What would you listen to if you were a soldier? I imagine iPods are discouraged from the trenches, but there must be some opportunity to listen to music whilst at war.
Last night, I watched part of the documentary Soundtrack to War, by George Gittoes. The film explores the influence of music amongst the soldiers fighting in Iraq. There was unsurprisingly, a lot of heavy metal and rap to be heard blasting from the tank stereo.
A lot of angry music, which I suppose, makes sense if you're trying to kill people. Unfortunately, none of the soldiers that were interviewed were listening to "wartime classics". You know, the type of music with crackly muted trumpets and quivery grandpa vocals. Surely it's the obvious choice if you're at war? "It's wartime and I'm in the mood for a classic...shall we put on some Slayer or...some wartime classics?"
"Fire up the gramophone old boy!"
I would like to do an experiment on the war in Iraq (well, any war will do). Ideally, I'd like to stop the war if I could, but an experiment will do for now. The experiment would involve: confiscating (or destroying) the soldiers' music collections and replacing them with some quality wartime tunes. Out with the Metallica rubbish and in with some George Gershwin (he's wartime isn't he?). I wonder what would happen... Perhaps the soldiers would become more relaxed, start slow dancing. Or maybe they would snap, due to Slipknot withdrawals and commit a few warcrimes. Hopefully it would be the former, for my sake. I'm not sure how feasible this experiment is. I'd want gramophones. If you're going to listen to wartime classics you've got to do it properly. My request would be a gramophone on top of each tank. I'd ban helicopters because they're too loud. I'd mute the guns. Of course you'd want the sound of gunfire in the background but it might overrule the sound of the classics. Surely I can't be the only one to think this is a great idea?
If you're not sold on it yet, have a listen to these wartime classics and then tell me you wouldn't like to hear them blasting out of a gramophone-mounted tank.
Andrews Sisters - Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree
Al Jolson - Four Leaf Clover/Babyface
And here is an article about Wagner's influence on Hitler.
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11 comments:
i think there's a reason why that Al Jolson stuff was popular during the two Great Wars! clearly provokes violence far more extreme than anythning slipknot can do
If I was going into battle, I'd listen to DMX's "Where Da Hood At?" and MOP's "Ante Up (Robbin Hoodz Theory)", probably the Busta Rhymes version. They'd get me ready to fight.
"hello we're slayer, thank you very much for coming"
"This one's called grrrrrrrchemicalwarfarrrrrre...thank you"
Angus, I listened to "Where Da Hood At". It does have that "battle preparation" feel to it, doesn't it?
How about something like this or
this or
this or
this or even better,
this.
Have you pulled your one-liner on any one yet? (sorry folks, Smallgroup in-joke)
Wow pedders, let me know if your experiments happen. daddy will be driving armoured recon vehicles again soon, though not big main battle tanks, will be head-banging about the place??
Thanks for the Arab tunes Shiloh. I particularly liked the AMR DIAB. It had everything: dancing girls, little boy alone in the desert, futuristic club...everything you could ask for.
I might give my translation of the lyrics in a later post.
No I haven't used the line yet but I have found a "proof capturer" (tape recorder).
Manny, are you allowed to listen to music in the vehicle?
Don't know if this counts, but my war song is 'Eye of the Tiger' by Survivor. It worked for Rocky Balboa!
Ha, eye of the tiger. I swear axel thinks he's a tiger in the jungle sometimes. Opps, im out of character already...
I never used to when i was 1st in. Too much radio chatter to bother. It was before the days ipods and mp3 players tho. I will have to let you know once im driving again. That wont be for a few months tho.
DMX has a very rough, battle-ready sound. He's one tough mutha, to use the vernacular. The rest of that particular album has a lot of similar style tracks. Not bedtime, easy-listening music.
odd fact: i learned up to 3/4 of the Andrew Sisters songs when i was a little girl ... i went through a "I love the 40s" faze. my mother is still amazed that i can still remember and sing along with them.
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