Theme: Pigs: Pink Floyd "Pigs (Three Different Ones)"

Yes, I am doing another Pink Floyd 'pigs' song because I think "Pigs (Three Different Ones)" (Waters 1977) is important lyrically and conceptually.

In the concept album ''Animals", Roger Waters puts humans into three categories: Dogs, Pigs, and Sheep. The three verses in "Pigs" each represent a different pig-identity. The second verse is a little ambiguous, but I believe it is referring to conservative politician, Margaret Thatcher:

Bus stop rat bag, ha ha, charade you are
You fucked up old hag, ha ha, charade you are
You radiate cold shafts of broken glass
You're nearly a good laugh
Almost worth a quick grin
You like the feel of steel
You're hot stuff with a hat pin
And good fun with a hand gun
You're nearly a laugh
You're nearly a laugh
But you're really a cry.

Waters does not leave the listener guessing as to who is he talking about. He calls out directly to Mary Whitehouse ("Hey, you, Whitehouse"), a campaigner and prominent conservative political figure who fought for censorship. Obviously, the Floyd were not thrilled with this:

Hey you Whitehouse, ha ha, charade you are
You house proud town mouse, ha ha, charade you are
You're trying to keep our feelings off the street
You're nearly a real treat
All tight lips and cold feet
And do you feel abused?
You gotta stem the evil tide
And keep it all on the inside
Mary you're nearly a treat
Mary you're nearly a treat
But you're really a cry.

Theme: Pigs: Pink Floyd "Pigs On the Wing (Parts 1&2)"

One of the sweeter songs from one of my favorite bands. Pink Floyd's "Pigs On The Wing (Parts 1&2)" (Waters 1977) is a two-part song that bookends their 1977 concept album "Animals". These affectionate songs are in stark contrast to the rest of the album's tracks, but are important, nonetheless.
Waters introduces the album in Part 1 and defines himself as a 'dog' that has finally found love and comfort in Part 2.

You know that I care what happens to you
And I know that you care for me too
So I don't feel alone
Of the weight of the stone
Now that I've found somewhere safe
To bury my bone
And any fool knows a dog needs a home
A shelter from pigs on the wing

Theme: Pigs: The Beatles "Piggies"

This week pigs have the opportunity to be a part of this blog. I'm not particularly partial towards pigs, but I will be for this week.

The Beatles' 1968 self-titled album, 'The Beatles', which is commonly referred to as 'The White Album' is the band's ninth studio album.
Harrison's song "Piggies", a social commentary on the bourgeoisie, appears on Side 2 of the album. "Piggies" has also been thought to be a criticism on police, who are also known as 'pigs'.


Everywhere there's lots of piggies
Living piggy lives
You can see them out for dinner
With their piggy wives
Clutching forks and knives to eat their bacon.

Theme: Sunday: U2 "Sunday, Bloody Sunday"

Another political and anti-violence song by U2, "Sunday, Bloody Sunday" (1983). This song visits the 1972 'Bloody Sunday' incident that took place in Northern Ireland where 26 unarmed civil rights protesters were shot. Thirteen of them killed immediately.

I really love the line "How long, how long must we sing this song?" Countless civil rights movements and actions have take place and yet there are many people who are still fighting for basic civil rights-- how long must we sing the song of equality and peace.

And it's true we are immune
When fact is fiction and TV reality
And today the millions cry
We eat and drink while tomorrow they die

Theme: Sunday: Califone "Sunday Noises"

Califone's "Sunday Noises". Beautiful.

Theme: Sunday: The Monkees "Pleasant Valley Sunday"

The Monkees are often criticized not only for 'being a rip-off of the Beatles', but for the rumor that none of the members played their own instruments or wrote their own music. The first criticism is for you to decide. The second is not a fair accusation. Even before the Monkees, Mike and Peter were playing music themselves. The four are credited as writers and musicians on quite a few of the Monkees' songs and even toured together as a band (once with Jimi Hendrix as the opener).Each member now has their own solo work, written and played themselves, along with their respective bands.

However, the Monkees' song I have for you this week is not written by the Monkees, but by the famous songwriting team Carole King and Gerry Goffin. Here is "Pleasant Valley Sunday" (1967).

