Rage Against The Machine - FIRST REACTION - Bulls On Parade!

[@melloman8210]

"They don't gotta burn the books, they just remove them" still ringing true today

[@sirsancti5504]

Yo, dude.. In the name ofinclusion, I cancel you!

[@MikaTarkela]

"That used to be a library line up to the mind cemetery now."

[@CyberChunk77]

Florida leading the way down the dumpster of history.

[@GobigredNEB]

Funniest part it’s the liberals who are doing those things

[@melloman8210]

@@GobigredNEB move along snowflake. go bait some other video comments.

[@johnplaysgames3120]

RED FLAGS: Red is the color that supposedly angers bulls and causes them to charge. It's the old trope that originates (I believe) from bullfighting, where the matador waves a red cape at the bull and the bull charges. In reality, bulls can't see red; they actually charge at the movement of the waving cloth, but that's always been the trope. Red flags are also traditionally associated with revolution (going all the way back to the French Revolution), as well as left-leaning politics. And, finally, red flags are used to signal danger. BLACK FLAGS: Black flags traditionally mean "no quarter given" or, like, "take no prisoners." BULLS: "Bulls" is a slang term for cops/prison guards. I've heard that the phrase "bulls on parade" was a code phrase used by people during the civil rights movement to let others know that they should watch out because the cops were on the move or patrolling or whatever, but I can't verify that. In fact, I may be having a Mandela moment here because I *KNOW* I read that all over the place years ago when I first looked up info about this song, but now can't find it anywhere. So, put it all together and you have the people rising up (raging against the machine), waving their red flags of revolution, and those flags angering the authorities and causing them to attack the people. But Rage (and the revolutionaries waving the flags) are signaling with their black flags that they'll be pulling no punches and taking no prisoners in this war against the "power dons." I've also seen it suggested that bulls are big, strong animals that can only be stopped by force, much like a government that's out of control, so that may be the metaphor here but, tbh, that seems like a little bit of a stretch, imo. ON PARADE: The "parade" aspect may have to do with military parades, i.e. a show of strength that also shows off the fruits of military spending over welfare, which is the point of the song. It could also be referring to politicians "parading" around and pretending to be all about family values during election years (while doing their dirty deals behind the scenes). As far as I know, RATM hasn't given a clear answer on what exactly is meant by the phrase but, y'know, I may have missed an interview somewhere where Zach breaks his lyrics down. Idk. THE HOOK: The hook is pretty clearly about how politicians - particularly Conservatives, though RATM doesn't give either side slack as we see in videos like "Sleep Now In The Fire" - pretend to be all about family values ("they rally 'round the family") but, really, they're focused on cutting welfare, education, and social safety nets in favor of "defense" spending, arms deals, fighting wars, filling their own pockets, etc. It's the disconnect between their words and their actions. As the verse says, "Weapons not food, not homes, not shoes / Not need, just feed the war cannibal animal." SHELLS: "Shells" may be a double here, as it's slang for "bullets" but can also be slang for "money." So... politicians pretending to be all about family values and "the family" but really just surrounding us with their pockets full of bullets and money. My favorite lines out of this song, btw, are these: "What we don't know keeps the contracts alive and movin' They don't gotta burn the books, they just remove 'em While arms warehouses fill as quick as the cells." Three simple lines that sum up so much of the problem. (1) The secret deals and money-grabs the people in charge do behind the scenes; (2) The controlling of information so that we only know what they want us to know; and (3) the priorities of the authorities are stacking bombs and jailing minorities (Hey! I wrote an unintentional bar! lol) ANYWAY: RATM are on a level of their own, BP, and I think you'd enjoy a trip down this rabbit hole, being the rebel that you are, even if you don't agree with all their politics. "Down Rodeo" is one that always makes for a good reaction, though I think you'll also really like songs like "Freedom" and "Know Your Enemy." And "Sleep Now In The Fire" is a great one as we begin the long run-up to the presidential election...

[@jamesking4024]

Yup, what he said.

[@whispermason8052]

Zach also liked a lot of double meaning in things. Bulls On Parade are code for when police are cracking down on a protest. The family means the protesters, but.... it also means the first family. So the police are rallying around your family with a pocket full of shells. And They are also rallying around the first family, with a pocket full of shells. The red flags are how you deal with a bull. Everything else you got up there, you are right. Just add this, and your there.

[@biostud666]

Red is also the color of both communism and socialism, and while communism is the authoritarian for socialism is part of a democratic system.

[@TheStumbleman]

it also hides the blood from the bull

[@craighambo]

Also red and black flags are symbolic of anarcho socialism which zac and tom had close affinity with its ideology.

[@planetcampervan]

Zach was spitting truths 30 years ago and they are highly political .....Was lucky enough to see them live at their height and still one of the best shows i ever saw....More Rage ...

[@doodmonkey]

30 years ago and things are still the god damn same.

[@johndeeregreen4592]

30 years of spitting, not changing anything, and becoming the elite he professed to hate (he's worth $35-million).

[@user-bf6gz8ej4o]

Cause nobody really wanted things to change. Back then, you didn't have to worry about being critical. Nowadays though... That's why Ratm turned into Rage in favor of the machine. Wokest band to exist by now. Same happened to System of a down.@@doodmonkey

[@doodmonkey]

@@user-bf6gz8ej4o LOL blame yourself not them

[@doodmonkey]

@@user-bf6gz8ej4o Anger is a gift, get mad

[@shifty7629]

"The land of the free? Whoever told you that is your enemy." A fire line from another Rage song (Know Your Enemy)

[@jonnylumberjack6223]

You don't have rights, you have privileges that can be taken away at any time. I paraphrase someone much better than me! Democracy is paper thin, everywhere.

[@ZainiZaudi]

🇵🇸

[@WeirdWookiee]

@@jonnylumberjack6223 The late great George Carlin said that a lot. Dunno if he was the originator of that saying but it's right.

