Added: 4 years ago
From: neksus6
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  • Man this song is slick. Its not rock but it still rocks! It has more brains than some of the so called punk rock these days..and I'm a punk rocker! LMFAO.

  • ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

    SCREW DA TV!!!

    ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

  • we need a sequel ... "internet the drug of the nation"

  • usedby u2 great track

  • Revisiting an old friend here in this song, though I'd never seen the video. Particularly enjoyed the Clockwork Orange reference/homage near the very end at 3:50, and forgotten how great the observation of the "oxymoronic language" in terms such as "military intelligence".

    Nearly 20 years on and nothing seems to have changed, lest we forget.

  • thtat was high speed&WONDERFULL MEMORIZE!1

  • what a fucking delivery. brilliant song

  • hell yeah!! using the medium to critique the medium.. aint no better

  • SO ahead of their time! "The drug of the nation" - this is what those who know that 9/11 was an inside job steadily claim today!

  • I'm addicted to this video..oh wait! Oh well... *D

  • this song says it all... tv is the fast food of the soul. books are the best and right nutricion for the soul but we just keep feeding radiation to the brain.

  • Comment removed

  • sweet song!!

  • Zoo TV brought me here.

  • We..will, we..will.... rock you

  • Let's get rid of the american government.

  • I LIKE THE SONG BUT I HEARED IT ON TV SO IT LOSES ITS MEANING IF THEY PUT IT ON TELEVISION

  • @luke21505 back then television was the best medium to tell people the problem with television

    his issue isn't with television itself but how it's being used. like how it deeply etches consumerism, brand loyalty, ignorance, violence and a conflation between expensive objects and sexuality into our psyches.

    nowadays it's far worse, the internet has taken it to the next level

  • irony

  • Conscious lyrics never get old!!!

  • This joint is the sure shot- take a sip and turn off your television!!

    Media ='s Medium ='s Hypnotizing Minds

    TV Programs ='s programming

    Television ='s Tell Lies By Vision

    The prince of the power of the air (satan, lucifer, devil)- tv signals travel through the air. Ex Fresh Prince of Bel (Questions of Bartholomew) - Air.

    Television helps to create idols, icons, celebrities, stars, role models, heroes- do the math.

  • @IceManLikeGervin Satan is good

  • SMASH THE TV

  • FRANTI was the best purveyor of AWARENESS and used the power of rap CLEARLY and cleverly. And the music was perfect!

  • Got to say, as a non-hip-hop fan, a stonkingly good track and the message is spot on!

  • We are the United States of Unconsciousness!!!!!!!

  • @KozmoJ68 Only because it is ALL been stealthily and deceivingly orchestrated to be this way by a group of parasitic individuals who WILL destroy America as we know it! "Everyone" should read: wake-upbeforeitstoolate(dot)co­m and see just how and why these parasites have taken total control of our Media and Governments! This is ALL factual and NOT some crazy notion into Who owns What, and when you realise the Facts... I guarantee, you wont believe it! Michael Franti knows Who they are!

  • more relavant than ever

  • Gil Scott Herron

  • Is that a Pandemonium sample (Killing Joke) I hear?

  • "Television is nothing but a drug that corrupts minds and distorts perception, hence why we made this music video for the folks at MTV to air in-between commercials for Pepsi and acne medication."

    Hip-hopcricy is right.

  • As of 2010 television viewing is at an all time high in the United States of Unconsciousness. AMERICANS NOW WATCH 5 HOURS OF TELEVISION A DAY.

  • DAMN ! I just disliked by accident apologies please

  • Still one of my all time fav political rap songs/artists. 20 years on and it's still right on the money. Despite what 434Noise says, Mike Franti has a unique style and a powerful message. Music & Poltics...what better way to express your feelings and big ups to YouTube to allow us all to do so. Check out my rap "Trick with your Life" if your interested in this sort of message.

  • down with MURDOCH AND HIS DRUG PEDDLING .

  • No matter what's on, the lesson at the end of TV is YOU against THEM.

    TV divides and conquers better than any Caesar or modern day banker.

  • Lyrics at 0:40 were Stolen from The Simpsons.

    200 Channels, nothing but cats.  -MC Jasper

  • @lewko1

    This song came out years before that episode aired.

  • Amazing tune with a great message. Bless to them and all conscious artists.

