Anti-Song of the Day – 1: X-tReMe PoWeR

Wow. A doozy this morning.

There’s so much wrong with this. Here, have a listen.

Believers! Honour God!
Children: Obey your parents!
Students! Respect your teachers!
Come on, come on…
Come on, Come on!
Respect! Authority!
Obey! Authority!
Respect! Authority!
Obey! Authority!
Come on, come on!

As Niall, who alerted me to this video, stated: “It’s like the anti-Pussy Riot”. The way it inanely, self-righteously plods on, (literally) spelling out the lyrics in case you’re dumb enough to miss the point… it hurts me. It hurts! Yes, I know it’s by kids – and could well have been written by the kids themselves – but four thoughts come immediately to mind.

1. The way the Church takes such a great pride in brainwashing from an early age.

“Religious leaders are well aware of the vulnerability of the child brain, and the importance of getting the indoctrination in early. The Jesuit boast, ‘Give me the child for his first seven years, and I’ll give you the man,’ is no less accurate (or sinister) for being hackneyed.” (Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion)

2. I’m sure it’s not deliberate, but the band’s name doesn’t half sound like White Power.

3. That infamous video of those North Korean children really is profoundly disturbing, isn’t it?

4. R.E.S.P.E.C.T. is actually spelled like this:

P.S.

Let’s leave the last word to Daniel (age 3): “I don’t want this one! I want the robot song.”

Your wish is my command.

by Everett True

My name is Everett True. I am a music critic. This is what I do. I criticise music. The clue is in my job description – music critic. I do not consider myself a journalist, as I do not research or report hard news. I do not consider myself a commentator as I believe that everyone should be a participant. I criticise people and in return I am not surprised if other people criticise me. It is part of the whole deal of being in the public arena. I am Everett True. Believe in me and I have power like a God. Quit believing in me and I no longer exist.