Why People Get Rage Against the Machine Wrong

[@Northergamerznorthznorth3]

"He's the one who likes all our pretty songs, and he likes to sing along - but he don't know what it means"

[@thiccmcchicken550]

Favorite Metallica song

[@kingtrashmouth7265]

Eric Ferguson woosh

[@swim_ad]

@Eric Ferguson over your head and below your shoulders.

[@cheesybeans5304]

@Eric Ferguson I thought it was Britney spears

[@voteZDLR]

@@cheesybeans5304 What? It is Britney though at least I thought

[@Bartholomule01]

People really do get it wrong. I think I've heard people actually complain about political ranting in between songs at their shows. Saying things like "keep politics out of music" while literally listening to RATM.

[@jaycorbin6145]

Bartholomule01 Most people don’t care about it, unless they can’t twist it to their own beliefs, which is what they mean by “keep politics out of music”. It actually means “You can only be political if you agree with ME.”

[@sgtsimplycrispy7749]

@@jaycorbin6145 not necessarily. I dont go to a concert to hear your political crap. i go to a show to mosh and jam to music, hence i dont plan on attending any RATM or roger waters shows anytime soon, or if i went to see RATM i couldnt complain because thats literally what theyre built on

[@aidenbatista5986]

Sgt SimplyCrispy well RATM is broken up but im willing to bet they had some knarly mosh pits

[@Thought0Ninja]

I saw them after they reunited in '07 at Voodoo. It was the most intense show I've been to. The crowd movement felt like a wave pool and I'll never forget the random bloody guy who popped up in front of us and flipped over the sound booth cage railing and then scurried away. That dude saw some shit. Also there was no political ranting but I would have been cool with it because, as others have mentioned, it's part of their whole thing.

[@az5882]

@@Thought0Ninja yeah. Same here. 2008 in Berlin Zitadelle (castle with huge outdoor space) . I remember a guy carrying like 5 beer cups held high going through the crowd right before the first song started and everybody knew that stuff will be flying(and it was) . It was hilarious and wild. It was perfect to experience them after the reunion. Never thought I would get to see them live after the split and we have been jamming all their songs with the band for so long before that. Just legendary stuff. Also no politics involved. Just pure energy music.

[@antihero105]

Uh, don't think RATM's message is "encoded deep" at all.. They couldn't be more outspoken about their views.. Guess for a select group of people who don't know how lyrics work?

[@Idonotsa49]

ANTIHERO I think that meant more that it’s essential to their music on every way, not that you have to dig deep to get it

[@Dylan-ps1rj]

throw communists out of helicopters what does that mean? They aren’t outspoken? How so?

[@bullpup586]

It's more about the deeper meaning behind a lot of lyrics that might be unclear to certain listeners, I think. Year of the Boomerang has the line: The boss's right to live is mine to die So I'm going out heavy sort of like Mt Tai That's a reference to an obscure quote about Resistance, how one could go out as light as a feather or as weighty as Mt Tai. It's the little one word/liners that show how deep they're political understanding is, maybe not how deep the lyrics are.

[@Johncornwell103]

Idiots thought they were only against government not against capitalism.

[@dustinjames1268]

@@Johncornwell103 Im not sure how they could make that mistake though Especially in Bulls on Parade, its basically lambasting the republicans for constantly crying "BUT THE CHILDREN" while being warmongers

[@mediocremusiccovers]

"Why does RATM have to get so political?"........ They are called.....Rage Against the Machine....

[@kramersilver8331]

And yet they ARE the machine

[@afr0dit3_]

@@kramersilver8331 What? Wait now I'm confused.

[@kramersilver8331]

​@@afr0dit3_ They are the very thing they preach against: out-of-touch multimillionaires who have used capitalism to spread their message and make money. And they've fooled everyone into thinking that they're "revolutionary" or whatever. Socialism and communism are extremely flawed systems, and they will continue to fail when they are implemented. And they possibly realize that, but their fans definitely do not.

[@aleka..]

@@KA-uv8gq or alternatively, how they can't help it, but read _into_ (I hope I did negation right, there, lol, nnes here)

[@Slappysan]

@@kramersilver8331 FYI Capitalism is extremely flawed as well. There isn't a system that can't be fucked up by PEOPLE.

[@amberfillmore3517]

"Let's take a closer look" Has become one of my favorite phrases.

[@TigersTalons]

Amber Fillmore Look!! LOOK @ IT!!’ LOOK!!!

[@amberfillmore3517]

@@TigersTalons lol. B

[@TigersTalons]

Amber Fillmore I’m glad you took it in fun as it was meant!😀

[@briankemble7079]

I'm pretty sure Zack de la Rocha was quoting Malcolm X when he said "anger is a gift"

[@spittingvenom9148]

Actually it was Aristotle. Maybe X took it from him, but that’s who originally offered that thought. And it’s true!!

[@leeonardodienfield402]

He should have quoted Malcom X saying, "white liberals are not your friends."

[@bobbiemiles-foremaniii8747]

Malcolm X was a shitty person. A racist and anti semite. Rage praises and celebrates all the wrong people

[@blatantblasphemer7317]

@@bobbiemiles-foremaniii8747 sometimes ya gotta get dirty to get what you want de la Roche is literally a member of a military socialist party in Mexico

[@StopBeingRacist]

@@bobbiemiles-foremaniii8747 And here is another pathetic internet troll slandering a dead man much greater than anything he’ll ever be. Malcolm X was great, you’re a nobody and a piece of shit. Deal with that.

[@yelxperilmusic]

It’s ok if a conservative wants to ignore the lyrics and just listen to the riffs. But don’t complain about ratm’s political rants in between songs. The band literally exists for political agitation. If you don’t like it, don’t attend a rage concert.

[@ronnieo9571]

Is it OK? And if they don't like it they should stay home because you don't want to have any confused conservatives on the floor? Ha that's funny I thought revolutionaries are about spreading the message - a message that does not become the message of the masses goes nowhere. The narrator here in this video has it backwards. Morello has it right. Personally, I don't buy the politics as it only leads to death. I saw them in between 92-94, and I would describe most I saw the show with as young, and relatively A-political, but eventually people read the Album lyrics and are forced to confront themselves and their own beliefs. If you read the lyrics and give them thought you have to make a decision to accept or reject. I think that is what Morello had in mind. After 9-11 the band went quiet when faced with the ugly reality of what violence actually looks like when directed against Power. Likewise, Marxist Revolution is a violent matter. The band was forced to deny themselves after that. Forced to deny that there is any violent rhetoric in their music. They did so repeatedly. The truth is their music is filled with it. So in the end I guess they are only artists who really don't want any personal involvement with any violence that is seemingly called for in their music. They like to agitate, and thank God no one listed to the message and went underground and started patterns of violent behavior, that is unless you count those ANTIFA people. They proably listen to Rage and understand the lyrics fully. Under ALL leftist ideology is the totalitarian, because the central message is WE are going to TELL YOU what to do, and FORCE you to do it. The idea is always to create a mass movement that spontaneously tears down the existing system and then the vanguard steps in. And of course, always deny this until it happens. OK communists fire away!

[@ianobrien3248]

@@ronnieo9571 Ah yes, the Commie strongman boogieman. Very scary. Totally cool if the totalitarian is your guy tho? Keep the poors down and unrest percolating so the right people feel scared, next thing you know you can get away with almost anything *cough* patriot act *cough* and the right people will lap it up while the poors and the marginalized take the brunt. That way the right people stay on top, right?

[@ronnieo9571]

@@ianobrien3248 I am assuming that you think that the Soviet Union never existed? It was all a myth? Yeah very scary. Where were you when the free world was trying to keep this foe at bay? Enjoying your freedom?

[@guillll]

@@ronnieo9571 Please. USSR was neither socialist nor communist. Everyone who knows what these words mean knows that. Its political system was close to fascism, and its economic system was state capitalism.

[@ianobrien3248]

@@ronnieo9571 Lol, Boo! So scary! It took us, what, economic stability to beat the scary Rooskies? Never mind the death squafs we were setting loose in south America or the drugs they brought into the country to make it all worthwhile, after all selling missiles to the Iranians didn't net us any cash.

[@Trihahalos]

The most clever thing I have heard about RATM was the following: "There are people that are surprised when they learn that RATM have a far-left ideology. I am wondering then... What machine do you thing they have rage against? The lawn mower?"

[@standerdacount2945]

No the washing machine, silly

[@Dis_Dis]

The "machine" in the RATM is obviously an ATM.

[@hamzaiqbal2109]

More like the printer from Office Space

[@lucas4177]

Isn’t that from the snark tank?

[@weavingsteve1707]

Interesting thought that RATM and their music is now supported by the conservative and libritarian people of america as they fight against the left political machine. But get critisized. The problem is people dont follow values, they folow parties. I mean the left wants to separate people based on skin color, control the media, and repeal the 2nd amendment. The left is now "litteraly hitler"

[@TieDef]

Well his guitar literally says "arm the homeless" on it, but I guess Woody Guthrie had the same problem....

[@ANDROLOMA]

Woody's guitar said "This Machine Kills Fascists" on it. Today's conservatives are yesterday's fascists.

[@wolfiethewingnut5845]

Woodys mural in ok has a no busking sign on it

[@leeonardodienfield402]

Yeah, arm the homeless while supporting gun grabbing left wing politicians lmfao. rage on behalf of the machine

[@riffler24]

@@leeonardodienfield402 I don't think you know much about Rage...or politics. Famously they did a protest concert at the DNC. They are socialists, not liberals. Socialists generally believe in owning guns, considering Marx ardently believed that the workers should be armed to be able to protect themselves and their community.

[@leeonardodienfield402]

@@riffler24 I don't think you know me or much of anything. They support gun control. For me. Not them. Got it?

[@frankenviews4069]

A similar situation happened to Kurt Cobain, when he saw the type of misogynist, homophobic, frat bros that used to beat him up in high school attending Nirvana concerts.

[@aafinity396]

you forgot to say cis-white males lol i'm playing with you. i get what you mean XD

[@mariocastillo8334]

The greatest irony was reflected on In Bloom. Watching scores of Chads singing "he's the one who likes all the pretty songs and he likes to sing along and he likes to sing along but he knows not what it means" was so richly ironic it became almost painful to Cobain.

[@EpicStuffMan1000]

@@mariocastillo8334 the music wasn't meant for them and I'm sure he would have made it even more clear as he went on, if he did go on

[@weirdskyreallyweird.5519]

@@mariocastillo8334 lol i cant take anyone who says chad unironically seriously

[@rejectedcovers8790]

Dane Welkersen what the fuck

[@Hossflex]

Some of this is wrong. Tim C was friends with de la Rocha in hs and learned to play bass. His connection to Rocha got him in the band. Also, Morello was very much into rap and hip hop as he has stated numerous times that he started learning guitar to emulate a djs turntable

[@ELJOEY420]

Thank you for pointing that out so I didn't have to. I was scrolling through the comments to see if there was someone that had already done this and you weren't too far down so I'm satisfied.

[@M3rchantofD34th]

Yeah Morello always said he was a huge Public Enemy fan.

[@skins189lbs4]

Yeah, I pointed it out before I saw this. Glad I wasn't the only one.

[@Ori0987]

Actually Zack and Tim have been friends since elementary and even had a band together in middle school

[@briandoublebackdahlen7967]

Judge for yourself what Tom Morello was into yourself...... Lockup Band Live

[@carlosmeza2092]

As a Mexican male who grew up in San Diego, I relate with the subject matter. I'm also proud that RATM comes from my home state.

[@liammcnicholas918]

People of the Sun is about exactly that.

[@G5rry]

Why be proud that you have geography in common? I never get how people can think they are associated with some group of people just because you are (or were) geographically close to them at one time. (eg. sports)

[@firegodmc1080]

>Polyphonic swears Wait. That's illegal (great vid btw, I love Rage and I'm glad you discuss them)

[@muhilan8540]

It's like conservatives who love Born in the USA

[@hitman_phoenix76]

This comment right here ☝️ may be the most true statement ive ever heard.

