So Joe Strummer is in the Palais with the black kids to see some reggae, and he hopes it'll be like black punk, radical and political, really really good. But it turns out to be just pop music and the groups are more bothered about getting a good spot than actually saying anything. Which he thinks is a shame, because lots of black people who would be receptive to a political message and there, and the opportunity to radicalise them is lost, a chance to change the world has not been seized. Rather than rebellion, it's rebellion packaged for capitalist means, which ironically is pretty much the definition of mass market rock and roll. The song ends with Strummer, ironically, stating that he's just looking for fun, when actually he's been looking for an awful lot more. He attacks apolitical bands, conservatives, fascists and racists. What more can you want in four minutes of music?
I think Strummer actually liked what he listened to. What he criticizes is the attitude that the black youth have when their living conditions are so bellow the white youth. He is amazed by their ability to focus on music when they are the opressed underdogs while white punk rock bands are too busy trying to make money ignoring whats happening around them. Alongside with this,there's also an attack to the english racial policy,and the segregation of the black/foreigners,aka the apartheid.
I think Strummer actually liked what he listened to. What he criticizes is the attitude that the black youth have when their living conditions are so bellow the white youth. He is amazed by their ability to focus on music when they are the opressed underdogs while white punk rock bands are too busy trying to make money ignoring whats happening around them. Alongside with this,there's also an attack to the english racial policy,and the segregation of the black/foreigners,aka the apartheid.
@twintails but then how do you explain "White Riot" where I feel like he says white youth should adapt the mobility of black youth and riot too, if like you said he was criticizing the attitude of black youth?
@twintails but then how do you explain "White Riot" where I feel like he says white youth should adapt the mobility of black youth and riot too, if like you said he was criticizing the attitude of black youth?
@ntwjones@twintails You have to consider, they also wrote a song that says “if you wanna survive you better learn how to lie” and another “deny, you’re such a liar” on the same album.
@ntwjones@twintails You have to consider, they also wrote a song that says “if you wanna survive you better learn how to lie” and another “deny, you’re such a liar” on the same album.
Gotta take each song as its own separate experience
Gotta take each song as its own separate experience
@ntwjones White Riot was written in 76, Hammersmith Palais in late 77, Both songs were based on different experiences that led him to different conclusions. Anyway, although it's patronising in places Hammersmith is also critical of white bands - the "new groups" wearing "Burton suits" is generally taken to be about The Jam who the Clash had fallen out with.
@ntwjones White Riot was written in 76, Hammersmith Palais in late 77, Both songs were based on different experiences that led him to different conclusions. Anyway, although it's patronising in places Hammersmith is also critical of white bands - the "new groups" wearing "Burton suits" is generally taken to be about The Jam who the Clash had fallen out with.
So Joe Strummer is in the Palais with the black kids to see some reggae, and he hopes it'll be like black punk, radical and political, really really good. But it turns out to be just pop music and the groups are more bothered about getting a good spot than actually saying anything. Which he thinks is a shame, because lots of black people who would be receptive to a political message and there, and the opportunity to radicalise them is lost, a chance to change the world has not been seized. Rather than rebellion, it's rebellion packaged for capitalist means, which ironically is pretty much the definition of mass market rock and roll. The song ends with Strummer, ironically, stating that he's just looking for fun, when actually he's been looking for an awful lot more. He attacks apolitical bands, conservatives, fascists and racists. What more can you want in four minutes of music?
I think you just nailed it!
I think you just nailed it!
I think Strummer actually liked what he listened to. What he criticizes is the attitude that the black youth have when their living conditions are so bellow the white youth. He is amazed by their ability to focus on music when they are the opressed underdogs while white punk rock bands are too busy trying to make money ignoring whats happening around them. Alongside with this,there's also an attack to the english racial policy,and the segregation of the black/foreigners,aka the apartheid.
I think Strummer actually liked what he listened to. What he criticizes is the attitude that the black youth have when their living conditions are so bellow the white youth. He is amazed by their ability to focus on music when they are the opressed underdogs while white punk rock bands are too busy trying to make money ignoring whats happening around them. Alongside with this,there's also an attack to the english racial policy,and the segregation of the black/foreigners,aka the apartheid.
@twintails but then how do you explain "White Riot" where I feel like he says white youth should adapt the mobility of black youth and riot too, if like you said he was criticizing the attitude of black youth?
@twintails but then how do you explain "White Riot" where I feel like he says white youth should adapt the mobility of black youth and riot too, if like you said he was criticizing the attitude of black youth?
@ntwjones @twintails You have to consider, they also wrote a song that says “if you wanna survive you better learn how to lie” and another “deny, you’re such a liar” on the same album.
@ntwjones @twintails You have to consider, they also wrote a song that says “if you wanna survive you better learn how to lie” and another “deny, you’re such a liar” on the same album.
Gotta take each song as its own separate experience
Gotta take each song as its own separate experience
@ntwjones White Riot was written in 76, Hammersmith Palais in late 77, Both songs were based on different experiences that led him to different conclusions. Anyway, although it's patronising in places Hammersmith is also critical of white bands - the "new groups" wearing "Burton suits" is generally taken to be about The Jam who the Clash had fallen out with.
@ntwjones White Riot was written in 76, Hammersmith Palais in late 77, Both songs were based on different experiences that led him to different conclusions. Anyway, although it's patronising in places Hammersmith is also critical of white bands - the "new groups" wearing "Burton suits" is generally taken to be about The Jam who the Clash had fallen out with.