[@HistoritorJimaldus]

US isn’t even a democracy, they have congressional districts and the electoral college instead

[@CyberChunk77]

@@WeirdWookiee George is the goat.

[@cjonesufc]

I love when people who only ever listened to rap coming up discover Rage. They are invariably stunned by the fact that Zach De La Rocha has been dropping bombs for decades. A lot of people miss the meaning of the phrase “five-sided fistagon” in this track. It’s the Black Panther Party’s clenched fist logo for those who don’t know.

[@jonm7888]

I think he's talking about the Pentagon.

[@carriepybus8929]

I think it's a double entendre for both the Pentagon & the Black Power movement. For the first few decades I used to think it was just the right pentagon..... then George Floyd happened & my thoughts changed to want it for both.

[@jonm7888]

@carriepybus8929 "That five sided fistagon." The Pentagon has five sides. The song clearly talks about the government funding the military industrial complex instead of funding social spending. It could be a double, so whatever. It's all good.

[@carriepybus8929]

@@jonm7888 Yes. Culture has shifted so fae though I do think of it as an unintended double entendre.

[@cjonesufc]

@@jonm7888You’re not wrong, but if you pay attention he literally flashes the Black Panther fist when he says the line.

[@timbeatty8411]

One of the most important bands of my generation.

[@kevinmalone2218]

Fun fact lead guitarist Tom Morello's great uncle was the first president of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta and his dad was Ambassador to Kenya.

[@wired_to_the_world]

The red and black flags are from the colors of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation that the lead singer’s grandfather was a part of. They used the flag (red with a black star) in videos and merch

[@zidapi]

Yeah, but also Rage being Rage, the flags could very well be a reference to the Antifa logo, given they are very very fucking anti-fascist, which features two flags, one red and the other black. In the case of Antifa the black flag represents Anarchism (very much in line with Rage’s beliefs), and the red flag very much represents Communism. But Communism in the aspirational sense I think. Everyone can agree that Communism has never been successfully implemented without resulting in corruption, oppression and authoritarianism. Edit: My bad. The red flag in the Antifa logo represents socialism. Equally hated in a America but very much not the same thing.

[@gvccihvcci]

@@zidapiironic af because a vast majority of the red states (fitting color I guess!) are sustained almost entirely on socialism via crop subsidies and federal programs lol. They just hate socialism because they are told it’s 1. What democrats want 2. People that aren’t “us” getting things they don’t deserve which is the same thing as taking from “us”

[@KassidySnakeyes]

Zapatista’s are anarchy-communist to this day

[@sumonjamal1653]

Rage Against the Machine's debut album dropped in 1992 just after the L.A. riots turned the city into a war zone... It was the perfect record to symbolize what was going wrong in America at the time (and even today)... It sold 3x platinum and made RATM the first band to make a career w/ that fusion of hip hop & rock music... This was from 1996 - their 2nd album 'Evil empire'... which also sold 3x platinum. Other RATM classics - 'Know your enemy' ... 'People of the Sun' ... 'Down rodeo' ... 'Testify' ... 'Sleep now in the fire' ... 'Bullet in the head'... 🤘🤘🔥🔥 The band is: Zack de la Rocha (vocals), Tom Morello (guitar), Timmy C (bass) and Brad Wilk (drums)

[@profanepersonality]

Wake Up, Know Your Enemy, People of the Sun, and Down Rodeo are my favorite tracks by them. I was a teenager when they hit the scene, and their songs and interviews definitely left an impact on me and my other small town friends. Had me mobilized. 😂😂😂

[@bodhisfattva7462]

it always shocks me when rap fans havent heard basically the entire Rage catalogue.

[@santtumoilanen3065]

thats called youtube reactions, ofcourse they have heard em

[@lethargicmosquito]

@@santtumoilanen3065 i don't think they have, RATM had always a rock and metal audience so probably rap fans back in the day didn't give them a chance

[@franklinriley7074]

Rap fans hardly know music outside of rap. Its shocking in general

[@johnnyiri6374]

Rage Against The Machine has always been a very political band fighting for peoples rights. I’d recommend checking out their song “Freedom” from the 90’s about Leonard Peltier.

[@maynarddrivesfast804]

Not a lot of people get that Freedom is about Peltier. If his story doesn't get your blood boiling then you're probably dead inside. On a related note, I lost a lot of respect for Tom Morello a few years back when he was literally siding with corporations. Seems he's raging WITH the machine these days.

[@galdavar]

Tom Morello is in charge of the guitar. He is such a legend ♪🤟 His technique is actually inspired in Hip Hop sounds as you can see

[@adamsowers8957]

Too bad he's a Communist. He is the machine.

[@manofleisure75]

Fun Fact, all the live footage was filmed in Sydney, Australia. Source: Me, I was in the crowd when this was filmed. The outdoor stuff is from the Big Day Out festival while the indoor stuff was from a second show at the Hordern Pavilion. I was lucky to be at both and it was so sick.

[@antondonkersloot2905]

Ugggghhhhh. That would be so sick. I was so excited when they announced their tour in 2020, got floor seats. Then the show moved 3 times cause of Covid and then Zack tore his achilles? For real? I'm obviously not meant to see them. Glad you got to.

[@shdwdrmr-dq3lo]

4:23 You might not want to get political, but the song sure as hell does haha

[@TheDivayenta]

Amen.

[@Dohitsurban]

I don't really consider it political, def anti war but there are plenty on all sides that don't want us to be at war so... social yes, political naw, at least not against one or the other parties blah blah blah...political wise perhaps against the political force as a whole not in a divisive way but just mad at how the establishment is set.

[@brentbartley6838]

Tom Morello is an f-ing genius with an electric guitar. The sounds he makes them produce, no one else has done before or since. Truly unique talent.

