Who am I? Who cares? Good questions. It's my site so I'm going to tap into Fridays once in awhile by telling you more about who I am - via a "Stuff I Like" series. Nothing too serious, just exploring the micro-niche that resides at the base of all of our lives. Potshots encouraged in the comments.
"The movie ran through me
The glamour subdue me
The tabloid untie me
I'm empty please fill me
Mister anchor assure me
That Baghdad is burning
Your voice it is so soothing"
It's true. If you see a White Sequoia rolling down Rodeo
Lakeshore Drive in Birmingham and hear a big booming bass, it's probably not Josh Groban. It's Rage Against the Machine.
And, it's me driving. Strange beats for a white guy VP of HR who lives in a county that votes 90% Republican?
Why's it strange? For starters, I can't post the lyrics I'd like to share because they focus on:
-how "the man" (my words, not theirs) keeps us down (they say it a little stronger)..
-a general distaste/hatred for law enforcement (oops, my wife's a career prosecutor)..
-the need for revolution and an overwhelming respect for socialist icons (I have a tshirt on my wall that reads "Capitalist")...
But I digress.. The reason I love Rage is because regardless of the lyrics, the riffs are golden and the lyrics tell you to get off your *$$ and challenge the status quo. You don't like something? Things are feeling lame? Mommy didn't love you?
Stop whining and do something about it. Call it for what it is - something that sucks - then do something about it. Don't be a victim. Here's a thought - start outworking someone to create something that makes it better.
And if you start a revolution and happened to get capped.. Well, that's just the cost of doing business. There's always someone with a PistolGrip Pump on their lap at all times.
But at least you weren't a victim. Testify.
(note - one of the most underrated CDs of all time is the RATM CD of covers, where they feature remakes of Eric B and Rakim's "Microphone Fiend" and Bob Dylan's "Maggie's Farm")
"I ain't gonna work on Maggie's farm no more.
No, I ain't gonna work on Maggie's farm no more
Well, I wake up in the morning
Fold my hands and pray for rain.
I got a head full of ideas
That are drivin' me insane
It's a shame
the way she makes me
scrub the floor"
Word. How can good not come out of RATM covering that? Happy Friday.
"Your anger is a gift..."
I love RATM. If they don't get your blood pumping, I don't know what will. One of the things I like most about them is the depth of Zack's lyrics. I once ushered Ward Churchill around my college campus (now there is a controversial guy...) and we started talking about RATM. Anyway, Churchill mentioned that Zack was one of the most well read people he knew.
That said - I believe people need to accept things or work to change them, but stop wasting time complaining.
Posted by: Kent | January 24, 2010 at 10:38 AM
F-U I won't do what you tell me.
Kris, I've enjoyed your posts for the past few months. We share a similar demographic, at least in vehicle type. I'm a seasoned HR consultant who has loved RATM since the beginning (I think our careers started around the same time). I've used the spirit shared in their music to say or do the Right thing when it needed to be said or done. Thanks for pointing it out!
Posted by: Kerry Leidich | January 25, 2010 at 12:22 AM