Excellent songwriting and performance, classic folk vibe well executed, just pure soul coming through an instrument and a voice.
In regards to "the protest music theory", there is definitely something there, I think really great protest music comes from a deep passion for truth and freedom - when people are on the side of corporate greed and authoritarianism their motivations are more spurious and motivated by group think, not exactly a recipe for passionate and heartfelt artistic expression.
Not many people are going to be moved by an anthem to "fall in line and join the status quo".
I also caution myself not to fall prey to the same sorts of feelings. For example, I really started disliking people in general during covid. The compliance, the cowardice, the conformity, the bland acquiescence to everything the regime told people to believe, say, and do… I don't know that I feel hate, per se, but I do want to fight back my feelings of distaste too.
The enemy of our soul wants to divide us into camps of this or that. Truth is divided we fall and get conquered. United we can stand. So let’s stand together. Whatever our preferences are That doesn’t mean compromise of our faith etc It means choosing to see the best in others and living out what we say we believe in. Choosing to unite
At first blush, what you say is absolutely true. There is strength in numbers.
On the other hand, the ultra-social aspect of human nature can also lead to collectivism and the squelching of the individual human person. And to our pathological tendency to impose one-size-fits-all solutions on large groups of people in large areas.
So I agree that we need to unite. But it should be voluntary, and based on a simple, universal principle, rather than attempting to creating a totalizing unity.
Yes, We are different individuals with unique God given talents and abilities. When we know Him and His word , He makes us and shapes us to become our best versions of what we’re created to be. We are with purpose. When we can rest in that, we don’t let others thoughts sway us from what we know is true. And we can truly appreciate people Maybe that sounds Pollyanna ish 😊 that’s how it endeavor to live
That does not sound Pollyannaish to me. Everyone has something to offer. Everyone has something to teach. And we all have flaws and difficulties. So if we remember all of these things about ourselves AND about each other, we end up with more understanding and peace.
Folk was always supposed to be simple truth. It turns out that some truth ain’t so simple. Some may see the moon landing as too red pilled a conversation for the truth sipping of the last 60 years of the age of Pisces. I’d suggest, from my own experience of the cognitive dissonance of complete narrative breakdown, that inclusivity becomes completely moot when drinking from the fire hose of the age of Aquarius. These are different days. Just sayin’. Great song.
Well and truly said, Todd. The "cognitive dissonance of complete narrative breakdown" is a great phrase.
I think this has forced us all the question many things. Some are so disillusioned that everything is on the chopping block. This I think explains why so many more are flat Earthers (for example) recently. "If they lied to us about _______, what HAVEN'T they lied about?"
This is causing all of us to question things more, and some people to question everything. And I cut people slack for wherever they go during this process. Everyone has their lines.
I think there is really good reason to be skeptical of the moon landings narrative, for example. But I don't think that space itself is fake, or that planets are flat, or any of that. Other people are drawing their lines differently, and that is fine.
I feel soft-hearted to all of it, because we have all had the rug of reality yanked, and there is clearly a lot of shady, weird, statistically extreme, genuinely "conspiratorial" crap going on. In that context, a song that starts with a lyric about something the singer feels he might have been lied to about—even if I disagree, I feel emotional sympathy with it.
Most of us, here, have found ourselves smacked in the face by real reality in the last few years. We’ve become open-minded to the possibilities. Some of our brains fell out… Others are still grasping with all their might to what we’ve known as “normal”. I feel for them too. Disharmony is ugly. Glad to know that you’ll be there for them too. You’re a sweet soul, here at this time for a purpose. We’re all as one.
That song and Organized Crime are fantastic and these songs, among others, are a great in route or even a complementary medium for the youth to be introduced to these ideas.
Forgive me if you've already seen and/or shared this one. But you reminded me of this song I loved to play during the crazy lockdowns. We Are the 99% song https://youtu.be/dybBUILAlyI
I am glad to hear I am sharing something new with you and that you enjoyed it. There are many versions (some with easier to understand lyrics than others).
No idea about their politics but I thought Nickleback's 'Edge of a Revolution' was pertinent during the scamdemic - the lyrics sounded current when I was on demos in London.
Speaking of that... I wrote four song's worth of lyrics and published them, hoping someOne(s) would take them and do marvelous things. Only One took it up to create something and sadly... Used AI. Not what I was hoping for, but... It wasn't too bad, so I went ahead and created a vid from it.