[@Tijuanabill]

The undisputed king of making a guitar do weird stuff, no question.

[@TerentiusD]

They are possibly one of the most political bands. Incredibly left wing and unabashedly so.

[@codexdelux]

But definitely on the anti-authoritarian left, not the large communist party who controls everything side :P

[@joelombardi4907]

They may be left leaning, but this song is describing what is going on with the current left wing administration all these years later. Just goes to show who really is in charge of this country, no matter where you are politically.

[@slyzombie6166]

The right is the one removing books...

[@jherriff]

😂

[@bobboy5508]

Funny thing, the left back then was about F you I won’t do what you tell me. But as we saw during Covid the left were the ones screaming do what we tell. And the right we’re the ones saying F you we won’t do what you tell us. Remember how liberals wanted unvaccinated people to not get treatment at hospitals and not to mention what happened in Canada with the rebellion truckers. Oh how things have changed. I grew up then and loved these guys and liberal raised. In the last 5 years I found myself on the right. Because I hadn’t changed but oh how the liberal left changed especially when in power at the White House.

[@ldrew2]

Zach's flow is underrated and has been. Bullet in Your Head and Down Rodeo need to be done

[@FaradaysRider]

Testify - live at Finsbury Park. A mindblower.. Awesome reaction mate. Peace. Edit: The "Bulls" are Wall St. & the military industrial complex. RAGE also shut down Wall St - "Sleep Now In The Fire, epic.

[@jasonkart1651]

Ren has mentioned Zach the lead singer as a huge influence in many interviews.

[@Grassisgreenbean]

Nice, which interviews?

[@pedallinwithparedes]

If you're a hip hop head then a lot of their music has funk in it like Testify, Guerilla Radio, Calm like a bomb, Sleep now in the fire, Renegades of funk and Bomb track. The messages on all of them are eye opening as well.

[@Shiroar]

Hell yeah!!🤘The sound of my teens 😅 I think the song you might want to check out next is Killing in the Name of. That’s the one you knew some lyrics from and one do the reasons you do is the Warpigs mashup by The Big Push. Ren loves RATM and Zack de la Rocha is one of Ren’s favourite MCs. I think it’s pretty clear how they have inspired some of his art. Aside from the obvious shoutout in Love Music 3 😂

[@alexjany1969]

Nooooooo

[@jeffs.605]

@@alexjany1969 ....WAaaay'.....duUudE'.

[@aszzzrock4784]

Zach is one of the most underrated MC in the history. Check out CIA with KRS one

[@carriepybus8929]

YES!!!

[@ProsperoFinch]

The song is explicitly about the political right wing claiming family values (they rally ‘round the family) while supporting warmongering (with a pocketful of shells), and the verses go into how their (the political right wing) policies don’t serve the people but rather the military and prison industrial complex

[@tayloryoung8336]

Exactly. They are hardcore and unapologetically leftists. If BP spent 20 mins talking to Zach or Tom he would learn just how backward and naive many of his views are.

[@joelombardi4907]

Funny how this now describes what the current left wing administration is doing all these years later.

[@kuro_emiya]

hilarious how much the left are for war now, while the right is staunchly anti war now.

[@Tijuanabill]

Yeah, the message is a little funny, to anyone informed. Both sides are pro-war, obviously. Every war ever started, they both voted for it.

[@jacobac07]

I took the lyrics a little bit differently and I could be totally wrong. "They rally around the family with a pocket full of shells.". "They" meaning the government, "rally around the family" meaning they intimidate the citizens of the country, "with a pocket full of shells" meaning they use the threat of firearms or other forms of violence to beat the population into submission. Again, I understand I could be wrong as I'm pretty sure RATM were left wingers and they have lots of communist imagery in this music video.

[@Sunshineandhydrangeas]

So, “Killing In The Name” is the other song that you’re remembering. The religious right had slogan “Rally Around the Family”. They were really going in on making what they thought of as decency laws (a.k.a. Censorship). They’re the reason we have warning labels on music, video games, shows, etc. They were also pretty reliably in favor of going to war and killing people who didn’t agree with them. The military industrial complex was on board with that and the whole idea that you couldn’t be patriotic and against war, and being against war somehow means you hate soldiers and their families. They supposedly supported our soldiers, but had no problem sending them to die for nothing and then not actually supporting them when (or if) they came home. Funny how some things don’t really change, because here we are again with that same crap! I am not that much older than you, but you missed what’s now known as “The Satanic Panic”. You should learn about that, too. It was all connected and it was less than fun for those of us who were subjected to it. It’s funny that you mention the Matrix, because their song “Wake Up” is at the end of that movie. You need to listen to that one!

[@janarunsfw2708]

Came to say this 🖤

[@janarunsfw2708]

You’re reacting to Rage, I’m here for it. Better late than never 👊

[@terrydavis7389]

he is not ready for killing in the name....

[@Tijuanabill]

Al and Tipper Gore, Democrats, are why you have labels on music, as a point of fact. Both US political parties are pro-war, as a point of fact.

[@NightwatchRebel]

Funny how times changed and their music is still relevant even though they are raging with the machine now.

[@peterwhite7798]

Fun fact Ren is the only rapper I have ever heard put Zach in his top 5 list of rappers! Can't miss with anything from their first album!

[@yourthaiguy]

Hands down the best rhythm section since Led Zepplin. Impossible to listen to RAGE and not feel it in your soul.

[@ikuep]

Their first album was their best album. Every single song on that album is a banger.

[@tubelious]

while this is true (one of the best debut albums in popular music history), all three actual studio albums are very good. Next to none fillers. Rage has been in my weekly/monthly rotation since late '90.

[@colinloves]

Timeless Perfection, Its Jet fuel for revolutionaries and it aint got a sell by date

[@Deezzer1212]

rage with the machine now though. "yes sir i will do what you tell me", these days.