[@SodomySnake]

Lol, it's not even that good of a song.

[@muhilan8540]

@@SodomySnake Conservatives act as if the song is pro-America and play it at campaign rallies and such. They've never listened to the lyrics it seems.

[@SodomySnake]

@@muhilan8540 I don't blame them. I can only handle listening to Springsteen's caterwauling for so long before I just kind of block it out. (For the record, I'm fully aware of the intended message of the song)

[@squirlmy]

Ronald Reagan used it in his campaign for President, without asking Springsteen for permission. When Bruce heard about this he very publicly asked the campaign to stop using his song. This was all around 1984, and parallels to Orwell's Newspeak were clear. "Tell people certain words (or lyrics) mean exactly the opposite of what they really mean." I remember listening over and over to a live concert version where "The Boss" gives a speech about how young men should know what they might be getting into when signing up for the military, specifically naming Central America as a place that might become the next theater of war. This aimed right at the administration's foreign policy. Instead they ran a botched covert military campaign, later uncovered in the Iran-Contra hearings.

[@douglasphillips5870]

A Sternly Worded Letter Against the Machine wouldn't get airplay.

[@RevCuck]

idk... Green Day was pretty popular

[@jliller]

A Sternly Worded Letter Against the Machine would be a great name for a Rage Against The Machine spoken word performance.

[@Kyran1996]

Vote Against the Machine by Voting for the Machine.

[@seanbean4682]

So Rage was too groovy for their own message? That's kind of impressive....

[@shaunclark425]

WELL THEIR MESSAGE WAS RETARDED.. AND THEIR MUSIC WAS BRILLIANT..

[@richardadams7940]

Yes they had legendary music. But a terrible message. Just because you are a genius in the musical sphere like RATM is, does Not mean you are a genius in the political sphere.

[@richardadams7940]

By definition Political is anything "relating to the government or the public affairs of a country." Politics have always existed and always will exist. And the word Political isn't an inherently evil adjective. Hell any political framework could work in theory because politics aren't the problem. The problem is Corruptible Man. And the best frameworks are those that take the longest for us to corrupt. So my point is RATM were musical geniuses. But not political geniuses, as in if we put them in charge of a country, even if they didn't intend to, it would be made corrupt quicker than flies swarm fecal matter.

[@TheChadPad]

They're groovy af

[@1997lordofdoom]

@Farin Vacation That's how you respond to braindead statements. What do you want him to do? Write an essay on why we need to overthrow capitalism with a socialist revolution? If you want a serious response, you first need to write some serious arguments.

[@bohba13]

while the message my be watered down or lost by the medium, making music with a purpose like Rage or Lamar positively affects the quality. it feels genuine, you can feel the genuine anger in RAM's music, you can feel the emotion and work put into it. the message may be lost, but the work to convey it is not.

[@maxwellschmidt235]

I generally agree. At some point, reflective people will consider how their tastes in art conflict with their preconceived ideology and turn it into a dialogue. The non-reflective never had a chance. Another example in my mind is Rush Limbaugh using the bass line from Pretenders' "My City Was Gone" as his intro or outro. On youtube postings you see a number of comments to the effect that people are listening because of him. Some number will internalize the simple beauty of the sound, and eventually the damnation of the fetishization of the consumer over the livelihood of the laborer will come into focus. At that point, those reflective people will begin to question aspects of their ideology that forced Pretenders to begin asking where Ohio did go 30 years ago.

[@eclipsewrecker]

Maxwell Schmidt but also....one can hear the message and not agree (or disagree) with it and still appreciate the passion/heart behind it. It’s a colorful world, not a black and white box.

[@TotinosOtherBoy]

RATM has some good songs, but lets get real, theyre hypocritical pseudo commies, and every message of their sings has the same emotion of an edgy 12 year old boy that just found out about Che Guevara lmfao

[@shaft9000]

Hmmm. Overthinking is often the death of true intelligence. 'Analysis paralysis' is buzzword that's thrown around a lot and that's not what I'm suggesting here, either. They could have made *better songs* , is what I mean. As a songwriter and performer myself, allow me to offer some insight: The trouble with Rage was that despite some commendable innovations in rock-band sound, their work remained at the level of 'slogans with a soundtrack' instead of a fully integrated art. The usual problem with political bands is that they don't take the power of The Music nearly seriously enough, and subvert their own divinity into slogans and propaganda; a form of cheap thrills for the political brain. TL;DR = The hips and brain may have been moving along just fine with RATM, but it was at the expense of the soul.

[@M3rchantofD34th]

It also exposed a ton of people to communism. whether or not they ended up being convinced by it is up to them, but there's probably no song that could have turned Paul Ryan into a socialist anyway.

[@TopFloorEricc]

What’s crazy about Rage more than any other bands is that when you listen, the first thing you hear isn’t their influences. The metal, the punk, the hip hop. Obviously it’s all there, but it doesn’t even register to me cause their sound is so unique it just presents as RATM and not a hodgepodge collection of different sounds.

[@zoezzzarko1117]

God yes. So true. Their sound is timeless (and lyrics)

[@NickNicometi]

They SUCK!

[@chadmarx7718]

There's definitely funk in there too

[@enfercesttout]

American public don't tend to know much about Zapatistas

[@user-wt2dz5bx5m]

Or anything left of FDR (and even that's being charitable)

[@Kylora2112]

If they're not Anglo-Saxon European or people we're bombing, we really don't cared to know anything about them =\

[@tonigym3061]

​@Semper Invicta Source?

[@BRO77TX]

Semper Invicta You meant White Christians right?? 🙄

[@gonzacollao]

@Semper Invicta You people throw the "white" word around like you're some sort of exclusive category. I'm from Latin America and I'm caucasian, does that exclude me from your concept of "white"? Such bullshit, who told you that the far left wants to kill white people, lmao 😂 you're craving knowledge, go pick a book son!