    Chuck D, Krs One, Sage Francis, Immortal Tech, Slug, B. Dolan, Eyedea RIP, Saul Williams, EL-P, Jehst, Lowkey, AllFlaws

  • I know it's a bunch of preachy leftist stuff, but it gave me comfort as kid that others were aware of what I felt about the TV. For that I will always respect this tune. Back in the 80's early 90's people didn't discuss this sort of thing, this song helped keep me sane. We didn't have internet back then; if we did I'm sure I could have found others to discuss the insanity that comes from the idiot box. I've always had an un-comfotable time with TV I solved it by getting rid of it in 2005.

  • @1concentric

    i agree with what you're saying... but do you realize the hypocracy of wishing the internet was around then? seems like its just the new drug of the nation

  • They say, " Television, The Drug of the Nation

    Breeding ignorance and feeding radiation

    One Television. . . "

    and their video is on... television. They speak for themselves.They are rebels without a cause. It must say something.

  • Loved this track as teenager then I grew up. This is preachy garbage that only appeals to radical leftists. A video about how television is shit? I mean come on. Plus Mike Franti is a piss poor MC and the album shows it

  • Great stuff! Those who enjoy this should also google Frank Zappa's 1974 song "I'm the Slime [oozin' out from your tv set]. It is spoken word from the '70's.

  • Wow, this is atrocious. A lecture with a drum track in the background. Where's the music?

  • @Pizuzuzimmer

    It isn't about the music it is about the pathos. Look the word up.

  • @yootubevitriol

    Look this word up: vapidity.

    And look this up too: Tu te prends pour un connaisseur, mais tu n'es qu'un pauvre con.

  • @Pizuzuzimmer never heard about radio drama?

  • such true words

  • Down with Sun News Network.

  • 23 people like their cathode ray nipple

  • If you want to control what the World thinks... take control of its MEDIA!!

    wake-upbeforeitstolate(dot)com

  • Amazing lyrics!!

    If you want to brainwash the World: take control of its "MEDIA!"

    wake-upbeforeitstoolate(dot)co­m and see who really is "controlling the World!"

  • And sadly Gil Scott-Heron died today. The inspiration for this song.

  • @liamevans i was thinking the same thing . i heard his track the revolution will not be televised and this song came into my head .

  • D.H.O.H.H. (M.Franti & Co. ) were definitely on-point...I truly miss music w/ RELEVANT meaning , unlike so much of the hogwash being spoonfed to us nowadays...*sigh*

  • I agree but wasn't friendly fire an old term

  • And by that I mean the American media has turned the American populace against the things their nation is supposed to stand for, all men are created equal

    How can you accept capitalism while talking of freedom and equality, how are you free if you cannot afford to be free in an economic system based unfair competition?

  • @Cab00se90, some people are in a situation where an "equal distribution" would be unfair. I need the flexibility capitalism gives me so I can accomplish what I would have if the 20 years most productive years of my life weren't stolen from me. No, I was not in jail although it felt like it.

    BTW: don't confuse corporate America with capitalism.

  • "Socialism means un-American"

    Too true

  • this is comin back.

  • Was relevant then just as much as it is NOW or even more so!! He was a Genius, him and KRS-One were the real Pioneers of Hip- Hop with Original Music and Relevant ,Intelligent Lyrics. Where are they NOW??!!

  • One of the most relevant songs of our time,and possibly our future.

    Not to mention intelligent.Damn.

  • Great message! True hip hop! Spread it my friends! Destroy the television!

  • Isn't it ironic how this song has a video for TV

  • I see youtube is blocking my video response to you. Look they removed it from your account. Yeah we live in a free society without censorship

  • @PUPAGANDA what responce did you post

  • @RAK11 Darkness Bright (Unplug from the Signal) by Twisted Imagery Song about Unplugging from TV. Very powerful tune! I'll try and send it again for you to approve.

  • @PUPAGANDA Cool looks like you got my response I sent again. Thanks!

  • What a tune.

  • relevant then, relevant now

  • 23 people don't like it when they're told they're sitting too close to the television.

  • Turn off your televisions. Never has this been more vital.

  • A child watch 15000 murders before it is 12!!!!!

  • @judyroodi Probably healthier too, lol.

  • Cool. Check out justsaynoway.wordpress

  • "being killed by your own army is now called friendly fire"

    Those kinds of mistakes on the battlefield are nothing new. The wikipedia page on it goes back to the War of the Roses (15th century).

    Some countries call it "blue on blue" or fratricide (killing your brother).

  • Saw this on MTV..... one night way back in 92 or 93..... loved it from the first time I saw it.......

  • Brilliant comment wackallen !! Couldn't have put it better myself.

  • I remember this on Zoo TV :)) 

  • ... and Gil Scott-Heron, Stevie Wonder, Senser, Atari Teenage Riot should be played in primary schools.

