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Topic: Political ProgPosted By: David_D
Subject: Political Prog
Date Posted: July 08 2024 at 08:52
Prog has definitely had different faces, but not least being visionary/utopian 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 societieson 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.
------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
Replies: Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 08 2024 at 09:36
Coronavirus Rhapsody
"Do whatever you want to with my music. Just don't make me boring" - Freddie Mercury
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: July 08 2024 at 11:12
There was a recent suspension of political threads from the think tank after many complaints, but as politics can be integral to the art of music, and arts generally, I would be reluctant to close this down. If it gets rude, then it will be closed. I would just ask people if they participate not to make it about their own politics but to be more factually talking about it from the perspective of Prog. Obviously the usual rules of decorum apply, including laying off on personal attacks on fellow members as well as others who might get mentioned such as Roger Waters (whom I met under embarrassing circumstances). This thread will be monitored closely if it keeps going. Please try to stay on topic and try to keep YOUR politics (particularly when disparaging of others) and any possible insults to yourself.
Henry Cow (and its members), related News of Babel and Art Bears, Robert Wyatt, and principles of Rock in Opposition are some obvious leftist ones.
The first album I would think of is Art Bears, The World as it Is Today.
Here is the first track, The Song of Investment Capital Overseas.
------------- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcp9fYc6K4IKuxIZkenfvukL_Y8VBqzK" rel="nofollow - Duos for fave acts
Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: July 08 2024 at 11:37
Nice thread, David! I'm not sure if this is political, as one can interpret lyrics differently than the author intended. But here is a verse from Bubblemath - The Sensual Con.
"Hey there, my confident friend, isn't freedom funny? We can't help but notice you spend all your time and money Passing your panicky laws, pulling people under While happily snapping your jaws, and it makes us wonder Why you intrude on the lives of adults consenting When all your intolerant drives are what need preventing"
Posted By: siLLy puPPy
Date Posted: July 08 2024 at 12:19
There were a number of so called politik-rock prog bands in the 70s primarily in Germany and Sweden.
Checkpoint Charlie, Floh De Cologne, Ton Steine Scherben, Lokomotive Kreuzbuerg, Ihre Kinder, Schmetterlinge, Oktober, Kernbeisser were some of the most blatant almost punk rock types of dissent although many progs in the Italian scene expressed their political views as well
In Sweden bands like Hoola Bandoola Band, Älgarnas Trädgård, International Harvester and others
Even the mainstream bands did it more subtly with albums like The Wall standing out
For the most part prog was more sublte in its political jabs but some offered a punk brashness before punk existed
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: July 08 2024 at 13:28
Grumpyprogfan wrote:
Nice thread, David!
thanks
------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
Posted By: Hrychu
Date Posted: July 08 2024 at 13:52
siLLy puPPy wrote:
There were a number of so called politik-rock prog bands in the 70s primarily in Germany and Sweden.
In Sweden there was an entire musical movement called "progg". Not related to prog rock one bit. It was more like a folk rock thing. The lyrical themes would orbit around anti-commercialism and left-wing progressivism.
------------- “On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.” — Ernest Vong
Posted By: MortSahlFan
Date Posted: July 08 2024 at 14:13
Posted By: siLLy puPPy
Date Posted: July 08 2024 at 14:21
Then of course there's this classic which through
the art of rock opera showed how crime syndicates, politics and
religious institutions all work together
Posted By: Prog-jester
Date Posted: July 08 2024 at 14:30
We place our faith in human rights In the paper wars that tie the red tape tight I know that I would rather be out of this conspiracy
In the gulags and internment camps Frozen faces in nameless ranks I know that they would rather be standing here besides me
Racing the clouds home, racing the clouds home You can shut your eyes, you can hide it away it's gonna come back another day
Posted By: Prog-jester
Date Posted: July 08 2024 at 14:31
especially true today
"Waiting, the season of the button"
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: July 08 2024 at 15:21
Unlike punk most prog bands stay away from politics probably out of fear of alienating their listeners. I can't think of any prog band that seems to have some kind of political agenda.
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: July 08 2024 at 15:30
Prog-jester wrote:
We place our faith in human rights In the paper wars that tie the red tape tight I know that I would rather be out of this conspiracy
In the gulags and internment camps Frozen faces in nameless ranks I know that they would rather be standing here besides me
Racing the clouds home, racing the clouds home You can shut your eyes, you can hide it away it's gonna come back another day
It would be nice if telling the artist name, song and album titles, and maybe year too.
------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 08 2024 at 15:35
The Waterboys - Red Army Blues (no doubt a popular song amongst Mother Russia's political commissars during The Great Patriotic War)
Posted By: cstack3
Date Posted: July 08 2024 at 15:52
AFlowerKingCrimson wrote:
Unlike punk most prog bands stay away from politics probably out of fear of alienating their listeners. I can't think of any prog band that seems to have some kind of political agenda.
Many of the early prog bands were anti-war, in reaction to the horrors of Viet Nam.