[@anagarcia3685]

I was maybe 10 when I first listened RATM, the music got me hooked but being Mexican and not fluent in English I kinda was like "Cool riffs" and that was it. This year I got to listen RATM. Like LISTEN LISTEN, understanding English, understanding the pain they were raging from, understanding why even 30 years after their first album came out I feel the same under my very different personal context. The music was the means, and for almost 17 years of my life it was just that. No message. But that music is the thing that eventually delivered the message and got me active in the movements of my country. So I guess, if you're persistent and truly believe in the message you're trying to convey, it will eventually pass on for generations.

[@gerillazack77]

Every nation feels them when they are oppressed by something government, aggressors, globalists etc...I listened them in my teenagers days even i was not totally leftist, but western countries (NATO) destroyed my country(Yugoslavia/Serbia) and that's i was sympathized with them...I believe that most of middle east, asian, african, countries and nations as Serbia, Russia, Syria, Palestine, Libya, Yemen, Afghanistan, Vietnam, North Korea, Chinese, Congolese, Zimbabwe, South Africans, Somalia, Western Africans, Ethiopians...etc...

[@cik22]

basically "he's got the spirit, he's just a bit confused" meme.

[@NouveauArtPunk]

This is a great video about media literacy, thank you Polyphonic! I may end up using this for a classroom lesson on that very subject.

[@zephyromg3881]

Oh lord, thanks for indoctrinating our youth :)

[@CorbCorbin]

Like the difference between Reagan using “Born in the USA,” and Clinton using “Don’t Stop.” Politicians have used popular music, with or without permission, since the early days of the Country.

[@eclipsewrecker]

CorbCorbin wait......who protects or enforces one’s rights to “intellectual property?”

[@CorbCorbin]

eclipsewrecker A lawyer 😂 My comment for the teacher was more about how some politicians have used music, that was made in direct opposition to their own beliefs or practices, to look “cool” or more modern. Reagan was trying to this with Born in the USA. But the answer to your question is lawyers. 😄

[@eclipsewrecker]

CorbCorbin fair, but who gives the lawyers the power. Force or the threat of force is needed to enforce anything. The government is the answer. The man, the machine.

[@varan04276]

Video on Cliff Burton and his melding of Punk, Psychedelic Rock, and Baroque influences?

[@danieltaber4924]

Wow, I didn't know Marvel's Hawkeye had a musical career.

[@powerdump3000]

who dat... is he the bassist from Metallica?

[@varan04276]

@@powerdump3000 Yep. He was until he died

[@frodijr]

If you want Cliff Burton study, check out Andriy Vasylenko! Ukrainian Burton megafan

[@augustgreig9420]

Orion or Anasthesia

[@goalski134]

although i was mesmerized by their music, i would never have been anywhere near as engaged with them if it wasn’t for their political messages.

[@JohnJTMack]

We're talking about them 27 years after their debut album dropped. They won.

[@jacobgutierrez864]

If you consider achieving fame and success winning, then they indeed won. But in terms of Rage Against The Machine's actual goal to inspire significant political change... as of yet, we're still waiting.

[@EricssonB]

@@jacobgutierrez864 Sometimes just keeping a conversation going is enough. Teenage me and company back in the early 2000s took great inspiration from this band. Maybe that wouldn't have happened -- for thousands -- if not for RATM.

[@bizzle4819]

@Scott Stapp right, some of the biggest hypocrites in music

[@luckypotato6973]

They do not practice what they preach. They're going to Hell.

[@luckypotato6973]

Have You seen Morellos Wall around his house or his fancy cars and classic 🎸 guitar collection? 😁😁

[@philly_sports1558]

No one has ever managed to combine rock music and rap music in a better way than Rage.

[@sirdouglas.2870]

Beastie boys: Am I a joke to you?

[@philly_sports1558]

@@sirdouglas.2870 Very close second

[@sirdouglas.2870]

@@philly_sports1558 nah g, nothing gets me pumped in the gym like sabotage

[@zoezzzarko1117]

Cypress Hill 😁

[@ChaseThePinballWizard]

SlipKnot?

[@shaerreaz]

"The medium is the message" - goes on to plug Audible, an Amazon company that no doubt runs their workers to the ground and the man at the top evades taxes. Truly on point.

[@samanteater]

No ethical consumption, etc. etc. Gotta get that bread.

[@Dappis]

Thee's no ethical consumption under capitalism my guy. He has to get money somehow

[@saradanhoff6539]

Why not run a promo to encourage people to break into the houses of the obscene rich, beat them to death in front of their children, take their shit and fence it, then donate the proceeds to this channel's Patreon. Far more ethical, and on message. Possessing more than a billion dollars makes killing you defense of self and others. Regardless of where, when or how.

[@thuslyandfurthermore]

@@dfw_motorrad1329 i'm not homeless cos it's fun genius. there's more empty homes in this town, most towns, than homeless people, it's just that the multimillionaire landlords that own every fucking square inch can't make a profit if there aren't homeless around to scare people into ransom rents, so the cops make sure the homeless stay that way with evictions and vagrancy fines and harassment.

[@thisismyname5657]

You live in a society yet you want to improve it at the same time?? Hypocrite!

[@nathefferon1234]

Love this, I always hoped we'd get a vid about Rage.

[@thejack0fhearts43]

It’s all the same people that think “American Woman” and “Born In the USA” are patriotic anthems...

[@carterc9171]

Or that Hendrix’s national anthem was a patriotic display

[@jmcwd]

Or that "this land is your land" by Woodie Guthrie

[@juanc1328]

Or Twinkle twinkle little star

[@215dagby]

Or “Stench of Her Burning Flesh” by Short Bus Pile Up.

[@Cyborg-zg6ml]

Carter C actually he said it was so fuck liberals

[@altrocks]

Coming from a heavily conservative family and hearing RATM as a teen in the 90s helped break me out of the indoctrination of a conservative upbringing. It helped start me on the road leftward that took nearly 20 years to completely traverse. That universality was a huge boon to the left and a big part of why there's so many leftist millennials now.

[@rrichards31]

Yeah pretty sad. Hope you wake up one day and realize that communism is a failed system and they're raging against the wrong side and that liberalism is mental illness.

