Vietnow
1996 · Epic EPC 664777 2 · Los Angeles, New York
- Artist
- Rage Against The Machine
- Title
- Vietnow
- Release
- Vietnow
- Year
- 1996
- Label
- Epic # EPC 664777 2
- Format
- CD · Single
- Language
- English
- Country
- Los Angeles, New York, USA
- Genre
- Metal · Rap Metal
- Primary theme
- Post-War
Annotation
The song "Vietnow" (Epic Records # EPC 664777 2) used Vietnam to attack the "lies" on right-wing AM radio shows, directly referencing conservative politician Ollie North. Also contained in the lyrics was a reference to Sgt. Stacey Koon, one of the 4 LAPD policemen videotaped beating African-American Rodney King in 1991: "comin down like bats from Stacey Koon". Also note the reference to US involvement in sending contras into Nicaragua: "undressed and blessed but the lord, the same devil that ran around Managua with a sword" - Mangua is the capitol city of Nicaragua. The song also featured on the 1996 album Evil Empire (Epic Records # E 57523). A live version also featured as the b-side on a 1997 single: The Ghost of Tom Joad / Vietnow (Live) (Epic Records #ES7 3705).Rap Metal group Rage Against the Machine formed in 1991 in Los Angeles, California, USA, featuring members Zack de la Rocha (vocals), Tom Morello (guitar), Tim Commerford (bass), and Brad Wilk (drums). They released a few Vietnam War-related songs: "Wake Up" (1992), on the album "Rage Against the Machine", which referenced Martin Luther King Jr.'s opposition to the war, the single "Vietnow" (1996), which compared…
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
About the artist
American rap-metal band formed 1991 in Los Angeles, California. [Source: Wikipedia]
Themes
Oliver North · Anti-Government · Rodney King · Police Brutality · Nicaragua · Vietnam Analogy · Iran-Contra Affair