King Crimson comes to mind immediately, with "Epitaph."
Also Yes, with "Relayer."
Not overtly for/against any type of politics except reducing bloodshed and suffering from human conflict. Strawbs also.
------------- I am not a Robot, I'm a FREE MAN!!
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: July 08 2024 at 16:09
Marillion - "Forgotten Sons", about soldier victims of wars, and from the album Script for a Jester's Tear (1983)
------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 08 2024 at 16:11
Rick Wakeman - Theme to Election Day 1997 (better-known to prog fans simply as "Arthur")
Posted By: mathman0806
Date Posted: July 08 2024 at 16:47
Twelfth Night - We Are Sane (Live)
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: July 08 2024 at 19:42
cstack3 wrote:
AFlowerKingCrimson wrote:
Unlike punk most prog bands stay away from politics probably out of fear of alienating their listeners. I can't think of any prog band that seems to have some kind of political agenda.
Many of the early prog bands were anti-war, in reaction to the horrors of Viet Nam.
King Crimson comes to mind immediately, with "Epitaph."
Also Yes, with "Relayer."
Not overtly for/against any type of politics except reducing bloodshed and suffering from human conflict. Strawbs also.
Relayer isn't anti war though. You probably say that because of the Gates of Delirium. Jon Anderson has stated that it is based on War and Peace but it's not anti war or pro war. It's just a musical interpretation of the novel. It wasn't meant to be an anti war song.
Posted By: Awesoreno
Date Posted: July 08 2024 at 23:21
^On the other hand, Yours Is No Disgrace IS an anti-war song. Also there's a metric heck-ton of prog bands that have politically-charged lyrics. Though it was usually a little more subtle amongst the classic era anglo heavy-hitters on average, excepting Pink Floyd, of course. Ian Anderson wrote pretty socio-politically charged lyrics, though they were very dense and shrouded in allegory and lofty references. The US had bands that were more overt in the classic era, I find. Kansas had many a message about colonialism in North America. And Frank Zappa... well, this is a man who is quoted to have written "politics is the entertainment division of the military industrial complex." Marillion, Dream Theater, Haken, IQ have all written several songs dealing with politics, including on an international scale. And those are just the big names. Italy in the 70s was rife with prog bands decrying fascism, as did many a band from South America from the 70s onward. Mediabanda comes to mind immediately. And the aforementioned Bubblemath, and the RIO scene. Even Steven Wilson takes a break from the sad boi stuff for a socially conscious message or two. Not to mention Rush and... well, I'll stop there. The list goes on.
Posted By: Antoni
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 00:55
"Farm on the Freeway" stands out as a political commentary within Jethro Tull's discography. In the lyrics, Ian Anderson criticizes the disregard for nature and heritage in the pursuit of economic growth.
Posted By: octopus-4
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 01:04
When it comes to politics the first that comes to my mind is Area. Their debut album is totally political. "Luglio, Agosto, Settembre Nero" is about Palestine and is opened by a poetry in Arab.
Stormy Six, before becoming an avant/RIO band (one of the founding members of RIO) was deeply into politics.
But Italy in the 70s was on the edge of a civil war, so there's a reason why many artists were on politics.
Thinking to the Italians present on PA, One of the most important is Fabrizio De Andrè, his album "Storia di un Impiegato" is about the "French May" of 1968.
Another band completely into politics is Assemblea Musicale Teatrale. I think I can find dozens of Italian artists of the 70s with political contents in their lyrics. Not on PA, very important are Giorgio Gaber and Francesco Guccini.
Interesting thread. I'm into politics as well, but I promise to stick on the musical aspects of the thing.
------------- I stand with Roger Waters, I stand with Joan Baez, I stand with Victor Jara, I stand with Woody Guthrie. Music is revolution
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 01:19
Grumpyprogfan wrote:
I'm not sure if this is political, as one can interpret lyrics differently than the author intended. But here is a verse from Bubblemath - The Sensual Con.
Yes, I'd definitely say it's political, and there got to be some Zappa stuff.
------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 01:26
AFlowerKingCrimson wrote:
Unlike punk most prog bands stay away from politics probably out of fear of alienating their listeners.
I can't imagine it was the case in the politics-happy '70s, but maybe more in the '80s and afterwards.
------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
Posted By: Saperlipopette!
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 01:38
octopus-4 wrote:
When it comes to politics the first that comes to my mind is Area.
Their debut album is totally political. "Luglio, Agosto, Settembre
Nero" is about Palestine and is opened by a poetry in Arab.
My favorite "political band". They are amazing, but an additional reason is that I only vaguely understand the lyrics. I guess if one looks hard enough some kind of politics shines through in most art, but I prefer existential lyricism.
-One band or rather album that's partly political, but rarely mentioned is Spirogyra's St. Radigunds.
Their left wing/pacifist message not preachy but quite clear and direct
- in a sort of wholesome way that I find quite endearing.
Posted By: Hrychu
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 01:55
David_D wrote:
It would be nice if telling the artist name, song and album titles, and maybe year too.