Likely. I see a trend for appreciation of Human created stuff. And when social currency is what We are moved by, that appreciation will be lapped right up.
You also have to keep in mind that the powers that be are aware of human psychology and when they decide to support a movement they pull lots of attractive people into it.
They've always done this, even way back when they were hiring stunning bards to sing songs about their triumphs.
Very thought-provoking, Chris. "The Hills We Die On," is, in my opinion, a good example of what's WRONG with most of the music and artwork I see from the right. It's preachy, needlessly controversial, and exclusionary.
Brendan wanted an example of a strongly-held institutional lie ... so he picked the moon landing?? Is that the way to invite people into an open-minded conversation about the issues that affect us today? Does it speak to the systemic corruption and societal trends that are ruining our lives? Or does it just come across as some kind of tinfoil-hat purity test?
Here's the thing: there's always a contingent within every subculture that wants it to stay fringe. In the case of the modern "liberty movement," that's the "red pill" cohort that is more focused on conspiratorial thinking than on confronting the open, obvious, and vital issues related to government, power, culture, and media today. When Joe Biden gives George Soros the Presidential Medal of Freedom, do you really have to go back to the JFK assassination (a perennial favorite) to speculate about back-channel influence on the government?
I'm not saying it's easy to do good music. Even legendary artists like Van Morrison and Eric Clapton faltered when they tried to do protest music during the COVID era. Still, though, I do like the music video for Clapton's "This Has Gotta Stop." It's on the right track, in my opinion.
But Daniel's song does not have to be an anthem for everyone in a whole movement. It can just be him expressing himself, and speaking to those people in the movement to whom his message speaks. It's a big tent, or it oughta be.
What is interesting to me is that I found it the opposite of preachy. Now Laurence Fox's "The Distance" (https://christophercook.substack.com/p/freedommusicfriday-the-distance), which I really like, does strike me as more preachy. "For the wrong to rule, the good must stand idly by." That seems way more in my face than Daniel's song. Like I say, though, I still like it.
I like the Clapton song too. I am listening to it as I type. But if I had to pick between the two, I thin k I would go for Daniel's. It strikes me as more organic. But this Clapton one is cool too. There's room for them all!
I am 100% in favor of people writing and singing their truth, in whatever way makes sense to them. As you say, there's room for everyone. My objection is more to your using this as an example of good protest music.
In my view, a good protest song is one that meets a general listener where he or she is, and then gives them an "a-ha" or a "I get that" moment that brings them closer to your worldview. Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" and Leonard Cohen's "Everybody Knows" are great protest songs, because they do that. Edwin Starr's "War (what is it good for)" is not quite as good lyrically (it is very preachy), BUT the music is so good, it still works well.
What I'm seeing right now is music that more or less preaches to the choir. Tom MacDonald has built a huge audience among young, white men and boys by speaking to the issues that confront them, but I don't see his music helping women or non-white people feel interested in listening to what he has to say.
It's a big topic, and I can't claim to have all the answers. At the end of the day, I do agree with you that it's great to see people starting to write songs that reflect a non-mainstream point of view. You gotta start somewhere!
Yes, at very least, we can take a you-gotta-start-somewhere outlook. I think this process is leaving its infancy and heading towards its toddlerhood—so, still at the beginning, with a long way to go. Some early forays are going to be more niche, or more preachy.
That also happens with "conservative" movies. It is never good to set out to make a message-movie. The plot should be the point; the message is just organic subtext. Anything else feels contrived. But early attempts did just that, because the movie makers were trying to catch up from decades of leftist dominance in a single movie. That can't be done. So we have to be patient and do the work.
Excellent songwriting and performance, classic folk vibe well executed, just pure soul coming through an instrument and a voice.
In regards to "the protest music theory", there is definitely something there, I think really great protest music comes from a deep passion for truth and freedom - when people are on the side of corporate greed and authoritarianism their motivations are more spurious and motivated by group think, not exactly a recipe for passionate and heartfelt artistic expression.
Not many people are going to be moved by an anthem to "fall in line and join the status quo".
wel and rightly said.
So so true, as far as beauty just look at the left loons on MSNBC or the VIEW. The hate erodes you from within.
I really think that's true.
I also caution myself not to fall prey to the same sorts of feelings. For example, I really started disliking people in general during covid. The compliance, the cowardice, the conformity, the bland acquiescence to everything the regime told people to believe, say, and do… I don't know that I feel hate, per se, but I do want to fight back my feelings of distaste too.