[@caffeineadvocate]

I usually skip “Settle For Nothing”, only because of the way the chordal mode makes me feel, but yeah - rare flawless album.

[@colinloves]

Yur the only one raging with the machine. I dont believe you ever understood them in the first place, cos how did you get so lost?@@Deezzer1212

[@ozzimo]

"i don't wanna get political, I just wanna hear a dope rap group" Well damn man, that's the saddest part of this whole reaction. The message flies right over you.

[@Moisttowelette1111]

Yeah thats not a great way to approach things, throwing your head in the sand if something gets political. politics are ugly but at least hear what people have to say. and i mean the irony of saying i dont want politics, just good rap. Like you could argue a lot of rap itself is political. a lot of music and art is. Music can be more than just "catchy", and it doesnt have to be a negative thing when someone has something to say.

[@twohorsesinamancostume7606]

You say that as if Rage didn't sell out to the establishment

[@Moisttowelette1111]

@@twohorsesinamancostume7606 Well perhaps, but you also cant paint everyone with that. In general, i mean. It's far better to listen and see whats being said, rather than be bogged down in assumptions, and then not bother with it. Thats not about Rage thats about anything.

[@twohorsesinamancostume7606]

@@Moisttowelette1111 Rage literally toured in support of Democrats last election for some of the most establishment candidates there are, not to mention their dead silence when the government was trampling the hell out of people's rights during COVID.

[@cbus-og5453]

Some people just seek music, cinema and art to be entertained and enjoyment, not to hear some whinny no nothing lecture them with bumper sticker deep platitudes

[@hjermsted22]

I'm jealous that you get to discover RATM for the first time! I suggest throwing their albums on and discovering them that way but I get that this is a reaction channel. You can't go wrong with any of these as your next step: 'Killing in the Name' 'Freedom' 'Down Rodeo' 'Testify' 'Calm Like a Bomb' Their version of 'Renegades of Funk' is one of my faves and has a great video too. Enjoy!

[@bhalgrumtahnuehuk3722]

Communism and authoritarian are completely different. Communism is a theory where the workers have the power not the corporation. The original concept was that if everything was shared then there's no top or bottom and everyone's needs are met, and in theory if everyone is taken care of then there would be no need to steal etc. and therefore eventually the police wouldn't be needed. All the big fear mongering about communism always points to gov'ts that are more authoritarian and have a communistic economy but they are not implementing it as intended. Same as how capitalism isn't designed to be like how it is in the US, corporations got greedy. All the different economic systems promise a utopia but humans are greedy and we fuck it up. Don't let ppl tell you you should like or hate something without learning about it and then you can make an informed decision. Me personally I'm for a mixed economic system, use what makes sense where needed and if the situation changes and something else is needed then we shouldn't be closed minded to new ideas just because we are used to one system.

[@WillTaft]

Keep fighting the good fight, comrade.

[@derjoo79]

💪

[@lucasbenedine3477]

Yes! I don't get how people don't see they are Communists/Radical Left. Tom is literally wearing a CCCP shirt and he wears Soviet Union pins on Audioslave music videos.

[@scapito]

💪💜

[@icecap7484]

You're confusing communism and socialism. Problem is, there has to be a system of authority in place to decide how resources are divided. Anyone who tells you that communism/socialism aren't absolutely authoritarian are trying to sell you a bridge in Baltimore.

[@J3nJ3nl0llip0p]

Glad you found these guys! I was 18 when this album was released, FRESH outta lockdown (spent some time in juvey and placement). Living in a halfway house for newly sober people, this and "Dirt" but Alice in Chains got me through, kept me sane, kept me from trying heroin. Love Zach, love Layne🖤🖤🖤☕☕☕☕🖤☕🖤

[@Pablopax4]

Just to remind you, 'War Pigs' was mashed up with 'Killing in the name' (Big Push), That's where you heard "So you do what they told ya". Our pal Ren is a huge fan. F**k you I won't do what you tell me, I mean it! Damn I wish I was young again..

[@YearZer0777]

Funny when you said Matrix. Their song Wake Up is the song at the end of the 1st Marrix movie. They also have a song in the end credits of Matrix Reloaded. Can't remember if they had a song on Matrix Revolution

[@matthewgoodA1206]

This is usually the song that convinces people Zach is a real rapper, a true MC with flow. In my view Tom Morello, the guitar player, wanted his solo to sound like DJ scratching, and it totally does. Lastly, some people have said “bulls on parade” is code, for the riot squad and/or a march conducted by the authorities.

[@JathraDH]

IMO it's main meaning in this song (although probably a double meaning TBH) since it's talking about the military industrial complex is "market bulls" which they have referenced in other songs. A bull market is one where the stock prices only go up or are speculated to only go up. The bulls in this case I believe strongly are the corporations in the military industrial complex and the politicians they fund, pushing the war machine for profits.

[@CaptainFirefred]

There is a difference between the european understanding of freedom to the US interpretation. Europe is the "freedom of", US is the "freedom to". One leads to community, the other to individualism. The freedom you like is in the latter. Edit: I am european and prefer the freedom of.

[@justinatest9456]

As a Canadian I can't even comprehend a different version of freedom besides the rights of an individual.

[@jonnylumberjack6223]

@@justinatest9456 So you don't believe the indigenous peoples of Canada, or any other marginalised peoples, should have any rights? If they can't personally fight for their personal rights against a system that has systemically oppressed them, they should have none?

[@justinatest9456]

@@jonnylumberjack6223 Lol how did you get any of that from what I said, at all? Did you reply to the wrong comment?

