The Music's Not A Threat

Podcast and personal announcement: A longer interlude than was expected, but hopefully not too long.

This episode has it all, from ancient history to must-see-TV, from Bertolt Brecht's "Motto" to Don McLean's "Babylon".   "Introduction" is a song (and an episode) about dark times and sad songs. Also happy songs. And mellow songs. We've got it all.   .

In this brief mini-sode, we begin a whirlwind crash-course exploration of the Chumbawamba chronology, from their earliest recordings up until their 7th album—you know, the one right before the one you've heard of. Covering their early years, Pictures of Starving Children Sell Records, Never Mind The Ballots, English Rebel Songs, Slap!, Shhh, Anarchy, and Swingin' With Raymond. 

You'd think that people would have had enough of silly love songs. I look around me and I see it isn't so. Some people want to fill the world with silly love songs. What's up with that? I'd like to know. (Non-silly love songs also considered.)

In this brief mini-sode, we discuss the big questions: What is Chumba? How is Wamba? And why would you name your band something that's so hard to spell?

Thus spake Chumbawamba: "The music's not a threat. Action that music inspires can be a threat." This first episode serves as a whirlwind introduction to the music of the world's most successful anarchist pop band, setting the stage for a sweeping exploration of pop culture and world history, one song at a time.