[@weavingsteve1707]

Interesting thought that RATM and their music is now supported by the conservative and libritarian people of america as they fight against the left political machine. But get critisized. The problem is people dont follow values, they folow parties. I mean the left wants to separate people based on skin color, control the media, and repeal the 2nd amendment. The left is now "litteraly hitler"

[@Polyphonic]

first

[@Bobby_LSerunai]

Congratz

[@polar8519]

Oof 😂😂

[@rooster1038]

Come on, that's cheating.

[@andrewjustice4866]

Good job

[@IgorValle]

LOL

[@jjc1808]

Im so happy you made a video on rage. Most influential band of my life.

[@artemismoonbow2475]

I loved Rage in the 90s. Then joined the Military in 99. 15 years later I became a Wobbly. Some of us are late bloomers, but yeah, I understand the idea of missing the point. As an adult, I now know the stories and the struggles the lyrics are screaming at us to listen to. As a teen from the burbs, I was just lost in a vague feeling of knowing something isn't right.

[@noahwakkure1870]

Thank you for your service, you made the ultimate sacrifice and realized that the system that we fought for was fucked up and didn't give a shit about us, vets need to realize the government doesn't give a shit about us, no matter what administration wants to pander next

[@chadmarx7718]

I'm sorry you were used

[@mdcu3893]

I'm in something similar to, I honestly don't know what path would be better for me I got a girl I need to take care of and I don't do well in school plus the price of living is high in my area. Being placed in a grunt unit one of my hopes is I will fight for the lesser of two evils, and thankfully it looks that way.

[@chrislarkin8195]

Ironically sponsored by tax evading amazon

[@davidking2835]

Don’t blame amazon my brother, call your congressman and let em have it.

[@mynameisjack0618]

Well there is no ethical consumption under capitalism, so sometimes ya gotta get a sponsorship to pay the bills

[@korpifox5445]

@@mynameisjack0618 capitalism sucks til you get suck in the government bread line comrade :v

[@bigpooter9771]

fuck taxes

[@victorsmith6511]

@@bigpooter9771 well thats a pretty broad statement

[@vladtheimpaler8563]

I honestly was kind of one of the people who didn't really get their stuff as much as one should. But this gave me a whole new appreciation for them. I'm definitely going to listen to their music with intent going forward.

[@skunksdoinglaundry]

Their liner notes in their albums told you EXACTLY what their music was about showing the organizations and groups they supported.

[@varis0843]

Everyone seems to list how hip hop is such an influence on these guys but fail to notice the Bad Brains influence. May I suggest listening to Reignition from I Against I for definite proof.

[@croulantroulant3082]

nah. And I love both bands. HR's vocals are NOTHING like Zach's. Plus most of the Bad Brains songs are like twice the tempo of RATM's.

[@duncanw9901]

Lmao I was just listening to bad brains before I clicked on this

[@zackbobby5550]

"But we don't see millions of people rising up in a social revolution" - And only a year later we would be seeing exactly that.

[@rustyshackleford6318]

❤️

[@savingpyro]

Right? KZbin algorithm got one right. I watched this when it released and it was suggested again today.

[@diegochagas296]

@Rusty Shackleford hol' up wth??

[@BrainySnacks]

Lol you misquoted it - he said "socialist revolution." Black lives matter is by no means a socialist revolution - socialist countries also have pretty shitty police brutality.

[@zackbobby5550]

@@BrainySnacks I don't think, you understand what I'm talking about lol.

[@fergusdenoon1255]

American perspective: far on the Left wing. other coutries: you mean left of center?

[@mikecarter1312]

I think you mean centre of right quadrant. Speaking in terms of PC even though it is a garbage system though and through.

[@matousfiala5925]

Left of european centre RATM, inspired by such centre-left thinkers as Marx, Chomsky, Che Guevara and Lenin

[@DarkLord111111111111]

If you honestly think that you have no political understanding whatsoever... unless ofc other countries to you means just Canada, New Zealand and the nordics.

[@koalasquare2145]

But they are far left, further than your average Bernie fan

[@waltercapa5265]

@@DarkLord111111111111 I guess he is talking about developed countries when comparing countries with the US.

[@bladeofdespair519]

The song name at 0:28 is called "Know your enemy" and one of my favorite RATH songs coz it has one of the best Maynard James Keenan screams in it.

[@thevinyltruffle]

The differences u describe are part of what makes their cover album so awesome. Each member chose 3 songs.

[@julietasalerno9377]

"People choose what to direct their anger at." This video also explains why people interpret a book like Orwell's 1984 so differently... (ignorance also plays a role in this).

[@Kyran1996]

Orwell is definitely a super apt comparison to the cognitive dissonance some RATM fans have when they realize what the lyrics were about all along. Especially since Orwell himself has said that he's a democratic socialist who has been writing for socialism and against totalitarianism, but the people who use the "Orwellian" metaphor the most nowadays are Republican pundits who think 1984 means vaccinations, access to abortions, and LGBT rights, as opposed to the Supreme Court ruling against such things and allowing millions to die due to misinformation coming from the White House. Or the inhumane treatment of migrants at the border and even domestically. And yet they claim the 'machine' is the people just struggling to survive in spite of those harsh, demoralizing conditions. RATM can call the police Klansmen, point out the drug funneling of the FBI, CIA, Mafia, and cops into minority neighborhoods, and directly refer to capitalism and the anti-communist coups carried out in its name as the machine they're raging against and somehow, this is all news to these people.

[@LeeGHThomas]

A video on parliament-funkadelic would be spectacular. Two sides of the same coin, one being more pure funk while the other was as psychedelic as you could get. Bop Gun and Good Thoughts Bad Thoughts are both anthems in their own respect.

[@SlyStone67]

I really hope he does this video

[@angrypanda21]

"What Machine am I raging against?" ~That's a thoughtful conclusion.

[@sumantamaitra]

This is probably the millionth time I’m watching this. In addition to how flea plays bass. What you got wrong is people don’t get RATM wrong. It’s that everyone thinks they are anti establishment and they are the only ones who understand it. Paul Ryan thinks he is against some machine. Everyone has a “them” to rage against. That’s why the band clicked. Just the definition of the machine is different for everyone.

