Interesting about Doris Lessing, thanks for that! I think they did mention New Labour in an interview, but I have to say the lyric above is wrong - he quite clearly sings '...MY youth', in which case it's also an autobiographical song (as was often the case with Manics songs), and cannot be about New Labour in that sense.
Nicky is probably stoking a bit of controversy again by using the general, newly-maligned term 'liberal left' (I hope it's not seized upon by popularist neocons!), and I think it's really about some of his and especially Richey's youthful beliefs (some of which were quite extreme. The renunciation of the idea of love and marriage probably didn't help Richey, but of course worse was the encouragement by fans who wanted a figure for their 'cause').
In a more general sense, it's also about the youth (and not so youthful) of today, but it's quite despairing, I think. Like other insightful commentators, he's noticed how apathetic and apolitical people have become, and not only because they're disillusioned, but because they're now completely dependent on consumerism (the last sacred cow virtually no-one wants to criticize) and just want it to continue, at any cost. Their only belief seems to be vaguely in the most extreme capitalist propaganda, made appealingly democratic (You Deserve To Be A Winner/You'll Never Be A Loser(LOL), etc). Just look at how people are in denial about the economy, and the end of cheap credit, and are quite willing to turn on the unemployed (without distinction), apparently not considering that they may become one of them.
I still hope there will be something to unite people for the greater good (perhaps when consumerism wanes). I just hope it's not too late.
Btw, I'm pretty sure he's singing 'Oh what a SHOWER we are', which I know seems quite an unlikely, but funny (and especially Welsh) phrase!
Interesting about Doris Lessing, thanks for that! I think they did mention New Labour in an interview, but I have to say the lyric above is wrong - he quite clearly sings '...MY youth', in which case it's also an autobiographical song (as was often the case with Manics songs), and cannot be about New Labour in that sense.
Nicky is probably stoking a bit of controversy again by using the general, newly-maligned term 'liberal left' (I hope it's not seized upon by popularist neocons!), and I think it's really about some of his and especially Richey's youthful beliefs (some of which were quite extreme. The renunciation of the idea of love and marriage probably didn't help Richey, but of course worse was the encouragement by fans who wanted a figure for their 'cause').
In a more general sense, it's also about the youth (and not so youthful) of today, but it's quite despairing, I think. Like other insightful commentators, he's noticed how apathetic and apolitical people have become, and not only because they're disillusioned, but because they're now completely dependent on consumerism (the last sacred cow virtually no-one wants to criticize) and just want it to continue, at any cost. Their only belief seems to be vaguely in the most extreme capitalist propaganda, made appealingly democratic (You Deserve To Be A Winner/You'll Never Be A Loser(LOL), etc). Just look at how people are in denial about the economy, and the end of cheap credit, and are quite willing to turn on the unemployed (without distinction), apparently not considering that they may become one of them.
I still hope there will be something to unite people for the greater good (perhaps when consumerism wanes). I just hope it's not too late.
Btw, I'm pretty sure he's singing 'Oh what a SHOWER we are', which I know seems quite an unlikely, but funny (and especially Welsh) phrase!
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/entertainment/961602/News-of-the-World-Rated-Music-interview-with-Manic-Street-Preachers-Nicky-Wire.html