Television, The Drug of A Nation

Finally found it!! Someone has finally posted the original music video for Disposable Heroes of HipHoprisy's "Television, The Drug of a Nation" on YouTube!!! Michael Franti of Spearhead is the inimitable voice you will hear on this track from 1992.

My tagline on the banner above is taken from this song, and I've been wanting to share it with The Orblers for quite some time. I think (like many other intelligent songs of it's time) it still rings true today... if not more so.

It says a lot about TV, and all of it true. Brilliant. I could have handed this in for my thesis at Uni

Sadly, the music is a little dated - but the message is loud and clear.

126

Vote

Subscribe to this blog

Email this post to a friend

Start your own blog

[ Link ]

Posted By: yoda76 - Category: No Category

Related Posts:

Relate This Post

[ Previous - The Italian Fresh Prince of Bel Air ]

[ Next - Michael Jackson's Thriller - Bollywood Style! ]

Comments

28 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Lilla

June 16th 2007 09:07

Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald

yoda76,

I don't know how I missed this one... wow : how wonderful.

I don't watch TV and didn't even have one until I got married. I still don't watch it and really limit the children to about... well 2 hours a week.

Television the reason for the 'united states of our unconsciousness' ... how real is that?

Thanks for this post, I feel vindicated!!!

Lilla ...

Comment by yoda76

June 16th 2007 09:11

The Tube Blog

You're welcome Lilla!

I grew up in the opposite environment - my Dad would have the TV on constantly just to fill the silence.

I turned out OK... kinda...

Thanks for dropping by.

Back again, 'New and improved'
We return to our irregularly programmed schedule
hidden cleverly between heavy breasted
beer and car commercials
CNN ESPN ABC TNT but mostly B.S

Truer words were never spoken.

Comment by Jonathon

June 16th 2007 09:16

Anthroblogogy

Sadly, the music is a little dated

no way!!! i think it is just about to come back. that kind of technotronic sound mixed with something similar to what neneh cherry would to, brilliant. yeah this was one of my favourite tunes of the time also and it was good to watch the clip again. thanks for tracking it down yoda.

Comment by yoda76

June 16th 2007 09:36

The Tube Blog

Good to hear from you Jonathon.

It may be coming back, but it screams vintage 90s to my ear. I've been listening to a lot of it lately - Zhané, C&C, MARRS, etc... it's great! Beats the crap out of Destiny's Child and Fitty if you ask me

Comment by charliesgirl_992000

June 16th 2007 17:29

Histeries, Mysteries and what not
Lifes little slices
Mystical Creativity

In our house i have a term i use. "No junk TV!" They can watch occasional things here and there that i would consider junk, but they have to watch educational things mostly instead. Like animal planet, National geography and the such.
"No junk TV!!" Just about the only things i ever watch is real tv Stuff like make over shows and the such.
Great stuff you have here!!! Tammy

Comment by James Rickard

June 16th 2007 21:54

unlucky_ fishermen.com
Angling Fish

TV??? Bah!!!! There hasn't been a good show on the Tube since they canned Pee Wee's Playhouse!

Comment by Miswanderlust

June 16th 2007 22:05

Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy

Loved this video.... We did not have a television in my house growing up until I was a teenager. My mom thought it was the "idiot box" and would lower our IQ. How harsh mom!

Comment by yoda76

June 16th 2007 23:00

The Tube Blog

Tammy

"No junk TV!!" Just about the only things i ever watch is real tv Stuff like make over shows and the such.

No Junk TV = Make Over Shows? I'm a little confused by that statement! LOL!

Thanks for the compliment - glad you enjoy stopping by.

Comment by yoda76

June 16th 2007 23:02

The Tube Blog

James,

I don't think we got Pee Wee's Playhouse here in Australia. If we did, it wasn't for long. Unfortunately Pee Wee Herman is more synonymous with getting busted for exposing himself in public... at least in my mind...

Thanks for the visit.

Comment by JohnDoe

June 16th 2007 23:04

Film & TV on DVD

You and I were shaped by similar forces it seems, this tune was a big part of my formative years too.

Good to see the clip again, thanks.

Comment by yoda76

June 16th 2007 23:06

The Tube Blog

Mis

Idiot Box is pretty apt. Most of what's on these days is absolute brain rot. Our kids don't watch much TV - when they sit down to watch something it's usually a DVD, and we don't really have anything really dumb.

I'd much prefer them to watch Finding Nemo or Blue's Clues than the Teletubbies. Mindless drivel.

See you again soon!

Comment by yoda76

June 16th 2007 23:11

The Tube Blog

JD

More than welcome.

So glad that this little gem didn't go unnoticed by as many people as I thought...

Comment by Tracy

June 16th 2007 23:42

Movies and Life

Hi Yoda

Those words still sound strong to me as they did when I first heard them years ago. Franti was right, the words still apply.

I remember hearing them play this song at The Big Day Out, the memory is still clear.

