Recent from talks
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Vietnow
View on Wikipedia
| "Vietnow" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Rage Against the Machine | ||||
| from the album Evil Empire | ||||
| B-side | "Clear the Lane" | |||
| Released | October 1997 | |||
| Genre | Rap metal | |||
| Length | 4:39 | |||
| Label | Epic | |||
| Songwriters | Zack de la Rocha Tom Morello Tim Commerford Brad Wilk | |||
| Producer | Brendan O'Brien | |||
| Rage Against the Machine singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Vietnow" is a song by American rock band Rage Against the Machine and the final single from their album Evil Empire. Officially it is the third single from the album, as "Down Rodeo" was a US-promo release only. The "Vietnow"-single was only released in certain European countries, like France and The Netherlands.
About
[edit]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.[citation needed] The verse riffs bear a resemblance to "The Wanton Song" by Led Zeppelin, whom Tom Morello has cited as a major influence.
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.[1]
The line "Comin down like bats from Stacey Koon" is a reference to Sgt. Stacey Koon, one of the four LAPD policemen videotaped beating black motorist Rodney King in 1991. He and Laurence Powell were the only two convicted of the four.
The lyrics "Undressed and blessed by the lord, the same devil that ran around Managua with a sword" are a reference to the CIA's involvement in sending CONTRAS into Nicaragua to shut down the Sandinista movement.
The song made its live debut during the 1996 Big Day Out festival in Australia.
Track listing
[edit]- "Vietnow"
- "Clear the Lane"
- "Intro/Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos" (Live)
- "Zapata's Blood" (Live)
References
[edit]- ^ "Rage Against the Machine: Book List". Ratm.net. Archived from the original on November 17, 2011. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Axis of Justice Archived October 17, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Tom Morello and Serj Tankian's Activist Website "Axis Of Justice"
- Vietnow at AllMusic
- Graciela Iturbide´s Official Website
Vietnow
View on GrokipediaBackground
Album Context
Evil Empire is the second studio album by the American rock band Rage Against the Machine, released on April 16, 1996, by Epic Records.[6][7] Following the commercial and critical success of their self-titled debut album in 1992, which sold over three million copies in the United States and established the band's signature fusion of rap-metal aggression with leftist political lyrics, the group faced pressure to deliver a follow-up amid internal creative tensions.[6] The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and has since been certified triple platinum by the RIAA, reflecting its enduring appeal through tracks blending heavy riffs, rapid-fire vocals, and critiques of media manipulation, corporate power, and U.S. imperialism.[8] Recording took place at Cole Rehearsal Studios in Hollywood, California, and Kiss Music Recording Studios in Melbourne, Australia, capturing the band's live rehearsal intensity rather than polished studio overdubs.[6] Production challenges arose from band conflicts, with drummer Brad Wilk later stating the group temporarily disbanded during sessions, contributing to the album's raw, urgent sound born from frustration and reconciliation.[9] The title Evil Empire repurposes Ronald Reagan's 1983 characterization of the Soviet Union as an "evil empire" to instead indict American policies, aligning with the band's broader activism against perceived hypocrisies in U.S. governance and media.[10] In the context of Vietnow, the album's third track, Evil Empire amplifies Rage Against the Machine's assault on information control and war propaganda, themes rooted in the band's opposition to mainstream narratives during the mid-1990s post-Cold War era of economic globalization and military interventions.[7] This environment, marked by events like the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement and ongoing U.S. foreign entanglements, fueled the record's militancy, positioning it as a sonic manifesto against complacency in the face of institutional power.[10]Historical Influences
"Vietnow" draws heavily from the Vietnam War (1955–1975), a conflict that resulted in approximately 58,000 American military deaths and widespread domestic opposition due to perceived government deception and media complicity in sustaining public support. The song's title evokes this era, positing parallels between wartime propaganda tactics and 1990s right-wing radio broadcasts, which the band likened to psychological operations designed to manipulate fear and loyalty. Specifically, lyrics such as "Shut down the devil's radio" allude to U.S. military psyops like Operation Wandering Soul, a 1960s–1970s campaign where American forces broadcast eerie recordings of wailing "ghosts" to exploit Vietnamese beliefs in restless spirits, aiming to demoralize Viet Cong fighters and induce desertions.