Does Punk Rock matter anymore? Does the message mean anything?
The Clash's "London Calling" is the theme song of the 2012 Olympics (taking place in, duh, London). As much as I would love to see the River Thames overrun it's banks and drown the entire event (in tribute to the lyrics), I am a bit disgusted by the commercialization of The Clash. It's not the first time a Clash tune has been utilized as a "jingle" ("Should I Stay Or Should I go" was used for a jeans commercial several years ago). However, "London Calling" is such an overtly apocalyptic song, it's amazing that it's being co-opted.
On the other hand, if the estate of Joe Strummer and Jones, Simonon, Headon can make some $$$ for their pensions, isn't it all the better? I remember years ago hearing The Buzzcocks "Everybody's Happy Nowadays" being used for a car advert, and feeling good that the band was profit. And lordy knows The Ramones "Blitzkrieg Bop" has become a staple at ballgames and in ads.
But "London Calling"???? Jeez...
"And I believe in this and it's been tested by research/ He who fucks nuns will later join the church"
(The Clash- "Death Or Glory")
"They think it's funny/Turning rebellion into money"
(The Clash - "White Man In Hammersmith Palais")
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"Is my cock big enough/Is my brain small enough/For You/To make me/A star/Give me a toot/And I'll sell you my soul/Pull my strings and I'll go far--My Payola!!"
I don't know, I was pretty pissed with Lydon a few years back (butter commercials, reunion tour, celebrity shows, etc), and I hate to see one of my heroes, Henry Rollins, waxing poetic on the musical charms of Hansen on those VH1 countdowns, but whatever. It seems to me that almost everyone sells out eventually. You're right though, London Calling is a weird choice for the Olympics.
Might as well have picked London's Burning...
When we were living in London a couple years ago, local papers - many quite reactionary - would run these meaningless "Chose Your Favourite London Song!" polls. Invariably, it'd be "London Calling" by The Clash vying with "Waterloo Sunset" by The Kinks for the top slot (though sometimes "Up The Junction" by Squeeze would chart too). All songs that saw their original meanings totally lost on the modern world.
bliztkrieg bop is used in hockey games!
I tried to post this from the flying J truck stop in Ripon but my phone didn't want to. Anyhow
One time I congratulated Dave Greg from DOA for being true to the music rather than obsessing over making it big. He looked at me funny and said, "We want to make it bit. Shit, everyone who picks up a guitar thinks about making it big. Only difference is that we want to do it on our terms."
The Clash became big rock stars. Last I heard, Shithead still has to drive a cab part time.
A little while ago, someone congratulated me for never selling out. I looked at him funny and said, "There have been several occasions when I was perfectly willing to sell out. Lucky for me, nobody was buying. "
I'm not happy about the Olympics and the Clashes but lately, old punks are sounding a lot like old hippies. I was talking to my old friend, Kimmie, recently, you know, the one who knew Iggy and Ron Asheton in '73 in Ann Arbor and The Ramones and Debby Harry in '76 in Manhattan. She was talking about getting older and making new friends. She said, "Why does everybody want to talk about the glory days? I'm sick of talking about the fucking glory days. Why aren't any of these people doing anything now?"
Personally, I'm fond of my fond memories but, you know, that was then...
Uncle E- Yeah- The Dead Kennedys- you are probably aware of the lawsuit that Jello initiated to prevent the DK's songs from being used for commericals.
Styreneboy- Agreed! Or how about the Anti Nowhere's version of "Streets Of London"!
Pig State- Those "lists" are an easy way for papers and mags to drum up business- Entertainment Weekly here in the USA seems to do a "50 best movies" or 100 biggest sluts"issue every week.
Jerm- Blitzkrieg Bop is de rigeuor at US sporting events. Johnny Ramone was a massive baseball (Yankees) fan and reportedly was thrilled that it had become a standard.
J- Dave Greg was correct, though I don't think he would have been that thrilled had "smash the state" or The Enemy" been co-opted for the Vancouver Olympics!
Armagideon Time (a great blog)- has as a quote:
The saddest day of your life isn't when you decide to sell out. The saddest day of your life is when you decide to sell out and nobody wants to buy. - Norman Spinrad, Bug Jack Barron
London Calling was a strange choice, considering the lyrics.
I'll admit that the Nike commercial for the Atlanta Olympics, the one that used 'Search & Destroy" by Iggy & the Stooges, was quite appropriate in it's use of the "look out honey, 'cos I'm using technology" line...
It always feels like something's been stolen when rock'n'roll is used as propaganda or to advertise stuff.
Nazz - great line about "Smash the State" and "The Enemy." Only reason such efforts were not co-opted by Vanoc is we still got ourselves a class war going here. The English, on the other hand, have all gone pussy.
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