Byee

Comment by yoda76

June 16th 2007 23:50

The Tube Blog

Hey Tracy

Always good to see you here.

I always really enjoy Franti's lyrics, even with Spearhead. "Hole In The Bucket" is one of my faves...

Disposable Heroes of HipHoprisy at BDO. Geez you pull 'em out of the bag sometimes!

Comment by Georgina Calvi

June 17th 2007 05:30

All Things Sustainable

I love Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy ever since I saw them at the BDO in '93. I don't think it's dated at all. In fact, whenever I listen to the CD, I'm surprised that I don't think it is. The lyrics still ring true too. I much prefer Disposables to Spearhead...

Comment by Tracy

June 17th 2007 05:37

Movies and Life

Hi Yoda

Yes, I love Hole in the BUcket too. Frenti is here in Australia so often I think he should move here!

Hi Georgina

Was it 92 that they played at BDO?! Oh gosh, my age is showing,...and my good taste so that's the main thing....

Byeeee

Comment by yoda76

June 17th 2007 06:00

The Tube Blog

Hey Georgina,

Welcome to Orble, thanks for the stop by... I don't actually have the Disposables CD... I should remedy that fact!

Tracy

Oh gosh, my age is showing,...and my good taste so that's the main thing....

Damn straight. That's all that ever counts

Comment by Georgina Calvi

June 17th 2007 06:46

All Things Sustainable

Hey Tracy,

I stuffed up... it was '93 (I hope! yeech. My partying days are catching up with me. The second BDO anyways)...

Comment by Tracy

June 17th 2007 07:07

Movies and Life

Hi Georgina

You were close with 92, I still can't believe it was so long ago...thanks for that info.

Tracy

Comment by Tracy

June 17th 2007 07:08

Movies and Life

Yeppie, Yoda, good taste is always the main thing

Comment by Lilla

June 17th 2007 22:15

Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald

Yoda,

Not to be misunderstood here, I did watch a fair bit of TV during my childhood too, and early adulthood... but then I just got tired of it, so not having one, only really applies for the past .. say, 20 years only... do yout hink I missed much?

Lilla ...

Comment by Tracy

June 18th 2007 06:03

Movies and Life

I have to say I still watch some crap....but it's limited and I know what I'm doing....awareness is the key..well, mine anyhoo

Comment by yoda76

June 18th 2007 12:10

The Tube Blog

Lilla

do yout hink I missed much?

Well, yeah,... but I'm biased 'cause I work in TV... you also spared yourself a bunch of mindnumbing rubbish, so...

Tracy

I have to say I still watch some crap....but it's limited and I know what I'm doing....awareness is the key..well, mine anyhoo

Famous last words of an addict if ever I heard them...

Comment by Cibbuano

June 18th 2007 22:52

20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak

love it - it's so 90s...

I don't watch any TV, really... I prefer to watch movies at home, and occasionally, I'll watch DVDs of incredible series, like Spaced, The Office (UK) or The IT Crowd. Check them out!

Comment by Tracy

June 18th 2007 23:03

Movies and Life

I know what you mean, Yoda. I think if I really let loose I would be addicted to more programs (even though I know they're crap), but I restrict myself.....honestly....

Comment by D. Armenta

June 19th 2007 15:47

The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan

Hi Yoda! We have this one in common, LOL..

Tammy's comment and your reply made me do a spit take..great way to start the day, thanks!

Love that (vintage? >cringe<

90s music.

Comment by yoda76

June 19th 2007 22:17

The Tube Blog

Always good to see you, D. Thanks.

Cib,

Will have to check out The IT Crowd - I've not seen it... thanks for the tip...

Tracy

That's what they all say.

Next thing you know, you're walking the streets jonesing for your next hit, leaving used aerials lying around for innocent kids to get jabbed with, and and holding up DVD stores for your next fix.

Tracy... tsk tsk...

Comment by Tracy

June 19th 2007 23:36

Movies and Life

Yes, I guess it is a slippery slope, Yoda......maybe I should cut back.....nah, I have it all under control and I could stop whenever I want, nothing to worry about.

See?

[ Previous - The Italian Fresh Prince of Bel Air ]

[ Next - Michael Jackson's Thriller - Bollywood Style! ]

Add A Comment

To create a fully formatted comment please click here.

CLICK HERE TO LOGIN | CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Name or Orble Tag

Home Page (optional)

Comments

Notify me of replies

Notify extra people about this comment

Is this a private comment?

List the Email Addresses or Orble Tags of the people you would like to be notified about this comment

One per line max of 30

List the Email Addresses or Orble Tags of the people you would like to be notified about this private comment thread. Only the people in this list will be able to see or reply to your comment.

One per line max of 30

Your Name
(for the email going out to the above list, it can be different to your Orble Tag)

Your Email Address

(optional)

(required for reply notification)

Submit

June 2008

1 Posts

May 2008

3 Posts

March 2008

2 Posts