[@jeffs.605]

...& I Agree w/CAPTAIN Fire FreD JoHnSoN Who aGREE'd w/ H0WaRd JoHnSoN....tHat... tHe sHeRiFf' iS / Was ...eTc. .. .. a EUROPIAN

[@davidmanning2859]

Rage live was on another level. Saw them live once, before their set started like 1/4 of the floor had people on it. As soon as they started there was literally a sea of people jumping the wall to get to the floor it looked like a wave going over. During the set I saw people get tased and a security guard get whopped by a fan he tried to stop from breaching the floor wall. By like the 3rd song the floor was packed and people jumped up and down to the point where I felt the floor on the upper level shifting under my feet. They put on like a 1 hr set and them an encore for almost another hr. Went to the concert a non rage fan, was converted by the end. They sounded as good live as the album (this was during the battle of la tour). Haven't been to a concert in awhile and yet to this day it was the best show I saw live in person. The energy between them and crowd was on another level. I believe it was at the Nassau colliesium with a tribe called quest and or the beastie boys.

[@maryhinze-joyce8966]

Same experience but in Ft Worth,TX and it was actually real Cops not the rent-a-cops. I tore my ankle up as it was wrapping up. Loved it!!

[@colinloves]

The pig man learnt not to mess with rage fans. Been quite a few riots at rage gigs.

[@mariofischer5437]

In Europe red flags were associated with workers movements, especially strikes. The symbolism of the flag was captured by the socialist governments, with the Soviet Union using it as a national symbol. In the US it was used too, which you can see in the Charlie Chaplin film „Modern Times“.

[@JMulvy]

This song is all about the gross over spending on the military industrial complex. In the early 90s politicians were using the slogan “rally around the family” to suggest that traditional American Family values are in jeopardy and need the support of voters to restore them. So while they recognized these growing disparities of socio-economic value they also spent something like 12 times as much on military defense budget and opted to expand it twice! So that they could preserve (ENFORCE) those traditional American Family values. “They rally around the family, with a pocket full of shells.” The "Bulls on Parade" has a double meaning. First and foremost it is a reference to the Bull Market. aka Wall Street where all of the government money changes hands (they were big enemies of Giuliani in his “beloved mayor of NY” days too), but also in the video there are swaths of people carrying black and red flags. The colors of the Anarchist Movement. The bulls also being the masses who fight back against the injustice. RATM wasn’t just a band, they were a movement. People call them prophetic but really we are just dealing with the same BS decade after decade. This is a very angry and militant song and I love it! - R✊A✊T✊M -

[@marcarcmracmcram4275]

I know I’m 54 now and when RATM was so big in my music life back in the 90s, strange I think everyone knows Rage Against the Machine, and when people don’t my mind sends alerts,but I realise that was 30 years ago, but the lyrics and music are massively relevant today

[@BAYBAY_316]

"Rally round the family with a pocket full of shells" lyric refers to politicians that claim to love family values while feeding the military industrial complex feeding wars

[@cenocoelpiloto]

Red + black flag is the anarchist flag. I guess that's it, but I could be wrong, because they are two separate flags in this case

[@johnplaysgames3120]

Traditionally, waving a red flag is associated with angering bulls and causing them to charge (it doesn't actually because bulls can't see red, but that's the cliché). Red flags are also associated with revolution and "bulls" is a slang term for cops/prison guards. So, waving the flag of revolution angers the authorities and causes them to attack. Black flags traditionally mean "no quarter given" or, like, "take no prisoners." So the red and black flags in the video are symbolic of a revolution against the authorities in which the flag wavers intend to take no prisoners, pretty appropriate given how hard RATM goes with their message. They're not sugarcoating it like other, more coded songs of revolution might. They're just straight-up calling out and challenging the paradigm of power and politics.

[@montanadj8814]

Yes! U catching some Rage bro! There won’t be any disappointment here for ya. Enjoy! They got some major bangers in their library. Side note: Zack de la Rocha has a bunch of tracks with El-P and he did a track with KRS-One back in the day called “C.I.A. Criminals In Action” . Check it out if you haven’t heard it fam🤘🏻

[@SkaterWillsy]

Not just El-P but killer Mike too as part of the hip hop duo Run the Jewels. 🔥🔥🔥

[@haydenpayne8899]

He also has a side project called One Day As A Lion….. it’s kind of a super group bc it has Zack and the drummer for Queens of the Stone Age. It’s legit, check it out.

[@robertkramer41]

I love your reaction. Keep going, what you believe is your reality, I'm trying to remember that myself but it is true. Believe, make it happen, we are powerful beings, believe.

[@raulalburquerque6559]

Me encantó la reacción. Me gusta mucho la forma que tienes para internalizar las letras y la música que le dio forma a toda una generación 20 años atrás. Saludos desde Chile!

[@jlm10181978]

They used to rage against the machine, but now the guitarist rages with the machine supporting Joey B

[@scottclark3761]

RATM is unapologetically political. Tom Morello is the guitarist, and, when asked why they went political, said to let him know which of their songs aren't political, so he could remove them from the catalog. And yeah....lyrics. Zach is the rapper, and dude drops history books in his bars. Down Rodeo will blow your mind.

[@J3nJ3nl0llip0p]

Real real ready for Rodeo!!!!!

[@JonWarren78]

Morello has a BA in political science from Harvard. So he also knows his stuff. You have to completely not listen to the lyrics at all in order to not know they are political, its so out front. I remember getting into more trouble for wearing a RATM shirt to high school than I did a Manson shirt lol.(this was 1995 and at a private school) It was the one that stated "We have determined that your whole system sucks." I really hope he reacts to Sleep Now in The Fire and Rodeo.

[@feardabrood]

You should react to Known Your Enemy by them

[@DKS1975DKS]

THESE DAYS THEY SHOULD BE CALLED "RAGE FOR THE MACHINE"

[@mikemedrano8579]

​@robbob2579 for sure. Same with some "punk" bands. They're old lefties that have been captured by mainstream media. The systems they used to rebel against have become their safe spaces. Ignorance, slander, official narratives and mental gymnastics form their opinions.

