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Muse: Closet Libertarians?

Written by in Music on 1 September 2009

urlOn September 15th, Muse will be releasing their latest album The Resistance featuring 11 new tracks, three of which are part of a symphony written by singer Matthew Bellamy. The songs, as usual, are conspiracy driven, galaxy-influenced, and catchy as hell.

Only two of the tracks have been released thus far, “United States of Eurasia” and “Uprising”. The radio-released “Uprising” has some lyrics that might catch the American eye. It’s interesting that this song (even this album) was released during these times. Taking a look at the lyrics can show us that the artists are secretly Ron Paul-loving Libertarians. Just as Ron Paul has stated time and again that Washington has been putting up the colloquial red tape to hide financial information from us, the lyrics to Uprising go, “and endless red tape to keep the truth confined.” And while our Wall Street “fat cats” sit fat, dumb, and happy with their government paychecks, Muse sings, “it’s time that the fat cats had a heart attack,” and we must “unify and watch our flag ascend.”

Not only does Muse sing about a “revolution” (See “Ron Paul r3VOLution”) but the lyrics also read that this higher government entity (given away by the first lyric of the song “the PR,” in reference to Public Relations) “will not force us,” and “will not control us.”

I’ve been quoting a lot but putting the lyrics together gives away a simple, but beautiful message. Muse is obviously referencing government control over the free market. And being British-based, I can see where Muse is coming from. The band sang about this higher governmental entity controlling and forcing we the people, which is ample evidence to unfair and superfluous taxation. This sounds familiar; can you say, “Bail Out?” or “Stimulus Package?” The direct reference to fat cats and their need for a heart attack also gives away the band’s distaste for those who benefit politically at another’s expense. Given Britain’s history of government and social control, whether it is through public housing or taxation, Muse’s call for increased individual liberties can also be heard here in the United States.

So come on, we have to unify and watch our flag ascend. Join the revolution and get your tax dollars back!

roymantoun

Roy Antoun is a Rutgers University Undergraduate seeking a double major in History and Political Science. He has ambitions to go to Law School and is currently a candidate for County Committee in Brooklyn, NY. You can find out more about him on his website: http://royantoun.com

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10 Comments - Leave a comment!

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  • The Muse

    I have to disagree, I think they made their message ambiguous on purpose (to appeal to everyone who is feeling the need for change).

    For example, many people disagree with the Libertarian/Propertarian/Ron Pauler's argument that property is fundamental to freedom. I've heard convincing arguments that knowledge lies behind the concept of "property", and so they consider knowledge to be fundamental to freedom and education an inalienable human right. Many people also reject the notion that anarcho-capitalism alone can create a culturally enriching environment for the individual (see Strong Democracy, by Benjamin R. Barber), and also reject the notion that material-success is fundamental to happiness (scientifically, the most fundamental factor to human happiness is interpersonal relationships. Many feel that Libertarianism is too utilitarian in its understandings and philosophy of interpersonal relationships that make up a community).

    So taking the lyrics from the song "They will not degrade us" – that may be easily interpreted from a liberal standpoint that American Consumerist culture (+ the Ron Paul/Libertarian movement's celebration of it) "shall not degrade" the worth of human life by assessing it through the lens of Economic Science and that "they will not control us" by forcing the general public (the majority of individuals) to subject to the demands of a wealthy few (most Libertarians & Ron Paul supporters are well-off, financially literate, and thus constitute a minority of the American population).

    They may be Closet-Greens for all we know.

    • Ken

      Maybe when they say "they will not control us" they're actually referring to the tea-baggers trying to control the government from spending so much. maybe uprising means an uprising of people who hate uprisings. "Knowledge lies behind the concept of property." Seriously? My property is not a concept, it is the consequence of my effort. For example, you now "own" that silly opinion of yours you typed above.

      • blowme

        Tea-baggers. hmmm. Guess we know where you sleep at night. Now get back on Pelosi's left teet and suck.

    • larona

      blah blah blah

  • Nationalist-Will

    Guys, accountability is what we need.
    I'm going to a Muse concert, this Saturday, in Boston.
    I know at least one of them is a registered Libertarian. Love of freedom and country aside, their music is awesome!
    I came across this well done video w/ Muse playing:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zx7t-eoH-04

  • livefreeordie

    What is so wrong with the word freedom. Remember we all have civil liberties under the constitution. There is also strict rules in the constitution regarding what the federal government can do. Ask yourselves this , When you went to high school, did they teach you about the constitution and the meanings like your parents were taught it? My answer is no.

    Most of congress and the president have not have been taught it as well.

    Great song, tells the truth.

  • freedom

    Read our Constitution. The Fed's have no right to do what they have been doing for the past 100+ years. Period. It is written in 7th grade English. Read it and look around at our country. We haven't been free in a very long time. We have a duty and a right under our documents to rise up and throw this insane government out of Washington. We are not entitled to anything beyond the Constitution. Not welfare, social security, universal health care, medicaid, medicare. The more free things that are given out the more control they have. Period. People love free.

  • freedom

    My rights are being violated daily, by them taking and giving to people who has not earned it. I want everyone to be open minded. Read works by Karl Marx, Lenin, Castro and look at what we have today in our country. We need to wake up before it is too late.

  • freedom

    Ron Paul, Alan Keyes, Ross Perot, Alex Brown all champions of freedom and the champions of the truth. Take the time a listen. I have and it has changed everything I knew and thought of the US.