Who would have thought that that Bruce Springsteen, Dave Grohl, and Zac Brown, accomplished musicians all, would be so, well, tone-deaf? But how else to explain their choice of songCreedence Clearwater's famously anti-war anthem Fortunate Sonat the ostensibly pro-military Concert for Valor this evening on the National Mall?
The song, not to put too fine a point on it, is an anti-war screed, taking shots at "the red white and blue." It was a particularly terrible choice given that Fortunate Son is, moreover, an anti-draft song, and this concert was largely organized to honor those who volunteered to fight in Afghanistan and Iraq.
On a musical level, Fortunate Song is not a bad songthat's one hell of a riff. But the Concert for Valor, a Veterans Day event sponsored by HBO and Starbucks, in front of the Capitol Building, was not the place for it.
You know what. I never liked Springstees music. It always bored me. Then when I learned he was basically a communist. He is worthless and a sad choice for this event.
John Fogerty Shares Inspiration Behind "Fortunate Son"
Published on May 8, 2013
May 8, 1970 people of the United States stood by each other and protested the May 4th Kent State shootings. This instance and more of the time prompted John to write one of his classics "Fortunate Son." Hear the whole story behind this track above.
Fortunate Son came out in 1969, during the Vietnam protest era. John Fogerty was drafted in 1965. In '69 he was a vet who opposed the war. There were a whole lot people who opposed the war in the late 60's and early 70's, including members of the active duty military. The enlisted/drafted folks were not protesting the song in 69-70, they were listening to it at the base club.
The song is largely anti-draft and anti-favoritism to draft-avoiding sons of politicians and bigwigs. Somehow, to the guy getting drafted, some wealthy snot getting five deferments seemed unfair.
Springsteen also did "Born In The U.S.A."
[excerpt of lyrics]
Got in a little hometown jam so they put a rifle in my hand Sent me off to a foreign land to go and kill the yellow man Born in the U.S.A. I was born in the U.S.A. I was born in the U.S.A. I was born in the U.S.A. Born in the U.S.A. Come back home to the refinery Hiring man says "son if it was up to me" Went down to see my V.A. man He said "son don't you understand now" Had a brother at Khe Sahn fighting off the Viet Cong They're still there he's all gone He had a woman he loved in Saigon I got a picture of him in her arms now Down in the shadow of penitentiary Out by the gas fires of the refinery I'm ten years burning down the road Nowhere to run ain't got nowhere to go
Born in the U.S.A. is, to quote music critic Greil Marcus, about the refusal of the country to treat Vietnam veterans as something more than nonunion workers in an enterprise conducted off the books. It is about the debt the country owes to those who suffered the violation of the principles on which the country was founded, and by which it was justified itself ever since.
These songs are not anti-military. They are anti sending young men off to fight senseless wars. They are anti crapping on the military after their service is done. Think VA.
These songs are not anti-military. They are anti sending young men off to fight senseless wars. They are anti crapping on the military after their service is done. Think VA.
Finally - someone at this site who has the capacity to think for themselves instead of regurgitation the FAUX News propaganda.
The song (Fortunate Son) is largely anti-draft and anti-favoritism to draft-avoiding sons of politicians and bigwigs. Somehow, to the guy getting drafted, some wealthy snot getting five deferments seemed unfair.
Stop being such a knee-jerk reactionary who parrots right-wing, neocon talking points for a change.
Even better, go back to bashing "faggots".
That's more your speed.
My dad is a veteran. He doesn't like Springsteen.
Lots of people haven't liked Springsteen since way before Fox News was even on the drawing board. So your reactionary response of Fox News... is just blather from someone who likes regurgitating liberal talking points then regurgitating them again.
Somehow, to the guy getting drafted, some wealthy snot getting five deferments seemed unfair.
Think GW Bush.
GW used influence to get into the Texas Air National Guard. At that time, the National Guard was not being sent on foreign adventures.
Actually, the thought was of Dick Cheney and his five deferments. Someone in that era should have named a learning institute Deferment University. I was on active duty at the time Fortunate Son was released. It was popular, not protested.
Cheney's Five Draft Deferments During the Vietnam Era Emerge as a Campaign Issue
By Katharine Q. Seelye Published: May 1, 2004
WASHINGTON, April 30 It was 1959 when Dick Cheney, then a student at Yale University, turned 18 and became eligible for the draft.
Eventually, like 16 million other young men of that era, Mr. Cheney sought deferments. By the time he turned 26 in January 1967 and was no longer eligible for the draft, he had asked for and received five deferments, four because he was a student and one for being a new father.
Lots of people haven't liked Springsteen since way before Fox News was even on the drawing board. So your reactionary response of Fox News... is just blather from someone who likes regurgitating liberal talking points then regurgitating them again.
Check.
Springsteen is a condescending punk who ridicules America as well as the military grunts who merely do their duty. Between he and the whigger Eminem, this Veteran's Day "homage" was an absolute disgrace and utter embarrassment to any SANE observer.
As to Deckard/IW's menopausal reaction, it is FOX News and *only* FOX News reporting on 0bumkaCare author Gruber who admitted "stupidity" of the American people was the reason they passed that trash to begin with -- NOT MSNBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, the Times or any other media/network.
Springsteen is a condescending punk who ridicules America as well as the military grunts who merely do their duty.
Yeah, that must be why he performed for the troops.
As opposed to Henry Kissinger who said "Military men are just dumb, stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy.
When are you taking the time to perform for veterans? I don't hear any of them complaining about Springsteen, it's just the FAUX News parrots who are perpetually offended.
it is FOX News and *only* FOX News reporting on 0bumkaCare author Gruber who admitted "stupidity" of the American people was the reason they passed that trash to begin with -- NOT MSNBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, the Times or any other media/network.
Oh, I get it now - you are under the impression that FOX News is conservative.
NOT a valid analogy, IW. I'm not the one defending fascism. But YOU did indeed defend the homofascist movement by bashing those who defy homofascism (ironic, eh?)
Springsteen is a condescending punk who ridicules America as well as the military grunts who merely do their duty.
Yeah, that must be why he performed for the troops.
He's recruiting. Pimping for the lib crusaders. NOT seeing it? That's shame.
As opposed to Henry Kissinger who said "Military men are just dumb, stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy.
Here's MORE irony: BOTH Springsteen and Henry the K are ON THE SAME SIDE. Both are elites globalists who think they know better than the rest of us. Where do YOU stand? With THEM or US??
When are you taking the time to perform for veterans? I don't hear any of them complaining about Springsteen, it's just the FAUX News parrots who are perpetually offended.
BOTH Springsteen and Henry the K are ON THE SAME SIDE
I must have missed the part where Kissinger was performing for the troops.
Springsteen is a propagandist and recruiter, spreading his gospel of globalism, anti-constitutionalism, and elitism. WHERE DO YOU DISAGREE?
Kissinger has "performed" for the Ruling Elites -- JUST LIKE SPRINGSTEEN.
Both Kissinger and Bruuuuce are Globalist-Firsters. Both consider themselves Elites. Ergo, both are on the Same Side. Again -- do you disagree, and if so, what about?
But you keep watching those pseudo conservatives like O'reilly, Hannity and that bleached Bimbo Megan Kelly.
They only lie 75% of the time.
Again, we'll review reality's simple math and political IQ Test:
CNN/CBS/ABC/NBC/MSNBC/NYT/etal = 0% Truth. FOX News.........................................= 25% Truth.
Would you rather be 100% dead or 75% dead? (Hint: 75% dead = LIFE.)
FWIW, O'Reilly is pompous tool of the Elitists and NWO, and probably America's most dangerous talking head.
Hannity and Kelly -- though not "conservative" by my definition -- at least report the truth on this totalitarian-fascist regime on many occasions. Hannity has been a main thorn in 0bola's side. Or do you deny even that??
I have no use for Oreilly. He is a fool. I've never really watched Megan Kelly. But I've seen a few of her clips. She is ok on some things. But he is pro fake marriage.
Agree with your succinct assessment. On some issues Kelly and Hannity must be commended for getting the truth out there. On other issues they are a fail. O'Reilly is an utter FAIL, puppet of the elites,and 0bola's pool-boy. His actual job at FOX is burying ALL truth and protecting 0bola.
Hannity's subservience to Bush and the rest of his cast of globalists was and still is embarrassing and inexcusable.
The topic of discussion earlier this week on Fox News The OReilly Factor was the subject of filming police officers during on-the job duties. Or, as host Bill OReilly describes it, spying on the police.
Mr. OReilly and guest commentator Megyn Kelly proceeded to attempt to marginalize a group known as Cop Block (www.copblock.org), which has dedicated a great deal of effort toward seeking accountability among police officers through the use of cameras.
The two hosts showed nothing but contempt toward the concept of filming police and the individuals who spend effort to do it.
BOTH Springsteen and Henry the K are ON THE SAME SIDE. Both are elites globalists who think they know better than the rest of us.
Kissinger is a big promoter of the type of free trade deals that destroyed the Washburn Wire Company. Springsteen went on an Amnesty International tour, the interventionists who whine about human rights in third world countries have caused us no end of trouble, Iraq being but one example. I'm tired of guys like Kissinger and Springsteen making the rest of the world's problems America's problem.
Kissinger is a big promoter of the type of free trade deals that destroyed the Washburn Wire Company.
Come to think of it, you're right. "Free Trade" killed Washburn Wire and thousands of other American companies who were undercut by Asians. Henry the K was indeed instrumental in this "globalist" economy and never been an American-Firster. Kissinger: THE face of Globalism and economic Treason.
Springsteen went on an Amnesty International tour, the interventionists who whine about human rights in third world countries have caused us no end of trouble, Iraq being but one example.
Great point and observation some are missing. Brucie isn't so much giving a rat's azz about American troops as he is recruiting future social and economic subversives like himself.
I'm tired of guys like Kissinger and Springsteen making the rest of the world's problems America's problem.
Amen! These are the .01%-ers who believe THEY are the World's royalty.
The topic of discussion earlier this week on Fox News The OReilly Factor was the subject of filming police officers during on-the job duties. Or, as host Bill OReilly describes it, spying on the police.
Mr. OReilly and guest commentator Megyn Kelly proceeded to attempt to marginalize a group known as Cop Block (www.copblock.org), which has dedicated a great deal of effort toward seeking accountability among police officers through the use of cameras.
The two hosts showed nothing but contempt toward the concept of filming police and the individuals who spend effort to do it.
Nothing we don't already know about either O'Reilly or Kelly and the pro- Police State faction of the GOPe elites.
That said, kindly explain to us why you feel there's no difference between "FAUX News" (a term that every lib, leftist, Dem, and HuffPo uses) and MSNBC, CBS, CNN, or ABC. The latter are 100% tools of neo-fascism and 0bola. THEY would lock our azzes up in a Gulag if they could.
Btw, you may want to re-examine A K A Stone's comment below:
"I have no use for Oreilly. He is a fool. I've never really watched Megan Kelly. But I've seen a few of her clips. She is ok on some things."
You'd be just as dead from 75% strychnine as you would from 100%.
Actually, at least with MSNBC, you know they are lying 100%.
Which makes them in a roundabout way, more honest than FOX.
At least they aren't trying to hide their agenda.
So according to you MSNBC and 0buma possess integrity because they're honest about executing us in broad daylight as advertised?
How does one convince themselves that 100% Evil is the same as 25% Good??
FOX is the choice for gullible fools who still delusionally think that the Republican Party is going to save us from 0buma.
FOX News provides the ONLY option on tee-bee for those looking for SOME truth, exposing 0buma and the Dems on SOME counts, and rejecting 100% propaganda. Only a fool dismisses ALL of FOX News as though its reporting were the same as MSNBC.
Yee I agree -- FOX is trying to fool a good number of well-meaning rubes. Especially in the person of Bill O'Reilly "looking out for the folks." But in the MEANTIME FOX News still provide a needed service: THEY OCCASIONALLY REPORT THE TRUTH (when NO ONE ELSE will do so.)
Amen! These are the .01%-ers who believe THEY are the World's royalty.
Very true. They are the scumbags who got us into Somalia. Those craphole places over there that are under the heel of despots, they have exactly the government they deserve. It gets proven time and time again in crapholes like Libya and Iraq, and they're trying to do it is Syria right now.
We need to worry about America, tie for us to re-industrialize at home. The resources that have been poured down foreign ratholes by the Davos "We Are The World" class would have done wonders here at home.
Very true. They are the scumbags who got us into Somalia.
And after we waste blood and resources battling these Neanderthals and former pirates there, Bush and 0bola have IMPORTED them as parasitic, criminal "immigrant " saboteurs to places like Maine and Minnesota.
Those craphole places over there that are under the heel of despots, they have exactly the government they deserve. It gets proven time and time again in crapholes like Libya and Iraq, and they're trying to do it is Syria right now.
Hear ya. What's wrong with this picture? Simply EVERYTHING. You can't fix stupid and Cro-Magnon civ.
We need to worry about America, tie for us to re-industrialize at home. The resources that have been poured down foreign ratholes by the Davos "We Are The World" class would have done wonders here at home.
What we should do, but won't do are two different things, aren't they?
The globalist-elites know exactly what they're doing: SABOTAGING AMERICA and our Middle Class as they import the riff-raff demo of the world's Third World hell-holes.