Theme: Sunday: Morrissey "Every Day Is Like Sunday"

Morrissey's "Every Day Is Like Sunday" (Morrissey/Street 1988) comes from his debut solo album Viva Hate (1988). Inspired by Nevil Shute's novel On the Beach, which is about a group of people in Australia waiting for devastation (Armageddon) along the beachside.

Trudging slowly over wet sand
Back to the bench where your clothes were stolen
This is the coastal town that they forgot to close down
Armageddon, come Armageddon, come, Armageddon, come
Every day is like Sunday
Every day is silent and gray

Theme: Sunday: Velvet Underground "Sunday Morning"

The Velvet Underground's opening track  "Sunday Morning" (Reed/Cale 1966) on their debut album The Velvet Underground and Nico is one of the few Velvet Underground songs not describing the gross, perverted, drugged up, underbelly of city life- topics the band is infamous for writing about. Instead, ''Sunday Morning" has a more accessible and professional sound to it and is lyrically sweet.

Sunday morning
It's just the wasted years so close behind
Watch out the world's behind you
There's always someone around you who will call
It's nothing at all

Theme: Sunday: Queen "Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon"

This week's theme: Sunday.

First off, Queen's short little ditty "Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon" (Mercury 1975).

Theme: Midnight: The Killers "Midnight Show"

The Killers' "Midnight Show" is the second song in what Killers' fans call the 'Murder Trilogy'. (the first song being "Leave the Bourbon on the Shelf", and the third being "Jenny Was A Friend of Mine"). The trilogy follows the singer and the murder of his girlfriend.

Oh crashing tide can't hide a guilty girl (The water isn't enough to hide her body)
With jealous hearts that start with gloss and curls
I took my baby's breath beneath the chandelier (He killed her under the stars)
Of stars in atmosphere
And watch her disappear
Into the midnight show (He watched her die)

Theme: Midnight: Hedwig and the Angry Inch "Midnight Radio"

If you have never seen the film Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Mitchell 2001) then I suggest you head to the nearest Blockbuster (or Netflix, if you prefer) and get it. Originally performed live on stage, Hedwig was adapted to a film in 2001.

Hedwig is a beautiful and touching story of  an MtF (male-to-female) up-and-coming rock star who has her songs stolen by songwriting partner, and now enemy, Tommy Gnosis. The film follows Hedwig through her musical journey of regaining fame, love, and self-worth.

"Midnight Radio" (Trask/Mitchell 1999) is one of the last songs/scenes of the film (Hedwig being the singer, in 'male form' in this scene).

Theme: Midnight: Tom Waits "Midnight Lullaby"

Tom Waits' "Midnight Lullaby". A sweet little lullaby about gumdrops, dream land, and the British Isles.

Theme: Midnight: The Allman Brothers Band "Midnight Rider"

"Midnight Rider" (Allman/Payne 1970) by the Allman Brothers Band takes themes of desperation, determination, and being on the run; themes commonly heard in folk and blues songs.

And I don't own the clothes I'm wearing
And the road goes on forever
And I've got one more silver dollar
But I'm not gonna let them catch me, no
Not gonna let 'em catch the midnight rider.

"Midnight Rider" is not dark, but does contain ideas of mystery and the lonesome wanderer-- themes that also surround the image of 'midnight'.

Theme: Midnight: Wilson Pickett "Midnight Hour"

The theme for the week will be Midnight. Generally, midnight is considered to be a time of change; it is the time where night transitions into morning. It is a time of mystery, chaos, and darkness.


Wilson Pickett's "In The Midnight Hour" (Pickett/Cropper 1965) is considered to be one of the top 500 songs of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine.
While midnight is often thought of as a time of mystery and suspense, Pickett sees midnight in lighter terms. For Pickett, midnight is a time to show your love and witness the twinkle of the stars.

I'm gonna wait till midnight hour
That’s when my love comes tumbling down
I’m gonna wait, way in the midnight hour
That’s when my love begins to shine
Just you and I…Ooh Baby

Theme: America: Violent Femmes "America Is"

There is one last post I want to do with our 'America' theme before moving on to this week's theme.

 The Violent Femmes "America Is" (1993) is yet another song calling America out on the 'American dream bullshit'. The Violent Femmes call America a hypocrite, and attempt to prove this statement by telling us to Look at the Indians/Look at the Blacks/Look at the figures /Look at the facts.

The American Dream is supposedly something that everyone can attain if they work hard enough. If this is the case, then why are there such major discrepancies in all areas of life between the different racial/ethnic groups in the U.S.?  

Look at the figures /Look at the facts.
[...]
American dream is only a dream.

Theme: America: Funkadelic "America Eats Its Young"

"America Eats Its Young" is definitely worth mentioning. Funkadelic, fathers of the heavy funk sound, describe America as a "bitch"  that "suck[s] the brains" of her "great grandsons and daughters." Give it a listen.

Theme: America: Gogol Bordello "American Wedding"

Gogol Bordello, a 'gypsy punk' band from Manhattan's Lower East Side, pokes fun at the seemingly lack of celebration surrounding American weddings in the song "American Wedding" (2007).
Eugene asks where the 3-day supply of marinated herring and vodka are, and warns against the grand ennui that is an American wedding.

Nothing gets these people going
not even Gypsy Kings
nobody talks about my Supertheory
of Supereverythings!
So be you Donald Trump
Or be an anarchist
Make sure that your wedding
Doesn't end up like this

Theme: America: David Bowie "I'm Afraid of Americans"

On Bowie's song "I'm Afraid of Americans" (Bowie/Eno 1997), he has been quoted as saying "It's not as truly hostile about Americans as say "Born in the U.S.A.": it's merely sardonic. I was traveling in Java when [its] first McDonald's went up: it was like, "for fuck's sake." The invasion by any homogenised culture is so depressing, the erection of another Disney World in, say, Umbria, Italy, more so. It strangles the indigenous culture and narrows expression of life." (Teenagewildlife.com. 1999-06-25. http://www.teenagewildlife.com/Reviews/Albums/E/PressRelease.html.)
Basically, it's a fear of colonization and is just as relevant today as it was 14 years ago.

Johnny wants a plane.
Johnny wants to suck on a coke.
Johnny wants a woman, and
Johnny wants to think of a joke.

Theme: America: Bruce Springsteen "Born in the U.S.A."

To celebrate our nation's official birthday, I thought we could do 'America' as our weekly theme.


First up: Bruce Springsteen. When "Born in the U.S.A." (Springsteen 1984) was released, President Ronald Reagan saw this as an opportunity to use Springsteen's song as America's new theme song. To Reagan, the song was a way to revitalize a patriotic American-masculinity. Obviously Reagan was not listening to anything but the chorus "Born in the U.S.A."

If you take a listen to each verse, you can see that the song is very anti-war and somewhat anti-American, as in America's bad and unwelcoming reception of returned Vietnam soldiers:

I got in a little hometown jam
And so they put a rifle in my hands
Sent me off to Vietnam
To go and kill the yellow man

[...]

Come back home to the refinery
Hiring man says "Son if it was up to me"
I go down to see the V.A. man
He said "Son don't you understand"


Born in the U.S.A., man.

Theme: Guns: Gorillaz "Kids With Guns"

"Kids With Guns" (Albarn, Hewlett, et all., 2006) is obviously about kids...with guns. I cannot decide on which interpretation of this song fits better: A. The amount of exposure kids have to guns and violence, i.e. on the news, video games, songs, etc, and how we believe that exposure affects them, or B. Young 'kids' in the army who are handed guns and asked to use them.

Either way, it's "turning us into monsters."

Kids with guns
Kids with guns
Taking over
But it won't be long
They're mesmerized
Skeletons
Kids with guns
Kids with guns
Easy does it, easy does it, they got something to say no to

Theme: Guns: Nirvana

 
The word 'gun' is heard in a few Nirvana songs: "In Bloom" (And he likes to sing along/ And he likes to shoot his gun), "Son Of A Gun", "Come As You Are" (And I swear that I don't have a gun/ No, I don't have a gun). As in the case with the Beatles' song, "Happiness Is A Warm Gun", the guns in each song have multiple interpretations: sex, violence, drugs, an actual gun...take your pick.