The enemy of our soul wants to divide us into camps of this or that. Truth is divided we fall and get conquered. United we can stand. So let’s stand together. Whatever our preferences are That doesn’t mean compromise of our faith etc It means choosing to see the best in others and living out what we say we believe in. Choosing to unite
This is a very interesting topic.
At first blush, what you say is absolutely true. There is strength in numbers.
On the other hand, the ultra-social aspect of human nature can also lead to collectivism and the squelching of the individual human person. And to our pathological tendency to impose one-size-fits-all solutions on large groups of people in large areas.
So I agree that we need to unite. But it should be voluntary, and based on a simple, universal principle, rather than attempting to creating a totalizing unity.
Do you know what I mean?
Yes, We are different individuals with unique God given talents and abilities. When we know Him and His word , He makes us and shapes us to become our best versions of what we’re created to be. We are with purpose. When we can rest in that, we don’t let others thoughts sway us from what we know is true. And we can truly appreciate people Maybe that sounds Pollyanna ish 😊 that’s how it endeavor to live
That does not sound Pollyannaish to me. Everyone has something to offer. Everyone has something to teach. And we all have flaws and difficulties. So if we remember all of these things about ourselves AND about each other, we end up with more understanding and peace.
Folk was always supposed to be simple truth. It turns out that some truth ain’t so simple. Some may see the moon landing as too red pilled a conversation for the truth sipping of the last 60 years of the age of Pisces. I’d suggest, from my own experience of the cognitive dissonance of complete narrative breakdown, that inclusivity becomes completely moot when drinking from the fire hose of the age of Aquarius. These are different days. Just sayin’. Great song.
Well and truly said, Todd. The "cognitive dissonance of complete narrative breakdown" is a great phrase.
I think this has forced us all the question many things. Some are so disillusioned that everything is on the chopping block. This I think explains why so many more are flat Earthers (for example) recently. "If they lied to us about _______, what HAVEN'T they lied about?"
This is causing all of us to question things more, and some people to question everything. And I cut people slack for wherever they go during this process. Everyone has their lines.
I think there is really good reason to be skeptical of the moon landings narrative, for example. But I don't think that space itself is fake, or that planets are flat, or any of that. Other people are drawing their lines differently, and that is fine.
I feel soft-hearted to all of it, because we have all had the rug of reality yanked, and there is clearly a lot of shady, weird, statistically extreme, genuinely "conspiratorial" crap going on. In that context, a song that starts with a lyric about something the singer feels he might have been lied to about—even if I disagree, I feel emotional sympathy with it.
Most of us, here, have found ourselves smacked in the face by real reality in the last few years. We’ve become open-minded to the possibilities. Some of our brains fell out… Others are still grasping with all their might to what we’ve known as “normal”. I feel for them too. Disharmony is ugly. Glad to know that you’ll be there for them too. You’re a sweet soul, here at this time for a purpose. We’re all as one.
You are too, Todd. We're trying to do our best in very strange circumstances!
Many Truths here!
🔥🙏🏻🔥
That song and Organized Crime are fantastic and these songs, among others, are a great in route or even a complementary medium for the youth to be introduced to these ideas.
Organized Crime?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDvt6fNgiG0
Listening now. This is great—thanks!!
Herr Cook
Thanks for sharing this wonderful song and band
Tusen Takk
Jon
Glad you liked it!
Forgive me if you've already seen and/or shared this one. But you reminded me of this song I loved to play during the crazy lockdowns. We Are the 99% song https://youtu.be/dybBUILAlyI
That's great! Gotta add that one to the list—thanks!
I am glad to hear I am sharing something new with you and that you enjoyed it. There are many versions (some with easier to understand lyrics than others).
I remember hearing the refrain at some point a while back, but I'd never heard the whole thing!
I prefer the live versions with others joining in, but this is a studio version with clearer lyrics. https://youtu.be/7MqdAPt4rT8?si=Ga4170wrwaOtLfWs
I will add it in; thanks!
No idea about their politics but I thought Nickleback's 'Edge of a Revolution' was pertinent during the scamdemic - the lyrics sounded current when I was on demos in London.
This has got to be a future #FreedomMusicFriday entry. Thanks, Bettina!
Speaking of that... I wrote four song's worth of lyrics and published them, hoping someOne(s) would take them and do marvelous things. Only One took it up to create something and sadly... Used AI. Not what I was hoping for, but... It wasn't too bad, so I went ahead and created a vid from it.
