Galt's Gulch

Music for Objectivists?

Posted by davidmcnab 9 years, 2 months ago to Culture
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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.

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  • Posted by $ jbrenner 9 years, 2 months ago
    We've had this discussion about a year ago, but I was just thinking about it yesterday.

    What about
    "Think For Yourself" by The Beatles?
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  • Posted by MikeWi 9 years, 1 month 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
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  • 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.
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  • 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).
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  • Posted by Flootus5 9 years, 2 months ago
    This particular topic is one where the merits can be definitely in the eye of the beholder. But as odd as it sounds I am inspired by Widespread Panic's "Surprise Valley" song.

    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.
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  • Posted by ohiocrossroads 9 years, 2 months ago
    Rush: Anthem off of Fly By Night. The title describes the influence of Rand.
    "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.
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