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Peters gets knocked down but may not get up again

Written By: - Date published: 8:32 am, March 20th, 2024 - 54 comments

Chumbawamba have threatened legal action against Winston Peters for NZ First’s use of their song “I get knocked down” and have described him as having divisive, small-minded, and bigoted policies.

The Pogues wrote the best Christmas song ever

Written By: - Date published: 8:53 am, December 25th, 2023 - 4 comments

It is Christmas time and the eternal debate about who wrote the best Christmas song ever is being debated yet again. For me there is only one possible contender.

Going cold turkey on Spotify

Written By: - Date published: 10:58 am, January 29th, 2022 - 166 comments

Neil Young’s decision to withdraw his music from Spotify because of its insistence on highlighting self declared idiot Joe Rogan has seen a number of people either cancelling their subscriptions or considering alternatives.

Shake It Up, Taylor Swift, Shake It Up

Written By: - Date published: 7:29 am, October 10th, 2018 - 36 comments

There is a long a proud history of musicians adding their weight to the Democratic cause in the United States, but Taylor Swift’s recent action is about as on-message as you can get.

RIP Aretha Franklin

Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, August 17th, 2018 - 14 comments

Soul diva Aretha Franklin has died aged 76.

Appalling men and great art

Written By: - Date published: 1:32 pm, November 27th, 2017 - 49 comments

There have been some great artists face some appalling allegations.  Would they have been as successful if their great crimes had been exposed?

Skepta remix – Tory Magic Money Tree

Written By: - Date published: 3:09 pm, June 18th, 2017 - 1 comment

A little bit of UK political parody grime…

Eminem case could cost Nats big

Written By: - Date published: 6:53 am, May 2nd, 2017 - 82 comments

Eminem’s lawyer on the Nats’ email chain – “Also, the focus is on not just whether it’s an infringement. But whether they can shift liability to someone else.” Typical.

National in court – is “pretty legal” good enough?

Written By: - Date published: 7:47 am, May 1st, 2017 - 41 comments

Today National, party of personal responsibility and property rights, is in court for allegedly ripping off work the work of Eminem. How stupid do you have to be to make the same mistake twice?

International Days of Prayer and Action with Standing Rock

Written By: - Date published: 9:00 am, October 9th, 2016 - 4 comments

What we know is coming largely from outside the mainstream. Which is how it should be.

Nats think “pretty legal” is good enough…

Written By: - Date published: 7:47 am, March 10th, 2016 - 24 comments

… but the courts may beg to differ.

Written By: - Date published: 5:56 pm, January 12th, 2016 - 15 comments

Te Reo Putake spins the black circle and has a listen to Bowie’s final album, Blackstar.

Ground Control to Major Tom

Written By: - Date published: 8:13 pm, January 11th, 2016 - 59 comments

David Bowie’s death has been announced.

Darren Watson – I got your office right here – live acoustic version

Written By: - Date published: 1:00 pm, June 26th, 2015 - 3 comments

A live version of Darren Watson’s “I’ve got your office right here” with a message for John Key and details of Darren’s and Matt Langley’s Shoot Your Television Tour.

Keep on rocking in the free world

Written By: - Date published: 8:19 am, June 19th, 2015 - 25 comments

Donald Trump has attracted adverse comment for using Neil Young’s song “keep on rocking in the free world” during his campaign launch.  There are a number of other examples, both local and in the US, where right wing candidates have misappropriated progressive musicians’ music for campaign purposes.

Planet Key

Written By: - Date published: 5:48 pm, April 2nd, 2015 - 24 comments

Turns out that “Planet Key” is not an election advertisement after all.

Songs for the New Year – summertime!

Written By: - Date published: 9:11 am, January 1st, 2015 - 35 comments

Happy New Year! Some songs for the times.

SISters are doin’ it for themselves

Written By: - Date published: 2:02 pm, December 1st, 2014 - 1 comment

Got me smiling about no laughing matter!

