CHUMBAWAMBA
By Schorle (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
ABOUT
Started in 1982 with few requirements to being a member other than being able to keep a beat and a hatred of authority, Chumbawamba didn’t receive much attention in their early years. Forming out of an illegal squatter’s house in Leeds, the band began as an anarchist collective known for playing benefit concerts, pickets, and associating themselves with working class ideals. Never taking themselves too seriously, Chumbawamba frequently attacked groups such as organized religion, homophobics, and Nazis in a satirical fashion. The ideology of Chumbawamba was to make a political statement, but to have a good time doing it. Their involvement with the British Miner’s Strike in 1984 was one of their most significant political contributions in the 1980s.
ABOUT
ANTHRAX
This is a great place to tell your story and give people more insight into who you are, what you do, and why it’s all about you.
1980s
Discography
ALBUMS
Fistful of Metal (1984)
Spreading the Disease (1985)
Among the Living (1987)
State of Euphoria (1988)
1980s
Discography
ALBUMS
Revolution - 1985
Pictures of Starving Children Sell Records - 1986
Never Mind the Ballots - 1987
English Rebel Songs 1381-1914 - 1988
1980s
Band Members
MEMBERS
Boff Whalley – vocals, guitar
Danbert Nobacon – vocals, keyboard, guitar
Lou Watts – Vocals, keyboard
Dunstan Bruce – Vocals, guitar, turntables,
Jude Abbot – vocals, recorder, flute, trumpet
Alice Nutter – vocals, percussion
Harry “Daz” Hamer – drums
Mavis “Mave” Dillon – trumpet, French horn
"Total Control"
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Revolution - 1985
One of Chumbawamba’s more somber, haunting, songs, “Total Control” is a direct criticism of a free-market society controlled by big corporations. The songs uses imagery of a puppet master pulling the strings, accusing the corporations of taking money and blaming them for starving children. In the end, the song is calling for a change, declaring that talk is pointless until something happens because of it.
ABOUT
Product sells
People die
Same revolution
Wrapped in lies
In these sexist, drugged-up
Rock and roles
The biggest prizes
To the biggest fools
Ask the puppet-masters
Who pull the strings
'Who makes the money
When the puppets sing?'
Ask the corporations
'Where does the money go?'
Ask the empty-bellied children
'Tell me what are we singing for?'
Until we pull down the walls
It'll stay the same
Until we find something new
Make it change
I know there most be more
The “puppet-masters” are big corporations. During the time of Conservative Party British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, who pushed Britain towards a free-market society, this is a direct stance against those in political power at the time.
So what are we singing for
I know there most be more
"These puppets, underneath the skin, have the same problems as you and me--they want to be loved, don't know where to begin. Just a wall's width away, but impossible to get close. Offstage, with nothing to hide behind, the puppets are running away. And meanwhile, we're running away from ourselves... and meanwhile, we're running away from ourselves... and meanwhile, we're running away from ourselves..."
If our music makes you happy or content
It has failed
If our music entertains, but doesn't inspire
It has failed
The music's not a threat
Action the music inspires
Can be a threat!
While Chumbwamba remains harshly critical of corporations and the political movement at the time, they also acknowledge that the people behind these actions are human, and have the capability to change.
An accusation that corporations are greedily taking money from those who need it.
LYRICS
VIDEO
Recording of "Total Control" on vinyl. This song shows contrast between the initial harmonic singing and the later abrasive chanting of a second voice. The transition from the smooth haunting voice to the loud, abrasive voice is sudden, creating an uncomfortable experience for the listener.
"More Whitewashing"
Pictures of Starving Children Sell Records - 1986
Another song critical of corporations, not only are big companies attacked, but religious organizations, rich society members, television, and charities. “More Whitewashing” carries the theme that most things that people do to try to make them feel better about the problems in the world simply cover up the true issues such as giving to charities or listening to the news that is ultimately controlled by commercialized corporations.