Marillion, White Russian, Clutching at Straws, 1987 :)
------------- “On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.” — Ernest Vong
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 02:34
Hrychu wrote:
David_D wrote:
It would be nice if telling the artist name, song and album titles, and maybe year too.
Marillion, White Russian, Clutching at Straws, 1987 :)
thanks
------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 02:36
I see most of the "communist" musicians are mentioned (Wyatt, & Henry Cow)
Most of the original RIO bands were very much strong left wing, including Art Zoyd and Stormy Six, but Etronfou as well.
siLLy puPPy wrote:
There were a number of so called politik-rock prog bands in the 70s primarily in Germany and Sweden.
Checkpoint Charlie, Floh De Cologne, Ton Steine Scherben, Lokomotive Kreuzbuerg, Ihre Kinder, Schmetterlinge, Oktober, Kernbeisser were some of the most blatant almost punk rock types of dissent although many progs in the Italian scene expressed their political views as well
In Sweden bands like Hoola Bandoola Band, Älgarnas Trädgård, International Harvester and others
Even the mainstream bands did it more subtly with albums like The Wall standing out
For the most part prog was more sublte in its political jabs but some offered a punk brashness before punk existed
Mmmmhhh!!!... Floyd started being political from DSOTM, IMHO... And of course Ol' Rog has been political ever since
To me a lot of Jethro Tull was rather political in their acerbic comments on society (namely TAAB)
As for the Krautrock groups mentioned, I believe (From Asbjornssen's books) their original pigeonhole was actually Polit Rock (no "ik" at the end)
And for the Swedish, it was called Progg Rock (I think it had to to do with Propaganda derivation)
https://www.progg.se/
not sure the site is still active, though.
.
------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 02:39
Van der Graaf Generator - "The Emperor in His War-Room", H to He... (1970)
------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 03:05
Sean Trane wrote:
To me a lot of Jethro Tull was rather political in their acerbic comments on society (namely TAAB)
Certainly agree in the case of stuff like "Aqualung" and
Who would be a poor man, a beggar-man, a thief If he had a rich man in his hand?
from "Cross-eyed Mary", Aqualung (1971).
------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 03:21
Awesoreno wrote:
^On the other hand, Yours Is No Disgrace IS an anti-war song. Also there's a metric heck-ton of prog bands that have politically-charged lyrics. Though it was usually a little more subtle amongst the classic era anglo heavy-hitters on average, excepting Pink Floyd, of course. Ian Anderson wrote pretty socio-politically charged lyrics, though they were very dense and shrouded in allegory and lofty references. The US had bands that were more overt in the classic era, I find. Kansas had many a message about colonialism in North America. And Frank Zappa... well, this is a man who is quoted to have written "politics is the entertainment division of the military industrial complex." Marillion, Dream Theater, Haken, IQ have all written several songs dealing with politics, including on an international scale. And those are just the big names. Italy in the 70s was rife with prog bands decrying fascism, as did many a band from South America from the 70s onward. Mediabanda comes to mind immediately. And the aforementioned Bubblemath, and the RIO scene. Even Steven Wilson takes a break from the sad boi stuff for a socially conscious message or two. Not to mention Rush and... well, I'll stop there. The list goes on.
------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 05:00
The entire Gentle Giant album The Power and the Glory is sort of a political concept album about the corruption of power.
Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 05:06
And of course plenty of non-prog songs.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 05:19
1992: Roger Waters - Amused to Death - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_ka1U3tes8Atdy1A_8oxGbPw7qVyg2qhIQ" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_ka1U3tes8Atdy1A_8oxGbPw7qVyg2qhIQ
A political prog blog wouldn't be complete without at least one Roger Waters song, and so, with that said, here's two songs for the price of one. You know it all makes Perfect Sense, Rodney.
Perfect Sense - Parts 1 & 2 (1st version)
Perfect Sense - Parts 1 & 2 (2nd version)
There's a third version of Perfect Sense too, but I didn't post it here for obvious reasons.
Posted By: Antoni
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 05:21
"The Knife" by Genesis is a politically charged song that delves into themes of violent revolution and the inevitable rise of dictatorship following such upheavals.
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 05:24
"Gaza" by Marillion from the album Sounds The Can't Be Made. Does it get more political than that?
------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State.
Posted By: Hrychu
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 05:26
Lie Back and Think of England by The Tangent is essentially anti-Brexit commentary:
------------- “On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.” — Ernest Vong
Posted By: Antoni
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 05:49
Utopia's "The Road to Utopia" is a track that addresses political and societal issues, reflecting on the journey towards progress, a better world, a more ideal society, or utopia.
Posted By: Manuel
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 05:54
MortSahlFan wrote:
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd was the first band that came to my mind when I read this thread. Not prog, butr prog related in a way, was John Lennon. I guess some parts of "Thick as a Brick" can be considered political.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 06:04
1968: The Beatles - The Beatles (The White Album) - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLycVTiaj8OI80AsTGjYJAPi7-i8kTH-Bq" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLycVTiaj8OI80AsTGjYJAPi7-i8kTH-Bq
The Beatles - Revolution
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 06:08
Strawbs - You Don't Get Me, I'm Part of the Union (NUM leader Arthur Scargill's favourite song, probably)
Posted By: octopus-4
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 06:11
Antoni wrote:
Utopia's "The Road to Utopia" is a track that addresses political and societal issues, reflecting on the journey towards progress, a better world, a more ideal society, or utopia.
Utopia had a lot of political contents in their lyrics. I've listened to the debut album just yesterday
------------- I stand with Roger Waters, I stand with Joan Baez, I stand with Victor Jara, I stand with Woody Guthrie. Music is revolution
Posted By: Antoni
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 06:15
Manuel wrote:
Not prog, butr prog related in a way, was John Lennon.
In terms of prog-related stuff, The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again" is an iconically political song due to its critical examination of revolution and power.
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 06:35
Antoni wrote:
"The Knife" by Genesis is a politically charged song that delves into themes of violent revolution and the inevitable rise of dictatorship following such upheavals.
Surely interesting and good timing, as I've been thinking about this song but haven't yet had a new look at it, and anyway I'm very happy about an interpretation of it.
------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
Posted By: Antoni
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 06:40
Genesis' "Dodo/Lurker" touches on themes of environmental destruction and the consequences of human actions on the planet, making it a poignant political statement within the band's repertoire.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 06:45
And continuing with the nautical theme.....
YES - Don't Kill the Whale (where the YES band members get water-logged, but it's all in a good cause)
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 06:46
Emerson, Lake & Palmer - "Lucky Man", another anti-war song and at the same time sceptical about being rich, the debut album (1970).
------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 07:04
Jon Anderson - Go Screw Yourself
Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 07:17
Antoni wrote:
Utopia's "The Road to Utopia" is a track that addresses political and societal issues, reflecting on the journey towards progress, a better world, a more ideal society, or utopia.
Excellent choice. Todd's solo work also addresses political or societal issues. Here's Bag Lady.
Posted By: I prophesy disaster
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 07:45
Peter Hammill - pH7 - The Old School Tie
Peter Hammill - In A Foreign Town - Hemlock
------------- No, I know how to behave in the restaurant now, I don't tear at the meat with my hands. If I've become a man of the world somehow, that's not necessarily to say I'm a worldly man.
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 10:17
Rush
mostly considered a bit right wing back in the seventies a song like Trees might actually be the best song ever written about socialism, albeit from a capitalist perspective!
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 10:24
Muse
Wil Of The People is quite politically charged with songs like We Are f**king f**ked and Kill Or Be Killed. Look at the album artwork. Matt Bellamy has always been obesessed with the oppressive nature of authority.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 10:57
Rainbow - Kill the King (not a policy to be endorsed - for entertainment purposes only)
Posted By: Hrychu
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 11:19
Come to war, the Eagle said Come to play under the stream None today shall escape The wrath of one Falling from grace again
Winners, losers all remain By the traps under the stream No one here that can't be led To dying fields of evermore
From a porcelain cocoon Pulled by the shadows Deep in the womb Twisted roots in the playground All our children are playing By our leading politicians
------------- “On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.” — Ernest Vong
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 11:32
I already have mentioned Robert Wyatt. While the song "Shipbulding" -- with lyrics written by Elvis Costello and music by Clive Langer (or music by Costello as he has inferred) and first released by Robert Wyatt as a single in 1982 -- is not Prog, of course Wyatt is associated with Prog through the Canterbury Scene and RIO, and more. It's about the Falklands War, and profiting from the building of ships, and I find it very poignant and beautiful song.
.
------------- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcp9fYc6K4IKuxIZkenfvukL_Y8VBqzK" rel="nofollow - Duos for fave acts
Posted By: Mormegil
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 11:41
Galahad's "Seas of Change" comes to mind.
------------- Welcome to the middle of the film.
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 13:06
Hi,
Foreign Son ... Creedence Clearwater Revival
Jefferson Airplane ... too many options! And several words by Grace added to the song in a live setting!
------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com
Posted By: Awesoreno
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 22:44
The Tangent was mentioned earlier. Andy Tillison has been making political tracks for quite some time. Actually, all The Tangent albums starting with The Slow Rust of Forgotten Machinery having been incredibly politically-charged, tackling themes of war, environmentalism, imperialism, fascism, the media, and ultra-nationalism.
Posted By: cstack3
Date Posted: July 09 2024 at 23:13
Prog related, perhaps?
------------- I am not a Robot, I'm a FREE MAN!!
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: July 10 2024 at 07:41
There's a few songs on Peter Hammill's In A Foreign Town that are political (not just Hemlock). Sun City Nightlife, for example, is about about Sun City in South Africa. There's also "Vote Brand X."
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 10 2024 at 08:47
Not really anything to do with political propaganda at all but worth having a proper gander at anyway.