[@KhayJayArt]

The issue is that idiots are complaining about the leftist politics in their songs when the band is a LEFTIST POLITICAL BAND.

[@ThinkGarza]

People *do* get RATM wrong. They don't read lyrics (or are unable to).

[@swim_ad]

fuck you i won't do what you tell me

[@Nattyplatinum]

@@swim_ad they literally advocated for government enforced vaccination on live television, they’re fucking clowns and posers🤡🤡🤡🤡

[@Liliquan]

You can’t just replace “machine” with “anything I want”. People do get it wrong because the machine they rage against in their music is specific not generic. Neo-nazis have a them to rage against. Those people would be FUCKING wrong to use Rage against the Machine as a medium for their rage.

[@qtipmotha]

Left wing music: RATM Right wing music: Toby Keith So of course people are like "I like Rage's music, I don't really pay attention to the lyrics"

[@bobbiemiles-foremaniii8747]

Rush

[@Nattyplatinum]

Toby Keith is decent though

[@Siege924]

Keith is a registered Oklahoma Democrat who openly (but unsuccessfully) promotes Dem candidates in his home state.

[@kavky]

Country music is far from right wing.

[@hellsingscult6929]

South park was right. Ads are becoming smarter, thought you were watching a video about RATM then boom head straight into a plug

[@fredoctober292]

Some machines deserve our benevolence, the washing machine comes to mind.

[@connormccullough2226]

Raging against the washing machine is called "domestic violence"

[@alicangul2603]

Probably any machine other than the imperialist neoliberal capitalism deserve it, I guess.

[@calumfoster-bayliss7122]

Wobblies!

[@Kyran1996]

Rage against the washing machine at the laundromat once you're done filling in the main load and realize you're short on change. Some of those that turn washes are the same that earn quarter losses.

[@yew8707]

And the oven! I would cry if I were to live without my frozen pizzas

[@jainawle4901]

Rage Against The Machine, making everyone go rebellious since mid 90s.

[@rickyspanish3053]

@Exit Strategies No

[@Hevvvyyy]

Down rodeo is prob my favorite from them

[@Coxy002605]

Evil Empire in general was great.

[@SocialGore]

@@Coxy002605 Definitely their high-water mark

[@cillee997]

These people aint seen a brown skinned man since their grandparents bought one

[@woodside4life]

Can’t waste a day when the night brings a hearse..

[@kevinscholfield2037]

In the ruins theres a network for the toxic rock

[@vsamdol95]

A great band from the grunge era with an undying message of resistance to imperialism. ✊🏽🚫🤖

[@colibri1]

The disconnect between the US public's love for RATM's sounds and RATM's actual music was really clear when I saw them live in the nineties and the crowd booed at RATM's between-song political commentary, especially when they had anti-racist activists come up and speak. Tom Morello may think that's no big deal, but it really disturbs me, especially since many of their songs are very explicitly anti-right-wing/anti-fascist, yet many right-wingers/fascists love their music. There were even reports in the early 2000s of US torturers using it to blast inside torture rooms, something RATM would surely be opposed to.

[@TheJimmyClip]

The paying crowd just wanted to be entertained. They paid their money and just wanted to see the dancing bear dance. Most people dont pay their hard earned money to go to a rally.

[@themightymcb7310]

@@TheJimmyClip Paying to go to a RATM show is literally paying to go to a rally. If that surprises anybody, that's on them for not listening to the music

[@TheJimmyClip]

@@themightymcb7310 - agreed. They are the ones complaining. Bands with political schticks don't get my money.

[@themightymcb7310]

@@TheJimmyClip That's unfortunate. Not many things make people angry enough to make awesome music quite like politics. I'll gladly go see groups like RATM, Havok, Megadeth, Lamb of God, the Dead Kennedy's, and all kinds of other bands that are plenty political because I'm not a snowflake. I can handle listening to people I might not agree with. Challenging your own positions is an important part of personal growth.

[@TheJimmyClip]

@@themightymcb7310I challenge my beliefs every chance I get. I just don't enjoy or feel like spending my time listening to politics when I want to enjoy music. RATM ring false to me. - they are like the Colin Kaepernick of music IMHO. I'd much rather hear music that Inspires me; not annoys me. Different strokes.... I enjoyed our exchange of views and appreciate your time and diplomacy!!! Cheers!

[@jacktrent5648]

SO MAKE A MOVE AND PLEAD THE FIFTH CAUSE YOU CAN'T PLEAD THE FIRST CAN'T WASTE A DAY WHEN THE NIGHT BRINGS A HEARSE

[@finnmiller-new6383]

My band were playing killing in the name as some of my friends in the audience were singing along with a lyric sheet They stopped partway through having just read and understood the meaning behind "Those who died are justified, for wearing the badge, they're the chosen whites" they had never stopped to listen and understand the song after hearing it hundreds of times

[@MasterKeyMagic]

There's nothing radical about the Zapatistas. They're just Native American farmers that refused to have their community owned land privatized

[@SpoopySquid]

In the age of neoliberalism, that is a radical position

[@jeremiahmorris1852]

The Zapatistas are Communists so...

[@MasterKeyMagic]

Jeremiah Morris you say that like its a bad thing. All native americans were "communist" by your use of the word.

[@jeremiahmorris1852]

When did I say the Zapatistas being Communists were bad? I'm saying that if you knew anything about them, you would know they are Communist

[@MasterKeyMagic]

Jeremiah Morris but they're not. Not by most people definition.

[@FrankGBSDC]

I agree with Tom Morello. I first got turned onto RATM because of their sound. Of course there were a few songs that were in your face with their message, but it took me listening over and over again before I started understanding many of the lyrics; which I didn’t mind because their sound and intensity was so great. I have a much greater appreciation for them now; for their music and their message.

[@shmookpup]

To counter McLuhan's point and to affirm Morello's, I was attracted to Rage through their amazing music. From there they only helped further and help diversify & strengthen my beliefs. I'm so fucking stoked that they're reuniting

[@uncopino]

one of my favorite bands. i feel so lucky i’ve been able to see them live in modena in 2008

[@wspencerhand]

RATM doesn’t get RATM. They reached out and touched edge and liked how it made them feel. But they never could grab it with both hands. They liked some of the comfort the machine provides. Then the wheel turned and they became the machine.

