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Over the past few years, socialism
has recovered remarkably from the
death blow inflicted on it by the
collapse of the Berlin Wall and the
triumph of market capitalist
democracy as a global universal
ideology. This can be seen at the
WTO protests, Seattle, and now the
May 1 McDonalds-thrashings
taking
place across the world today.
Culturally, Marxism has made a
comeback among young rebels, ditching
the brown suits of the Soviet era and
donning blue hair dye and a punk
lifestyle. Even Fidel Castro
himself, perhaps wary of being seen
as a relic of the past, has courted
the Nu Marxist punk movement.
However, what must be said for punk
rock (and post-punk turntablist
electronica and whatever) is that it
does not have broad appeal.
A few years ago, some DJs at a
popular UK nightclub (the Ministry of
Sound, I think) did a rave mix of God
Save The Queen.
I was thinking that someone should do
a pumping, anthemic rave version of The
Internationale, the international
socialist anthem. It could be played
from sound systems at anti-capitalist
protests, keeping with the
dreadlocked rave party mood, whilst
preserving the traditions of the
radical proletariat for new
generations. Yoof radio stations
could play it, rousing their
listeners to go to rallies against
Nike and McDonalds. And if you're not
a radical leftist, it could still be a marketable
radical-kitsch objet, sort of like Che beer.
Modern History Sourcebook: The Internationale
http://www.fordham....l/mod/INTERNAT.html [acb, May 01 2001, last modified Oct 21 2004]
[link]
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The McDonald's trashers, in the UK at least, are Anarchists opposed to any sort of central authority. They'd be very upset to be confused with Marxists/Communists who, doctrinally speaking, are at least as bad as the Capitalists...err...so I'm told.... |
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In Melbourne, virtually all the
spokespeople of the M1 protest
were from various socialist
groups. Anarchists were notably
absent from the organisation
(though, perhaps, that's not to be
unexpected). |
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How about doing a cool mix of the Internationale (I vote for the Paul Robeson version) and something a bit lighter like the Carpenters version of 'Top of the world'? |
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It could be be the new anthem of world domination but still meet the dance needs of the status quo. |
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OK, so back to the dance part, there actually IS a house version of "The Internationale". I heard it in Beijing at NASA in 1995. I've been looking for it ever since. Here was the cirumstance: |
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At midnight, the music stopped and a shirtless Chinese muscle dude got up on a platform and started waving a huge red flag. The music built and broke into "The Internationale" (in Madarin), then segued into "Go West" by The Village People, then into "YMCA" (predictable). If anybody can find this, please beep me at bigwally9@aol.com |
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I'd be eternally (red) thankful. |
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I like the updated Billy Bragg version w/ choir, but a house version would appeal. Better yet, a house remix of "The People's Flag" would really "give the kids something to get jiggy with". |
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