[@IndagoChild143]

You should react to Rage Against The Machine - “wake up”!!

[@jerryskidsff]

Know your enemy, down rodeo are 2 of the next reactions needed

[@zidapi]

In 2017 members from Rage, Cypress Hill and Public Enemy formed a group called Prophets of Rage. They released a few original tracks and also played covers from their respective bands. This is probably what you were thinking of at the beginning.

[@timp1390]

This whole album is really good. Give it a run thru

[@StacyLym]

Highly recommend having the lyrics or captioning on whenever you’re reacting to RATM. It’s easy to get caught up in the symbolism of the imagery but coupled with the lyrics are the complete experience and true message.

[@doodmonkey]

Grew up on this, one of the biggest inspirations of my life😊 I'm so glad you're here. Now listen to the rest of RATM, get your mind blown. Listen/watch “Freedom” • 1993. Game changer.

[@colleenmonell1601]

I love seeing people discover Rage. Growing up in San Diego back in the late 80's and early 90's they were very much a part of our local music scene. We seem to need a little new rage music now.

[@krs5267]

For the red and black flags those are the colors of anarchist communism (RATM is pretty heavy leaft-leaning) among other things. You can read more about it by searching for Anarchist symbolism on the Wikipedia. In general red and black flags are the OG anarchist symbols (there were many other colors added later to denote different flavors of anarchism).

[@Tijuanabill]

The term "Anarchist Communism" is arguably the biggest oxymoron ever. They are the literal opposites of the political spectrum, Communism being the furthest left, Anarchy being the furthest right.

[@krs5267]

@@Tijuanabill Anarchism is far-left on the political spectrum. Did you confuse it with something else?

[@Tijuanabill]

@@krs5267 No, I'm just going off reality. The far left is authoritarian, the far right is anarchy. Both ideals are bad. It's the middle that makes sense.

[@Tijuanabill]

@@krs5267 And no, anarchy is NOT the far left. It's clearly the far right. The more authoritarian a government gets, the more it looks like communism. The more the public can do whatever they want, the more it looks like anarchy. You are just confused, because you have assigned a good vs bad ideal to the extremes, when in reality, both extremes are bad.

[@adamwells9352]

I'm with krs on this one. Anarchism is too often just a word libertarians seem to seem cool. Libertarianism (super far right) only results, in practice, in the powerful class getting more power. Anarchism is not that.

[@andreanaguidice6228]

They made 450,000 copies in one week then went Double platinum......they are from LA and started band protesting after the Rodney king riot,lead singer is a African American, Mexican,his hair is real he is himself, which i believe in everything he sings.they are one of the best protest bands ❤ of our generation.he sings about our corrupted government, police brutality, those that work forces are the same that burn crosses, really someone has to draw a picture because it sings clearly what he ment.im generation x been there twice now❤❤❤.what he sang then happened again and that song was made in the 90,s.powerful group showed the world no matter your skin we out number you for those are for all not because of skin.he did rock,metal,pop,funk,rap.freaking genius.❤❤❤❤❤ty for sharing.

[@sharoncarlisle9453]

Hope you do more Rage. Try Know Your Enemy, or Killing In The Name (this is the one you've heard parts of, and was written after the Rodney King beating). You know those bits because they are in Ren's War Pigs mashup. Zack is one of his favorite rappers.

[@andimetrum]

I cannot thank you enough for this. Don’t tell RATM, but their lyrics hit both ways today. The machine is big, and there are heroes and villains on both sides.

[@TheSlash666jl]

Hell yeah! RATM is badass

[@emcsquared8681]

Bulls on parade was a term used during protests in the 90s meaning the cops were there. Take the power back and Know your enemy are both must hears from them.

[@JonWarren78]

The album you were thinking of may have been the Judgement Night Soundtrack. The whole album was pairing hip-hop and rap artists with metal and rock bands. Great soundtrack.

[@Will_Wel]

Damn, I remember that one!

[@terrymartin5839]

Or Prophets of Rage came to my mind, which consisted of Brad, Tom, and Tim of RATM, DJ Lord and Chuck D from Public Enemy, and B-Real from Cypress Hill.

[@eastcoastaj5048]

"They don't have to burn the books, they just remove them."

[@davidcapraro4715]

It is best to have the lyrics to read while listening to Rage. What he says is deep and the complexities of metaphors he uses, it could be easy to miss what points he is making and easy to miss what is actually said. Cheers 🍻

[@jonm7888]

I hope BP expands his knowledge of political ideas after this.

[@TheDivayenta]

Right?

[@brittanygidley1291]

i love them so much, growing up listening to them back in middle school back in 2006, i’m 32 now. they talk about how the government doesn’t control us either.

[@Ryan-ws3yf]

Awesome reaction man. Rage was spitting truth back then and still applies today. If I may suggest either All Lies or City's on Fire by 3rd Strike. They were an up-and-coming nu-metal/rap rock band from the SoCal area. Unfortunately, they only released one album before the singer/MC passed but some of their songs have a "real world" truth to them. Just a shallow, basic summary, All Lies is about just being fed lies all the time. City's on Fire is about the decay of society. I believe they were heavily influenced by Rage Against the Machine.

[@bloodnthuner]

"What we don't know keeps the contracts alive and movin. They dont gotta remove the books they just remove 'em." I love how their lyrics apply to both political parties and that they dont side with either. We should all take a lesson from that.

[@aimeekeel]

One of my favorite bands of all time!

[@danieljohnson3254]

I love and appreciate your interpretation of this song. I’ve just recently started watching reaction videos and yours goes above and beyond because you inject genuine curiosity and feedback. Thank you for that.

[@JokerInk-CustomBuilds]

One of the big bands from my young days!

[@Mr_Feyshade]

Check the "Judgement Night" soundtrack. It's all rock & rap collabs.