[@NotAJedi66]

I found this late but I love you for this production. Thank you. If only they listened to the syrics or just payed attention to Any of Zachs interviews.

[@bugsephbunnin4576]

The album's name "Evil Empire" was a satirical one, based on how Reagan called the Soviet Union: "The Evil Empire".

[@NashTurley]

A video about RATM sponsored by Amazon, a similar flavor of irony as right wing politicians liking them. "Empty ya pockets son, they got you thinkin' that / What ya need is what they selling / Make you think that buying is rebelling"

[@mayac4147]

Survival in a capitalist system can mean being forced to support the very system you want to bring down. Don't blame the little guys. The politicians are the ones making the rules.

[@NashTurley]

@@mayac4147 yeah I agree, still ironic though

[@eclipsewrecker]

Nash Turley is it ironic or necessary? They were on a major label after all.

[@YourMom-cz2xe]

Hot Topic Socialists are a complete joke.

[@jacob-vn6jg]

@@YourMom-cz2xe Define socialism. Oh wait you're going to give me some state-capitalist answer which has nothing to due with socialism and how big government is bad.

[@noahgoldman9725]

Tom morellos master class was the ad at the beginning of the video... perfect

[@fastandbulbous9697]

"Why do people like Rage Against the Machine even if they disagree with their politics?" Because their music is great, with or without the message

[@ricardoemidio7692]

The message is part of the music.

[@MyNameIsNeutron]

The message is part of the lyrics, not the music.

[@prometheustv6558]

Robt. Neutron Sound So I should just listen to De La Rocha a cappella then.

[@bryanlettow4389]

That's what sucks about choosing not to listen to them. I think they're good musicians with the ability to produce awesome heavy grooves but their message is a little too much for me. Unfortunately I can't just listen to it without actively listening to the lyrics.

[@Orclin]

@@ricardoemidio7692 The massage is so f**ked up you just can't listen too close to the lyrics to enjoy the music.

[@laidback93]

The moment I saw the video for Freedom I knew what Rage was all about. They exposed 12 year old me to these atrocities I hadn't been aware of. Been a fan ever since. I do hope they make another album because shit hasn't gotten any better in this political hell scape.

[@rickm4758]

The only way you could miss out on thief message is if you’re not listening to the lyrics.... it’s pretty apparent

[@WaitingForTheHook]

The radical energy of Sid Vicious? Lmao. It was Glen Matlock that played the bass on the Sex Pistols record. SV was a puppet.

[@AsukaLangleyS02]

The only thing Sid could play was a needle into his arm.

[@redacted2275]

Yes. And Sex Pistols is trash if you're gonna talk about "revolutionary music": Lydon himself was much more punk on P.I.L. than on Sex Pistols. The Pistols were a hipster copy of Ramones, pretty much... the ironic thing is Johnny Ramone was always a die hard Conservative since the beginning and "punk rockers" like Tom Morello don't have a problem with that just like conservative people don't have a problem about listening to RATM.

[@ComicPower]

Rage is to there generation what the Clash was to theirs. Definitely one of the most important bands of the last 30 years.

[@AndyRiesgos]

That Audible plug was just perfect. I usually hate in-video sponsorships, but this was too perfect.

[@zainhaq4791]

I love your videos especially the one about rock and metal music!

[@AlbumoftheWhenever]

80% of his videos.

[@moltresjrcountdowns]

I’m British, and I make several podcasts, and I was unaware that farage had one. Now I’m sad.

[@simonthemark]

why?

[@QuestionMarc]

I remember first hearing about the Rage/Paul Ryan thing and thinking, "You know, Paul. Those lyrics are in English. You can understand them if you actually listen."

[@Kyran1996]

He must've unwittingly downloaded the Simlish cover album.

[@Eb984-r7b]

"The dumb are mostly intrigued by the drum" Masta killa

[@ForgiveAllOfUs]

I bet RATM would have loved "audible - an amazon company"...

[@ForgiveAllOfUs]

@James "Understand"? obviously... Be ok with it? I doubt it... The irony being the whole point of the video is to show how supporters of ultra-liberalism don't understand RATM... But I guess it's a mistake, as I didn't say anything against amazon (or other companies) workers...

[@ForgiveAllOfUs]

@James "If this comment section shows one thing, it's that liberals tend not to understand RATM lol" Nope... that's not it...

[@Maxim89Il]

Yeah, and many Rage Against the Machine fans complained tickets were too expensive and poor people couldn't attend the concerts. I mean, people do need to make a living somehow. The "sponsored by Amazon" bit is the most Rage Against the Machine you could think of, considering their ticket prices - and by the way, I'm on their side here! See, I'm a liberal, social democrat, progressive... but not a commie, and I do believe artists should make a living and I never complain about prices (my problem is with low minimum wage, expensive healthcare, and so on... not with entrepreneurs and the right to make a living). Yes, I prefer ticket prices to be lower, but whatever, there are many factors in deciding prices. However, only the one who wrote the lyrics probably fully believed in those messages in Rage Against the Machine. Without him, they were Audioslave (a good band, by the way).

[@ForgiveAllOfUs]

@@Maxim89Il I don't talk about ticket prices, I'm talking about Amazon. Some regulations could ensure this company (and others) do not kill their slaves on the job.

[@alexstauffer3359]

I, just today, had a friend say "Oh, I remember them." which is probably the saddest epitaph I can think of for this band.

[@mysterbear]

You always do my favorite bands, and you always get it right. Danke.

[@noahkillough2840]

Usually I don’t do requests but the godfather of Psychedelic Rock Roky Erickson passed today, I would be nice to see a video about his influence and stuggles one day

[@jeremyrm7]

I honestly just thought of it as an anthem against “the man” the music helped me to challenge everything I was taught or told when I was growing up and made me into a critical thinker. Their personal message may have gone misunderstood but I feel like they got the point across perfectly with just challenging peoples mindset.

[@Autobot_Megatron]

"What machine am I raging against?" Skynet and their Terminators.

