Are you a ragger?

His Divine Shadow · Post by **His Divine Shadow** » 2004-05-03 03:56am

First off, what is a ragger(raggare in swedish but I think ragger is a americanized version of it)? Well the wikipedia has a definition:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raggare/

Raggare is a subculture found mostly in Sweden and parts of Norway and Finland, mostly in rural enviroments and smaller villages. Raggare have existed since the 1950s and haven't changed much since then. The culture is based on popular culture of the 1950s and very important to raggare is their cars, they are preferably large US cars from that era. The music of choice is rockabilly. Raggare often got into fights with hippies and in the 1970s also with punks, something described in the punk song "Raggare Is A Bunch Of Motherfuckers".

Well more or less true, what we do like are american cars, the 50-60's popular culture is also very much liked, rock & roll is definitly required, sideburns are popular, jeans and possibly leather jackets are favored, old rock&roll boots like the ones used in the 50-60's are very popular, kinda like biker boots but more pointy and sometimes steel toed.

Do you like the "good ole days" of rock'n'roll? Do you like big american cars? Do you like real music? You might be a ragger.
Also a general dislike of modern music such as all that hip-hop, reggae, rap, trance and britney/agiulerablahblah nonsense is common.

Popular ragger icons:

The king.

Eddie Meduza - swedish ragger, is either loved or hated, has cult status.
Sings mainly in swedish but has some english songs, try "Keep On Rolling"

Now there are two kinds of raggers, or rather the real ragger and new sub-ragger or fake ragger, this is the old style:

This is the true ragger.

These new fake raggers tend to drive more modern cars and aren't scared of dying their hair in silly colors like blonde:

"Scientist where happy to discover that the otherwise almost extinct ragger survives in a slightly altered version, or so they thought, apparently there is no real kinship between the two groups."

"According to Thomas Mård these new raggers are not an evolution of the old raggers but rather a degenerate form. The old raggers where creative, they rebuilt their cars and if they became agressive they usually fought inside the group or with current-era punkers(old rivals), the new raggers don't have any interest in modifying their cars, they just want them as status symbols. Their taste in music is far worse and their anabolically stuffed bodies is a threat to anyone if they are in a bad mood."

Article in full, in swedish:
http://www.moddlaren.com/moddlaren/inri ... r/raggare/

Sir Sirius · Post by **Sir Sirius** » 2004-05-03 05:25am

So an improvised Ragger ID quiz should go something like this (my answers are below the questions):

1. Do you like the "good ole days" of rock'n'roll?
Yeap.

2. Do you like big american cars?
Nope.

3. Do you have or would youlike to have sideburns?
Well, I have a full beard, so no.

4. Do you like to wear jeans and leather jackets?
Yeap.

5. Do you like old rock&roll boots, like those used in the 50-60's?
Nope.

6. Do you dislike of modern music such as hip-hop, reggae, rap and trance?
Yeap.

7. Is Elvis The King?
Definately.

For the record, I am not a "Ragger", it just appears that Raggers have good taste in many things.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2004-05-03 05:37am

Wow, I didn't know that culture niche actually had a name.

Frank Hipper · Post by **Frank Hipper** » 2004-05-03 05:46am

I thought in Finland 50's-influenced sub-culturists were called "Diinarits" or however it's spelled, due to their idolization of James Dean.

Peregrin Toker · Post by **Peregrin Toker** » 2004-05-03 05:48am

I used to have some quite impressive sideburns, but recently shaved them off.

I'm also, for some irrational reason, fond of old american "highway locomotives". (among my hobbies is "carspotting", which is standing at roads and keeping an eye open for rare cars... I saw a '63 Corvette not too many days ago!)

I also dislike hip-hop and rap intensely. (most of my favourite bands, if not all, play Metal of some sort!)

However, I'm too young to have lived through the "good ol' days of rock'n'roll". (most of the music I listen to is '70s or newer) And I don't look like a stereotypical metaller, I'm rather neutral on trance music and reggae, and I don't worship Elvis Presley.

If I am to be pigeonholed into subcultures, I probably fit the "nerd" subculture the best.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2004-05-03 05:55am

I'd actually say you're more of a "geek" or 'dork," Simon.

I consider myself as a nerd, and you are certainly no nerd. You are the enemy.

His Divine Shadow · Post by **His Divine Shadow** » 2004-05-03 06:01am

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:Wow, I didn't know that culture niche actually had a name.

It doesn't really, it's a swedish/danish/norweigan thing, and to a lesser extent finnish-swedish and finnish.

The name is just something I made up from the real name that sounded american, actually... now I remember where I got that from, it was from the excellent comedy series called "Byhåla" featuring two swedish raggers(Ronny & Ragge) who drove a "fårrd" as they called it(a ford taunus) who spoke a broken mix of swedish and english.

