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The Dead Kennedys emerged released their debut album in 1980 called “Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables”. Their fast, raw and yet highly polished hard core punk rock music brought together influences ranging from British punk rock, to the Ramones and quickly gained a large following throughout the international punk rock scene and are still popular nearly 30 years later. However, it was not only their awesome music that helped build their reputation and fan base but also their fearless lyrics attacking some of the most powerful sections of US Society: the military-industrial complex and other major corporate bullies, the politicians of both the Republican and Democrat parties (in particular the Reagan administration) and the right-wing Christian Fundamentalism movement and challenging the lethargy and political sluggishness of American (and Western) youth to “stop being so interested in beer”, to get off their asses and take on these forces directly. As a direct result of their fierce message, however, the band was also forced to engage powerful enemies. The style of the Dead Kennedy’s social commentary also differed to other radical left-wing bands and punk rock bands. Where other bands may reduce themselves to sloganeering or commenting on personal experiences, the Dead Kennedy’s usually employed a combination political satire, irony and sarcasm to get their point across – sometimes even taking the perspective of their targets of social critique in the narrative of their song. However, it is not only the style of the song that sticks with the modern listener but also the relevance of content as many of their songs could easily be applied to the political landscape of today – once the listener substitutes some of the details such as names, dates and particular countries. They launched their satirical social commentary in fine style with the first song of their debut album called “Kill the Poor” and continued it with many other songs including “California Uber Alles” as well as the eerie tape recording of “Kinky Sex Makes the World Go ‘Round”. It’s worth taking a look at these songs (as well as listening to them) to get a good taste of the Dead Kennedy’s and see how relevant many of their commentaries are in 2008. Kill the Poor.
With the major financial meltdown that is occurring today as a direct result of failed neo-liberal policies this song still hits the mark. Again it takes the perspective of the American ruling class cheering on the creation of the neutron bomb – designed specifically to kill people but leave property (and its value) in place. Seeing how the American Bankster class has combined an unimaginable accumulation of wealth and privilege with the historical fragmentation and ruin of the world economy – damage which will massively exaggerate already grave social ills – and then take a bailout nearing a trillion dollars, one could easily draw the conclusion that this is actually a third front of war for the American oligarchy – with the front being a class war instead of an overtly military one. The funds which could have been spent on health, education, housing and reactivating the productive economy have instead gone to re-inflate the burst bubble of real-estate by guaranteeing the wealthiest stay the wealthiest. The broke people are bailing out the rich people. This is one of the most astonishing pieces of wealth redistribution in human history from the poor to the rich, and just like a neutron bomb, its going to kill people but maintain the (inflated) value of property around them along with the luxurious lifestyles of their masters on Wall Street. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgpa7wEAz7I "Kill The Poor"
Efficiency and progress is ours once more Now that we have the Neutron bomb It's nice and quick and clean and gets things done Away with excess enemy But no less value to property No sense in war but perfect sense at home:
The sun beams down on a brand new day No more welfare tax to pay Unsightly slums gone up in flashing light Jobless millions whisked away At last we have more room to play All systems go to kill the poor tonight
Gonna Kill kill kill kill Kill the poor:Tonight
Behold the sparkle of champagne The crime rate's gone Feel free again O' life's a dream with you, Miss Lily White Jane Fonda on the screen today Convinced the liberals it's okay So let's get dressed and dance away the night
While they: Kill kill kill kill Kill the poor:Tonight
Kinky Sex Makes the World Go ‘Round.