ABOUT
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Children in school forced to the desk
Finger the atlas and study the text
Lies and opinion presented as fact
Taught to accept, and never to ask
Those smiling workers in Ladybird books
They're not picking coffee at all
They're busy with bricks and mortar
Building the company wall
Flickering pictures hypnotize
We spend our lives watching others' lives
Too much watching to realize
That this is a smokescreen
And this is why people die
Those smiling news presenters
They're not reading cue-cards at all
They're busy with brush and bucket
Whitewashing the company wall
Set yourself up and play it again
Force the tears and entertain
Sing about a world of make-believe
Force this charity and leave
Rich people who claim to know
What's wrong with this world
Can't know anything at all
They're busy giving the orders
For us to build their second homes
LYRICS
This suggests students are not being taught factual information anymore, but rather that someone is controlling the information output and feeding them opinions and lies that benefit big business instead
Between sponsored television programs, news sources, and advertisements, people are taught to believe what they see on TV, when in reality its all driven by money.
Flickering pictures hypnotize
Flickering pictures hypnotize
And we who take the orders
And refuse to question it all
We're busy with spade and Bible
Burying the poor
Burying the poor
Mass-manufactured and given away
Blinkers to get you through your day
So you'll never ever know to what extent you're involved
Easily fooled, all your problems solved
You'll say starvation has nothing to do with you
You saw it in print, so it must be true
And the documentary explained it all
It's a simple matter of birth control
And if you send a little money you can sleep tonight
Or starve in sympathy on a Limmits Diet
And you know that charity cures malnutrition
And hunger put the sparkle back in television
Hunger put the sparkle back in television
Hunger put the sparkle back in television
A Limmits Diet refers to a fad diet in the 1980s that consisted of eating meal replacement cookies to lose weight.
A criticism of religious organizations, often with well-off people who “care” for the poor but through essentially meaningless charity work rather than providing using the means they have.
VIDEO
Live performance of "More Whitewashing" in Barrhead, 1987.
"Always Tell the voter what the voter wants to hear"
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Never Mind the Ballots - 1987
A politically charged song, “Always Tell the Voter What the Voter Wants to Hear,” refers to the voter and political candidate relationship. The song is set up around a call center that is advocating for a politician in order to get votes. It criticizes politicians that always try to make themselves favorable in the eyes of the people they are trying to get to vote for them rather than standing true to their beliefs.
ABOUT
It's outrageous, disgusting.
But unlike my colleague on my right, we're the party who say what we do, do what we say.
You can bank on us Martin.
Good evening, Shirley. I'm so glad that you've rung.
The matter is as dear to me as it is to you.
Give me four years and I'll get right down to it.
Because unlike my little balding colleague on my left, we don't make promises we can't keep.
You still there, Martin? Good, just one more thing. Give us your vote
You want houses? See me afterwards
Want my autograph? See my bodyguard
Pre-election budget handouts
You want a war? No problem!
Just give me your vote
Just give me your vote
Welcome to Never Mind The Ballots.
The phone lines are now open.
If you'd like to put a question to the candidates
The number to ring is oh five three two seven seven nine six four three
You want jobs? I've got jobs!
Hospitals? Top of my list!
Tax cuts and platform shoes
For every small businessman
Just give me your vote
Just give me your vote
Schools, prisons? Of course we'll build them!
Condoms for the American GIs!
Nuclear reactors breed like rabbits
Police oppression? You can have it, sir!
Just give me your vote
Put your cross in the box
Hello, we've got our first caller.
You're name's Martin. Hello Martin.
You listened to our stated policy.
Well Martin to tell you the truth I couldn't agree with you more.
LYRICS
The caller, representative of the politician, is willing to say whatever the voter wants to hear in order to get their vote, whether or not they will follow through.
Not only is the politician willing to say whatever the voter wants to hear, they’re willing to promise unethical things like police brutality. While seemingly exaggerated, this is likely in response to multiple events of police brutality that occurred in 1980s Britain.
This lyric brings up name-calling in politics. The other side is always the bad side and is always the one causing the problem.
An example of the exaggerated humor used by Chumbawamba. Also likely a derogatory reference towards the Falklands War in 1982.
VIDEO
"Always Tell the Voter What the Voter Wants to Hear." This song is a good example of Chumbawamba's humorous approach to political topics.