Kicking Television: Reality killed the video star

On this date back in 1981, MTV — the music television network — seized the air, broadcasting a catchy video by a once and again obscure brit band called the Buggles. Playing a hunch, the plucky station chose the group's song "Video killed the radio star" to launch a volley across the bow of the old music biz. The music world did change in response, as video production became an essential part of band promotion, and radio lost influence. The upstart network's success lead to its complete consumption by big Media and its final descent into commercial inanity.

Today, the network bears little resemblance to its early self. Obsessed with "reality programs" that twist the world toward the consumer culture corporate America likes to purvey, music videos themselves are hard to spot.

If you want to check out your fave act, it's much easier to search for them on YouTube. In fact, these days I get the vast majority of my information and culture from the Internet, rather than that spoon-feeding Television. With the digitalization of content, the Web has everything TV does, and more: news, opinion, music, art, film, video, poetry and fiction. Surfing the net is much easier and more rewarding than the static-tinged, rapid-fire channel changing that my TV viewing experience has become.

On its 26th birthday, I toast the MTV that was while also celebrating the demise of its medium that's so lacking in message. The dawning of the connected Web has put the video star into an early grave, and considering the addled state TV has fallen into over these its twilight years, it can be called a mercy killing. Join me as I lyrically kick them while they're down with the help of Wilco.

Kicking Television
by Wilco

I'm serious
You'll see

I'm working on my abs
I'm working on me

Oh, I'm kickin'
Yeah, I'm calm
Oh, I'm kickin'
Television
Television

Stop shopping
Stop buying things

I'm kickin'
Oh yeah, I'm calm
Oh, I'm kickin'
Television
Television

Oh, I'm serious
You'll see

Yeah, I'm kickin'
Yeah, I'm calm
Oh, I'm kickin'
Television
Television

Musical takes on Independence Day ... Part II

The second song I use to commemorate this holiday is a fitting salute to the contradictory nature of ourselves and our country: Ashes of American Flags by Wilco. It perfectly touches upon the American psyche — torn between our ideals and our reality, the lies we tell ourselves that aren't meant to be hurtful but self-preserving.

Overwhelmed by rampant consumerism and apathy, we've lost our poetic voice that once moved the souls of nations. It's not too late to reclaim it and be reborn, but we'll need to get past our fears of change and aspire to things greater than keeping a nice lawn. Rebirth can be painful, but it's necessary in order to save ourselves.

Ashes Of American Flags
by Wilco

The cash machine is blue and green
For a bundle of twenties and a small service fee
I could spend three dollars and sixty-three cents
On Diet Coca-Cola and unlit cigarettes

I wonder why we listen to poets when nobody gives a fuck
How hot and sorrowful, this machine begs for luck
All my lies are always wishes
I know I would die if I could come back new

We want a good life with a nose for things
The fresh wind and bright sky to endure my suffering
I'm a hole without a key if I break my tongue
Oh, speaking of tomorrow, how will it ever come?

All my lies are always wishes
I know I would die if I could come back new

I'm down on my hands and knees
Every time a doorbell rings
I shake like a toothache
When I hear myself sing

All my lies are only wishes
I know I would die if I could come back new

I would like to salute
The ashes of American flags
And all the fallen leaves
Filling up shopping bags

There's always a third option ...

Election season is upon us again, along with its many frustrations. Here in Chicago, the competition for least evil is particularly fierce in a couple races, and the temptation to vote for 3rd parties, whether slated or not, is great.

With that in mind, I was listening to Mermaid Avenue, Volume II by Billy Bragg & Wilco and was reminded of the following little gem of a song.

It was written as a campaign song for Florida folklorist and activist Stetson Kennedy. There is a Wikipedia article with background on the man and his writings. That article indicates the song was written for the 1952 Florida governor's race, but the Whose Florida? site seems to be more accurate in describing it as a write-in campaign for the 1950 US Senate race against Democrat George Smathers.

Stetson Kennedy

Lyrics by Woody Guthrie, 1950

I done spent my last three cents
Mailing my letter to the President
Didn't make a show, I didn't make a dent
So I'm swinging over to this independent gent

Stetson Kennedy
Writing his name in
Stetson Kennedy
Writing his name in

I can't win out to save my soul
Long as Smathers-Dupont's got me in the hole
Them war profit boys are squawking and balking
That's what's got me out here walking and talking

Knocking on doors and windows
Wake up and run down election morning
And scribble in Stetson Kennedy

I ain't the world's best writer, ain't the world's best speller
But when I believe in something I'm the loudest yeller
If we fix it so you can't make no money on war
Well we'll all forget what we was killing folks for

We'll find us a peace job equal and free
We'll dump Smathers-Dupont in a salty sea
Well, this makes Stetson Kennedy the man for me

There is an official Stetson Kennedy Website that actually links to the song.

I especially like the bit about taking the profit out of war. It might be an oversimplification, but it certainly has resonance to what's going on today. Vote your conscience on November 7, but definitely make sure you vote.