[@colinloves]

That is one of the best movie soundtracks.

[@johnplaysgames3120]

"Power dons" definitely means who you think it means, BP. He comparing the wealthy and elite who run our country to mobsters. You'll notice that the very next line refers to the "five-sided Fist-a-gon," which is referring to the aggression/oppression symbolized by the Pentagon and the military industrial complex. I'll note here too that many people take "the elite" as meaning the people running whichever party they don't agree with but I don't think Rage is differentiating between Left or Right, Democrats or Republicans. They lump them all together and see our political system here as a big show that gives us the illusion of freedom and choice while rigging the game for wealthy people to trade off turns at the top while they use us to enrich themselves. Check out the video for their song "Sleep Now In The Fire" to see more of this idea. As the singer/rapper of Rage, Zach de la Rocha, has said: "American democracy is inverted when your only choice is between wealthy representatives of the privileged classes."

[@seserta1]

Nice to watch you vibing with RATM. De la Rocha is a true lyricist, a real poet spitting truths. Their music always makes me jump and bang my head. They fuel me with energy. Please, react to more of their music: Wake up, Down Rodeo, Bullet in the Head, Know your Enemy, Killing in the name of,...

[@rveino2978]

Great reaction we need more Rage.Check out there live stuff Peace

[@descantinginsalubrious]

I always think of Eddie Grant's Electric Avenue "Workin' so hard like a soldier/Can't afford a thing on TV/Deep in my heart I am warrior/Can't get food for them kid" -- "Who is to blame in one country/Never can get to the one/Dealin' in multiplication/And they still can't feed everyone"

[@GageTheCannon]

One of my favorite Pac lines, great connection. This song is a classic, good reaction! I appreciate you making your own interpretations. The video is also very powerful. Based on this reaction I think you'd really like Bo Burnham's comedy/satirical song "How the World Works" if you haven't seen it yet. Gonna check your vids to see if you've done any Bo yet. Subbed.

[@simontemplar3359]

How the world works is brilliant and DARK AF! Nice one!

[@sheert]

"I walk the corner to the rubble that used to be a library... They don't gotta burn the books they just remove 'em"

[@overnightgrowth]

Finally! So it begins. Checking out RATM. Just do the entire catalogue. So many bangers!

[@whispermason8052]

The RATM song you were referring to is called Killing in the Name of, and it's about Racism in the police force. So you could revisit that one with new understanding and it'll blow your mind.

[@justinatest9456]

Possibly the best debut of all time. Similar to Van Halen's debut - given that it's a perfect album, stylistically very innovative, and generated an entire genre of rock. In many ways Tom Morello was as innovative as EVH. Not nearly as technically talented, but very creative.

[@Tijuanabill]

Appetite for Destruction is the GOAT debut album, but man I dig that early Van Halen stuff a lot. Morello is the best guitar player if the goal is to make the guitar sound like something other than a guitar. Some of it was sounds we all made, but he made it in to music. Other stuff we weren't even sure how he did it.

[@mattblatchley2061]

Awesome! These guys' music are absolute fire---their rebellion comes from the far Left, but I think folks on the right are starting to embrace this message of rebellion---just imho. Your take on this is spot on BP... "Down Rodeo" "Renegades of Funk" "Killin' In The Name" "No Shelter" "Testify" SO MANY BANGERS, BP!!!

[@Haffelpaff]

I feel like these days the far left and right are both sick facscists, and everyone in the right mind is meeting in the middle to get away from the idiots to our left and right.

[@johnplaysgames3120]

Rage's politics are definitely far Left (communist, and pretty openly so) but songs and videos like "Sleep Now In The Fire" demonstrate that they don't believe in either Republicans or Democrats, and anyone who's supporting one over the other is missing the point because they're all the same. What we see as Left vs. Right is really just a game the people in power are playing to give us, the people, an illusion of choice when, really, they're just trading off turns at the top and using us to enrich themselves. As Zach has said (I believe in reference to hanging American flags upside down onstage, maybe at the SNL incident), "American democracy is inverted when your only choice is between wealthy representatives of the privileged classes." Here's something I wish more people would think about: If you were a member of the 1% right now, how would you avoid running into a French Revolution situation where the people finally get fed up with the game, rise up, and overthrow your wealthy asses? Answer: Control the narrative in the media to get the people angrily and passionately fighting each other so when the powder keg finally blows, the poor kill each other off instead of targeting those at the top who are rigging the game. Is your neighbor really an "enemy of the country" who wants to "destroy America" or are they just the distraction being used to keep your guns pointed at them instead of at the man behind the curtain? All the Left vs. Right stuff is being perpetrated to keep our focus on fighting each other instead of them and people are falling for it hook, line, and sinker.

[@SuzakuX]

Dude you can't be a conservative and a rebel, the whole point of conservatism is to maintain the status quo.

[@Haffelpaff]

@@SuzakuX When everyone seems to be wearing blinkers and there are some who ignore the ice below them is not going to hold their stubborn asses, while another big crowd is trampling each other to death as they run towards the open sea the rebel facepalms, shakes his head and walks to the coast, hoping all the idiots just kill themselves. Weird times we are living in.

[@mattblatchley2061]

@@SuzakuX yes ...the status quo is what conservatives are trying to preserve from the current attempt to overturn traditional values, order and tradition. Look up the word "reactionary" and then you might understand. The far Left has taken over all public institutions and that is what we are reacting to. Have you seen the controversy over the president of Harvard University? It's a good example of what I am saying.

[@Elezium]

It's about politicians that campaign on a "family values" ticket, while they make millions from arms sales and shares in weapons companies. Zack has bars for days! Saw them play a couple times back in the early 90's and they were something else live...1st show i saw them was intense to say the least! "Mic Check" is probably their most "hip hop" track, but def check out stuff like "Know Your Enemy", "Wake Up", "Without A Face", "Down Rodeo", "Darkness Of Greed", "Sleep Now In The Fire", "Testify" and every other song they did!! ;)

[@dataolle]

You need to react to wake up by rage against the machine. Legendary song.