His Divine Shadow · Post by **His Divine Shadow** » 2004-05-03 06:02am

Frank Hipper wrote:I thought in Finland 50's-influenced sub-culturists were called "Diinarits" or however it's spelled, due to their idolization of James Dean.

This isn't finnish, mainly swedish but it extends to all the scandinavian countries.

Sir Sirius · Post by **Sir Sirius** » 2004-05-03 06:26am

Frank Hipper wrote:I thought in Finland 50's-influenced sub-culturists were called "Diinarits" or however it's spelled, due to their idolization of James Dean.

I can't remember ever hearing that, but the phenomena predates me so I'll check with the some of the old folk, they might know more.

Post by **haas mark** » 2004-05-03 07:06am

With Sir Sirius' questions...

1. Do you like the "good ole days" of rock'n'roll?
Yep.

2. Do you like big american cars?
No.

3. Do you have or would youlike to have sideburns?
Yes.

4. Do you like to wear jeans and leather jackets?
Jeans = evil. Leather jackets = debatable.

5. Do you like old rock&roll boots, like those used in the 50-60's?
Hell no.

6. Do you dislike of modern music such as hip-hop, reggae, rap and trance?
Yes, yes, yes, and no.

7. Is Elvis The King?
...

His Divine Shadow · Post by **His Divine Shadow** » 2004-05-03 07:10am

God you don't have any style when it comes to boots, they're frickin beatifull!

Here's a picture of my shoe, albeit my shoes are getting old and beat up and I need to get a new pair but it's the same general style, though it's not a boot, it's short like a shoe:

Peregrin Toker · Post by **Peregrin Toker** » 2004-05-03 10:37am

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:I'd actually say you're more of a "geek" or 'dork," Simon.

I consider myself as a nerd, and you are certainly no nerd. You are the enemy.

Geek, dweeb, nerd, dork... what's the difference?

BTW - His Divine Shadow, do you consider yourself a ragger?

Rye · Post by **Rye** » 2004-05-03 10:47am

1. Do you like the "good ole days" of rock'n'roll?
Not really, 80s onward is my preference.

2. Do you like big american cars?
Yes. Alot.

3. Do you have or would you like to have sideburns?
Really undecided on this one.

4. Do you like to wear jeans and leather jackets?
Why yes, yes I do.

5. Do you like old rock&roll boots, like those used in the 50-60's?
I wouldn't ever wear them, but I think they're cool.

6. Do you dislike of modern music such as hip-hop, reggae, rap and trance?
Not if it's 80s, apathetic, 80s again, depends what trance.

7. Is Elvis The King?
Yes.

His Divine Shadow · Post by **His Divine Shadow** » 2004-05-03 01:41pm

Peregrin Toker wrote:BTW - His Divine Shadow, do you consider yourself a ragger?

Seems like it, I got sideburns(albeit more stylish and modern ones, not the huge things people used to have), I got an american musclecar, I like jeans, Elvis is the king, Rock'n'roll is the best and I wear those old style boots, ofcourse where I am this is not exactly a rare thing.
Though I am looking into a new pair with chromed steel toes.

The Aliens · Post by **The Aliens** » 2004-05-03 08:10pm

That's wild- it's people fallen out of the Fifties. I enjoy rock'n'roll, but only in certain amounts- I've been spoiled by the Britpop Revolution and subsequent crash and burn. No sideburns, either, and not legal driving age 'till Saturday.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2004-05-03 08:43pm

1. Do you like the "good ole days" of rock'n'roll?

Yes

2. Do you like big american cars?

Yes

3. Do you have or would youlike to have sideburns?

No

4. Do you like to wear jeans and leather jackets?

Yes

5. Do you like old rock&roll boots, like those used in the 50-60's?

No

6. Do you dislike of modern music such as hip-hop, reggae, rap and trance?

Definitely fucking yes.

7. Is Elvis The King?

DUnno, never listened to his music.

Uraniun235 · Post by **Uraniun235** » 2004-05-04 01:50am

Hey, now, what the HELL is wrong with big sideburns?

UltraViolence83 · Post by **UltraViolence83** » 2004-05-04 04:59am

Last year I had some fucking kickass Civil War-era sideburns, then shaved them into more trendier short 'n pointy burns.

Then I had the pure fucking apex of facial hair fashion: an AMISH BEARD! (with puny fuzzy moustache) Shaved that off (except 'stache, I look like I'm 15 without it) and now I've got this cool chin goatee that's divided down the center (for some reason I can't grow dark/long hair right under my chin) and am thinking about turning that along with the moustache into a Ming The Merciless-style FU MANCHU!!!

On Topic: A friend of mine has the tight jeans and zipper-infested leather jacket of those raggars, and with his hair cut he looks exactly like James Dean. Back when he had his sideburns I always called him "The Third Duke Boy."