Life During Wartime
Last week, the true meaning of “shock and awe” became clear when MTV News reported “War Inspires Jewel to Go Electronic on Next LP.” In stark contrast to a March 20 New York Times article about recording artists’ seeming reticence to weigh in on the war, today the airwaves are teeming with songs commenting on the conflict — or that could be. A brief sampling that proves no, this ain’t no foolin’ around:
WILCO, “War on War”: Vague but upbeat, much like the daily Pentagon briefings. Contains the hawkish sentiment “you have to learn how to die if you want to be alive,” though top military brass are not quite as thrilled with hook “you’re gonna lose.”
FOO FIGHTERS, “Times Like These”: Dave Grohl name-drops H�sker D� while playing motivational speaker over an oscillating guitar riff. Shower of appliances in video may be metaphor for America imposing consumerist values on rest of world.
HOT HOT HEAT, “Bandages”: Has nothing whatsoever to do with war, Iraq, or politics but was pulled from BBC Radio 1�s playlist, because the repeated references to bandages were thought to be upsetting. For some reason, similar action was not taken for Cannibal Corpse�s “Puncture Wound Massacre.”
DARRYL WORLEY, “Have You Forgotten?”: Tennessee young-country hoss parrots Bush administration’s linkage of current war to 9/11 attacks. With lyrics like, “Some say this country’s just out looking for a fight. After 9/11, man, I’d have to say that’s right,” who needs actual proof?
CLINT BLACK, “Iraq and Roll”: The Katy, Texas, native and Nashville Star mentor succumbs to flagrant flag-waving jingoism. As he says, “It might be a smart bomb; they find stupid people too,” Black better be looking over his shoulder.
MADONNA, “American Life”: The Material Girl, who hasn’t even lived in the U.S. since the late Nineties, somehow equates protesting the war with rapping about soy lattes, Pilates, and her three nannies. Makes Black’s and Worley’s offerings seem academic by comparison, so she just pulled the accompanying video from circulation.
BEASTIE BOYS, “In a World Gone Mad”: Easily the funniest, best-informed current protest song. Not only do the Boys opine “they’re layin’ on the syrup thick, we ain’t waffles, we ain�t havin’ it,” they also rhyme “America” with “hysterica” and order Bush to “get your hand out my grandma’s pocket.”
TYRESE, “How You Gonna Act Like That”: Silken tale of ghetto love gone wrong may also be interpreted as an entreaty from the White House to America’s so-called “allies,” France and Germany — or vice versa.
EMINEM, “Sing for the Moment”: Because the moment may be all we have.
This article appears in April 4 • 2003.