Washington Bullets (song): Difference between revisions
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{{For|the basketball team|Washington Wizards}} |
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{{Infobox Song <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Songs --> |
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{{Infobox song |
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| Name = Washington Bullets |
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| name = Washington Bullets |
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| type = |
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| artist = [[The Clash]] |
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| album = [[Sandinista!]] |
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| Genre = [[Post-punk]], [[reggae rock]] |
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| Label = [[Columbia Records|CBS]] |
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| genre = [[Post-punk]] |
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| length = 3:51 |
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| Chart position = |
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| label = [[Columbia Records|CBS]] |
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| writer = [[Mick Jones (The Clash guitarist)|Mick Jones]], John Mellor |
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| producer = |
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"'''Washington Bullets'''" is a song from [[The Clash]]'s 1980 album ''[[Sandinista!]]''. A politically charged song, it is a simplified version of |
"'''Washington Bullets'''" is a song from [[The Clash]]'s 1980 album ''[[Sandinista!]]''. A politically charged song, it is a simplified version of imperialist history from the 1959 [[Cuban Revolution]] to the [[Nicaragua]]n [[Sandinista]]s of the 1980s, with mention of the [[Bay of Pigs Invasion]], the [[Dalai Lama]], [[Salvador Allende]] and [[Víctor Jara]], referencing his death at the hands of the [[Military dictatorship of Chile (1973–90)|Chilean military dictatorship]] in the [[Víctor Jara Stadium|stadium that now bears his name]]. Although mainly a criticism of the [[foreign policy]] of the [[United States]], the song's final stanza also delivers a criticism of [[Communist]] states by making reference to the treatment of pacifist Buddhist monks in the [[People's Republic of China]] during the [[Cultural Revolution]] and the [[Soviet Union]]'s [[Soviet–Afghan War|Invasion of Afghanistan]]. |
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The song's title is often thought to have been a pun on the name of |
The song's title is often thought to have been a pun on the name of Washington DC's basketball team, the Washington Bullets (now called the [[Washington Wizards]]), but frontman [[Joe Strummer]] denied any knowledge of the basketball team prior to the song's release.<ref>Liner notes to ''[[The Clash on Broadway]]'':</ref> |
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The song is one of The Clash's more experimental, in the [[reggae]] style, with a [[marimba]] and |
The song is one of The Clash's more experimental, in the [[reggae]] style, with a [[marimba]] and [[lyrics]] that are almost spoken rather than sung. Though the marimba is the most prominent instrument, [[electric guitar]] [[riff]]s are still audible. The marimba part is an altered version of the melody from "[[Turkey in the Straw]]". |
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On the [[tribute album]] ''The Clash Tribute: The Never Ending Story'', the song was covered by [[Attila the Stockbroker]], with new lyrics to the later verses, omitting the reference to Afghanistan and The Clash's subtle attack on |
On the [[tribute album]] ''The Clash Tribute: The Never Ending Story'', the song was covered by [[Attila the Stockbroker]], with new lyrics to the later verses, omitting the reference to Afghanistan and The Clash's subtle attack on communism. The new verses are critical of U.S. involvement in the end of the Soviet Union, and [[Boris Yeltsin]]'s embrace of western-style [[capitalism]], making particular disparaging references to the [[New world order (politics)|new world order]] following the end of the [[Cold War]]. |
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==See also== |
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* [[List of anti-war songs]] |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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{{The Clash singles}} |
{{The Clash singles}} |
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[[Category:Anti-war songs]] |
[[Category:Anti-war songs]] |
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[[Category:The Clash songs]] |
[[Category:The Clash songs]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Songs about Chile]] |
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[[Category:Songs about Cuba]] |
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[[Category:Songs about Nicaragua]] |
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[[Category:Songs about China]] |
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[[Category:Songs about Tibet]] |
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[[Category:Songs about Afghanistan]] |
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[[Category:Cultural depictions of the 14th Dalai Lama]] |
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[[Category:Songs written by Mick Jones (The Clash)]] |
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Latest revision as of 23:57, 8 October 2023
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2013) |
| "Washington Bullets" | |
|---|---|
| Song by The Clash | |
| from the album Sandinista! | |
| Released | 12 December 1980 |
| Genre | Post-punk |
| Length | 3:51 |
| Label | CBS |
| Songwriter(s) | Mick Jones, John Mellor |
"Washington Bullets" is a song from The Clash's 1980 album Sandinista!. A politically charged song, it is a simplified version of imperialist history from the 1959 Cuban Revolution to the Nicaraguan Sandinistas of the 1980s, with mention of the Bay of Pigs Invasion, the Dalai Lama, Salvador Allende and Víctor Jara, referencing his death at the hands of the Chilean military dictatorship in the stadium that now bears his name. Although mainly a criticism of the foreign policy of the United States, the song's final stanza also delivers a criticism of Communist states by making reference to the treatment of pacifist Buddhist monks in the People's Republic of China during the Cultural Revolution and the Soviet Union's Invasion of Afghanistan.
The song's title is often thought to have been a pun on the name of Washington DC's basketball team, the Washington Bullets (now called the Washington Wizards), but frontman Joe Strummer denied any knowledge of the basketball team prior to the song's release.[1]
The song is one of The Clash's more experimental, in the reggae style, with a marimba and lyrics that are almost spoken rather than sung. Though the marimba is the most prominent instrument, electric guitar riffs are still audible. The marimba part is an altered version of the melody from "Turkey in the Straw".
On the tribute album The Clash Tribute: The Never Ending Story, the song was covered by Attila the Stockbroker, with new lyrics to the later verses, omitting the reference to Afghanistan and The Clash's subtle attack on communism. The new verses are critical of U.S. involvement in the end of the Soviet Union, and Boris Yeltsin's embrace of western-style capitalism, making particular disparaging references to the new world order following the end of the Cold War.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Liner notes to The Clash on Broadway:
