Music Speaks Out:
Along with the revivial of American patriotism came the protest song with renewed strength. Music is never quiet, unless by force and even then it can be heard in the most secret of places. Amongst the songs of remembrance came the cries of “no more”
Artists took to their microphones and opened up, voicing their opinions that were on occassion censored just like the Dixie Chicks.
(Pop) Music Goes to War:
The actions the Bush administration took in the war on terror, most notably in Afghanistan and Iraq were meant with increasingly less public support as time went on. The investment in the militarial industrial complex appeared more big business than resolution of conflict. Additionally, the domestic changes involveing security and the increasingly apparent failure in finding a connection between Saddam Huessein and Osama bin Ladan as well as WMDs created a huge rift between government actions and the public’s opinion.
As a result, there was a push back. There was a time for mourning and grief for certain, but voices of protest against the reaction to the cause of that pain were necessary.
Several artists used public platforms to announce their dissatisfaction and anger towards the Bush administration and the actions the government had taken.
During a set at Lollapalooza music festival in 2007, Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder covered Pink Floyd’s Another Brick in the Wall. However, he added his own message with in the song, repeating the phrases “George Bush, leave this world alone” and “George Bush find yourself another home”.
Coincidentally, livestreams of the concert were notably missing the phrases. The communications incoporation AT&T was accused of censorship of the lines during a Blue Room webcast version of the Lollapalooza tour. It was another instance of criticism, especially of George W. Bush being removed or censored. There were also instances of seizure of song materials by Homeland Security.
Public displays of protests were echoed on the web, where numerous anti-war songs by the like of REM, the Beastie Boys, Lenny Kraviz, John Mellencamp and more. Neil Young with “Let’s Impeach the President” as well as his entire Living With War album and Bruce Springsteen also lended their talent to voicing disent.
Case Study: Green Day’s American Idiot album and its resonance:
On September 20, 2004, the punk rock band Green Day released American Idiot, a spanning rock opera emulating the likes of the Who. The album followed characters through the album tracks and demonstrated emotional complexity through grief, rage, love, and politcs. Examining some key tracks, the success of the album and its resonance with people, not just in America but worldwide can be understood in its ability to emulate the emotions of that period-by capturing the disenchantment of the political climate post 9/11. It was one of the most overtly political music albums of the post 9/11 era and it was critically and commercially a hit.
American Idiot:
The opening and title track of the album, American Idiot was angry and bold. A driving riff and potent lyrics, it was in your face unapologetic.
It made references to George W. Bush, an “American idiot” with a “redneck agenda” and the intense propaganda and media saturation that occured in the time after the 9/11 attacks. The paranoia and tension were present in real life with citizens being untruthworthy towards a government claiming evidence and need for involvement where there was none. Or for the draw of maintining investment in oil and other buisness-minded interests. The song is a call-out and “others” people, creating a split down between those who are idiots and those who are not.
Don’t wanna be an American idiot.
Don’t wanna be an American idiot.
Don’t want a nation under the new mania
And can you hear the sound of hysteria?
The subliminal mind fuck America.
Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alienation.
Where everything isn’t meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We’re not the ones who’re meant to follow.
For that’s enough to argue.
Well maybe I’m the faggot America.
I’m not a part of a redneck agenda.
Now everybody do the propaganda.
And sing along to the age of paranoia.
Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alienation.
Where everything isn’t meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We’re not the ones who’re meant to follow.
For that’s enough to argue.
Don’t want to be an American idiot.
One nation controlled by the media.
Information age of hysteria.
It’s calling out to idiot America.
Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alienation.
Where everything isn’t meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We’re not the ones who’re meant to follow.
For that’s enough to argue.
Holiday
Like American Idiot, Holiday was one of the most overtly political songs on the album. The lyrics used heavy war-imagery with talk of destruction and mockery insiting upon a “holiday” as the world goes to hell.
The most outrageous lyrics are during the bridge of the song, featuring a call-out to President Gasman, another reference to Bush, the investment in oil, and the metaphorical “gas” he provided for global confrontations against terrorism. The “company’s lost the war again” further addressed the interest big business had in the wars being fought in the Middle East. The issue of censorship, by now a reaccuring issue in the American lexicon, of the government and the repetitive lies being fed receive reference just as maniuplation did American Idiot. These were real-life issue the people in America had to deal with and Green Day was not subtle about addressing them.
The imagery in the music video also includes war symbolism with the airplane dropping a bomb at the video’s start.
Say, hey!
Hear the sound of the falling rain
Coming down like an Armageddon flame (Hey!)
The shame
The ones who died without a name
Hear the dogs howling out of key
To a hymn called “Faith and Misery” (Hey!)
And bleed, the company lost the war today
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
On holiday
Hear the drum pounding out of time
Another protester has crossed the line (Hey!)
To find, the money’s on the other side
Can I get another Amen? (Amen!)
There’s a flag wrapped around a score of men (Hey!)
A gag, a plastic bag on a monument
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
On holiday
(Hey!)
(Say, hey!)
“The representative from California has the floor”
Zieg Heil to the president Gasman
Bombs away is your punishment
Pulverize the Eiffel towers
Who criticize your government
Bang bang goes the broken glass and
Kill all the fags that don’t agree
Trials by fire, setting fire
Is not a way that’s meant for me
Just cause (hey, hey, hey), just cause, because we’re outlaws yeah!
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
This is our lives on holiday
Wake Me Up When September Ends
Wake Me Up When September Ends was written by lead singer and guitarist, Billie Joe about the death of his father who died of cancer when he was young. The song originally had no ties to the events of 9/11; however, the song still resonated with the American public. They were able to relate their grief and fear to it and found personal significance within it.
On an obvious protest album, this was a song that was poingant enough to resonate with millions. The music video by Sam Bayer showed a young man going off to war and leaving everything behind to never return. The story in the video in ways reflected the lives of many Americans and the pain they were going through at the time.
Album’s Significance and Success:
Green Day’s American Idiot was the band’s most popular album since their major label debut Dookie back in 1994. It has sold over 6 million records in the United States alone and it produced 5 successful radio singles, each going platinum and selling at least 1 million copies. It has sold 15 million copies worldwide since its release. The album won Best Rock album at the Grammy Awards in 2005. Its immense success proved the relevance of the material during in not only its rage, but its love too.
It has been over 10 years since the album’s release and it still stands the test of time with its insight into a disillusioned time in politcal and social history.