wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

Comments

• [1] Jennifer H from NYC May 07, 2008 - 02:10PM

  How about the scene from apocalypse now where they are flying in blasting Wagner from the helicopters

  
  
• [2] Jack from Brooklyn, NY May 07, 2008 - 02:13PM

  Okay, here's a question I have:

  I fully understand that music has been a part of war/battles throughout history.

  But in the example of even this segment, and even beyond iPods, has there ever been another era where bloodthirsty/death-obsessed songs existed to "pump" people up?

  I'm sure nobody in World War II—or even the Korean War—ever listened to anything close to the brutality of "Bodies" (Drowning Pool) or any other modern songs that explicity describe and encourage death?

  
  
• [3] SEB May 07, 2008 - 02:21PM

  Jack: Vietnam, the first Gulf War are all perfect examples. I also know a lot of ex football players who jam to these types of songs to "pump" themselves up before games.

  
  
• [4] c from Manhattan May 07, 2008 - 02:22PM

  Tool and Saul Williams were both popular with battalions from Fort Polk (Louisiana).

  
  
• [5] brian from lower manhattan May 07, 2008 - 02:25PM

  what was that long distance "sound shooting" device called???

  missed the name and not getting any results froma quick google search.... anybody??

  
  
• [6] v from NYC May 07, 2008 - 02:25PM

  Live music has been part of the battlefield experiences for hundreds of years. War drums, bagpipes, etc...

  
  
• [7] Gene May 07, 2008 - 02:26PM

  Re: Bloodthirsty war songs

  The Maori greeted Capt. Cook with shouts of "Hey, come on ashore, so we can beat your brains out."

  (New Zealand, c. 1775)

  I can't imagine such sentiments have not been put to music or chants since time immemorial.

  
  
• [8] bill from Mamaroneck May 07, 2008 - 02:29PM

  For the record, I believe "Bodies" is a song celebrating slam dancing, not warfare.

  
  
• [9] Jack from Brooklyn, NY May 07, 2008 - 02:30PM

  SEB: Maybe I wasn't clear, but I fully realize that Vietnam and all conflicts afterwards have been marked by songs that pump people up, but my question is specifically about pre-Vietnam era conflicts. Which is why I mentioned World War II and the Korean War; can anyone point out any songs from that era that were about death and brutality in that way? Or even hints at death?

  FWIW, I like Metallica, The Ramones, AC/DC and tons of other bands that produce songs that "pump" people up, and I'm not passing judgement on the music on its own in any way.

  
  
• [10] Daniel from Ridgefield May 07, 2008 - 02:31PM

  That device is called LRAD.

  Now where are those essays on MUSIC IN THE POST 9/11 WORLD.

  
  
• [11] Christian from Manhattan May 07, 2008 - 02:33PM

  Re: bodies

  Bodies came out pre 9/11 - it is about mosh pits.

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodies_%28Drowning_Pool_song%29

  
  
• [12] bianca from ny May 07, 2008 - 04:01PM

  Much more on the topic:

  www.americansoldiersonmusic.com

  Also see Jonathan Pieslak's "Sound Targets" article in The Journal of Musicological Research:

  http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a779479729~db=all~jumptype=rss

  
  
• [13] Susanna Speier from Los Angeles, CA July 13, 2008 - 02:46PM

  Seemed that John Schaefer had little to no interest in the fact that "The Soldier," Jason Sagebiel, is currently a full-time university instructor and Ph. D. candidate at C.U.N.Y. Perhaps if Mr. Schaefer had eased up a bit during the interview, rather than micromanaging the dialog, constricting conversation flow, and parsing the sound bytes we'd have actually had an opportunity to hear Martin Daughtry and Jason Sagebiel (who isn't even credited in the blurb) have an actual conversation about this vital, relevant and deeply under publicized topic.

  Susanna Speier

  susanna@susannaspeier.com

  www.susannaspeier.com

  
  
• [14] Susanna Speier from Los Angeles, CA July 17, 2008 - 01:16PM

  I'd like to post a correction to my July 13th blog entry. Jason Sagebiel is not currently a student at CUNY but a faculty member. He took doctoral level programs at the Graduate Center as electives while completing his masters degree. Thanks, in advance, for updating my post so as to preserve its factual integrity. Also, despite the disappointments expressed in the post, I am, have been and shall, of course, remain a loyal, long-time listener.

  Best,

  Susanna Speier

  susanna@susannaspeier.

  www.susannaspeier.com