Remix: Bush's Sunday Bloody Sunday
Andy Oram writes: "A brilliant mash-up, illustrating the power of open content. I can't imagine how many hours went into making this." The person who posted the video on YouTube summarizes it thus: "I love the Internet. Here's why. Some genius took Bush's speeches and made them into the greatest version of U2's Sunday Bloody Sunday I've ever heard."
It is damn good. Not only did I love the remix, I'm going to go out and buy the original song, as I bet many others will also do, as the creative remix adds to, not detracts from the visibility and value of the original.
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I went to a U2 Zoo TV tour concert in the 1992 and U2 did something similar with George Sr. The video played on massive video screens before the concert started. They had him saying all kinds of things. This is a great mash-up to a great song.
My earlier comment should say:
into focus without endorsing or condemning the acts
That makes a big difference!
Damien Blake is right -- its like that time when Reagan used Bruce Springsteen's protest song "Born in the USA" for his election campaign rally. For a less political Bush music lipsync, I'd recommend the "Bush and Blair love song" here: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8845429906560840314
Eoin -- I can't quite tell, but it seems to me that Damien is approving of the use, while you are somewhat disapproving. I'm not sure that your analogy holds up. I think Bono likely shares the political views of the holder of this mashup, while Springsteen does not share Bush's. So in one case, the use is sympathetic, and in the other antipathetic.
But that's the beauty of our free culture. People can re-use iconic cultural imagery in new ways. That's what keeps things alive. And to those that are aware of the cultural resonances and dissonances, the music only becomes richer. (That's the subject of one of my favorite books, John Cowper Powys' The Meaning of Culture, which discusses Powys' view that culture, as opposed to mere education, is art, music, literature, and philosophy as they are put to work in your own life, shaping the way you see the world.
P.S. The Bush-Blair love song you point to is also brilliant. Larry Lessig showed it in his talk at etech a few years ago in his argument for the creative power of mashups and remixes. We also had a political mashup film festival at one of our events during election year 2004. So this is a much enjoyed piece around here.
Grow up, Daniel. I suspect you're a troll in any case--one of those political dweebs who has to make a post such as yours any time something seems even remotely to question their 'side' of things.
Wow, don't remember the Wrox guys being so political. Maybe they're smart enough to not poop where they eat.
The Wrox guys are, sadly, out of business. (Wrox is now owned by Wiley and under different management.)
But in any event, I don't see this as necessarily of only political interest. Mashups or remixes like this could be done from either end of the political spectrum. The point is that just as in print, we get to quote from texts -- perhaps even re-using them to make a point very different from the original -- we need the same right in digital media. DRM that prevents access to content is thus not just about commerce, but about free expression.
Me, political dweeb? Troll? Nah, just an IT guy happy that the economy is up and terrorist attacks are down, way down as in zero which in turn Keeps me and probably you gainfully employed. Damn good, finest song, greatest version blah, blah, blah. Where were you guys in the 90's and before 9/11?
BTW, I've purchased my share of O'Reilly published books. There's where the disappointment comes in mostly.
thepartyparty.com (if I recall the address correctly) had a good series of songs (rx of the at address did the Sunday Bloody Sunday remix) that sampled the President. Regardless of the message they were technically very good.
Don't know if they're still on the site though...
Does using this re-mix/mashup/audio collage count as a copyright violation? Or is it under Fair Use, or better yet, have a Creative Commons license instead of a Copyright? If CC, what are the restrictions for this particular re-mix? I would like to use it for a non-commerical use, but it is for a film contest.
Here's what is apparent: both the creators of this mashup and the people of this board have likely little, if any, personal grasp of what the song is about, or Bono/U2's feelings on the 'war on terrorism' or George W Bush for that matter. If you think Bono is in love with Bush or would even remotely endorse these views, give your head a shake. And no, it's not the best version, talk about a bombastic statement!
Daniel, I think you are taking this too seriously. It is open to the listener's interpretation. I support Bush, but I can still take humor in it. Of course I'm glad we're not all being blown up, but really. Does the song ever mention terrorists? So it makes fun of him a bit. Big deal. I doubt Bush himself cares. He probably put it on his iPod (although I don't really know if he has an ipod, or has heard the song). That's what I would do if someone made a creative song making fun of me.
Dominic, that's the point of the mashup. The irony of putting these words in the voice and mouth of a man who embodies the diametric opposite of their meaning. It creates a satirical contrast that is really powerful on an artistic level.
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Damien Blake [06.30.06 05:00 PM]
I absolutely love this tune, and I really appreciate the effort of whoever put this together.
This is easily U2's finest song.
Musically, it is very strong, but it also documents the overwhelming reaction to one of the defining moments in Ireland's recent history; a massacre of 13 innocents, in a march for civil rights, by British government forces in 1972. The song brings modern Ireland into focus endorsing or condemning the acts terrorists brought to bear following this event.
The irony of an anti-violence message, adopted (by proxy) by George Bush, must surely be appreciated by all who hear this song.