24 June, 2009

We're gonna win this!



In keeping with the political theme I started on Monday, I introduce to you "Price of Gas" by Bloc Party. Pretty self-explanatory, huh? This track is sick. Listen to it. I mean, really listen to it. Listen to the words. Listen to the guitar, the drums, the bass, the tone of his voice, the intensity of all the dimensions. It hits.

I like the beginning of the track; it sounds so sinister—like our government. And the aggression expressed is intoxicating. It sucks me right in. It makes me want to do something about the situation we're in, here and abroad.

Oil. The price of oil is the central theme...obviously. It seems all the evil in this world stems from greed. Greed for power. Greed for money. Greed for land. Greed for
oil. And who suffers? Not those in control, that's for sure. We lose. Me. And you.

But through it all, we must remain positive. We must continue fighting for what is right, for what is just. Like Bloc Party vocalist Kele Okereke wails, "We're gonna win this!"



Bloc Party - Price Of Gas

So I also wanted to try something different today. My pal Riste understands music in a very profound way, and I wanted to pick at his brain. Riste, what's your take on this track?

It's chaos when I listen to the track, especially the beginning
—reminds me of our government pulling a thick blanket over our eyes. "We're gonna win this" is yelled over and over, like to grab the blind followers' attention to open their eyes and to follow him or her into a mass protest. Just as the song gets closer to the end, like as if you have this feeling you're actually going to win this fight against the government, you're screaming, "We're gonna win this!" in a mass protest in front of the white house. But their windows are closed and they don't want to hear you; they'll just fix you right up. It ends in silence just as you think the song would keep going into another verse—BUT nothing, dead silence. You got fixed, and then people forget who you are and what you stood for.

"Do as you're told and everything will be OK," as what I've heard for years.

Well your judgment on "OK" is good for you but not me; I like to stick out and be that asshole. I have a voice, I don't care if you want to hear it our not. This song brings that protester out of me. Follow me, and you'll see what I see. Just whip that political crap off your eyes and open your mind.

Or don't listen to me, because you might end up like the person in the picture above. I'll take that RISK.

-Riste Ristevski


8 comments:

  1. Wow Jazzy! Back-to-back posts on subjects I have very strong opinions on. I can go ALL DAY on this one. You can make it three-for-three by posting something that has to do with abortion. I love your blog by the way! haha. Please don't hate me! This is just my opinion. =^)

    Why oh why does everybody complain about gas prices? Oh yeah...cause people just like to complain about everything.

    Let's think about this for a second... People aren't willing to pay $4 to power their very expensive piece of machinery that not only gives them the ability to commute hundreds and hundreds of miles while listening to their favorite tunes. It creates an air conditioned cabin during Hot and Cold weather. Oh and lets not forget...it lets you get to your job to make money. People aren't willing to pay for an entire gallon of gasoline for $4... BUT THEY ARE WILLING TO PAY $4 DAILY FOR 12OZ OF COFFEE FROM THEIR LOCAL STARBUCKS. This they have no problem with. In my opinion, we don't have a gas problem in this country, we have a thought-process problem.

    Have you checked out the price for gas in the United Kingdom? They pay close to 3 times as much as we do. That's around $9.00 USD/Gal. I had a business meeting with a guy who lives in Greece once and I accidently made a comment about the price of gas. He looked like he wanted to slap me across the head. Instead he laughed and told me to deal with it! I must admit...I gOt sErVeD! It changed my whole outlook on the situation.

    In my opinion, If you keep buying gas because you won't give your car up for a bike, you should forfeit your right to complain because you are the ones making them billionaires. The middle east and venezuela will keep charging as much for oil as we're willing to pay for it...PERIOD! As much as everyone wants to believe that we're in Iraq soley for the purpose of acquiring oil and other conspiracy theory nonsense, it's really a matter of basic economics. How soon we all forget that just a few short months ago, we were paying about $1.60 per gallon. Supply and Demand. When a new technology is created to take the place of gas engines and they are produced and made available for consumer purchase, demand will drop and the price of gas will drop to the floor. Until then, we all need to put down our $4 coffe and deal with it, or stop buying gas and ride a bike.

    Quit begging Washington to lower gas prices. If you heard me calling for people to march on Washington to beg B.O. to force Starbucks to lower their price for coffee, you would think I'm kinda silly wouldn't you?

    Peace! I'm Out!

    ReplyDelete
  2. You have a good point David. A great point. But I need to make one thing clear. I wasn't complaining about gas prices. That, I don't have much of a problem with. Hell, gas is under $3 now, and that's cool with me. My problem is greed. The government's greed. And the fact that all these countries are pissing on each other, and we're the ones who suffer.

    You're right. There are jerks out there paying $10 for a pack of cigarettes, but they can't afford gas. They can't afford to put food on the table for their kids, but they can afford to buy lotto tickets everyday.

    Idiots.

    BUT paying for gas does bother me a bit. I won't lie. And I have purchased a bicycle recently. So when I travel locally, I ride the bike. I'm probably not saving MUCH, but every little bit counts, right?

    Ok...so you want me to tackle abortion next? Ha!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Haha! I haven't heard too many songs on abortion, but I'm sure there are a couple out there. lol. We might want to leave that one alone. That's a topic that can open up a HUGE can of worms!

    I didn't mean for it to sound like I was coming at you in particular on the gas thing... I kinda meant people in general. I know there was a lot of "you"'s in there. My B! I figured there had to be something in there that you didn't agree with so I didn't want you to get mad.

    Remember when cigarettes were $3 bucks? You could slowly kill yourself and others around you for the price of 1 gallon of todays gas! Those were the days! lol

    I'm a cyclist so I think bikes are awesome! More people should ride them! I love my bike! If my commute to work was a little safer, I would totally ride to work. Mostly for the fun and health benefits of it though, not so much for the gas thing.

    Peace!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jasi,
    Good lyrics! I really appreciate the positive vibe and the fact that they bring up the subject of greed using the gas example.

    I agree with David that we need to petition the government to make them look for better fuel alternatives.

    Keep up the good work!

    ReplyDelete
  5. jasmina,
    Really cool site. It is coming along great and the music selection that I have heard is awesome. I heard that price is right cut a long time ago i think and I am glad i found it again on your site. We will talk about revolutions later. ; ) Don't forget, Beat It.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I don't think they need to look for fuel alternative's, they already have them and there out there. Even just on Gas Tell me why a 1990's Geo Metro can get over 50+ miles to the gallon. And now in 2009 there raving about a car getting 40+. Sounds like technology is advancing in a very slow forum or is the marketing getting better to trick us. But the gas really doesn't bother me that much.

    Look back at this comment This time next year and tell me i was wrong about my next few lines.

    The price of food will rise up to a ridiculous percentage increase. Its slowing getting there. In 2010 food will skyrocket. I can go on forever on the Government.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm glad I finally read this....2 months later :) Awesome post! I love this song and I agree that there is a much larger political/business issue at stake....but just for the moment, this song makes me wanna dance around in skinny jeans, head bobbin', fist pumpin!!

    ReplyDelete