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I Got A Retro Feel: How Innocent Hobbies are No Longer Safe

Posted on 02/19/2006 4:02:01 PM PST by Archerfish

Well, since this is going to show that I am a newbie here, I expect to be smacked for general cluelessness.

Anyway, I was perusing some websites regarding one of the hobbies I enjoy (Watching Japanese animation - anime.) when I stumbled upon a link to the following website:

Voices for Peace

Which is publicizing a war protest album which, judging from the list, seems entirely filled with songs from the Vietnam era:

War Pigs

Eve of Destruction

War Again

For What It's Worth

Masters of War

Sunday Bloody Sunday

War, One Tin Soldier

Blowin' in the Wind

Fortunate Son

Where Have All the Flowers Gone

Now all of these songs are being covered by some fairly well-known (To the anime community.) voice actors and actresses. While the list of charities benefiting from the album seems relatively unexceptional if on the left side of the scale - CARE, Doctors Without Borders and the Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust - the very idea of them using war protest (Or peace-now.) songs seems...well, rather disconcerting.

While I have always expected that my favorite performers have their own opinions, I always seem to be surprised when those opinions manifest themselves. But in this case, the fact that we seem to have a "Return to the 70s!" vibe going on with this project, lead me to wonder if I can ever really enjoy any hobby without having to wonder if the people involved in that hobby intend to shove their political views in my face when I don't want to see it. This album is very different from commenting about your opinions in an interview...

And that implication that the GWOT/Iraq = Vietnam...Well, to begin, do they really know how Vietnam ended...?

Archerfish


TOPICS: Hobbies; Music/Entertainment; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: activistactors; anime; antiamericanwar; hobbies; hollywoodleft; lefties; music; notapeacemovement; protestsongs; shutupanddub; shutupandsing; vietnam
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To: Darkwolf377

So who do you listen to? Andy Williams and Brittney Spears?


21 posted on 02/19/2006 4:35:59 PM PST by laney (*I believe Weaver 210 is a talking bird....)
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To: Darkwolf377

FALSE...
Carlos Santana does not need any 2 bit singer to make his music worth while...

He helps singers who might have a chance at a hit record achieve one....

He is still going strong...


22 posted on 02/19/2006 4:38:09 PM PST by laney (*I believe Weaver 210 is a talking bird....)
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To: Darkwolf377
Santana had one massive hit record that was mostly due to riding on the talents of those with one hit record. Check out his sales from the mid-seventies till then.

Yeah 33 albums... I guess his label wanted to keep him around for 32 more just in case he had another hit. But that's not including solo projects.

23 posted on 02/19/2006 4:57:50 PM PST by steveo (No Anchovies? You've got the wrong man, I spell my name steveo...)
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To: Darkwolf377

"And to my favorite fan darkwolf377
I just want to say thank-you
you mean so much to me!"
24 posted on 02/19/2006 5:03:58 PM PST by Rebelbase (President Bush is a Texas jackass when it comes to Border security .)
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To: strategofr
I wouldn't have a problem with this EXCEPT, I cannot imagine that their cartoons are not drenched with the effects of their political affiliation.

The only problem with your thesis is that much of the Anime, deals with Japanese issues. Also much that is being shown in the US is over 10 years old.

Cartoon network showed the "Gundam Wing" series (originally from the 80's) which contained several references to the Cold War.

25 posted on 02/19/2006 5:09:09 PM PST by Fraxinus (Warning: Opinion may be less useful than it appears)
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To: Archerfish

Dude (or dudette), while I share your apprehension about people shoving their politics down my throat, I think you may be overly paranoid in this case. If you're doing a benefit CD for Doctors Without Borders, there's only a limited number of songs that will fit with the charity's theme. And unfortunately, since the attitudes behind the charities listed tends to be "look at the evils of war", the only songs that fit the theme are the whiny 60s songs. I mean, if you put songs like "Hit Me Baby, One More Time", "I Drink Alone", or "Zombie Nation" on the CD, you're going to get some weird reviews.

(Yeah, they could put original songs on the CD, but I don't think that would sell better than a bunch of covers would.)


26 posted on 02/19/2006 6:18:32 PM PST by Starter
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To: Fraxinus

" The only problem with your thesis is that much of the Anime, deals with Japanese issues. Also much that is being shown in the US is over 10 years old.

Cartoon network showed the "Gundam Wing" series (originally from the 80's) which contained several references to the Cold War."

Fair enough. I have seen very few of these cartoons, so I don't know anything about them (was just guessing). It just seems to me that the work of Leftists is always infected with Leftism, as a general rule. Maybe too general.


27 posted on 02/19/2006 8:22:02 PM PST by strategofr (Hillary stole 1000+ secret FBI files on DC movers & shakers, Hillary's Secret War, Poe, p. xiv)
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To: Archerfish

Every time I hear about this 70s retro protest vibe you mention, I see some washed-up broke songwriter saying to himself, "Man, screw this 12 Step sh#t. I'm gonna have drug money again!"


28 posted on 02/20/2006 6:00:42 AM PST by Emmett McCarthy
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To: Archerfish

What is anime? Kinda like cross-stitching or something? You need a new hobby. Go outside, get some fresh air and sunshine.


29 posted on 02/20/2006 6:07:06 AM PST by Hatteras
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To: Archerfish

The left co-opts EVERYTHING. Punk rock was originally a backlash against hippy commie socialist political correctness. By 1977 (the 3rd rebirth?) the marxists pushed their agenda and claimed to be the originators.

The lack of expression from the middle or right does not mean that there are no performers from those perspectives in those fields. There IS a blacklist of those who dissent from the liberal group think.

Some have the good manners to keep politics out of entertainment. The left can only take power through deception.


30 posted on 02/20/2006 7:43:10 AM PST by weegee ("...the left can only take power through deception" -W. Chambers, former mem of Communist Party USA)
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To: Archerfish
Vocals are by Greg Ayres, Christopher Ayres, Chris Patton, Tiffany Grant, Brittney Karbowski, Kira Vincent-Davis, Jamie McGonnigal, Mike Sinterniklaas, Amanda Winn Lee and Jan Scott-Frazier.

I don't recognize any of these names. I know some actors (like the people who dubbed the original Speed Racer) are still alive and working. Are they among these names?

Do they sing in recognizable voices?

The original songs are hard enough to listen to. Do they really believe that there is a sizeable market to purchase an album of these covers?

31 posted on 02/20/2006 7:45:53 AM PST by weegee ("...the left can only take power through deception" -W. Chambers, former mem of Communist Party USA)
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To: Jeff Head; Archerfish
Some (but not all) Japanese titles are released with English subtitles (http://CDJapan.co.jp generally includes such information).

Sure Japanese titles cost more but you get titles when they are released (legally), not a year or more later.

NOTE: You will need to find a Region Free (or at least R2) machine to play many (but not all, some are R0) import titles.




Fandom was built by individuals bringing over tapes and laser discs of these films and tv shows that had no US distribution.

If an American licensee thinks that they are the only game in town, then they are mistaken. Purists prefer subtitles to dubs anyway.

You could also seek out the original Japanese production company and voice your displeasure with the American licensee.
32 posted on 02/20/2006 7:54:27 AM PST by weegee ("...the left can only take power through deception" -W. Chambers, former mem of Communist Party USA)
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To: strategofr

There is a sense of fatalism in some Japanese anime. Some say that comes from the Hiroshima bombing.

I'm not familiar enough with pre/post war entertainment/literature in Japan to draw that conclusion.


33 posted on 02/20/2006 7:56:55 AM PST by weegee ("...the left can only take power through deception" -W. Chambers, former mem of Communist Party USA)
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To: weegee

"There is a sense of fatalism in some Japanese anime."

(Thanks for the info.) This is common in modern media and of Leftist origin, in my opinion. Everyone has something to gripe about, but some choose to be positive despite that. I try to take that path.


34 posted on 02/20/2006 8:19:22 AM PST by strategofr (Hillary stole 1000+ secret FBI files on DC movers & shakers, Hillary's Secret War, Poe, p. xiv)
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To: Darkwolf377; laney
>>Have to respond..Rock is dead???hardly, the Stones made more money last year than any Cheesey POP group....

So that's the proof rock is alive and kicking, that bunch of corpses raked in a ton of cash from old fogies like me?

The whole idea of a "rock" show in a stadium is anti-rock. Your point is making MY point--that ain't rock, it's more like a Vegas act. <

Offtopic but relevant to the above posts...

(dirtbombs)
note: the audio fidelity of the Amazon samples pale in comparison to the actual album and the audio excerpts don't do much to give a flavor of many of the tracks (they come in at odd points) but this 2 CD set with 52 tracks collects up many of the Dirtbombs' singles over the past 10 years or so. Disc 1 is all original compositions, Disc 2 is all covered material (including the Rolling Stones, Yoko Ono, Lou Rawls, and the Bee Gees). Do I like all of the cuts? No, some are too noisy for me and the style can vary from track to track but then I compiled my own single disc "jukebox" from the 2 CDs and have a very listenable 80 minutes (and I had a difficult time making some cuts).

I think this user review is a fair assessment:

I just saw the Dirtbombs last week in NYC and once again, they completely tore the roof of the joint. Once the double drummers kicked in, it was on! Within seconds, I was a pogoing sweaty mess.

From start to finish, Mick and the band put on an awesome display of rock excellence. And they managed to do it despite the fact that one of their 2 bass players had to run to the hospital with a sliced-open hand just a song or two into the set.

The Dirtbombs are rock deities.

I bow down. I bow down. I kiss their feet.

There is no question that the Dirtbombs are the current kings of the Detroit rock scene, as they have been for several years. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot of other great bands coming out of the Motor City, but let's be serious, folks. It all begins and ends with this band.

Buy this collection of songs and douse yourself in some rock'n'roll kerosene!

<(bellrays) (the ponys) (holly golightly) (the sadies) (billy childish) (Total Sound Group Direct Action Committee)

These bands/performers have been playing for decades and they all have current bands/projects that don't try to live off the "fame" of past successes. And if they ever happen to come to your town, it will be at the bar level, not the "big arena" or even the Clear Channel owned concert fall for midlevel touring acts.

These acts don't follow the trend, they established it. Same core that was there before the grunge AND "garage rock" hey days.

35 posted on 02/20/2006 8:46:35 AM PST by weegee ("...the left can only take power through deception" -W. Chambers, former mem of Communist Party USA)
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To: Lurker

Having heard the caliber of some "professional dubbing", he probably couldn't do any worse securing the rights himself and starting his own distribution company.

Too much anime is dubbed by fans (with proper licensing) rather than genuine voice actors (people who also do radio/tv ads, foreign film dubbing, etc.).


36 posted on 02/20/2006 8:50:12 AM PST by weegee ("...the left can only take power through deception" -W. Chambers, former mem of Communist Party USA)
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To: weegee
That's great to hear, thanks for posting all of that, will definitely check these bands out.

THIS is where rock will revive, not in some stadium. Garage bands have always been the source of real rock, because the bands are obviously not in it for the money (yet) because there IS no money.

The ultimate symbol of the death of rock as a mass movement is the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. It's indicative of the mindset of people who grew up with rock as an outsider music, rebel music, now wanting to be part of the Establishment. Once rock went from music your parents didn't like you to listen to and became the music your parents listened to it became Pop.

In order to thrive once again, rock has to stop being comfortable music. I don't mean it has to be thrash or punk but it DOES have to be rock 'n' roll, not this stuff with nothing lyrics, PC politics, and completely unadventurous music. The Stones used to be "devil music," now they're this Vegas act that performs on the Superbowl! THAT's "rock 'n' roll"?

Rap has that dangerous quality to some extent (not really, as the rappers are praised in all the "right" magazines and Entertainment Tonight shows because they are easily-used props to show how "hip" the 'entertainment journalists' are), but the reason has nothing to do with artistry in the music or lyrics, only on the need to push SOME black culture in order to show 'multicultural sensitivity'. Rap, IMHO, has the completely opposite problem rock has--it's ONLY shock, without the musical excitement or creativity. It is almost anti-rock in its sensibility in that the songs seem completely calculated TO shock, whereas rock's greatness was its lack of uselfconsciousness. A great song isn't calculated to shock someone, it just DOES sometimes (though not all).

So again, thanks for posting these, I will definitely check them out.

37 posted on 02/20/2006 8:57:40 AM PST by Darkwolf377
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To: Darkwolf377

I also listen to rock and roll from the 1950s and 1960s that is considered "noise" and "too loud" for oldies radio (Link Wray, the Sonics...).

The castrated sounds are illegitimate. The Ramones and the Saints and the Dictators lurked under the radar in the mid-1970s. And the Saints had horns on some cuts so don't I hope that FReepers don't typify "punk" as british/LA hardcore. The Standells' Dirty Water was a punk song. Iggy Pop was punk. The Ramones were punk. The Dictators had their album out on Epic in 1974 AND they covered the then contemporary Sonny & Cher "I got you babe".

I find it "funny" that the Mass Media pushes rap and hip hop and divas as the only voice of black entertainers (past or present). James Brown isn't dead yet. Mick Collins has led bands including The Gories, Blacktop, The Dirtbombs, and some side projects. The lead singer of the Bellrays is a black woman (Lisa, I can never remember her last name) .

Where are the clips of black rock and rollers like Roy Brown, Little Richard, Jimi Hendrix, the Chamber Brothers, and the above acts on BET? What about the recently deceased R.L. Burnside? T-Model Ford? Older clips of Cab Calloway, Lionel Hampton, T-Bone Walker and others?

Gang bangers and pimps are no musical movement. They are in it for cash and celebrity. Thugs for life. Don't believe the hype. I hated Kiss as a kid too (they absolutely refused to be seen without their makeup).


38 posted on 02/20/2006 9:23:08 AM PST by weegee ("...the left can only take power through deception" -W. Chambers, former mem of Communist Party USA)
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To: weegee
Great post--I'm a Link Wray fan, too, among others you mentioned.

I think the only way to revive rock is to do what these bands are doing--start it up all over again, from the ground up, spending years being ignored but plugging away until college stations and people who just want something with that vibe come around.

It won't happen over night, but rock can be the "rebel" music it once was again. As long as these bands resist the siren song of cash and MTV and stick to their guns.

39 posted on 02/20/2006 1:20:55 PM PST by Darkwolf377
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To: Archerfish; darkwing104
I see they left out the Immigrant song by Led Zeppelin.

How leftist can they get.

Personally I'd rather watch an AMV(Anime Music Video {made like when MTV was cool}) of Neon Genesis Evangelion sync-ed to War Pigs, Then hear a bunch of English Voice actors ruin songs we all know all to well in the name of Peace.
40 posted on 02/20/2006 1:37:39 PM PST by usmcobra (I'm a Marine on currently on inactive status awaiting an eternal change of duty station)
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