Leftist Pop

I haven't listened to Stereolab in awhile, but they're one of those bands that consistently delivers the quality pop. Their live shows are also great because they project old experimental films and animation - Maya Deren, Oskar Fischinger, etc. They even named their recent anthology after my favorite film, Ernie Gehr's Serene Velocity.

The thing with the 'Lab is that they're also Marxists. A lot of their lyrics, when they're not spacy and vague, tends to be about revolution and political systems, which is funny, given that their songs are so loungy and saccharine.

"Ping Pong" is one of their best songs, and a perfect example how this contrast can result in some sharp irony. While most pop songs do posit theories about the global socio-economy, I swear this one's different:

it's alright 'cos the historical pattern has shown
how the economical cycle tends to revolve
in a round of decades three stages stand out in a loop
a slump and war then peel back to square one and back for more

bigger slump and bigger wars and a smaller recovery
huger slump and greater wars and a shallower recovery

you see the recovery always comes 'round again
there's nothing to worry for things will look after themselves
it's alright recovery always comes 'round again
there's nothing to worry if things can only get better

there's only millions that lose their jobs and homes and sometimes accents
there's only millions that die in their bloody wars, it's alright

it's only their lives and the lives of their next of kin that they are losing
it's only their lives and the lives of their next of kin that they are losing

it's alright 'cos the historical pattern has shown
how the economical cycle tends to revolve
in a round of decades three stages stand out in a loop
a slump and war then peel back to square one and back for more

bigger slump and bigger wars and a smaller recovery
huger slump and greater wars and a shallower recovery

don't worry be happy things will get better naturally
don't worry shut up sit down go with it and be happy



Stereolab - Ping Pong

Moment of Pop Bliss:
The entire song.