Muse - Propaganda
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 10 2024 at 08:59
Not prog but one of the most highly-charged political songs of all time! https://emojipedia.org/shamrock" rel="nofollow -
Posted By: mathman0806
Date Posted: July 10 2024 at 09:05
Mormegil wrote:
Galahad's "Seas of Change" comes to mind.
I was going to say. Here's the full 42 minutes.
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: July 10 2024 at 10:08
Awesoreno wrote:
The Tangent was mentioned earlier. Andy Tillison has been making political tracks for quite some time. Actually, all The Tangent albums starting with The Slow Rust of Forgotten Machinery having been incredibly politically-charged, tackling themes of war, environmentalism, imperialism, fascism, the media, and ultra-nationalism.
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: July 10 2024 at 12:50
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Not prog but one of the most highly-charged political songs of all time! https://emojipedia.org/shamrock" rel="nofollow -
------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: July 10 2024 at 13:08
mathman0806 wrote:
Mormegil wrote:
Galahad's "Seas of Change" comes to mind.
I was going to say. Here's the full 42 minutes.
I'm not a moderator but I know that it goes against the rules of this forum to post an entire album in here.
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: July 10 2024 at 14:12
^ That was a general rule that is no longer followed except in some cases. For the evaluation of albums for inclusion, we long allowed full albums, but asked people not to post full albums in these kinds of topics. As it became more and more common for labels and bands to release full albums (and an official release would have been fine before if specified) we relaxed and removed the rule. I suggest in those cases try for it be through official channels, then that is unlikely to lead to complaints. In that case it's not through official channels and better to just provide a youtube link if it all. That said, I don't feel like I need to take action. If anyone from Galahad or linked to it complains, of course I will remove it and apologise for my negligence and incompetence. Good thing M@x can't lower my pay for site work. ;) Or actually, that's a bad thing!
------------- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcp9fYc6K4IKuxIZkenfvukL_Y8VBqzK" rel="nofollow - Duos for fave acts
Posted By: Antoni
Date Posted: July 10 2024 at 16:10
The lyrics of Pallas' "Beat the Drum" tell the story of a man who spent his life making weapons of war, only to find himself obsolete in changing times. The song urges listeners to "beat the drum" as a call to action against war and conflict. Pallas reworked the official "Beat the Drum" live video to support Ukraine.
Also, "The Great Attractor," a song from their 2023 album "The Messenger," talks on issues surrounding a polarising political leader.
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: July 10 2024 at 16:30
What sprung to mind was Triumvirat's concept album "Spartacus"-the story of the famous gladiator who lead a revolt against Imperial Rome.
I am a sucker for an individual rising up against a decadent political system, and Spartacus's tale is a real example of that.
"I have a dream that we can change it,
You need just a glimpse of hope and I
Will be your leader in the fight against Rome,
We're united, so you don't stand alone"
Sadly, Spartacus was defeated and crucified along with many of his followers on the Appian Way, but his story is a remembered one of great courage, and Triumvirat capture that in a great way!
Posted By: The Dark Elf
Date Posted: July 10 2024 at 16:45
Wond'ring Again
There's the stillness of death on a deathly unliving sea And the motor car magical world long since ceased to be When the Eve-bitten apple returned to destroy the tree
Incestuous ancestry's charabanc ride Spawning new millions throws the world on its side Supporting their far-flung illusion, the national curse And those with no sandwiches please get off the bus
The excrement bubbles The century's slime decays And the brainwashing government lackeys Would have us say It's under control and we'll soon be on our way To a grand year for babies and quiz panel games Of the hot hungry millions you'll be sure to remain
The natural resources are dwindling and no one grows old And those with no homes to go to, please dig yourself holes
------------- ...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology...
Posted By: Antoni
Date Posted: July 10 2024 at 19:31
"21st Century Schizoid Man" by King Crimson has lyrics, written by Peter Sinfield, that critique modern society and its fragmentation, drawing parallels with the disintegration of relationships.
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: July 11 2024 at 01:00
Out of Focus - Wake Up! (1970), definitely a German political album and of the more radical left-wing kind
------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: July 11 2024 at 01:08
Saperlipopette! wrote:
I guess if one looks hard enough some kind of politics shines through in most art, but I prefer existential lyricism.
I'm not sure, I understand you correctly, but as I see it, political can certainly be existential, like for instance in the lyricism of "Aqualung", "Cross-eyed Mary" and "Lucky Man".
------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: July 12 2024 at 03:29
To me, a good definition of political (in the broadest meaning) is the one concerning everything about organization and functioning of societieson 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.
------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: July 12 2024 at 06:23
Flower Travellin' Band - "Hiroshima"
Once upon a summer day In their midst, a mushroom grew They never saw They never, never knew
They're walking on the street Making shadows on the wall They're sitting on the steps Melting into stone
Children of the mushroom
Aren't we all, aren't we all
(from the album Made in Japan (1972))
------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
Posted By: Saperlipopette!
Date Posted: July 12 2024 at 07:46
David_D wrote:
Saperlipopette! wrote:
I guess if one looks hard enough some kind of politics shines through in most art, but I prefer existential lyricism.
I'm not sure, I understand you correctly, but as I see it, political can certainly be existential, like for instance in the lyricism of "Aqualung", "Cross-eyed Mary" and "Lucky Man".
Of course it can be both. I rarely think in absolute terms. I just have a preference. In a nutshell; I generally prefer less political and more existential lyricism. I think I sort of say that in the quote.
Posted By: Prog-jester
Date Posted: July 12 2024 at 08:36
I've made an anti-war neo-prog playlist when the full scale invasion started, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLr3IpGLFbmU_HsJx5GcdfW5uy6KtpIg9-" rel="nofollow - check it here
Posted By: omphaloskepsis
Date Posted: July 12 2024 at 09:01
mathman0806 wrote:
Mormegil wrote:
Galahad's "Seas of Change" comes to mind.
I was going to say. Here's the full 42 minutes.
"Seas of Change" was my album of the year. It's by far my favorite Galahad album. I don't own any other Galahad albums.
Posted By: Formentera Lady
Date Posted: July 12 2024 at 09:53
Interesting thread!
I think that Progressive Rock as a genre defines itself by the musical style only, rather than the contents/meaning of the songs/lyrics. In prog any contents is possible. So I would expect political contents in progressive rock in about the same amount as can be found in other genres like jazz or pop-rock in general, no more, no less.
Having said that, there are political songs in prog, and you named already a lot in this thread!
Here my favourites:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6-Ig87Ukdc" rel="nofollow - Oktober - Der Traum des Schmieds (song with radical left wing agenda)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfgPEh2J9aI" rel="nofollow - Yes - I've Seen All Good People (a song for peace with reference to Instant Karma and Give Peace a Chance by John Lennon) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gn4KFJLdKs" rel="nofollow - Supertramp - Fool's Overture (anti-war)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtiUoEbwD7Q" rel="nofollow - Marillion - Forgotten Sons (anti-war)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2js9Z6rtENA" rel="nofollow - Genesis - Get em out by Friday (against commercialism of living space) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4QxaWLLlyU" rel="nofollow - Unitopia - Take Good Care (for peace and environmental protection)
Galahad - Seas of Change (anti-Brexit) see link above
------------- http://theprogressiveweb.blogspot.de" rel="nofollow - Visit me in Second Life to talk about music.
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: July 12 2024 at 12:08
Formentera Lady wrote:
Interesting thread! .............. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2js9Z6rtENA" rel="nofollow - Genesis - Get em out by Friday (against commercialism of living space)
Thanks on behalf of all the contributors. I was just about to post this one, but you got a bit ahead of me.
------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
Posted By: Antoni
Date Posted: July 12 2024 at 20:29
The lyrics of the song "Plastic People" by Birth Control address the idea that people are becoming increasingly artificial, fake, and consumed by material possessions.
Posted By: cstack3
Date Posted: July 12 2024 at 20:57
David_D wrote:
Formentera Lady wrote:
Interesting thread! .............. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2js9Z6rtENA" rel="nofollow - Genesis - Get em out by Friday (against commercialism of living space)
Thanks on behalf of all the contributors. I was just about to post this one, but you got a bit ahead of me.
I also was going to post it, good job! This is a great thread!
Isn't much of Kraut Rock driven by political thinking? Reaction to Nazism in WW2 etc.?
I'm mostly thinking of Amon Duul 2. Also, industrial-rock band Einstürzende Neubauten was born out of the political tensions of East vs. West Germany.
------------- I am not a Robot, I'm a FREE MAN!!
Posted By: Antoni
Date Posted: July 12 2024 at 23:19
cstack3 wrote:
David_D wrote:
Formentera Lady wrote:
Interesting thread! .............. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2js9Z6rtENA" rel="nofollow - Genesis - Get em out by Friday (against commercialism of living space)
Thanks on behalf of all the contributors. I was just about to post this one, but you got a bit ahead of me.
I also was going to post it, good job! This is a great thread!
Isn't much of Kraut Rock driven by political thinking? Reaction to Nazism in WW2 etc.?
I'm mostly thinking of Amon Duul 2. Also, industrial-rock band Einstürzende Neubauten was born out of the political tensions of East vs. West Germany.
One of the most notable bands to emerge from Krautrock's early days was Floh de Cologne, known for their theatrical performances, being a concert attraction in the late 1960s and early 1970s - Floh de Cologne shared the stage with Jimi Hendrix in 1970 at the Open Air Love & Peace Festival in Fenhmar, former West Germany, which was his last gig - and Marxist political views. The band's name itself, a play on words combining "eau de cologne" with the German word for flea, showcases their satirical and politically charged approach to music.
The lyrics of their songs are overtly political, expressing a clear preference for communist ideals over conforming to societal norms or being complicit in oppressive systems. Along with proudly carrying membership in the German Communist Party (DKP), their attitude also embodied the reaction to Nazism, the spirit of rebellion, and far-left activism, aligning with the broader countercultural sentiments of the era.
Krautrock pioneers Floh de Cologne plays live their song "Sei Ruhig Fließbandbaby" (which means 'Be Quiet Assembly Line Baby') in 1969:
Posted By: cstack3
Date Posted: July 13 2024 at 01:26
^ Outstanding, thanks for your contribution!
------------- I am not a Robot, I'm a FREE MAN!!
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: July 13 2024 at 07:05
Formentera Lady wrote:
I think that Progressive Rock as a genre defines itself by the musical style only, rather than the contents/meaning of the songs/lyrics. In prog any contents is possible. So I would expect political contents in progressive rock in about the same amount as can be found in other genres like jazz or pop-rock in general, no more, no less.
As Progressive Rock has been particularly ambitious concerning the art of music, I would also expect it in a broader ideological field.
------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: July 13 2024 at 07:19
Eloy - "Plastic Girl", criticism of plastic, synthetic world with emptiness and people with plastic brains, Floating (1974)
Antoni wrote:
The lyrics of the song "Plastic People" by Birth Control address the idea that people are becoming increasingly artificial, fake, and consumed by material possessions.
I've been thinking if "plastic" has a particular reference to being consumed by material possessions? It's something I seem to remember from the '70s Denmark too.
------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: July 14 2024 at 02:49
^ I would also expect in Progressive Rock relatively much political interest, broadly defined, as Prog evolved much on basis of the '60s counterculture and its ideology, if not actually being a part of it.
------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
Posted By: Mystique
Date Posted: July 14 2024 at 06:10
We the people have created
A beast of riches and of health
And cower as we watch this creature
Granting power to itself
A world is built from other worlds
Divided unity
What will you do with your hands full
Of humanity?
If ye love wealth more than your freedom
The largest hands will grasp at straws
Elude the eye of their employers
And pass their vague officious laws
The din of progress now surrounds us
The voice of freedom is ignored
Endure the theft of the prodigal fathers
Answer to the pen or to the sword
Our constitution has grown weak
Like a field of dying grass
The eagle’s trampled underfoot
By elephant and ass
The statue’s light begins to fade
And all is vanity
What will you do with your hands full
Of humanity?
A Handful of Humanity by Epignosis
Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: July 14 2024 at 10:48
For all the senseless deaths. Will this ever stop?
Freak Kitchen - Gun God
Posted By: Hrychu
Date Posted: July 14 2024 at 11:11
The first song (Snålblåst) is a bop, though the lyrics are very doomer-y.
------------- “On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.” — Ernest Vong
Posted By: cstack3
Date Posted: July 14 2024 at 11:12
Did anyone mention "Yours is No Disgrace" by Yes yet?
I love to play bass along to this song!
The Vietnam War was an influence on this song. Governments fight wars, not men and women - therefore yours is no disgrace. The message is that war has no winners and no real meaning - as Jon Anderson has explained, the young people going off to fight the war had no say in the matter, and the war itself was certainly not their fault.
"Death defying, mutilated armies scatter the earth, Crawling out of dirty holes, their morals, their morals disappear" - killing is brutal and cruel, but the disgrace falls not on the soldiers, but on those who orchestrated the war.
------------- I am not a Robot, I'm a FREE MAN!!
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 14 2024 at 11:35
^ Talking of the Vietnam War.....
Country Joe & the Fish - I Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die (The Vietnam Song)
Posted By: Hrychu
Date Posted: July 14 2024 at 11:54
Tai Phong's "Rainy Night in Saigon" is more less about the Vietnam War, from the perspective of a Vietnamese refugee fleeing abroad.
------------- “On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.” — Ernest Vong
Posted By: Formentera Lady
Date Posted: July 14 2024 at 12:31
cstack3 wrote:
Did anyone mention "Yours is No Disgrace" by Yes yet?
I love to play bass along to this song!
The Vietnam War was an influence on this song. Governments fight wars, not men and women - therefore yours is no disgrace. The message is that war has no winners and no real meaning - as Jon Anderson has explained, the young people going off to fight the war had no say in the matter, and the war itself was certainly not their fault.
"Death defying, mutilated armies scatter the earth, Crawling out of dirty holes, their morals, their morals disappear" - killing is brutal and cruel, but the disgrace falls not on the soldiers, but on those who orchestrated the war.
Good choice! I forgot about that one!
------------- http://theprogressiveweb.blogspot.de" rel="nofollow - Visit me in Second Life to talk about music.
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: July 14 2024 at 12:56
cstack3 wrote:
Did anyone mention "Yours is No Disgrace" by Yes yet?
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: July 14 2024 at 13:37
Marillion - "Chelsea Monday", Script for a Jester's Tear (1983). Criticism of "cellophane world in glitter town" and else, which seems to me being a kind of continuation of the German plastic, synthetic world theme - of which btw I afterall think that being obsessed by material possessions is probably not the most important part of.
