Good morning, Tuesday...I'm not sleeping so well these days and wake up in the middle of the night, feeling tired but not able to go back to bed...need to nip that in the bud stat as my waking hours have me feeling like an extra in the "Thriller" video.
Anyway, my post yesterday was truly from the heart- I have so much fear for this country and what's to come- a friend of mine who works on political strategy assured me all of this religious fire and brimstone is typical of an election year- it's not like GW was an agnostic or anything...but I'm hoping all of us can continue to enjoy our rights, and live how we please. But now to the fantastic documentary I watched last night on Joe Strummer. As a young girl growing up in the suburbs of Philadelphia, the Clash gave me music that I needed to hear, and I was never the same again. They were the soundtrack to my often rebellious youth, and I still can't get enough of them to this very day.
If you have a chance, see this incredible and fascinating look at the lead singer of the Clash's life, entitled "The Future is Unwritten". I've written at length about my love for the Clash and their songs composed of piss, vinegar, and nails. When the Clash came on the scene in the 70s, England was in a bad state, the haves had too much, the have nots had not enough, and tensions were rising between races. Punk came after the peace and love of the 60s, and spit on the face of disco, the obvious heir to the era of flower power, with its druggy and hedonistic haze and promise of good times. But punk rejected all of that- it was ugly, hard, tough, and pissed off. In many ways, punk music would seem very home in today's current occupied state of things- and listening to "White Riot" last night had me thinking it's the perfect anthem for those who hold allegiance to the 99%, because it is indeed a "riot of their own".
So Joe joined the Clash, and music was forever changed by their incredible sound. Sure the Sex Pistols were a fantastic sign of the times, but the Clash were real musicians, and sponges for the state of things. I loved their style- the combination of rockabilly and punk swagger on Joe, the skinny and sexy snarl of Paul, and the tartness of Mick Jones. How can you not love the slow groove of "Straight to Hell", or the incredible reggae goodness of "Police and Thieves"? That's why I loved the Clash- Joe was a sponge for world music, and related to the struggles of the common man- "Sandinista!" is all about a young person's revolution, and a rally cry to not take anymore bullshit.
When you watch Joe's journey unfold on screen (did you know his father was of Indian descent?), it's hard to ignore his passion, his ability to take the sounds of the global and bring them to a larger audience. Sure the Clash got too big, too commercial, and too stadium friendly. But their music was a call to arms for those sick of the way things were. And cut to today. We need Joe now more than ever.
At the end of his life, Joe found true contentment with his last band, the Mescaleros, who played music from all over the world and brought us a sort of caravan and campfire culture that Joe so loved. His fascination with campfires was all about community, bringing people together, having a chat, and warming oneself with ideas, inspirations, and glimmers of change in the burning embers. And then it hit me- out of all of this misery and fear we're seeing right here, right now, we have a huge opportunity to let the anger create something amazing- not debilitate us, frustrate us, or burn with no purpose. We need to take that fire and bring it to the artists, the writers, the musicians and have them fuel the flames. We don't have to dwell in it, but we do need to create good from it- in the form of something that can inspire all of us. I loved that Joe was a man of the people- that when the Clash came to New York and were the darlings of the cool kids, they wanted to travel by taxi and meet the locals- their fascination with America, Africa, Jamaica, and other global cultures before there was an internet to unite us all was nothing short of awe inspiring. That's what true artists do- unite people and inspire us with things we may not have seen before.
And one of my favorite lines from the film was Joe's proclamation, that when it came to performing "you gotta give it all you got or forget it". I was never lucky to see the Clash in person, but watching that footage of them onstage was nothing short of terrifying, awe inspiring, and challengingly energetic. That's what the Clash did at their best- they challenged us with their rawness, their ability to take their blood, sweat, and tears and put it on a stage. And instead of focusing on what may bring us down this year, I'm going to give it all I got to keep going, because I'm not ready to "forget it". I'm hoping to get involved with some causes this year that I am passionate about, and though we can never get back the genius of Joe Strummer, his legacy and message of uniting people around the world and celebrating our differences an creating art out of them lives on.Joe died from a heart defect that took him quickly- and just like that, the fire went out. We really don't know what's coming, so the only way to live is with purpose and conviction each and every day. Don't take any of this crap lying down people- and bring it today, even if you feel like going back to bed. And if indeed the future is unwritten, let's all do our part to ensure it's a work of art, and not a horror novel, OK? Cause that's what's up this we can change things kind of Tuesday in the 718. Long live Joe Strummer, and please watch this inspiring film. And if you are an artist or creative of any kind, you have a real opportunity here to express yourself in the face of this (inherently flawed) mortal coil. XO
Link below:
http://www.joestrummerthemovie.com/