Soundtrack to Iraq

thejester · Post by **thejester** » 2006-09-13 09:52am

So we've all been bombarded with enough popular culture to have a fair handle on the Vietnam soundtrack - The Doors, The Rolling Stones, Jefferson Airplane and classic songs like Surfin' Bird and Wolly Bully. That in mind - and inspired by the documentary Soundtrack to War - what songs would you put in a soundtrack to the Iraq War?

Einhander Sn0m4n · Post by **Einhander Sn0m4n** » 2006-09-13 01:15pm

Wake Me Up When September Ends for a starter.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2006-09-13 01:47pm

The greatest Vietnam war-era song had to be Fortunate Son by CCR. It had something to say but it was also a good song in its own right, unlike some of the Neil Young stuff which was created only to make a point. I haven't heard any music related to the Iraq War which matches that.

Post by **Kuja** » 2006-09-13 01:48pm

BYOB by System of a Down, obviously.

Rye · Post by **Rye** » 2006-09-13 03:29pm

The heavier soundtrack:

Slayer - Jihad
Slayer - Consfearacy
Slayer - Disciple <-a bit eerily prophetic about 9/11, the day the album was released, no less
Morbid Angel - Dawn of the Angry
Rage Against the Machine - Testify

Siege · Post by **Siege** » 2006-09-13 05:04pm

I always found Galvanize from the Chemical Brothers applicable. Not because it makes such a wonderful point against the war-- but the whole thing just sounds like something one might play in the cockpit of a fighterbomber cruising at twenty thousand feet, what with the "my finger is on the button" stuff and whatnot all.

Darth Fanboy · Post by **Darth Fanboy** » 2006-09-13 06:04pm

The theme from "Dukes of Hazzard" could easily apply to Bush and Cheney's approach.

"You're so Vain" could sum up Donald Rumsfeld too.

"Leaving on a Jet Plane" for all those soldiers from the "coalition of the willing" that should have never had to leave in the first place.

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2006-09-14 12:00am

How about "Yakety Sax" for the pre-war runup and planning?

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2006-09-14 12:42am

When they finally get around to doing Iraq war movies the soundtrack will more than likely consist of hip-hop, and maybe some rock here and there.

Exonerate · Post by **Exonerate** » 2006-09-14 01:08am

Rye wrote:The heavier soundtrack:

Slayer - Jihad
Slayer - Consfearacy

What albums are those two from? I've never heard of them...
And this is probably sligtly off-topic, but Slayer's Undisputed Attitude album would actually be a pretty good companion to the Iraq war and bad government in general.

theski · Post by **theski** » 2006-09-14 07:11am

Darth Wong wrote:The greatest Vietnam war-era song had to be Fortunate Son by CCR. It had something to say but it was also a good song in its own right, unlike some of the Neil Young stuff which was created only to make a point. I haven't heard any music related to the Iraq War which matches that.

Agreed.. also OHIO by CSNY...

salm · Post by **salm** » 2006-09-14 07:20am

The Empire strikes first by Bad Religion
and perhaps
The Idiots are taking over by NOFX
and
Let them eat war by Bad Religion

Rye · Post by **Rye** » 2006-09-14 08:12am

Exonerate wrote:
Rye wrote:The heavier soundtrack:

Slayer - Jihad
Slayer - Consfearacy
What albums are those two from? I've never heard of them...

Christ Illusion.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2006-09-14 10:07pm

Well as per documentarys "Yhe Roof is on Fire"

Nephtys · Post by **Nephtys** » 2006-09-14 10:24pm

There's obviously ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBcVj5OE1Jc

On the little CD Insert, I'd call it 'Red State Theme'.

Metatwaddle · Post by **Metatwaddle** » 2006-09-15 01:45am

"Why Couldn't We Blow Up Saddam" by the Austin Lounge Lizards is always a good one.

"Once when we loved him and called him our friend, we helped him in every endeavor. When he gassed the Kurds and invaded Iran, we thought he was witty and clever..."

thejester · Post by **thejester** » 2006-09-15 07:22pm

My personal submissions:

- The Herd's cover of I Was Only 19.

- The Drive-By Trucker's Angels and Fuselage.

Lord Pounder · Post by **Lord Pounder** » 2006-09-15 07:32pm

I guess Eminem's Mosh is out of the question?

thejester · Post by **thejester** » 2006-09-15 09:01pm

I don't think it has to have any actual relevance to Iraq, as such (Surfin' Bird has squat to do with the Vietnam War, afterall) - it's more of a zeitgeist thing.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2006-09-15 10:53pm

Why is this question even necessary? Why isn't the music world already forming an atmospheric culture around this war, the way they did during Vietnam? Why should there be any question which songs are emblematic of this war?

I think there's a real isolation between normal people and the Iraq War which wasn't really the case with Vietnam, thanks to the fear of being drafted. People pontificate about it on both sides, but few are really influenced by it except for the tiny minority of the country which is actually in the military.

Maybe that's why there's no spontaneous cultural "soundtrack of the war" that's forming in our collective consciousness. The war is a mere topic of political debate, not something that we've really made part of our lives.