Success and Liberation

Success Songs

The Smiths, “Frankly Mr. Shankly,” Alternative, 1986

Polar Bear Club, “Boxes,” Indie Punk, 2009

Person L, “The Positives,” Indie/Pop-Punk, 2009

Rush, “Working Man,” Rock/Progressive, 1974

The Beatles, “And Your Bird Can Sing,” Classic Rock, 1966

Liberation Songs

Hot Water Music, “I Was on a Mountain,” Punk, 2002

Braid, “Never Will Come for Us,” Emo/Punk, 1998

Big D and the Kid’s Table, “Moment Without an End,” Ska/Punk, 2004

Fleet Foxes, “Drops in the River,” Pop/Folk, 2008

Biffy Clyro, “Now I’m Everyone,” Alternative, 2007

Observations

      Once again, I'm sure all of us had an easier time finding songs dealing with the first aim (worldly success) than the second (liberation). American popular music is, once again, largely materialistic and focused on status and the ideal of "the successful person."
      The desire for liberation is comparably rare in popular music, though one could argue that much of the Psychedelic genre advocates for an experience with some type of divinity. Liberation, in American thought, is something reserved for churches and armchair theologians and Christian gospel singers, though I tried to find songs pertaining to the Hindu interpretation of liberation, meaning the loss of the elf and achievement of unity with Brahman and freedom from samsara. Obviously, rebirth is not typically seen in American music, so I had to be a bit creative with my lyrical interpretations, but I don't think any of the songs I've chosen fall outside the realm of possibility.
      I'm sure many students used examples of Top 40 or rap/hip-hop for success, where the theme is the most prevalent, and easily in keeping with the "support yourself and your family" thought process associated with the Hindu aim of worldly success. In the genres that I tend to frequent, the whole concept of "worldly success" is something viewed at arm's length, something looked down upon (ironically enough) by the very people seeking to be rich/famous. The songs I chose for worldly success deal less with the acquiring of wealth and more with the problems inherent in wealth and celebrity (punk, indie and rock music tend to have a large emphasis on not "selling out" or "being corporate"), though they deal with "success" in the same terms, meaning they acknowledge fame, money and power as successful (but are very careful to note the folly by which these items are attained, at the price of self-respect, honor and interpersonal relationships).
      All in all, the Hindu aim of worldly success (and its renunciation) is easily visible in today's popular music. Western musicians are, after all, in pursuit of fame and fortune. The theme of liberation in the Hindu understanding, however, is very rare, and where liberation is discussed, it is often in the form of another tradition (i.e. Christianity). Some songs here and there in American music deal with separation from the material world, but few deal with escaping rebirth or joining with Brahman.
      

Pleasure & Community Service

Pleasure

"Happiness is a Warm Gun," The Beatles, Rock and Roll, 1968

Say Anything, "Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too," Pop-punk/Emo, 2006

Minus the Bear, "White Mystery," Indie/Post-Rock, 2007

The Smiths, "This Charming Man," Alternative, 1984

The Planet Smashers, "Super Orgy Porno Party," Ska, 1999

Community Service

Billy Bragg, "The Milkman of Human Kindness," Folk Punk, 1983

Wyclef Jean, "President," Reggae/Hip-hop, 2004

The Riot Before, "5 to 9," Punk Rock, 2008

Ted Leo and The Pharmacists, "Heart Problems," Indie Punk, 2004

The Roots & John Legend (Originally by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes),"Wake Up Everybody," Hip-hop/Motown, 2010

Observations

          As everyone will no doubt find, the aim that was more prevalent in American popular music was pleasure. I chose to do songs about sex (convenient, as my recent radio show had been themed similarly) and had no trouble finding many examples, even outside of Radio Ready Rock and Hip-Hop.
         Community service is obviously less popular in music in general, because in America (and in most other places, I would assume, but I don't have a sufficient basis of knowledge to say definitively), music is consumed for enjoyment, and most popular music is upbeat and "fun," not addressing societal ills like poverty and corruption. Some segments of popular music have a wider focus, but the most consumed music in America pertains to sex, partying, drinking and general debauchery (source: Billboard Top 100).
          What surprised me was how much less difficult it was for me to find community service-centric songs than I thought it would be. Within the punk and hip-hop/reggae genres, there is more vocal observations and calls to action regarding society's problems than most American music in general. Punk music has a reputation for being rife with politically charged songs, though I wouldn't consider all political songs or bands in support of community service in the hindu understanding.
          The hindu aims of pleasure and community service are different from what is presented in the popular music like those listed above. For one, devotion to community service comes only after the desire for personal pleasure and worldly success has come and gone, while every band or singer is still trying to be successful and make money (more or less). None of these musicians dedicate all of their time to tending the poor, and many of them are younger (or were when writing the song) than what most Hindus would consider ole enough to be in the community service stage of life.
           The pleasure extolled in the songs above, and much of popular music, is very similar to the Hindu notion of pleasure, excepting of course the Hindu admonition to seek pleasure intelligently and in moderation. An orgy; waking up drunk, only to go out drinking again; binge drinking continually as in Taio Cruz's "Bottoms Up" or LMFAO's "Shots;" none of these express a desire for intelligent seeking of pleasure.