Shout out to Zack de la Rocha lyrics from the 90s that are still relevant

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I used to love RATM when I was a teenager but then I realize that they barely visited Latin America, which is curious because they were kind of anti-USA or something.
 
Yeah its crazy how relevant RATM's lyrics still are. Another extremely relevant 90s jam is Propagandhi's "The Only Good Facist is a Very Dead Facist". The lyrics still feel like they apply today:

"Just what exactly are the great historical accomplishments
Of your race that make you proud to be white?
Capitalism? Slavery? Genocide? Sitcoms?
This is your fucking white history, my friend.
So why don't we start making a history worth being proud of
And start fighting the real fucking enemy? "
 
This thread reminded me I actually own the BOLA CD. I had forgotten all about RATM, I'l give 'em a spin later on.
 
Violence Jack said:
Battle of Los Angeles is still one of the best albums I've ever heard. I one day hope they'll have a reunion tour, especially during these times.
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I saw them years ago at the big day out when they reformed for that. It was great and they all seemed to be having a great, great time back together.
 
For me, RATM's lyrics are better today than when I was young. I'm much further left and interested in politics.

Lulzwagon said:
Yeah its crazy how relevant RATM's lyrics still are. Another extremely relevant 90s jam is Propagandhi's "The Only Good Facist is a Very Dead Facist". The lyrics still feel like they apply today:

"Just what exactly are the great historical accomplishments
Of your race that make you proud to be white?
Capitalism? Slavery? Genocide? Sitcoms?
This is your fucking white history, my friend.
So why don't we start making a history worth being proud of
And start fighting the real fucking enemy? "
Click to expand...

Holy shit I haven't thought about his band in 15+ years.
 
My favorite Rage lyrics are from Ashes in the Fall.

Ain't it funny how the factory doors close
Round the time that the school doors close
Round the time that the doors of the jail cells
Open up to greet you like the reaper

Fucking truth bombs!
 
Shoutout to 90s Ramones lyrics becoming more relevant the older I get.

I got a lot to say
I got a lot to say
I got a lot to say
I got a lot to say

I can't remember now
I can't remember now
I can't remember now
I can't remember now
 
Fenderputty said:
Holy shit I haven't thought about his band in 15+ years.
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Shit dude, you're missing out. Around the year 2000 they got a new bassist and randomly went from being an alright punk band to being an epic prog/thrash/hardcore band that is unlike anything else out there. Basically Rush mixed with Slayer. Their last two albums (Supporting Caste and Failed States) are ridiculously badass and will blow your mind if you haven't listened since the 90s.
 
I keep hoping the Republican nominee will pick Sleep Now in the Fire as their anthem. It would be so appropriate.
 
Maria is my 1A song on BOLA and Mic Check is my 1B. Maria is probably their most underrated song ever and in my opinion has the best lyrics Zack ever wrote. It's crazy good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rR4Nqhtz5xk

The sun ablaze as Maria's foot
Touches the surface of sand
On northern land
As human contraband


That's just how the song starts, I mean are you kidding me.
 
There's a lot of bands whose lyrics sound better than they read. Rage is definitely one of them.

But I've always liked Zack in an "awww" kind of way. Tom Morello is the one I can't stand, he seems so smug about everything except his guitar playing.

Thread reminds me of a Thursday stab at politics regarding native americans:
Write these words back down inside
We have burned their villages and all the people in them died
We adopt their customs and everything they say we steal
All the dreams they had we kill
Still we all sleep sound tonight
Is this what you wanted to hear?
We erased all their images and dance
And replaced them with borders and flags
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bit on the nose but i like the last two lines
 
Joe said:
Maria is my 1A song on BOLA and Mic Check is my 1B. Maria is probably their most underrated song ever and in my opinion has the best lyrics Zack ever wrote. It's crazy good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rR4Nqhtz5xk

The sun ablaze as Maria's foot
Touches the surface of sand
On northern land
As human contraband


That's just how the song starts, I mean are you kidding me.
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And a top-3 Tom Morello solo to boot. Total scorcher.

BTW I'm on a total Rage kick right now, bumping Evil Empire on my way to work and wearing a ratty grey version of this shirt. Being bit of an edgelord.

00347TST01.jpg
 
From Battle of Los Angeles in 1999 on prison privatization and targeting black people

New Millennium Homes
Cover tha spread sheets
Tha Dow Jones skyin'
Tha cell block live stock
Tha bodies they buyin'
Old south order
New northern horizon


Just realizing now that "new millenium homes" are prisons


From Evil Empire in 1996

Roll Right
Here comes the hands on the leashes
The cross, the capital, the pale families, the fear and the mouthpieces
The single sista lynch
The cell doors crash
And the master's drums echo, echo, echo, echo, echo, echo


The single sista lynch = locking up black men leaving them as the sole parent in the home.

Such good lyrics, it's crazy.
 
Love the music, but I don't rate Zack particularly highly as a lyricist or rapper. RATM songs seemed much more intelligent when I was at school.
 
I enjoyed their music in high school, but I became jaded about the sincerity of their revolutionary message when I realized that they were a major label band.
 
I should probably listen to Rage Against the Machine and The Battle of Los Angeles again. Two of my favorite albums growing up.
 
So glad I was able to see them live back on the Battle for LA tour. Probably still one of the best live shows i've been too. The energy was just insane.

I really wish they would come back and throw down the gauntlet one more time.
 
Joe said:
xALoZpr.gif


Nailed it.
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Considering how many Republican candidates perpetually use popular artists' songs without their permission and in direct contradiction to many of those artists' individual political views, I've long since wondered if RATM would even mind if any of the Republicans used Sleep Now in the Fire at one of their rallies, since it perfectly encapsulates that party's philosophy.

RATM songs also tend to be strangely prescient. I remember listening to Testify in 2003, and it was like, yeah, Baghdad is burning. Again.

Also, the original video for anyone who hasn't seen it. It complements Matt Taibi's recent Rolling Stone piece quite well.
 
Quixzlizx said:
I enjoyed their music in high school, but I became jaded about the sincerity of their revolutionary message when I realized that they were a major label band.
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I think that's a fair criticism but I the counterpoint that they wanted their message to be distributed on a massive wide-scale is a fair point too. They could have went the independent route but there's a reason their music, and by connection their "radical" political message, is still on the outer fringes of mainstream popularity - because they signed to a major label. Political bands that were independent have more credibility but they are completely irrelevant and almost completely forgotten.

While signed to Sony they had full and total creative control over what they released.

Even though they were incredibly popular during their heyday they left A LOT of money on table. They released only three (4 if you consider the covers album) original albums and only performed about 350-450 shows (I forget the exact number) during their initial 9 year run. That is another indication to me personally that the message, through the sale of CDs, and not money was the main (but also not only) driving point of the band.

Also, throughout their time together they had a long track record of playing free shows for benefits, playing single shows and festivals for fundraising efforts, showing up to rallies/protests/strikes to increase exposure, and even donating sizable percentages of entire tours to charities.

Full disclosure: Although I no longer have an emotional attachment to the band, I was a complete fanboy as a kid.
 
Zach is dope, but man, the 90's is not very long ago. I'd argue most lyrics from the '90s are still mostly relevant today. You want your mind blown, go listen to some Woody Guthrie records.
 
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