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CHUMBAWAMBA

Chumbawamba_TFF.jpg

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"

I give more information on lyrics and song meanings!

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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.

"Total Control"
"More Whitewashing"

"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.

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I give more information on lyrics and song meanings!

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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.

"Always Tell the Voter"
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