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Song of the Moment: White RiotNot too chicken to try it anymore . . . * Song: White Riot Artist: The Clash Recorded: February 1977 Released: March 1977 Format: 7" B-Side: 1977 Length: 1:58 Wikipedia: Lyrically, the song is about class economics and race and thus proved controversial: some people thought it was advocating a kind of race war. Rather, lyricist Joe Strummer was trying to appeal to white youths to find a worthy cause to riot, as he felt blacks in the UK already had. It contains a positive message in the lines "Are you taking over / Or are you taking orders? / Are you going backwards / Or are you going forwards?" The song was written after Joe Strummer and bassist Paul Simonon were involved in the riots at the Notting Hill Carnival of 1976. * "White Riot" is considered a classic in The Clash canon, although as the band matured, Mick Jones would at times refuse to play it, considering it crude and musically inept. Over two decades later, Joe Strummer would perform it with his band the Mescaleros. * Songfacts: This is inspired by the Notting Hill riots. On August 30, 1976, black youths clashed with Police at a carnival in the English town. Clash members Joe Strummer, Paul Simonon, and their manager Bernie Rhodes were there and got caught up in the riots, taking a stand against the police. Strummer felt that young white people should express their outrage over oppressive government just as blacks were, through direct action and protest. * The album wasn't released in the US until 1979. Over 100,000 copies were sold there as an import in 1977. * Clash members Mick Jones and Joe Strummer played this together for the last time in November, 2002. Jones was in the audience for one of Strummer's solo shows and came onstage to join him. Strummer died of a heart attack a month later. * Lyrics: White riot - I wanna riot Black people gotta lot a problems An' everybody's doing White riot - I wanna riot All the power's in the hands Everybody's doing White riot - I wanna riot Are you taking over * The original single: * Rage Against The Machine cover live in London, 2010: - Previously in Song of the Moment: - See also: - And From The Beachwood Occupation Affairs Desk: * Occupying The Hyatt; Trashing Bank Of America * Why No One Believes The Banks * RT's Superior Cable News Coverage Continues With Its 'Occupy Wall Street' Reportage * The Weekend in Occupy Chicago (October 17, 2011) * Just How Much Can the State Restrict Peaceful Protest * Blue Ribbon Glee Club Joins The Occupation * The Week in Occupy Chicago (Oct. 21, 2011) * The Weekend in Occupy Chicago (Oct. 24, 2011) * Jimmy Fallon (& Friends) For The 1% * Today In Occupy Chicago (Oct. 26, 2011) * Occupation Diary: The Horse, Keith Sweat And Cell 72 * The Week in Occupy Chicago (Oct. 28, 2011) * Wall Street to Occupy Chicago: Drop Dead - Posted on November 3, 2011 |
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