May We ALL create freedom-focused music!!!
Lyrics I Have Written (article): https://amaterasusolar.substack.com/p/lyrics-i-have-written
Just so the listener knows, My last name is pronounced "so-LAHR." Rhymes with "go CAR!!!" The AI did not know...
So You Wanna Make It Better? – AI Produced with Lyrics by Amaterasu Solar (article): https://amaterasusolar.substack.com/p/so-you-wanna-make-it-better-ai-produced
AI actually does surprisingly catchy music. That was pretty good.
Scary, though. In 100 years, will people bother mastering instruments anymore?
Likely. I see a trend for appreciation of Human created stuff. And when social currency is what We are moved by, that appreciation will be lapped right up.
🩶🤍🩶
You also have to keep in mind that the powers that be are aware of human psychology and when they decide to support a movement they pull lots of attractive people into it.
They've always done this, even way back when they were hiring stunning bards to sing songs about their triumphs.
Interesting point. I will think about it!
Very thought-provoking, Chris. "The Hills We Die On," is, in my opinion, a good example of what's WRONG with most of the music and artwork I see from the right. It's preachy, needlessly controversial, and exclusionary.
Brendan wanted an example of a strongly-held institutional lie ... so he picked the moon landing?? Is that the way to invite people into an open-minded conversation about the issues that affect us today? Does it speak to the systemic corruption and societal trends that are ruining our lives? Or does it just come across as some kind of tinfoil-hat purity test?
Here's the thing: there's always a contingent within every subculture that wants it to stay fringe. In the case of the modern "liberty movement," that's the "red pill" cohort that is more focused on conspiratorial thinking than on confronting the open, obvious, and vital issues related to government, power, culture, and media today. When Joe Biden gives George Soros the Presidential Medal of Freedom, do you really have to go back to the JFK assassination (a perennial favorite) to speculate about back-channel influence on the government?
I'm not saying it's easy to do good music. Even legendary artists like Van Morrison and Eric Clapton faltered when they tried to do protest music during the COVID era. Still, though, I do like the music video for Clapton's "This Has Gotta Stop." It's on the right track, in my opinion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNt4NIQ7FTA
I hear you.
But Daniel's song does not have to be an anthem for everyone in a whole movement. It can just be him expressing himself, and speaking to those people in the movement to whom his message speaks. It's a big tent, or it oughta be.
What is interesting to me is that I found it the opposite of preachy. Now Laurence Fox's "The Distance" (https://christophercook.substack.com/p/freedommusicfriday-the-distance), which I really like, does strike me as more preachy. "For the wrong to rule, the good must stand idly by." That seems way more in my face than Daniel's song. Like I say, though, I still like it.
I like the Clapton song too. I am listening to it as I type. But if I had to pick between the two, I thin k I would go for Daniel's. It strikes me as more organic. But this Clapton one is cool too. There's room for them all!
I am 100% in favor of people writing and singing their truth, in whatever way makes sense to them. As you say, there's room for everyone. My objection is more to your using this as an example of good protest music.
In my view, a good protest song is one that meets a general listener where he or she is, and then gives them an "a-ha" or a "I get that" moment that brings them closer to your worldview. Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" and Leonard Cohen's "Everybody Knows" are great protest songs, because they do that. Edwin Starr's "War (what is it good for)" is not quite as good lyrically (it is very preachy), BUT the music is so good, it still works well.
What I'm seeing right now is music that more or less preaches to the choir. Tom MacDonald has built a huge audience among young, white men and boys by speaking to the issues that confront them, but I don't see his music helping women or non-white people feel interested in listening to what he has to say.
It's a big topic, and I can't claim to have all the answers. At the end of the day, I do agree with you that it's great to see people starting to write songs that reflect a non-mainstream point of view. You gotta start somewhere!
Yes, at very least, we can take a you-gotta-start-somewhere outlook. I think this process is leaving its infancy and heading towards its toddlerhood—so, still at the beginning, with a long way to go. Some early forays are going to be more niche, or more preachy.
That also happens with "conservative" movies. It is never good to set out to make a message-movie. The plot should be the point; the message is just organic subtext. Anything else feels contrived. But early attempts did just that, because the movie makers were trying to catch up from decades of leftist dominance in a single movie. That can't be done. So we have to be patient and do the work.