Flashback post: Poetic justice

Written By: - Date published: 3:39 pm, September 16th, 2014 - 11 comments

Irish Bill originally posted this on 1 December 2007. For no reason at all we thought it warranted a reprint, with a guest comment from David Farrar.

Dancing on the grave of Hollywood and the reformation of the music industry

Written By: - Date published: 7:57 pm, August 3rd, 2014 - 144 comments

During every revolution there will be winners and losers, change can mean pain for some, especially for the bloodsucking leaches & parasites, that have entrenched their positions, after years of mediocrity. Yes the death of Hollywood and current Music industry would cause financial pain for some, including some of the arguably overpaid actors and performers […]

Seeger “brought politics to music”

Written By: - Date published: 9:15 am, January 29th, 2014 - 23 comments

1919-2014: Gone but never forgotten. Songs for and of the people.

“There is Power in a Union”

Written By: - Date published: 9:16 am, February 18th, 2013 - 80 comments

Unions have been under concerted attack for several decades. Though weakened, they still produce results for workers. NZ Teachers’ Unions act on sound research, aiming to provide a quality and fair education system for all Kiwis. Global federations are campaigning against anti-worker corporates, like DHL.

Tickets to the Laneway Festival

Written By: - Date published: 10:48 am, January 24th, 2013 - 4 comments

I have 3 tickets in my hot hand to give away to the Laneway Festival (the one that we have been advertising for months). It is all day at Silo Park down at the waterfront in Auckland on the Monday the 28th of January.

I’ll hand out tickets for those who request them (e-mail to me) in the usual order – authors, commentators, and readers and then on order of request.

Upcoming talk on Canadian student uprising

Written By: - Date published: 3:44 pm, January 11th, 2013 - 6 comments

This Sunday hip hop artist and political activist Darius Mirshahi will be speaking in Auckland about the political situation in Canada and how the left are organising to resist Neo-Liberalism. Later he will be performing material which has lead to attention from Glen Beck and the Canadian police.

Let’s sing it! Songs for ‘ordinary’ people

Written By: - Date published: 11:55 am, October 19th, 2012 - 109 comments

Revolutions, political movements and protests are fueled by songs.  They bring people together in common cause, draw attention to devastating conditions, reassure the oppressed that they are not alone, and inspire people to take political action. What songs have engaged, inspired, or motivated your political conscience and compassion? Update: : The winner is

Kim Dotcom – John Banks Song

Written By: - Date published: 9:09 am, May 7th, 2012 - 48 comments

Amnesia is a song about the John Banks donation saga in New Zealand – from “MrKimDotcom” on YouTube. Help it go viral…

Listen to us – Homebrew

Written By: - Date published: 11:00 am, November 25th, 2011 - 2 comments

We’ve been getting links to this song for a week or two. Wish I’d gotten round to posting it earlier. Just fantastic.

Hiding in his mansion/While half the population flies across the Tasman/The other half try to act like it’s not happening

There’s no depression in New Zealan’/ Just a slow sinking feelin’

The most fun anyone’s ever had with a corflute sign

Written By: - Date published: 2:48 pm, November 12th, 2011 - 12 comments

Unfortunate names for bands

Written By: - Date published: 6:43 am, October 9th, 2011 - 6 comments

The music for the morning….

When I fall

Written By: - Date published: 2:47 pm, June 17th, 2011 - 4 comments

One of my favorite bands and one of my favourite of their tracks. Barenaked Ladies playing “When I fall”. Great lyrics for the ongoing GFC. You have to love satirical songs…. Songwriters: PAGE, STEVEN / ROBERTSON, ED I look straight in the window, try not to look below Pretend I’m not up here, try counting […]

On supporting the Rugby World Cup

Written By: - Date published: 1:16 pm, June 2nd, 2011 - 113 comments

In my sleep deprived state I have to confess that I don’t like rugby supporters, especially drunken ones who argue about teams at 2am in the morning on the street. I suspect that will be the enduring memory I will carry away from this years Rugby World Cup. But I do like Dead Cat Bounce’s video about rugby.

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