------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: July 14 2024 at 14:58
cstack3 wrote:
Did anyone mention "Yours is No Disgrace" by Yes yet?
There got to be some environmental songs by Yes.
------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: July 14 2024 at 16:57
cstack3 wrote:
...
Isn't much of Kraut Rock driven by political thinking? Reaction to Nazism in WW2 etc.?
I'm mostly thinking of Amon Duul 2. Also, industrial-rock band Einstürzende Neubauten was born out of the political tensions of East vs. West Germany.
Hi,
There was, no doubt, a lot of political thinking, and it was mostly clear, and in a funny sort of way, when Guru Guru did a song about it, in the Tango Fango album ... no one really "got it" ... and people still seem to not like that album, or particular piece of music, but it was a satire on the East German/Russian music ... and in the end, it was sort of like ... our God in music was the likes of Chuck Berry/rock'n'roll, not schlagger or anything else. It was a neat statement, though a bit on the weird side, but I have a feeling that many of us "progressive" folks don't take to humor very well, but Mani's take on it was special and far out.
Amon Duul, and Can, for me, are not political, even though they satirize it a few times, with a few songs that obviously make fun of the megalomaniac side of things ... and Made in Germany, certainly does not come off as "political" as much as it comes off as "social" and even "philosophical". There is very little, in Yeti, and Dance of the Lemmings that suggests politics, and Wolf City has that one satirical song, but in Vive La Trance, there is one piece, that is huge ... Mozambique ... but I see it as a commentary on the crusade that invaded Africa and Latin America in search of gold and everything else ... with a church as an excuse, and its acts, specially in Latin America (I don't really know African history much!), were vicious and malicious and very much deceitful. And Apocaliptyc Bore was more about people just getting stoned and not giving a damn anymore, and calling the meaningful side of the earlier days boring ... replaced by ... ???
In general, other than the obvious Floh de Cologne, and a couple others, I don't find them "political" ... more "social" and "philosophical" and this is what the film group was really working on ... Werner Herzog is not exactly political at all, and neither is Wim Wenders, despite his suggestive content now and then, I find is less so. R. M. Fassbinder is not political, but his characters are all "victims" of the social environment they are in, which comes off as slightly oppressive and not helpful.
Neubaten and Terho, I can not speak much for or about ... not having a good translation makes it difficult.
Extending this, TD and KS are not political ... they were too tied up to their own work to worry about politics, and bheir music had a special "freedom" that resonated quite far, and was appreciated a lot. On the writing side of things there were some interesting things, although I can not say they are political ... Peter Handke wrote word plays, where words are the dialogue and the bunch of short plays is just words, no sentences, no paragraphs, and this is the "conversations", which is more against the idea that everything has to have meaning, than otherwise. He went on to work with Wim Wenders and others. Earlier, one of the most political of works, is Marat/Sade by Peter Weiss ... and that one is the most political of all stories and it is massively huge, although it really is more in search of how and why something is political ... "I am the revolution" says Marat ... "You are an idiot that thinks he can change the world" says Sade ... and though a lot of their dialogues are political they take on very strong detail, about a lot of things ... specially if you have the knack for listening ... and getting some of the commentary which is incendiary and highly charged ... but is "safely" guarded and done by inmates of an asylum ... thus they can say anything, and nothing matters! This play is amazing and probably one of the best written in the 20th century, but there is a lot of dialogue in there that will get some folks riled up!
There were some folks in the music area that were a part of different political parties, but I think that after the war, a lot of those parties lost their ability to have any strength or value, until the time came when they were just about completely dissolved and there was less Russian influence, for example. At least one member of the electronic groupings, was a member of the Communist party, but I wonder if he just said that to get people to listen to the music and get attention.
The commune side of things appears to have some political content and aims, but not all of them were in that vein and Renate tells the story when the guy that was now an accused man, showed up at their commune and Renate tells him to get out quick, a very strong suggestion, that at least this commune by AD2 was not exactly politically minded.
I wish I had been able to compose something on this subject, but it likely would take me weeks.
------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com
Posted By: Awesoreno
Date Posted: July 14 2024 at 22:31
verslibre wrote:
cstack3 wrote:
Did anyone mention "Yours is No Disgrace" by Yes yet?
I love to play bass along to this song!
Excellent post, sir!
Yes, it has been mentioned. Several times.
Posted By: Antoni
Date Posted: July 15 2024 at 00:10
Spanish symphonic prog band Triana's notable song with political undertones is "Rumour" from 1977. The lyrics of the song reflect the turbulent political climate in Spain during that time, marked by the transition from the Francoist dictatorship (1936–1975) to democracy.
Grumpyprogfan wrote:
1992: Roger Waters - Amused to Death - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_ka1U3tes8Atdy1A_8oxGbPw7qVyg2qhIQ" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_ka1U3tes8Atdy1A_8oxGbPw7qVyg2qhIQ 
Excellent post, sir!