RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE Date: 13/08/13
Volume: #1 Issue #1
Rage Against the Machine and Protest Poetry Some Interesting Points:
Almost all of RATM songs protest against
Rage Against the Machine
Biographical Details
some global issue and they are hence renowned for it The band has very critical viewpoints of foreign and domestic policies from current and previous US governments The band makes a conceded effort to get involved in protests and riots if not start them. e.g. when they performed on Wall-Street at the commencement of the GFC and started a riot/ protest which they used as their music video The band views its music as a vehicle for social activism
RATM is an American rap metal band from LA, California
Formed in 1991
Members include vocalist/rapper Zack de la Rocha, bass guitarist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk
As of 2010 they have sold over 16 million records worldwide
October 18 2000 the band disbanded due to various reasons mainly dude to Zack de la Rocha feelings towards the functionality and purpose of the band
In 2007 however the band reunited to start producing music and performing as they formerly did
Rage Against the Machine’s debut album cover depicting a Vietnamese Buddhist monk burning himself to death in Saigon in the year 1963 in protest of the murder of Buddhists by the US-backed Prime Minister Ngo Dinh Diem’s regime.
BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE
Historical Context DID YOU KNOW?
In 1991 guitarist Tom Morrello left his band 'lock up' in
3 of the 4 members have degrees in politics from Harvard university as they are passionate about what they do
order to start a new band. He was in a club where Zach
They actively participate in protests and live what they sing
Whilst De la Rocha convinced his childhood friend Tim
de la Rocha was freestyle rapping and was very impressed and asked de la Rocha to be the lead singer/ rapper in a band, De La Rocha happily agreed. From there Morrello draphted drummer brad Wilk from the band 'Greta' who had previously audition for 'Lock Up' Commerford to join as the bassist. Hence Rage Against the Machine was born. The Band band's debut album 'Rage Against the Machine' reached triple platinum status It was heavily played on the radio especially the song "Killing in the name
Achievements and Awards The Band Has won many awards including:
Grammy Awards 1997 'Best metal performance' - For the song 'Tire me'
Grammy Awards 2001 'Best Hard Rock Performance' - For the song 'Guerrilla radio'
NME Awards 2010 'Hero's of the Year' - Presented to the entire band RATM
Kerrang! Awards 'Hall of Fame' - Presented to entire band RATM
They also abolished the murdering of Vietnamese Buddhist monks.
Poetic Style Classification Modern Contemporary/ Modern Corruption/Class Difference
Rage Against the Machine at the Grammy Awards
Volume: #1 Issue #1
Rage Against the Machine at a protest against the War on Terror
Poem 1 Analysis Poems Analyzed Killing in the Name Know your Enemy
Killing in the Name 5 Things You Didn’t Know about Rage Against the Machine
They stopped the murdering of Buddhist monks in Vietnam
They actively participate in protests and riots and live what they sing
They performed on Wall Street at the commencement of the GFC
They disbanded but reunited
They are currently not producing music
Killing in the Name Analysis “Killing in the Name” is written about revolution against police brutality and institutional racism and is globally recognized as the signature song for the band. It has established itself from other songs for its use of heavy, explicit language and guitar riffs. "Killing in the Name” has been described by critics as "a howling, expletivedriven tirade against the ills of American society.” The song contains six lines of lyrics which are repeated that associate
Date: 13/08/13
Guitarist Tom Morello performing live racism with police brutality, and then changes to the refrain, "Some of those that work forces, are the same that burn crosses," a reference to the burning of crosses by the Ku Klux Klan. The uncut version/raw edit of the song contains the “F word” on 17 occasions. The song crescendos (builds both musically and with intensity) to a climax at which point Zack De La Rocha repeats the phrase "F@$#k you, I won't do what you tell me", muttering the phrase the first four times, building in volume and intensity (crescendo) the next four occasions and screaming with full intensity, the phrase, the final eight times coming to a conclusion with De La Rocha screaming "MotherF$#@*er!" The song's lyrical allusion to the allegation that a small handful of members of the United States police forces are associated with and or members/figure heads of the Ku Klux Klan gang/ organization, who as the song states relate themselves with the burning of crosses. BBC News describes to it as railing against "the military–industrial complex, justifying killing for the benefit of, as the song puts it, the chosen whites." The song explores and reflects on the racial tensions that currently exist in US; It is important to note that the song was released six months after the ‘Los Angeles Riots’ which was triggered by the combined offense of four white police officers beating black motorist, Rodney King.
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Poem 2 Analysis To Learn More Visit the Rage against the Machine official website and learn about the bands views and opinions of controversial issues such class difference http:// www.ratm.com/ rage20/
Date: 13/08/13
Know your enemy Know Your Enemy Analysis “Know your enemy” is another one of many songs that contain antiauthoritarian and anti-war lyrics off Rage Against the Machine’s debut album “Rage Against the Machine.” The song’s central idea and underlying message is that the US government contradicts itself by alluding to be the land of the free and yet being run by an elitist enterprise. The song challenges the audience to question authority figureheads who apparently determine what you are able to believe. This message becomes evident in phrases which Zack sings such as, "What? The land of the free? Whoever told you that is your enemy!", "As we move into '92, still in a room without a view!" and "Yes I know my enemies! They're the teachers that taught me to fight me!" Throughout the song the band challenges the audience not to conform to the ways of an apparent ‘free’ society but to question and take charge for themselves
RATM performing live a little more than is perhaps comfortable. Rage Against the Machine make it evident that they do not believe in the statement or idea rather that America is the land of the free but that it is quite the opposite and is masked with this so called term we refer to as ‘freedom’. They present the idea that society and its citizens are miss-led and manipulated to make certain decisions under the illusion that it is their choice and that they had freedom to do so. This becomes apparent in the conclusion of the song which ends with the following lines: “Compromise Conformity Assimilation Submission Ignorance Hypocrisy Brutality The Elite All of which are American dreams!”
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