music and politics

On Dutch national radio 1 I hear an Iranian woman talking about the murdering regime in her country. This afternoon (saturday december 10, 2022) apparently there is a demonstration in front of the International Court of Justice in The Hague. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi and before that the incredible traditional music from Iran/Persia got me emotionally involved with what’s at stake there.

And here. Read this excellent interview (2005) with Marjane Satrapi. “The secular people, we have no country. We the people — all the secular people who are looking for freedom — we have to keep together. We are international, as they” — the fanatics of all religions — “are international.”

The connection Satrapi sees between sensuality and (private) rebellion makes me think of a very good observation a friend and connaisseur of all that is Latin America once made when we were talking about one of our favourite Cuban bands: Los Van Van. My Spanish language skills never went further than one crash course I once did in Salamanca (september 2001, yes, I saw the Twin Towers tumblin’ doun while staying over in a student’s home, Salamanca, Spain). But my friend explained that all the sexually charged lyrics in the body of work of Los Van Van (check out their oeuvre, it’s immens and intense) actually holds a poignant political stance towards the powers that be. To discuss Los Van Van and politics – I won’t go into that further, although I do remember one Los Van Van performance in Miami which turned out into something of a riot, with activists throwing bricks at the audience since they were dancing to a ‘Castro band’. Ooofff.

I’m digressing here. When I heard the Iranian lady break on Dutch national radio, I suddenly thought: we here in the free west are working on nonsense. Important nonsense, but nonsense nonetheless.

One more association, if I may: Michael Franti once wrote this incredible lyric, music by the great jazz guitarist Charlie Hunter. I saw them in De Effenaar Eindhoven performing with The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy back in the day and that is a Satrapi moment in my life, ooff!

If ever I would stop thinking about music and politics
I would tell you that sometimes it’s easier to desire
and pursue the attention and admiration of 100 strangers
than it is to accept the love and loyalty
of those closest to me
And I would tell you that sometimes
I prefer to look at myself
through someone else’s eyes
Eyes that aren’t clouded with the tears of knowing
what an asshole I can be, as yours are.
If ever I would stop thinking about music and politics
I might be able to listen in silence to your concerns
rather than hearing everything as an accusation
or an indictment against me
I would tell you that sometimes
I use sex to avoid communication
it’s the best escape when we’re down on our luck
But I can express more emotions than laughter, anger, and let’s fuck
If ever I would stop thinking about music and politics
If ever I would stop thinking about music and politics
If ever I would stop thinking about music and politics
If ever I would stop thinking about music and politics
If ever I would stop thinking about music and politics
I would tell you that I pooped in my own dog dish
And sometimes I would rather face not eating
than face licking it clean
And admitting when I’m selfish
And I’d tell you that I’m suffering
from the worst type of loneliness
The loneliness of being misunderstood,
or more poignantly
the loneliness of being afraid
to allow myself to be understood
If ever I would stop thinking about music and politics
I would tell you that the personal revolution
is far more difficult
and is the first step in any revolution
If ever I would stop thinking about music and politics
If ever I would stop thinking about music and politics
If ever I would stop thinking about music and politics
If ever I would stop thinking about music and politics
I would tell you that music is the expression of emotion
And that politics is merely the decoy of perception.

Songwriters: Michael Franti / Sidney Charlie Hunter
© Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc