Political Prog

Hrychu wrote: Antoni wrote: When Polish singer Czesław Niemen released the song "Dziwny jest ten świat" in 1967, Poland was suffering tyranny, and censorship was prevalent. The song, whose title means "This World Is a Strange Place," however, became an iconic piece in Polish music history due to its powerful lyrics and emotional delivery by Niemen. Not only due to its musical qualities but also for its underlying political message, the song gained immense popularity as it subtly conveyed themes of disillusionment and alienation under the oppressive regime that mirrored Soviet practices at the time Also, because of its musical complexity, experimental nature, and innovative instrumentation, "Dziwny jest ten świat" can indeed be considered a progressive rock song despite being released as early as 1967. I love the lyrics because they're so simple yet fricking timeless. No dated political commentary, no wannabe-intellectual padding. Just straight exposition of human nature. The 1967 version is not related to prog in any way imho. It's just a "blue eyed soul" song. However, there is a 1972 arrangement done with the guys who would later form SBB, featuring alternate English lyrics. That one is pure prog! Oh, how strange... ...is this world! Where still it seems There is so far so much evil And how strange it is That seems like all man Despises man Oh, strange is this world Of human affairs Sometimes I'm ashamed to be in it Oh, so funny how A man can kill a man With a bad word As with a knife But most people are of good will, I, thanks to them, believe That this world Shall never never never never die And now the time has come The final time For hatred For hatred to destroy itself!

In the context of 1967, the original version of "Dziwny jest ten świat" was truly progressive and really stood out for its innovative approach to popular music of the era. It eclectically blended elements of rock, soul, jazz, and psychedelia, creating a sound that was ahead of its time. Released in 1967, the original version was more progressive than the pseudo-avantgarde 1972 rendition, which, unlike the timeless 1967 original version, sounds dated now.

Edited by David_D - July 17 2024 at 03:22

David_D wrote: Niemen Aerolit (PL) - "Pielgrzym", criticizing racism in regard to nomadic people, Niemen Aerolit (1975

I don't think it's about racism. It's rather more about a certain prejudice against those who value their traditionalist ideologies over whatever the general crowd perceives as more "down to earth".

It can also be interpreted as a manifesto of an avant garde musician who chooses to remain underground for the sake of experimentation, not wanting to mold their music to whatever is more common just so the general public doesn't see them as "eccentric". You might even find some parallels between that C.K. Norwid poem and Niemen's musical career.

Edited by Hrychu - July 17 2024 at 04:05

David_D wrote: Prog has definitely had different faces, but not least being visionary and political (broadly defined), of which the Italian scene I guess has been one of the most prominent: Banco del Mutuo Soccorso - “Canto Nomade per un Prigioniero Politico" (Nomad Song for a Political Prisoner), inspired by the Chilean coup d’état in 1973 and from the album Io Sono Nato Libero (1973) Edit: About definition of political, I can say: To me, a good definition of political (in the broadest meaning) is the one concerning everything about organization and functioning of societies on all levels, the way societies act towards each other, how all human life affects the environments, and of course very much  about all the acting of people in regard to all this.

The Brand X master-work song "Cambodia," written by the late John Goodsall, has many political overtones.  Johnny was quite interested in the politics of uprisings....complex guy. 

cstack3 wrote: Johnny was quite interested in the politics of uprisings....complex guy.

David_D wrote:

Antoni wrote: Hawkwind would have probably easily fit in that milieu. Not only did the legendary space rockers hold countless free gigs, especially in the early 1970s, but the lyrics of their 1972 song "Urban Guerrilla" stand up overtly for street riots and bomb-making.

On Area's first album, Arbeit Macht Frei, the inside cover photo depicts the musicians with some symbols, a Palestinian keffiyeh, a gun, and a scythe with a hammer. Palestine + armed struggle + communism. The first song, whose title is "July, August, September (Black)" mentions the Arab terrorist movement called ‘Black September’, born in 1970. The lyrics of the song, in the first person, seem to be sung from the point of view of a Palestinian who says he has to make war against humanity because of his reality of suffering (The intro, said to be recorded in a Cairo mosque, was instead produced by Area)

Lyrics: (English translation) Intro (Arabs) My love With peace, with peace I have placed Loving flowers at your feet With peace, with peace I stopped the seas of blood for you Forget anger Forget pain Forget your weapons Forget your weapons and come Come and live Come and live with me my love Under a blanket of peace I want you to sing, beloved light of my eyes And your song will be for peace let the world hear, my beloved and say (to the world): Forget anger Forget pain Forget your weapons Forget your weapons and come And live in peace Second part (Italian) Playing with the world, leaving it in pieces Children that the sun has reduced to old age. It's not my fault if your reality forces me to fight your conspiracy of silence. Maybe one day we will know what it means to drown in blood with humanity. Discoloured people, almost all the same my anger reads above the news. Reads into the past all my pain sings my people that don't want to die. When you see the world without problems seek the essence of all things. It's not my fault if your reality forces me to make WAR AGAINST HUMANITY.

Edited by jamesbaldwin - July 17 2024 at 15:59

Hrychu wrote: jamesbaldwin wrote: ‘Years of Lead’ Lead like "Pb" or "leadership"?