[11][2] Another key influence is the Iran-Contra affair of the mid-1980s, involving covert U.S. support for Nicaraguan Contra rebels against the Sandinista government, funded partly through illegal arms sales to Iran. The lyric "Undressed and blessed by the lord / The same devil that ran around Managua with a sword" references figures like Oliver North, who orchestrated aspects of the operation from bases in Managua, highlighting what the band portrays as hypocritical U.S. interventions masked by ideological rhetoric.[2][4] The song also echoes McCarthyism, the 1950s anti-communist campaigns led by Senator Joseph McCarthy, which fueled blacklists, loyalty oaths, and media-driven hysteria over alleged subversion, resulting in thousands investigated and careers ruined amid scant evidence of widespread threats. Rage Against the Machine frames contemporary media fearmongering as a continuation of such tactics, urging resistance to narrative control akin to historical suppressions of dissent.[3]Composition and Recording
Musical Structure
"Vietnow" employs a 4/4 time signature and unfolds at a tempo of 108 beats per minute in B minor, contributing to its high-energy, groove-oriented drive.[12][13] The song's instrumentation centers on Tom Morello's guitar work, which features a primary riff derived from E-scale patterns adapted to the key, augmented by effects pedals including whammy and wah for harmonic octave shifts and tonal experimentation, layered over Tim Commerford's bass lines and Brad Wilk's dynamic drumming.[2][14] Departing from standard verse-chorus frameworks, the track builds through extended rap-style verses delivered by Zack de la Rocha over sparse, rhythmic foundations, transitioning into groovy breakdown sections and mini-refrains—such as the repeated "Is all the world jails and churches?"—that emphasize heavy riffing and escalating intensity without a conventional bridge.[5][11] This rhythmic divergence, marked by unconventional phrasing and build-ups, underscores the song's experimental edge within Rage Against the Machine's rap-metal style.[15]Production Details
"Vietnow" was produced by Brendan O'Brien alongside Rage Against the Machine during the sessions for their second studio album, Evil Empire.[7] The track's recording occurred primarily at Cole Rehearsal Studios in Hollywood, California, as part of album sessions that spanned several weeks in 1995, with supplementary work at Devonshire Studios in North Hollywood, California.[7] [16] Brendan O'Brien also contributed engineering duties, supported by Nick Didia on additional engineering.[7] Mixing for "Vietnow" was handled by Andy Wallace, with recording engineering credited to Nick DiDia and others involved in the album's technical process.[17] The production approach prioritized the band's raw, live performance energy, incorporating minimal overdubs to preserve the intensity of Tom Morello's guitar effects, Zack de la Rocha's vocal delivery, and the rhythm section's drive.[7] This method aligned with the album's overall ethos of channeling political urgency into sonic aggression without excessive studio polish.[7]Lyrics and Themes
Lyrical Content
The lyrics of "Vietnow," primarily written by Rage Against the Machine vocalist Zack de la Rocha, open with a repeated directive to reject mainstream radio broadcasts, framing them as instruments of fear-mongering and ideological control: "Turn on the radio / Nah, fuck it, turn it off / Fear is your only god on the radio / Nah, fuck it, turn it off."[3][18] This motif establishes a core theme of media skepticism, portraying electronic media as a conduit for manufactured dread rather than objective information.[2] The chorus introduces cryptic, rhythmic phrases invoking historical figures and symbols: "Check out the new style, Ollie, Ollie oxenfree / Crosses and kerosene, come on."[3] "Ollie" alludes to Oliver North, the U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant colonel implicated in the Iran-Contra affair for facilitating arms sales to Iran and funding Nicaraguan Contras, symbolizing perceived governmental deception recycled in contemporary narratives.[2] "Crosses and kerosene" evokes Ku Klux Klan rituals of cross-burning intimidation, suggesting a persistence of vigilante authoritarianism under new guises.[3] The playful "Ollie Ollie oxenfree"—a children's game tag signaling safety—ironically contrasts with these ominous references, implying a false sense of liberation in media-driven distractions.[19] In the second verse, the lyrics shift to aggressive imagery of reversal and disruption: "Hunt them down like the Viet Cong / Merge on tha networks, slangin' nerve gas / Up jump tha boogie then bang, let 'em hang / While tha paranoid try ta stuff tha void / Let's capture this AM mayhem."[3] The invocation of the Viet Cong inverts Vietnam War-era U.S. military rhetoric, positioning the oppressed as hunters of systemic predators, while "merge on tha networks" critiques corporate media consolidation spreading toxic propaganda akin to chemical agents.