Music for Objectivists?

Posted by davidmcnab 9 years, 2 months ago to Culture
82 comments | Share | Best of... | Flag

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.

All Comments

  • Posted by MikeWi 9 years, 2 months ago
    Here's my ten favorite CD's. Maybe you'll like them.

    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
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by RTM2301 9 years, 2 months ago
    One song that I just realized describes the government perfectly: Mean Green Mother From Outer Space by Levi Stubbs.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by davidmcnab 9 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    You've backed yourself with a good first-hand reference, so your edit should be less prone to tampering.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by CircuitGuy 9 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    If so, I will argue b/c the same source they site saying someone writing for the NME accused them of being Nazi sympathizers says that both the lead singer saying he was offended by the suggestion because his parents were Nazi concentraction camp survivors.

    I know that doesn't mean they'll do the right thing. Fortunately no one has touched it so far.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by davidmcnab 9 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Might be wise to keep an eye on that article. Wikipedia crawls with dogmatic die-hards who will try to keep reverting your changes out.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by CircuitGuy 9 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Unfortunately I did not re-work the whole article. I did add the line of text saying they were completley wrong to associate the band and AR with Nazis.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by Zero 9 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Heyyyy, CG, nicely done.

    Did you do the whole re-work? I'd swear when I saw it yesterday they we're trying to say it was based on another work - completely short-shifting AR.

    I didn't make proper note of it because I was so PO'd.

    The only thing missing now is the undeniable fact that all three members of the band are virtuoso's of their instruments.

    I don't suppose they consider themselves OBJ's but they are kindred spirits to be sure.

    Thank you, CG. I really needed to see something set right.

    Way too many disappointments these days.
    So few victories against the encroaching dark.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by JoleneMartens1982 9 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Xthinker88 rod Stuart its my life should be our theme song for the gulch, as we land in the gulch we here it playing in the distance!
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by JoleneMartens1982 9 years, 2 months ago
    OK, not my kind of music, but I really like Katy Perry, she sends a pretty decent message in most of her music. I listen to country and heavy metal. The rock that I listen to is mostly political like Slipknot, Stone Sour, and Marilyn Manson. But I also like a lot of 90s alternative, a lot of the old grunge metal bands like Nirvana had a great message they just didn't follow it. I love all Bob Marley! And the country I listen to is mostly 80s and 90s also. I think Miranda Lambert and Eric Church are uplifting and liberating artist in the now.
    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.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by Lucky 9 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    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.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by eddieh 9 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I agree a lot of people think she's really stuck up, but that song is about doing something for yourself and not giving a crap what everyone is saying. No blow back from me.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ jlc 9 years, 2 months ago
    I'll stick with classical music.

    Jan
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by CircuitGuy 9 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I just edited the Wikipedia article to note the lead singer's parents survived a Nazi concentration camp. I thought that would be better than just removing it b/c it's factually correct that the NME did make baseless insinuations.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by Zero 9 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    OMG! They've stolen it!

    Nazi'ism because of AR!
    (And if I started shooting the lousy liars I'D be the bad guy!)

    Everybody knows 2112 was based on Anthem. Side 1 is straight from the plot. They even CREDITED her.

    Oh, OH! OHHHH!
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by Matsumoto 9 years, 2 months ago
    MUSE "The Resistance" Album. It was inspired by George Orwell's "1984".
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by LibertyBelle 9 years, 2 months ago
    Personally, I don't care for pop music as a whole.
    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).
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by freedomforall 9 years, 2 months ago
    Snowden's Song
    http://liberty.me/create-music/snowdens-...
    Snowden bringing truth to light
    Exposing dark lies for us to see
    All our lives
    We’ve been told we’re living in
    The land of the free

    Snowden bringing truth to light
    Exposing the State’s hypocrisy
    Land of spies
    Will you stand and fight
    For your liberty?

    Thank you Ed
    Thank you Ed
    For risking your life to open our eyes
    Reply | Permalink  

  • Comment hidden. Undo