[@juli-aan]

I plus up this one, you should really go for "Wake up" for the next one and heard how they were pioneer and eyes wide open @blackpegasus

[@markbrowning4301]

"Killing in the Name of" will BLOW YOUR MIND! So eerily relevant today. Epitomizes the "rage" in Rage Against the Machine

[@jwarrior852]

So, I think at the beginning you were referring to Public Enemy collabing w/Anthrax "Bring the Noise" which may have birthed this genre, possibly. Yes this band was all about anti-social subjects, atrocities the Gov. have committed etc. More RATM please Killing In the Name is the song you're familiar with via The Big Push mash up you reacted to. Man this soft ass generation needs Rage, System of a Down, Public Enemy and many others. When teenage angst was a thing. These young peeps don't want to do or feel anything real. Online anger is all they can do. Keep watching g these artists. Especially live. The moshing , the stage diving, all their energy being released!!! Nowadays kids are just numbed down. No outlet at all!!!

[@paintedhorse6880]

Red and black are the colors of Anarchism. The red symbolizes the Anarchists' opposition to capitalism and all forms of unequal distribution of wealth. The black symbolizes the Anarchists' opposition to the State as a coercive institution.

[@Deviloc1]

BP, this is not an attack on you, just a reaction to something you said in this video: It's not productive to be "anti-government". We need laws, we need infrastructure, we need a military, we need social welfare programs etc. We need government. "The Government" is not a "thing", it's just a collection of people, people who adjust our laws over time (by writing new laws, changing old laws, or removing old laws). Being "anti-government" just means "I'm not going to participate in the law making process in my country, instead I'm just going to let other people make those decisions." If you don't like our current government, VOTE in the people / party who will better represent your wishes. And don't let "Perfect be the enemy of good", you will never find a party / person who represents EVERY SINGLE THING YOU BELIEVE IN EXACTLY, you have to pick the lesser of the evils, and then vote for them and do what you can to help get them elected. Or run for office yourself. Or do nothing, and bitch about how bad the government is (while still living under it's laws and doing nothing to make it work better). I'm not saying that you don't vote or whatever (I have no idea about that), I'm just saying that being "anti-government" is not a good thing. We need government. Be anti-the-people-in-government-who-are-not-doing-things-that-help-our-people and pro-people-in-government-who-are-doing-things-to-help-our-people.

[@jasonremy1627]

3:20 There's a group called Prophets of Rage that has Chuck D. along with the three musicians in RATM and B. Real from Cypress Hill.

[@tetsumcneil1545]

Oh yeah 'Down Rodeo' gotta do that one

[@lumpheadthump]

Rally round the family IS protection.

[@AGDinCA]

True communism is the absolute _opposite_ of authoritarianism.

[@MadScientistMikeOfficial]

Engles' "On Authority" explains well how authority is an element of all class struggle, either the elites use authority against the working class or it goes the other way. there is no middle ground on class struggle without a good deal of PR conditioning to think such a thing could exist.

[@kuro_emiya]

no it isn't and you know that. because it's Been the facet of communism of every government that has invoked communism. because the "true" communism you talk of is fundamentally authoritarian.

[@mattjohn4731]

Stoked you shout out Dead Prez and Immortal Technique. I look for those hard truths. Chuck D, Dead Kennedys, MDC, Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, Napalm Death, Sepultura, Conflict, the Clash, Slits, Billy Bragg, Los Crudos...

[@bazamere]

RatM was always anti capitolist to me. I am 100% pro socialist. It has nothing to do with dictators. Socialism is basically if you took insurance companies from a capitolist country, and made it so those insurance companies couldnt make a profit (so basically they are just there to pool money for people who are unable to get their basic necessities). No it doesnt mean no one works, it just means all those who can work will help those who cant and that could include themselves if something happens.

[@johnplaysgames3120]

Also, when people associate communism with authoritarianism, they're not understanding what communism is supposed to be. The problem is that, IRL, the people who institute (or claim to institute) communism always run into a point where they're meant to give up their special privileges and just be an equal member of a society that treats everyone the same and shares resources across the board so that everyone is taken care of... and then they balk and fall back on being dictators because, humans being the selfish idiots that we are, no one wants to give up their power, privilege, or authority. Historically, the governments people tend to think of first that identified as Socialist or Communist have actually been authoritarian regimes who call themselves socialists or communists but aren't actually either. The Nazis, the Fascists, the USSR... it's wolves claiming to be lambs and giving the lambs a bad name. Much less noticed, unfortunately, are the democratic socialist countries that are consistently rated among the happiest in the world. I mean, look at how some of those countries handle work schedules, leave, education, etc., compare it to what we take as normal in the US, and see if you don't start feeling really, REALLY jealous of them and angry that we're being sold a "normal" that is objectively sick and destructive.

[@gregrot]

Solidarity with you comrade.

[@RenegadeRockChik]

✊

[@konstantinoschouliaras7]

"What is the red and black banner represent?" Mate are you living under a rock?!?!

[@Searles007]

"Down Rodeo" is the Jam! 💚🤙

[@cra119]

War serves the dollar, peace serves the people.

[@Afasia420]

More RATM. America needs to more ratm. ❤

[@serfillustrated4018]

We dont need more commies.

[@frankrizzo6404]

Opened with this in 2000 at an Amnesty International concert we arranged in our huge high school auditorium...light show and everything. Peoples jaws dropped and their minds opened.

[@woodchuckmarmalade7878]

Bro, research Communism.

[@AGDinCA]

LOL! I just made a similar comment.

[@kuro_emiya]

no

[@russellebenton]

Homie. It isn't complicated: he's telling you war rules us.