world today, *mumbles* never said nothings wrong with it Uooo, what is wrong with the world today? Think about it, think about it, think, think about it
Good cops get framed and put into a can And all the money that we`re making is going to the maaan
What man, whose the man, when`s a man a man, why`s it so hard to be a man Am I a man? Yes, technically, yes�
Oohh, come on, sont zootka they`re turning kids into slaves They`re turning kids into slaves just to make cheaper sneakers But what`s the real cost, `cause the sneakers don`t seem that much cheaper Why are we still paying so much for sneakers when you got little kid slaves making them What are your overheads?
Well, at the end of your life, you are lucky if you die Sometimes I wonder why I would even try Why try I saw a man lying on the street half dead He had knives and forks sticking out of his leg He said, Ahh ahh ahh ahhhhhhhhwww Can somebody get the knife and fork out of my leg, please Ooh, could somebody please remove these cutleries from my knees Yeah yeeeahhh This is where we break it down This is where we break it down We`ll break it down What are they doing, their breaking it down What do they do, and now their keeping it funky Just having a funky jam and then we`re going to drop the beat And then we`ll bring it back *wails* Up Wah wah wah waaah!
*Both go to town with the wailing*
Then we`ll take it low Fading out, fading out We`re talking about the issues, but we`re keeping it funky We`re fading out, we`re just fading out Why they getting quiet, they`re just fading out *monkey noises* Stop touching that monkey
