Viet Nam
1984 · SST SST 028 · San Pedro, California
- Artist
- Minutemen
- Title
- Viet Nam
- Release
- Double Nickels on the Dime
- Year
- 1984
- Label
- SST # SST 028
- Format
- LP · Album
- Language
- English
- Country
- San Pedro, California, USA
- Songwriter
- D. Boon
- Genre
- Punk · Post-Punk
- Primary theme
- Post-War
Annotation
The Minutemen, a post-punk rock band, formed in 1980 in San Pedro, California. Its membership included Mike Watt (bass, vocals), D. Boon (guitar, vocals), Frank Tonche (drums, 1980), and George Hurley (drums, 1980-85). They disbanded in 1985 following the death of D. Boon on 22 December. (1) (2) D. Boon, the songwriter, who grew up with the daily news of the Vietnam War, heavily criticised the US government's reasoning behind the conflict in the song "Viet Nam" (SST Records # SST 028). The lyrics are straightforward and to the point, with the song lasting only one minute and thirty seconds. It pointed out that 50,000 Americans lost their lives in the former French colony under orders from the president. The narrator suggested that the politicians manipulated the masses. Despite 10 years of fighting "not one domino" fell - a reference to the "domino theory" - that the collapse of South Vietnam into the control of the communist north would trigger the collapse of democracy in other countries and threaten the US - the idea of which came from President Eisenhower, during a press conferences on 7 April 1954. (3)
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Annotation — Punk Songs
The Minutemen, a Post-Punk / Art Punk band, formed in 1980 in San Pedro, California. Its membership included Mike Watt (bass, vocals), D. Boon (guitar, vocals), Frank Tonche (drums, 1980), and George Hurley (drums, 1980-85). They disbanded in 1985 following the death of D. Boon on 22 December. (1) (2) The group released a couple songs that referenced the Vietnam War, including "Viet Nam" (1984) on Double Nickels on the Dime, and "The Price of Paradise" (1985) on 3-Way Tie (For Last). They also released many anti-Reagan songs in the period. D. Boon, the songwriter, who grew up with the daily news of the Vietnam War, heavily criticised the US government's reasoning behind the conflict in the song "Viet Nam" (SST Records # SST 028). The lyrics are straightforward and to the point, with the song lasting only one minute and thirty seconds. It pointed out that 50,000 Americans lost their lives in the former French colony under orders from the president. The narrator suggested that the politicians manipulated the masses. Despite 10 years of fighting "not one domino" fell - a reference to the "domino theory" - that the collapse of South Vietnam into the control of the communist north…
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
About the artist
American punk band formed 1980 in San Pedro, California ('Viet Nam'); disbanded 1985 after D. Boon's death. [Source: Wikipedia]
Themes
Anti-Government · Domino Theory · Fall of Saigon · First Indo-China War