[2] "AM mayhem" targets morning talk radio's role in amplifying paranoia to fill existential voids, urging appropriation of that chaos for subversive ends.[3] The third verse intensifies the critique of institutional deceit: "Yo, check the flavor that I'm bringin' / The gamin' of the system, the slingin' of the venom / In the belly of the beast but we're not eatin' / We're just feastin' on the lies that they're feedin'."[3] Here, de la Rocha employs slang-laden defiance—"gamin' of the system" denoting exploitation of power structures, and "slingin' of the venom" as counter-propaganda—while decrying passive consumption within oppressive frameworks ("belly of the beast"), likening societal intake to devouring falsehoods rather than sustenance. Overall, the lyrical structure—repetitive hooks for emphasis, dense alliteration, and slang-infused verses—mirrors hip-hop influences, delivering a rapid-fire assault on perceived cycles of media-fueled hysteria echoing Vietnam-era manipulations into the 1990s context.[3][2]Interpretations and Symbolism
"Vietnow" is interpreted as a critique of media manipulation and propaganda, particularly targeting right-wing radio broadcasts in the late 1990s that shaped public perception through fearmongering and warmongering tactics.[2][3] The lyrics decry how tabloids, television, and radio induce feelings of inadequacy and dread—"The glamour subdued me / The tabloids and the TV set me up to feel so bad"—to maintain control, with the refrain "Fear is your only God on the radio" symbolizing how fear supplants rational discourse as the dominant force in information dissemination.[3][19] This aligns with the band's broader anti-establishment ethos, positioning media as a tool of the military-industrial complex and U.S. imperialism.[20] The title "Vietnow" evokes the Vietnam War (1955–1975), drawing a parallel between American military defeat by Viet Cong guerrilla tactics and a contemporary call for asymmetric resistance against domestic power structures.[2] It implies that false narratives propagated by media—much like those justifying U.S. involvement in Vietnam—persist and demand revolutionary upheaval: "But the revolution's here / Now it's comin' for ya."[2] Specific lines, such as "Undressed and blessed by the lord / The same devil that ran around Managua with a sword," reference the CIA's support for Contra rebels in Nicaragua during the 1980s Iran-Contra affair, symbolizing hypocritical alliances between religious rhetoric and covert imperialism. Additionally, "Crosses and kerosene" alludes to Ku Klux Klan rituals of burning crosses, critiquing intersections of religious symbolism and racial violence within conservative media narratives.[4] Symbolically, the song contrasts passive media consumption with active insurgency, urging listeners to reject induced paralysis—"Them that bleed the press / Control the compass"—and adopt "Vietnow" strategies of disruption against centralized control.[3] While band members, including vocalist Zack de la Rocha, framed such themes within Marxist-inspired activism, interpretations note the irony that 1990s right-wing talk radio, exemplified by figures like Rush Limbaugh, represented a counter to mainstream media dominance rather than unalloyed propaganda, though empirical data on audience effects remains debated in media studies.[20][19] The track's urgency underscores a causal view: unchecked narrative control perpetuates cycles of conflict, akin to Vietnam's unresolved lessons in power dynamics.[2]Release and Commercial Aspects
Single Release
"Vietnow" served as the third and final single from Rage Against the Machine's album Evil Empire, released on October 10, 1997, by Epic Records.[21][7] The CD single included the album version of "Vietnow" as the A-side, alongside the non-album B-side "Clear the Lane!" and live recordings of "Bulls on Parade" and "Killing in the Name" captured at the Pinkpop festival on May 27, 1996.[22] This release followed the promotional singles "Bulls on Parade" in early 1996 and "People of the Sun" later that year, extending support for Evil Empire over a year after its April 1996 album debut.[7] Unlike its predecessors, "Vietnow" received limited commercial promotion and did not achieve notable chart positions on major Billboard rankings.[2]Track Listing
The "Vietnow" maxi-single, released in 1997 by Epic Records, features the album version of the title track alongside a remix and live recordings.[22]| No. | Title | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Vietnow" | 4:40 | From Evil Empire; produced by Brendan O'Brien, co-produced by Rage Against the Machine, mixed by Andy Wallace.[22] |
| 2 | "Clear the Lane" | 3:50 | Remix produced by Gggarth and Rage Against the Machine.[22] |
| 3 | "Intro (Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos)" (live) | 3:54 | Recorded live at Pinkpop Festival, Landgraaf, Netherlands, on May 27, 1996.[22] |
| 4 | "Zapata's Blood" (live) | 3:34 | Recorded live at Pinkpop Festival, Landgraaf, Netherlands, on May 27, 1996.[22] |
