Vietnow
Encyclopedia
"Vietnow" was the final single for Rage Against the Machine
's Evil Empire
album. Officially it is only the third single from the album, as "Down Rodeo
" was a promo release only.
The cover photograph of an elderly lady seen from the back, carrying a boombox
radio and walking down a mountain was taken by the Mexican photographer Graciela Iturbide
in the Sonoran Desert
in 1979. The original photograph is called "Mujer Ángel" and has also appeared in the black-and-white photography book Canto a la Realidad: Fotografia Latinoamericana, 1860-1993 as compiled by Erika Billeter.
The song's lyrics concern right-wing AM radio shows, hosted by people such as Rush Limbaugh
, Oliver North
and Michael Reagan
. The verse riffs bear a resemblance to "The Wanton Song
" by Led Zeppelin
, whom Tom Morello
has cited as a major influence.
"Vietnow" also contains numerous references to Christianity
. Among these are "shut down the devil's sound", "undressed and blessed by the Lord", "evil angel's lists", "is all the world jails and churches" and "your saviour's my guillotine, crosses and kerosene". Part of this is presumably due to the Christian right
, and the abundance of right-wing radio show hosts.
The lyrics "is all the world jails and churches", are perhaps influenced by the works of American novelist James Baldwin
. Baldwin's 1953 novel Go Tell It on the Mountain includes the character Roy Grimes arguing with his mother and commenting, “You think that's all that's in the world is jails and churches?” At least one of James Baldwin's books is contained on Rage Against the Machine
's Evil Empire
liner notes.
The line "comin down like bats from Stacey Koon" is a reference to Sgt. Stacey Koon
, one of the 4 LAPD
policemen videotaped beating black motorist Rodney King
in 1992. He and Laurence Powell
were the only two convicted of the four.
Vietnow made its live debut during the 1996 Big Day Out festival in Australia.
During live performances, Bassist Tim Commerford
is known for adding in the vocals: "comin down like bats from Stacey Koon" and "aw shit, I got a head rush!"
Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group's line-up consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk...
's Evil Empire
Evil Empire (album)
-Track listing:All songs written and arranged by Rage Against the Machine and all lyrics by Zack de la Rocha.#"People of the Sun" – 2:30#"Bulls on Parade" – 3:49#"Vietnow" – 4:39#"Revolver" – 5:30#"Snakecharmer" – 3:56#"Tire Me" – 3:00#"Down Rodeo" – 5:20...
album. Officially it is only the third single from the album, as "Down Rodeo
Down Rodeo
"Down Rodeo" was a promotional single by Rage Against the Machine sent out to various American radio stations. The song was to be the third single taken from their Evil Empire album, although a domestic single and video was never released...
" was a promo release only.
The cover photograph of an elderly lady seen from the back, carrying a boombox
Boombox
Boombox is a colloquial expression for a portable cassette or CD player. Other terms known are ghetto blaster, jambox, or radio-cassette. It is a device capable of receiving radio stations and playing recorded music , usually at relatively high volume...
radio and walking down a mountain was taken by the Mexican photographer Graciela Iturbide
Graciela Iturbide
- Biography :Graciela Iturbide was born in Mexico in 1942, the eldest of thirteen children. She then married the architect Manuel Rocha Díaz in 1962 and had three children over the next eight years. Iturbide's six year old daughter died in 1970; after this death she turned to photography...
in the Sonoran Desert
Sonoran Desert
The Sonoran Desert is a North American desert which straddles part of the United States-Mexico border and covers large parts of the U.S. states of Arizona and California and the northwest Mexican states of Sonora, Baja California, and Baja California Sur. It is one of the largest and hottest...
in 1979. The original photograph is called "Mujer Ángel" and has also appeared in the black-and-white photography book Canto a la Realidad: Fotografia Latinoamericana, 1860-1993 as compiled by Erika Billeter.
The song's lyrics concern right-wing AM radio shows, hosted by people such as Rush Limbaugh
Rush Limbaugh
Rush Hudson Limbaugh III is an American radio talk show host, conservative political commentator, and an opinion leader in American conservatism. He hosts The Rush Limbaugh Show which is aired throughout the U.S. on Premiere Radio Networks and is the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United...
, Oliver North
Oliver North
Oliver Laurence North is a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer, political commentator, host of War Stories with Oliver North on Fox News Channel, a military historian, and a New York Times best-selling author....
and Michael Reagan
Michael Reagan
Michael Edward Reagan is a former American radio host and Republican strategist. His nationally syndicated radio show, The Michael Reagan Talk Show, aired on stations throughout the United States on the Premiere Radio Networks before being dropped, after which it moved to Radio America...
. The verse riffs bear a resemblance to "The Wanton Song
The Wanton Song
"The Wanton Song" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin from their 1975 album Physical Graffiti. The song came about as the result of a jam session at rehearsals and features a sharp, aggressive riff from guitarist Jimmy Page, which like "Immigrant Song" found Page switching back and forth...
" by Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
, whom Tom Morello
Tom Morello
Thomas Baptiste "Tom" Morello is a Grammy Award-winning American guitarist best known for his tenure with the bands Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, his acoustic solo act The Nightwatchman, and his newest group, Street Sweeper Social Club...
has cited as a major influence.
"Vietnow" also contains numerous references to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. Among these are "shut down the devil's sound", "undressed and blessed by the Lord", "evil angel's lists", "is all the world jails and churches" and "your saviour's my guillotine, crosses and kerosene". Part of this is presumably due to the Christian right
Christian right
Christian right is a term used predominantly in the United States to describe "right-wing" Christian political groups that are characterized by their strong support of socially conservative policies...
, and the abundance of right-wing radio show hosts.
The lyrics "is all the world jails and churches", are perhaps influenced by the works of American novelist James Baldwin
James Baldwin (writer)
James Arthur Baldwin was an American novelist, essayist, playwright, poet, and social critic.Baldwin's essays, for instance "Notes of a Native Son" , explore palpable yet unspoken intricacies of racial, sexual, and class distinctions in Western societies, most notably in mid-20th century America,...
. Baldwin's 1953 novel Go Tell It on the Mountain includes the character Roy Grimes arguing with his mother and commenting, “You think that's all that's in the world is jails and churches?” At least one of James Baldwin's books is contained on Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group's line-up consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk...
's Evil Empire
Evil Empire (album)
-Track listing:All songs written and arranged by Rage Against the Machine and all lyrics by Zack de la Rocha.#"People of the Sun" – 2:30#"Bulls on Parade" – 3:49#"Vietnow" – 4:39#"Revolver" – 5:30#"Snakecharmer" – 3:56#"Tire Me" – 3:00#"Down Rodeo" – 5:20...
liner notes.
The line "comin down like bats from Stacey Koon" is a reference to Sgt. Stacey Koon
Stacey Koon
Stacey Cornell Koon is a former sergeant with the Los Angeles Police Department who became nationally notorious in the wake of the Rodney King incident...
, one of the 4 LAPD
Los Angeles Police Department
The Los Angeles Police Department is the police department of the city of Los Angeles, California. With just under 10,000 officers and more than 3,000 civilian staff, covering an area of with a population of more than 4.1 million people, it is the third largest local law enforcement agency in...
policemen videotaped beating black motorist Rodney King
Rodney King
Rodney Glen King is an American best known for his involvement in a police brutality case involving the Los Angeles Police Department on March 3, 1991...
in 1992. He and Laurence Powell
Laurence Powell
Laurence Michael Powell is a former Los Angeles Police officer. He was one of the four officers involved in the beating of Rodney King on March 3, 1991.-Background:...
were the only two convicted of the four.
Vietnow made its live debut during the 1996 Big Day Out festival in Australia.
During live performances, Bassist Tim Commerford
Tim Commerford
Timothy Robert Commerford , also known by his various monikers/stage names is the bassist/backing vocalist for American alternative metal band Rage Against The Machine and the now-defunct supergroup Audioslave.-Biography:Tim Commerford was born on February...
is known for adding in the vocals: "comin down like bats from Stacey Koon" and "aw shit, I got a head rush!"
Track listing
- "Vietnow"
- "Clear The Lane" - b-side
- "Intro/Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos [Live Version]"
- "Zapata's Blood [Live Version]"
External links
- Official Website
- Axis of Justice Tom Morello and Serj TankianSerj TankianSerj Tankian is a Lebanese-born Armenian-American singer–songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, playwright, record producer, poet, and political activist...
's Activist Website "Axis Of JusticeAxis of JusticeAxis of Justice is a non-profit organization co-founded by Serj Tankian and Tom Morello. Its purpose is to bring together musicians, fans of music, and grassroots progressivism to fight for social justice together.-Formation:...
" - Graciela Iturbide´s Official Website