Tender - A Saturday night special

What a week it's been in London (and other cities). Many people have speculated on how such trouble breaks out and what is the route of it. I have my theories about it, but I happen to think a massive part of the problem is the fact many of the people involved are emotionally unable to relate to other people. They don't realise that when they trash shops and burn down houses, it hurts other people. As a musician who tries to keep up to date with what is happening in the wider music scene, I have to wonder just how rap music has affected the emotional intelligence of many of the young people. The themes of rap are centered on misogyny, sexism, homophobia and materialism. I quite like rap, but am truly amazed how little of it has any sort of a message at all beyond "Smack up me bitch, look at me trainers,like, look at me piece, yeah, I'm tha gangsta in th' hood"

Music can be all sorts of things. It reflects society. There is an argument that violent rap lyrics are an outlet for aggression. If nothing else, it does get young people to start thinking creatively. My hope is that as people develop their styles and technique, they also broaden their minds. What is unarguable is that some of the very best rappers such as Tupac met violent deaths, immersed in gang culture and many young people actually want to emulate that. I'm a fan of such punk songs as "Anarchy in the UK" by the Sex Pistols, "Hate and War" by the Clash and "Babylons burning" by the Ruts. These songs can be seen as quite nihilistic. Sid Vicious of the Pistols and Malcolm Owen of the Ruts both died in the most awful of circumstances. Topper Headon, drummer of the Clash was jailed for drug dealing. MI5 tracked many leading punks. Musical subversion really is nothing new. I see much of the nihilism of punk in rap, without the positive aspects of self reliance, self confidence, equality and independence. Punk spawned "rock against racism", the independent music scene, an independent publishing scene, a new breed of film director/producer and a group of highly politicised and intelligent leaders. Perhaps the greatest moment of all of these was Bob Geldolf and live aid, which saved hundreds of thousands of lives.

What we really need to see is young leaders emerging from the communities which have been most troubled. We need mentors to go in and identify them and help them. We need a few bad boys to to start sending out a few positive messages and doing something for their communities.

And just to remind you, edgy bands can produce beautiful music - here's Tender by Blur. I hope you have a peaceful and tender Saturday night

Are you scared by the truth?

"Jesus died for somebodies sins but not mine" This is how Patti Smith starts "Gloria" on her fantastic rendition of Van Morrison's Gloria. The clip above is taken from a gig in Germany in 1979. This is one of my favourite tracks. Now given that I'm a practising Roman Catholic, this may surprise you. How can I like a track which seems to contradict a basic tenent of faith? It's easy. It doesn't. Signing up to follow Jesus is a matter of choice. If Patti Smith decides that Jesus didn't die for her sins and she wants to keep them, thats her free will and her choice. It doesn't stop the song being a great track. What it does do is it challenges my own relationship with my behaviour. As such it can only be a positive thing. You see, I'm not scared of the truth.

One of the things which I can't get my head around as someone who believes in something after this life is "how interventionist is God". Does prayer actually work? Do only believers get miracles? When I was a kid, one of our teachers told me that the reason certain football teams were more successful than others, was because they had more Catholic supporters praying for them to win. He also explained that was why Brzil won the World cup and USSR hadn't. If you look at the list of World Cup winners, there is definately a tendency for teams from strongly Roman Catholic countries to do well. Sadly I can't buy into the theory that it's devine intervention (hand of God or not). Another teacher told me you should never pray for a football team to win, as you'd use up your allocation of miracles. That would seem extraordinarily cruel. Can you imagine having just prayed for Arsenal to score the winning penalty in the FA Cup final, and getting home to find your wife has cancer and you've used up your supply of miracles.

One of the blogs I follow is Blurred Clarity, by Daniel Hoffman-Gill. Daniel is an Athiest who regularly writes believer bashing blogs. I suspect that Daniels distate for religion is driven by the neocon fundamentalist Christian Right. I suspect that if most Christians were left wing proponents of Liberation Theology, who sought to right the worlds wrongs and used their faith as the driving force, he'd probably have less "bash the Christian" blogs and more gardening tips or whatever. I suspect he'd still be an athiest, but his well written pieces, which generally highlight the stupidity of the religious right, wouldn't find the fuel they need. I doubt that he'd have much inspiration if he had to write blogs about why William Wilberforce christian morality was a bad thing. I enjoy Daniels blogs because they are challenging, funny and well written.  He says many things I actually 100% agree with as well as a few things I disagree with. If I had the choice of having to change Daniel's view of the world or a "God hates Fags" American bible basher, I'd change the bible basher every time. You see I think they are revolting and obnoxious and do more damage than just about anything. I'm quite happy to indulge in rational debate. You can have that with Daniel, but sadly you can't with the neocon right.

Ultimately it all comes down to this question. Are you scared by the truth? The Catholic Church has had many problems and alienated many people because it has sought to hide the truth. A few examples - paedophile priests, The earth going around the sun, to name a few. I strongly believe in the power of the truth. I believe that my faith makes me a better person. I go to church to be reminded how lucky I am and to do my bit to fight injustice. Yes I do need reminding. It has made me a better person, thats why I persist with the institution for all it's faults. All I really want is a "better church". One that spends more time fighting injustice in the world and a bit less time indulging stupid neocons.

We started this blog with Patti Smith singing "Gloria". We'll end it with a clip of "Liars Beware" by Richard Hell and the Voidoids. Whenever I wonder about whether I should tell a few porkies to get on I listen to this track. Here's the lyrics to help you understand.


LIARS BEWARE
by Richard Hell and the Voidoids

Look out liars and you highlife scum
who gotta keep your victims poor and dumb--
Your motives and your methods are not disguised
by your silk, soap, sex, or your smiling lies.

Look out here
you pompous jerk
Look out here
I go berserk

Well I guess you put me in my place
but I won't forget your stupid face

They gave you power cuz they knew your needs--
soprano boys get talent when you shoot your seeds.
Well you laugh to hear what your best friends say--
Old man they laugh when you walk away.

Look out chief
ridiculous creep
Look out thief
you'll lose your teeth

Well you got power, now there's competition
and your blind side's turned to the boys with a mission.

You were sixty-five when you wiggled out--
your mind all twisted and your mom all shout.
I'm a man with his share of excess nice
but it can't be spared for drooling lice.

Look out jerk
you ancient slut
I can't endure
Your smirking smut

Well life is short so don't even try
to bother waving as we pass you by.