Eminem Is Right

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…If yesterday?s rock was the music of abandon, today?s is that of abandonment. The odd truth about contemporary teenage music ? the characteristic that most separates it from what has gone before ? is its compulsive insistence on the damage wrought by broken homes, family dysfunction, checked-out parents, and (especially) absent fathers. Papa Roach, Everclear, Blink-182, Good Charlotte, Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam, Kurt Cobain and Nirvana, Tupac Shakur, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Eminem ? these and other singers and bands, all of them award-winning top-40 performers who either are or were among the most popular icons in America, have their own generational answer to what ails the modern teenager. Surprising though it may be to some, that answer is: dysfunctional childhood. Moreover, and just as interesting, many bands and singers explicitly link the most deplored themes in music today ? suicide, misogyny, and drugs ? with that lack of a quasi-normal, intact-home personal past.

Policy Review: Eminem Is Right: 12/04

Don’t let her bias (which shows itself in her opening paragaphs) stop you from reading this through. Once you get past it, you realize the question she is asking is important, deciding to read the lyrics (read the lyrics?!?! that’s fucking revolutionary!) is a first step to understanding, and the connection she makes is right on the money. No matter how much you want to deny it.

Make sure to read the following article she cites too:

This is the sound of one generation reproaching another ? only this time, it’s the scorned, world-weary children telling off their narcissistic, irresponsible parents. “You were never there when I needed you,” blurts Shaddix at his absent father on “Broken Home.” “I hope you regret what you did.”

Blender: William Shaw: “Why Are America?s Rock Bands So Goddamned Angry?”: 8/02

Shooting may change concerts

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That’s the headline at the Herald-Dispatch. Closeness between the audience and the musician is part of rock (and metal and punk in particular).

Blabbermouth has headline after headline of artists coming out to share their thoughts and praise of Darrel.

“Walk”, Vulgar Display Of Power (1992)

Can’t you see I’m easily bothered by persistence
One step from lashing out at you…
You want in to get under my skin
And call yourself a friend
I’ve got more friends like you
What do I do?

Is there no standard anymore?
What it takes, who I am, where I’ve been
Belong
You can’t be something you’re not
Be yourself, by yourself
Stay away from me
A lesson learned in life
Known from the dawn of time

Respect, walk

Run your mouth when I’m not around
It’s easy to achieve
You cry to weak friends that sympathize
Can you hear the violins playing you song?
Those same friends tell me your every word

Is there no standard anymore?
What it takes, who I am, where I’ve been
Belong
You can’t be something you’re not
Be yourself, by yourself
Stay away from me
A lesson learned in life
Known from the dawn of time

Respect, walk

Are you talking to me?
No way punk

“Cemetery Gates”, Pantara (1990)

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Reverend reverend is this some conspiracy?
Crucified for no sins,
An image beneath me.
Whats within our plans for life?
It all seems so unreal,
I’m a man cut in half in this world,
Left in my misery…

The reverend he turned to me
Without a tear in his eyes
It’s nothing new for him to see
I didn’t ask him why
I will remember
The love our souls had
Sworn to make
Now I watch the falling rain
All my mind can see
Now is your (face)

Well I guess
You took my youth
I gave it all away
Like the birth of a
New-found joy
This love would end in rage
And when she died
I couldn’t cry
The pride within my soul
You left me incomplete
Memories now unfold.

Believe the word
I will unlock my door
And pass the
Cemetery gates

Sometimes when I’m alone
I wonder aloud
If you’re watching over me
Some place far abound
I must reverse my life
I can’t live in the past
Then set my soul free
Belong to me at last

Through all those
Complex years
I thought I was alone
I didn’t care to look around
And make this world my own
And when she died
I should’ve cried and spared myself some pain…
Left me incomplete
All alone as the memories still remain

The way we were
The chance to save my soul
And my concern is now in vain
Believe the word
I will unlock my door
And pass the cemetery gates

Gunman storms stage, kills 4 at Ohio nightclub including guitarist “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott.

More at Blabbermouth.

More at Zack Wylde’s message board.

More at Metafilter.

My stomach feels twisted and my heart hurts. I know my brother is feeling it too.

Governor Dean’s GWU Speech Transcript

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Remarks made by Governor Howard Dean on the Future of the Democratic Party. Given at The George Washington University on December 8, 2004.

Thank you for that introduction. It’s a pleasure to be here.

Let me tell you what my plan for this Party is:

We’re going to win in Mississippi
…and Alabama
…and Idaho
…and South Carolina.

Four years ago, the President won 49 percent of the vote. The Republican Party treated it like it was a mandate, and we let them get away with it.

Fifty one percent is not a mandate either. And this time we’re not going to let them get away with it.

Our challenge today is not to re-hash what has happened, but to look forward, to make the Democratic Party a 50-state party again, and, most importantly, to win.

To win the White House and a majority in Congress, yes. But also to do the real work that will make these victories possible — to put Democratic ideas and Democratic candidates in every office — whether it be Secretary of State, supervisor of elections, county commissioner or school board member.

Here in Washington, it seems that after every losing election, there’s a consensus reached among decision-makers in the Democratic Party is that the way to win is to be more like Republicans.

I suppose you could call that philosophy: if you didn’t beat ’em, join them.

I’m not one for making predictions — but if we accept that philosophy this time around, another Democrat will be standing here in four years giving this same speech. we cannot win by being “Republican-lite.” We’ve tried it; it doesn’t work. The question is not whether we move left or right. It’s not about our direction. What we need to start focusing on… is the destination.

There are some practical elements to the destination.

The destination of the Democratic Party requires that it be financially viable, able to raise money not only from big donors but small contributors, not only through dinners and telephone solicitations and direct mail, but also through the Internet and person-to-person outreach.

The destination of the Democratic Party means making it a party that can communicate with its supporters and with all Americans. Politics is at its best when we create and inspire a sense of community. The tools that were pioneered in my campaign — like blogs, and meetups, and streaming video — are just a start. We must use all of the power and potential of technology as part of an aggressive outreach to meet and include voters, to work with the state parties, and to influence media coverage.

Continue reading →

Dean makes major speech 12EST today

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Dean and DFA are doing terrific work keeping the passion that arose during the presidential campaign alive and focused. Howard Dean will be webcasting a major speech today. I’ll let the email many of us were sent speak for itself:

Dear Karl,
Live Webcast December 8, 2004

Governor Dean will lay out a vision for the future of the Democratic Party this Wednesday at 12 p.m. Eastern in Washington, D.C.

He will outline not just a direction for our party, but a concrete destination: a party built from the ground up.

That means a party powered by millions of small donors, not millionaires. It means a party that speaks plainly and commits to concrete outcomes that affect real people. And it means a party that competes in every single race, for every single vote, in all fifty states.

You can watch live video of the speech on Wednesday morning at the Democracy for America web site:

www.democracyforamerica.com

Be sure to join us for the live webcast on Wednesday at 12 p.m. Eastern. Thank you.

Thank you,

Tom McMahon
Executive Director
Democracy for America

P.S. — Since I last wrote to you, about the need to protect every vote in the Washington Governor’s race, over 15,000 small donations poured in to put the Washington Democratic Party over the top — they raised enough money to pay for a full hand count and ensure that every vote counts.

Democratic candidate Christine Gregoire’s campaign manager wrote a personal thank-you to the Democracy for America community. Read his letter and all the latest news at the blog: www.democracyforamerica.com

Email from Democracy for America: Tom McMahon