Anyone in possession of a brain just knew the election of Donald Trump would bring a degree of divisiveness unlike any that has existed in this country. Antifa vs Proud Boys? Are you kidding me? Who else could cause such numbing additions to our vocabulary? The only other time frame that can even begin to match this intensity was the Vietnam period. The national 4th of July celebratory event couldn't even be held without vociferous disagreement and animosity.
Now, I've always lived my life with music as a background. Sort of like the score for a movie. I assign varying musical artists and genres to differing periods of my life. In 2019 I've entered senior citizenship status. This particular 4th of July was marred by an accident which limited my mobility (but introduced me to a stylish new cane). So instead of going to a parade or something patriotic like that, I sat in our home theater room pondering what to watch.
But in accordance with the theme of this piece, the decision was obvious. I watched YouTube performance videos of The Clash from concerts in 1980 and 1983 . The Clash has historically been lumped in with Punk Music and associated with others like the Sex Pistols. I'd actually rate them on a much higher plane. They dispensed a completely unique level of political awareness along with the energetic rage that all the other bands aspired to. It is almost miraculous how well the Clash's politics and material fit into today's world. If you substitute Middle East nations for the foreign countries mentioned, it would totally nail today's world. Because the Clash always had the domestic income inequality, class discrepancy thing down tight. With globalization, it hardly matters that they were British - too bad though, that no American band could match them.
I'm not even sure what's more noteworthy: the fact that The Clash showed the artistry to sing so powerfully about modern day issues some 40 years ago or the fact that so many of the topics addressed in their songs still perpetuate today. But I am sure that few artists have broached such societal and political subjects with the level of body-moving, militant fervor that is found only in the best rock 'n roll.
The Clash's eponymous first album, followed by "Give 'em Enough Rope", "London Calling", and "Sandinista" are cultural treasures. Any music critic harboring even a pretense of being considered legit must include "'London Calling" in the top ten rock albums of all time. (As so often happens, their inferior last two albums contained the biggest hits mixed in with filler).
Anyway, I've a suggestion. A way to engage in some full out, live concert decibel level anger/frustration release without endangering yourself or others. Sit yourself down with a Guinness or any other favorite accompaniment. Then let The Clash rip either by pure audio or performance videos. Let them show you why they were called "the only band that matters" during their heyday. It's cleansing. It makes you feel like you've actually accomplished something by doing it even though you've just been sitting there moving your head and tapping your feet.
And mark your July 2020 calendars. Because Donald J. Trump will still be president next year on the 4th of July. The divisiveness will only have increased in intensity. And so many of the issues addressed in 40 year old songs by The Clash will still remain unabated and unresolved. The perfectly named band "The Clash" will again perfectly fit the bill to properly (celebrate) our nation's next birthday.
- Birney K. Brown
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