This song actually takes the form of a phone conversation between the US Secretary of War (Defense) and the British Prime Minister and despite its age it sounds almost as if Donald Rumsfeld is conspiring with Tony Blair. The phone conversation has the ruthless Secretary telling the giggling and thrilled Prime Minister that the rejuvenation of the crumbling capitalist world economy requires a massive war to reactivate itself and stop the biggest corporations from imminent collapse, not to mention getting rid of all the unemployed youth from the streets causing problems against the values of private property. Again, the beauty of this song is not just that it cuts to the truth behind the military-industrial complex but does so in a way that can be applied to world events, with the War on Terror, the emergence of a new Cold War between Russia and the West and the support of the fascist Colombian regime of Alvaro Uribe against the revolutionary Venezuelan government among other left-wing leaders in Latin America. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzSU0d5vG6k
Kinky Sex Makes The World Go 'Round"
Greetings:This is the Secretary of War at the State Department of the United States We have a problem. The companies want something done about this sluggish world economic situation Profits have been running a little thin lately and we need to stimulate some growth Now we know there's an alarmingly high number of young people roaming around in your country with nothing to do but stir up trouble for the police and damage private property. It doesn't look like they'll ever get a job It's about time we did something constructive with these people We've got thousands of 'em here too. They're crawling all over The companies think it's time we all sit down, have a serious get-together- And start another war The President? He loves the idea! All those missiles streaming overhead to and fro Napalm People running down the road, skin on fire The Soviets seem up for it: The Kremlin's been itching for the real thing for years. Hell, Afghanistan's no fun So whadya say? We don't even have to win this war. We just want to cut down on some of this excess population Now look. Just start up a draft; draft as many of those people as you can. We'll call up every last youngster we can get our hands on, hand 'em some speed, give 'em an hour or two to learn how to use an automatic rifle and send 'em on their way Libya? El Salvador? How 'bout Northern Ireland? Or a "moderately repressive regime" in South America? We'll just cook up a good Soviet threat story in the Middle East-we need that oil We had Libya all ready to go and Colonel Khadafy's hit squad didn't even show up. I tell ya That man is unreliable. The Kremlin had their fingers on the button just like we did for that one Now just think for a minute-We can make this war so big-so BIG The more people we kill in this war, the more the economy will prosper We can get rid of practically everybody on your dole queue if we plan this right. Take every loafer on welfare right off our computer rolls Now don't worry about demonstrations-just pump up your drug supply. So many people have hooked themselves on heroin and amphetamines since we took over, it's just like Vietnam. We had everybody so busy with LSD they never got too strong. Kept the war functioning just fine It's easy. We've got our college kids so interested in beer they don't even care if we start manufacturing germ bombs again. Put a nuclear stockpile in their back yard, they wouldn't even know what it looked like So how 'bout it? Look-War is money. The arms manufacturers tell me unless we get our bomb factories up to full production the whole economy is going to collapse The Soviets are in the same boat. We all agree the time has come for the big one, so whadya say?!? That's excellent. We knew you'd agree The companies will be very pleased.
California Uber Alles.
This song invokes the rise of modern American Fascism and implies the authoritarian turns of the current governments are moving American society in that direction. It maintains its relevance with the massive centralization of power in the executive branch of the government that has occurred with the Bush administration and with the massive curtailing of civil liberties under the Patriot Act among other pieces of legislation aimed to effectively destroy the progressive content of the US Constitution.
While many argue that Dick Cheney has been the most powerful Vice-President in US history, taking an unprecedented amount of control over the law-making branch of US government and being the ultimate architect of the entire Bush agenda, no one can doubt the personal and necessary role of George Bush in carrying the baton of the neo-conservative era and again, while this song was written in reference to Ronald Reagan it is more than applicable to George Bush the second (and perhaps to Sarah Palin, the rising star of American Christian fundamentalist populism).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrOCwk3U7H4&feature=related
“California Uber Alles”
I am Governor Jerry Brown My aura smiles And never frowns Soon I will be president...
Carter Power will soon go away I will be Fuhrer one day I will command all of you Your kids will meditate in school Your kids will meditate in school!
[Chorus:] California Uber Alles California Uber Alles Uber Alles California Uber Alles California
Zen fascists will control you 100% natural You will jog for the master race And always wear the happy face
Close your eyes, can't happen here Big Bro' on white horse is near The hippies won't come back you say Mellow out or you will pay Mellow out or you will pay!
[Chorus]
Now it is 1984 Knock-knock at your front door It's the suede/denim secret police They have come for your uncool niece
Come quietly to the camp You'd look nice as a drawstring lamp Don't you worry, it's only a shower For your clothes here's a pretty flower.
DIE on organic poison gas Serpent's egg's already hatched You will croak, you little clown When you mess with President Brown When you mess with President Brown
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