[@Nils3OWN]

The capitalist elite and their ever-growing influence built by the hundred or so billion humans who've lived, thought and shared their ideas to produce the technology in the first place.

[@na-dm6jb]

@@Nils3OWN you mean the communist authotitarians who've highjacked your party?

[@apanapandottir205]

Dark Raiden Thats pretty much Fear Factory :D

[@blackspring3207]

Yes

[@jwanbesande2734]

BRB gonna make a band and call it Skynet and the Terminators

[@antoniobandito3161]

This is just what i needed, all ive been listening to is rage recently

[@brianfarley2388]

What machine am I raging against? In the immortal words of Brando "What do you got?" Johnny Strabler (Marlon Brando) "The Wild One" 1953

[@alexhouston6886]

Lol sid vicious didnt even know how to play bass he became famous for his punk image

[@theeducatedfool]

Poor Glenn Matlock

[@AsukaLangleyS02]

Sid Vicious was a shitty drug addict who killed a cat and his druggy girlfriend.

[@senpagh45]

“Reading lyrics can tell a short tale, but hearing them can tell a different story”

[@xennojeremy]

No one from my generation (that was in high school when they came out) had issues understanding what you're talking about; I never even knew it was an issue. Maybe there needs to be a bridge for younger generations that have no clue what was going on back then in music and culture.

[@TJKerrell]

I myself am registered Republican and I love RATM’s music. I don’t agree with their politics at all, but as a fellow musician I appreciate the craftsmanship and passion put into the heavy-hitting music they’ve become famous for making. I don’t complain about their politics because I know they obviously disagree with me. It’s fun sometimes to even play along with the rebellious nature of the music, acting almost as an angsty teen. I have liberal friends that also love their music and don’t even agree with all their far-left ideology, but it’s still fun to listen to the music.

[@SpoopySquid]

Please do a video on Chumbawamba!

[@krimzonghost1987]

I know Polyphonic is just trying to get paid for the work they did on this... but the fact that they had an ad for the corporation of all corporations at the end of this video made me chuckle.

[@jamiemcgee5720]

Stone roses debut or Arthur by the kinks, gunna keep commenting till they both happen

[@recynd77]

“Invisible Man” was written in 1952. It does NOT reflect the experience of the 21st century black man. Maybe the 21st century black man’s grandfather (or, more likely, GREAT grandfather), but not the current condition.

[@joshuapowers4623]

Um, the video never mentioned the 21st century referencing the book. They said being a black man in modern America, which would apply to the year it was written.

[@mikedelhoo]

Very smooth segue from the content to the ad at 7:15 ...

[@franciscodiaz3028]

Wow! RATM AND POLYPHONIC!!! I got super pumped and amped!!!

[@skins189lbs4]

Morello didn't bring in Tim c. Zack did. He grew up with him. Tom brought in Brad

[@MortanAMrk]

I mean liking music for being music is also allowed to exist, but how they dont get it i dunno, altough i will say the music in rage is so good that its possible

[@jamestelfer1949]

Please do something on Metallica and cliff burton!!!!

[@adamputtergill]

James Telfer yeeeees please see this polyphonic

[@duncancannon1998]

I learned today they're getting back together

[@jz5748]

best concert i ever went to the battle of minneapolis..thank you

[@tecpaocelotl]

When paul ryan said he liked rage against the machine, I quickly photoshopped with paul ryan head on the evil empire album cover. I'm not surprised that people didn't understand the music of rage. When I first heard them in the late 90s, I could connect. I grew up in a small town in California where a few people had controlled everything. My mom was a teamster and my grandpa was in UFW. In this town, they saw those things as bad. Anyway, in this town there was curfews, no encouragement to go college and they allowed the military to do whatever they wanted. In my junior year (this was the year 2000) in high school, the military one day brought buses to our campus to take my junior class off campus to do some military test. We had no choice, we didn't have our parents written permission to get off campus even though it was policy. Any kid who resisted was scared when the military recruits came as a group or shout or made a fist as though they wanted to punch us. People who resisted going into the bus, was forced in by two recruits. I was 110 lbs at the time and knew I might as well get on the bus. Once there I was telling the kids to let's protest and not go into the building once we get off. The kids said ok though I think they said they ok bc there was a recruit in the front of the bus and they didn't do it. It was that day when I knew how important this music was. I went to college and noticed people liked the music, but didn't care about the lyrics.

[@plackization]

OK now we definetly need a radiohead video:) Perhaps ok computer 👌

[@thedavescloop]

You mean the best album ever?

[@allstar930]

You killed it with this video. Smooth sponsorship message too. One of the best Chan neon KZbin

[@thelaffingllama]

It's interesting, I've always loved rage but always either found their message hard to take seriously, hard to swallow or I straight up just didn't agree. I think the message is important to the band and it is really what makes the band but you dont need to agree with it to enjoy it.

[@thelaffingllama]

@ThatKidWhoLiesAboutHisAge OnTheInternet How? I am saying you dont need to agree with the message to enjoy the music.

[@thelaffingllama]

@ThatKidWhoLiesAboutHisAge OnTheInternet Nah not really. You can read a book and not agree with its philosophy but still enjoy the overall experience of the book. I can't directly relate with the themes of some pink floyd songs but I can still enjoy them. I can disagree with people whether its about politics or anything else and still be friends with them. I haven't contradicted myself, you don't agree with me.

[@thelaffingllama]

@ThatKidWhoLiesAboutHisAge OnTheInternet In fact I would make the argument that the message isn't an essential part of the music even though it is a very prominent theme. Pink floyd have a lot more to offer than just lyrics as well, some of my favourite pink floyd songs dont even have lyrics.

[@ChucksSEADnDEAD]

@ThatKidWhoLiesAboutHisAge OnTheInternet did you watch the video? RATM's lyrics are applicable to many people. Everyone has a machine they're raging against. The media is the message. You can enjoy the message (media) while disagreeing with the "message".

[@SuperSallySteak]

@ThatKidWhoLiesAboutHisAge OnTheInternet is just mad because he is a die hard liberal and thinks everyone should follow his beliefs and if not, you can leave.