Music for Objectivists?
Posted by davidmcnab 9 years, 9 months ago to Culture
One of the greatest bonding and energising agents for a culture is its music. However, I'm scratching my head to think of music in the 20-21st centure popular repertoire that promotes Objectivist identity, at an intellectual, emotional or spiritual level.
So much of the pop repertoire is taken up by X wants to mate with Y, X is overjoyed at being with Y, X is pissed off an leaving Y, X got left by Y and is feeling blue, X feels ripped off by Y, etc. How many songs are there which glorify the individual human spirit?
One very vague possbility I can think of is Bob Marley's classic Get Up, Stand Up, whose lyrics exort people to give up their afterworldly dreams and focus on bettering themselves here on Earth.
Can anyone suggest any songs? Yeah, there's a ton of great classical music which promotes the good feeling, but what about the contemporary genres? Surely there's gotta be some good folk, pop, metal, reggae, techno etc pieces which put across those beautiful lifted liberated feelings.
So much of the pop repertoire is taken up by X wants to mate with Y, X is overjoyed at being with Y, X is pissed off an leaving Y, X got left by Y and is feeling blue, X feels ripped off by Y, etc. How many songs are there which glorify the individual human spirit?
One very vague possbility I can think of is Bob Marley's classic Get Up, Stand Up, whose lyrics exort people to give up their afterworldly dreams and focus on bettering themselves here on Earth.
Can anyone suggest any songs? Yeah, there's a ton of great classical music which promotes the good feeling, but what about the contemporary genres? Surely there's gotta be some good folk, pop, metal, reggae, techno etc pieces which put across those beautiful lifted liberated feelings.
Previous comments...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wDmChGZ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pplWosC_...
Dear Father
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8clrOQ_6...
"Don't Think... Feel"?
is the title of his 1976 song.
Not at all Galt's advice to Dagny on how to make a decision, but I still hear it in my head.
How to reconcile the contradiction? Try 'to every thing there is a season'.
You would know the source of that, apart from the Seekers song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8KQmps-...
What about
"Think For Yourself" by The Beatles?
1.Yes - Close to the Edge
2.Yes - Going for the One
3.Genesis - Selling England by the Pound
4.Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Brain Salad Surgery
5.Iron Maiden - Powerslave
6.Rush - Signals
7.Motorhead - Bastards
8.Black Sabbath - Never Say Die
9.Asia - Alpha
10.Fates Warning - Awaken the Guardian
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HHtsyXT...
I also love classical music, I can't name any favorites, and I don't know of an modern artists or composers that I would recommend, one that pops into my head that is not really a part of any of these is Portis Head. Their music is amazing, different and very uplifting. It sings to every part of your body, and you simply cannot hold still. I also feel that way about Cajun music and big band music. I don't care who's around, if I here either of these, I'm dancing.
Jan
For uplifting, happy music, I could suggest plenty
of songs from Gilbert & Sullivan. There are also
drinking songs I like to listen to on a Clancy Broth-
ers record. (I think "Port Lairge" is the wildest dance tune I have ever heard). My favorite song
of all is "La Marseillaise". (Not that I am all that
fond of France or its politics, but that is one
h--l of a tune).
Carl Nielsen - Symphony No. 3, Sinfonia Espansiva
thirty-seven minutes and twenty-three seconds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPB8Wv05...
II.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer [1970]
thirty-nine minutes and twelve seconds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1Robezb...
III.
Alan Parsons Project, I Robot [1977]
forty minutes and fifty-eight seconds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RrjhZY0...
Bonus Track: Barbie Girl
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyhrYis5...
After that its more like Francisco's song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04176XP9...
It is in turn inspired by hang gliding over a valley in Colorado. Simple lyrics:
Oh, kiss the mountain air we breathe
Good-bye it's time to fly.
Sparrow climb, the air is thinner,
Open wings cast this valley in the shade.
The real inspiration in the song is Mikey Houser's lead guitar - from an amazing performer who left us too young back in 2002. And not as one of these self inflicted types.
But how 'bout Steppenwolf's Monster?
"2112" and "Something for Nothing" from 2112. "With acknowledgment to the genius of Ayn Rand" appearing at the top of the lyrics lets everybody know where he's coming from. 2112 is Anthem set to music. I think this is why critics always hated them.
"The Trees" off of Hemispheres.
"Free Will" and "The Spirit of Radio" from Permanent Waves.
"The Camera Eye" from Moving Pictures.
"Losing It" and "Countdown" from Signals.
Neal Peart was very much influenced by Ayn Rand's ideas and linguistic style up through Signals. Less so in all that follows, but their music and lyrics remain intelligent at all times.