Because they can’t control it, and it can (at least sometimes) manage to transcend the bullshit that distracts us while they play their endless war and peace cycles games that keep them in power.
As an example of what they hate, here’s a YouTube video titled “Brian Eno & Rachid Taha – Barra Barra.”
It is dark, and sometimes I like dark music. Especially when it involves a dark topic, and especially when the music is attempting to grapple with that darkness in a way that transcends control.
Anyway, I Facebook-Liked it (I have long enjoyed Rachid Taha and Brian Eno), and Michael Totten (who likes it too) provided a translation:
1.barra barra (outside) = bb
Sadness, hate and the reign of arbitrary
bb
…Destruction, jealousy ; there is no trust left
bb
Thirst and people are unlucky
bb
No honour, but oppression and slavery
bb
Rivers were dried up and seas have ruined everything
bb
Stars are switched off and the sun went down
bb
There are no trees left and the birds stopped singing
bb
There are neither days, nor nights left, darkness only
bb
Hell ; there is no beauty left
bb
(solo of mandolute and ululation)
—
2.bb
Time has increased, there is no honour left
bb
Ruin and war and the blood is flowing
bb
There are only walls left, walls standing up
bb
Fear and people remain silent
bb
Sadness, hate and the reign of arbitrary
bb
Destruction and jealousy ; there is no trust left
bb
Rivers were dried up and seas have ruined everything
bb
stars are switched off and the sun went down
barra barra (in a low voice, plus crescendo)
—
3.bb
There is neither good, nor happiness, nor luck anymore
bb
There are no trees left; the birds stopped singing
bb
There are neither nights, nor days left; darkness only
bb
Desolation, hell, there is no beauty left
bb
(Silence)
bb
Time has increased, there is no honour left
bb
Ruin and war and the blood is flowing
bb
There are only walls left, walls standing up
bb
Sadness, hate and the reign of arbitrary
bb
Destruction and jealousy ; there is no trust left.
Stars are switched off, and the sun went down
bb
There is neither good, nor happiness, nor luck left
bb
There are no trees left ; birds stopped singing
bb
There are no neither nights nor days left; darkness only
bb
Desolation, hell, there is no beauty left
bb
Time has increased, there is no honour left
Barraaaaa! Barra, barra, barraaaaaa!
Yeah, it’s dark and lots of people might not like it, but I think there is a right to like it, and damn it, I think such a right is a human right.
It’s like where there’s a right to like whatever music you like, there’s hope.
Even (and especially) in darkness.
Which is why they hate music.
The darker the better.
No music could be as dark as the darkness of those who hate it.
MORE: Readers who enjoy musical cross-contamination might want to check out these posts about Faudel.
Comments
2 responses to “Why they hate music”
“No music could be as dark as the darkness of those who hate it.”
For some reason, this post reminded me of the Taliban’s ban on (most) music.
That was precisely my point. Musicians are able to communicate across cultures in a way that Taliban types would find very contaminating.
Whether ironically or not, the wars in the Mideast have contributed to the cultural cross contamination. I like Mideastern music, and it would not surprise me if a number of U.S, troops develop a taste for it while they’re over there. Music is affected by music.
To those who want people kept isolated and ignorant, it is the enemy.