The energy crisis we are experiencing today, which has its roots in ancient times, inspires us. artists different generations and styles, including the rock traditionally given to the sublimation of electricity. We go through ten songs that point to his addiction. fossil fuels from a wide variety of frameworks, whether traditional, conscientious or accusatory.
‘Get the petrol blues’, NRBQ (1974)
From the 1973 “crack” backed by OPEC and First global awareness of addiction Oil, This cynical landmark came from New Rhythm and the Blues Quartet, a historic rock band whose fans include Dylan and McCartney. The problem is examining companies in the industry (“Ashford-Marathon-Gulf-Getty-Americon / Texaco-Esso-Standard-Sunoco…”) and blaming them for their frustration: “I would love to see you baby, but I’m out of gas”.
‘One gallon of gas’, The Kinks (1979)
In the midst of the energy crisis of the 1970s, the protagonist of this eerie blues laments that he can’t afford to fill the tank because he’s saved so much money to buy a flashy Cadillac. Ray Davies’ satirical lines, stating that it is easier for him to access drugs,n gallons of gasoline. And an observation: with cars curving, “highways are deserted / and the air smells unnaturally clean.”
‘Closed circuits’, Laurie Anderson (1984)
In this sound-processed electronic micropiece, the Illinois artist addresses oil with admirably poetic language while warning of a dark background. These “long streams of dark electric light” form a “closed circuit”, a watertight source submerged underground. “And three thousand years passed and we pumped it up again,” Anderson says over a carpet of minimalist electronic crackles. One of the episodes of ‘United States live’, the massive quintet album in which he theorized about the contemporary American spirit.
‘Tropic of Cancer’, Café Tacuba (1994)
Mexican rock band voicing their troubles. man quitting his job at the oil company to renounce a system that puts “ecologists, natives, ‘retrogradists’ and humanists” aside. Theme with a slightly cloudy bossa nova vibe and recorded video In the Mexico City subway, With thoughts on “Mexican oil comrades”: “I think we humans don’t need any more hydrocarbons”.
‘The price of oil’, Billy Bragg (2002)
British activist bard caught the air feverishly Before the Iraq War It is in this accusatory song that the “White House oilmen” are driven by the “stock market”, not to “liberate the Iraqi people” the war. Bragg released this song for free on the Internet and later included it in his vicious anthology ‘Fighting Songs’ (2011).
‘The price of gasoline’, Blok Party (2005)
“The price of gas keeps rising / Nothing is free,” the British post-punk band says in this song. It highlights the contrast between the quiet and peaceful life of the Western citizen (“I am driving a medium car / I am not hurting anyone”). the price to be paid in the form of a bloody war. An ironically victorious ending: “We will win this”.
‘Gas’, Sheryl Crow (2008)
In 2008 the singer-songwriter from Missouri released this futuristic protest song, in which she proposes to “go back to 2017”, when “at the peak of oil” and popular revolt against the pressure of energy prices took over the streets. “Gas will be free, will be free”, The chorus in this ironic anthem is brimming with allusions to climate change (London taken by the stifling heat) and alternative energies (argentinean farms that make fuel from sugarcane). Ben Harper joins the choirs.
‘Who will stand up?’, Neil Young (2014)
Neil Young, patriarch of the hippie era, He speaks clearly in this acoustic and narrative piece: The Canadian poet talks about “putting an end to fossil fuels, drawing the line / before we build another pipeline”. And it throws questions into the void: “Who will stand up and save the Earth?”, “Who will face the big machine?”. A piece that goes well with others with an ecological background, such as ‘After the Gold Rush’ and ‘Mother Earth’.
‘Gas’, Anvil (2020)
While heavy metal tends to glorify gasoline as a metaphor for power (‘Fuel’ by Metallica or ‘Fuel for life’ on the ’80s Judas Priest tour), this Canadian band has strayed away from the tradition pointing to black. gold as the “real currency / politically controlled / of the world economy”. With a sustainable conscience, he advocates the metal theme, the search for “alternative options” and a commitment to “renewable energy”.
‘Solar energy’, Lorde (2021)
It has been complained that the New Zealander from environmentalism is not more frank on this issue. I sing to the power of nature, influenced by The impact of his expedition to Antarctica. But Lorde speaks openly of the benefits of solar energy, understood not only as an energy source, but also as a “new state of mind.” A useful force to apply to learn to live differently is throwing your cell phone into the sea to “let the happiness begin”.