    Peace.

  • DHOH and Consolidated should be played on every kindergarten of the world instead of silly stupid "kids tune" !

  • Not listened to this for a good decade until a week or two back - absolutely SPOT ON..highly intelligent and feels ahead of its time in that it to me really sums now up even more than when it was written - love the COLA line :)

  • Mike the mike !

  • N O W T H A T I S H I P H O P

  • Brilliant!! I agree with the other commenter, re: why doesn't this video have more hits?

  • @ IrishRetroGamer...no, the best lyric is:

    Where imagination is sucked out of children by a cathode ray nipple

    TV is the only wetnurse that would create a cripple.

    Sadly, this lyric is not in the music video version.

  • did he say bad ACTORtaste? hahahahaha

  • an absolutely brilliant song

  • People don't get it they have mind controlled us for years through tv . Example my teenage year old son was terrified of Osama bin laden & al CIA-da .... until i told him he was dead & that had been for ages .......... They brainwash us all...through the media .... they are evil bastards !

  • prophetic, profound, brilliantly produced genius.

  • Brilliant song... learned about it thanks to U2's ZooTV

  • Good song, good vid!

  • I find it weird that this video, of a classic song, doesn't have A MILLION hits. Then again, the independent acts are usually not mainstream but often the most interesting art a society produces! Back to your irregularly programmed schedule...!

  • "Methadone Metronome" --That is TV alright.

  • 20 people are unwilling to admit that he's dead right.

  • Internet..the drug of the nation.

  • .how else will i learn how to kill?.

  • @planetoperator .....grab a copy of grand theft auto

  • empv you trollin

  • 2:07

    among the words is BREASTS

  • It's not hypocrisy to make a video intended for television. The song criticizes the false messages churned out on television. A good example nowadays would be the difference between what people believe who watch CNN and the falsehoods people who watch FOX 'NEWS' believe.

  • @TeteromPRS honestly i can't tell the difference between cnn and fox.

  • The first relevent thing I've heard in a long time. The sad part is that nobody will hear this cuz radio only plays T-Pain and Justin Bieber. The subject matter and even his voice remind me of when Chuck D and Public Enemy were villified for having an actual message.

  • @bootsie418 actually i heard this on the radio today. no joke. support your independent radio station!

  • Think was early-90s actually just after Gulf War one. Collateral damage, "lit up Baghdad like a Christmas tree", friendly fire were all terminologies that came up during that war and all are now included in the diplomatic lexicon.

    This song has massive relevance right now.

  • This was based on late '80s TV so God knows what excent tunes could arise with all the ever present reality TV bullshit

  • TV ...and its only gotten worse

  • Amen!

  • I LoVE this guy.....can't he be a write-in candidate for the 2012 election?

  • Haven't heard this in ages. Thought provoking

  • i have a tv still, i use it as a second monitor on my other computer

  • are you americans finally getting this?

  • @2ndSystem - i think you will find people watch tv in most 'developed' nations..

    not just in america...

  • Comment removed

  • Awesome! :D

  • i had this album and i really wanted to like it. a couple of great tracks this included but in the main it was a hard listen much like silver bullet. intelligent rap is great and i am all for it but there has to be a balance between intelligence and entertainment...i remember at the time i was listening to NWA's Efil4zaggin which was great entertainment even though not always intelligent but it sold by the bucketloads...

  • I wish more music of any genre was this intelligent. Or that more people cared about intelligent music.

  • It aint rap, and it aint hip-hop. It's funk, and it's funkin majeck! I'd associate this style of sounds more with George Clinton than I would Run DMC. Still da bomb though, and those lyrics! Almost 20 years on and we're all still none the wiser that these guys were way ahead of themselves. Release it again now though, and maybe they'll get the kudos they truly deserve. Love it. And not a single unimaginative mention of 'hos' and 'pimps'. Although like I said, it aint rap/hip-hop anyway. lol

  • television is the most powerful public propaganda tool ever, besides cinema

  • And they go and make an MTV video....

  • You guys are dorks who like listening to yourselves "write" - cause ain't no one listenin' ta ya speak. Franti opened it up. WXRT in Chicago ("Chicago's Finest Rock") was playin' thing alongside U2. Back in the day.

  • I agree Phil it's definitely more relevant today, kinda scary, Michael Franti is a genius

  • Even though this is an old video, it's even more relevant than it was in it's day. Listen to it's meaning and consider what's going on around the world today.

  • It certainly is a Bill Hicks reference. I thought it summed up my rant perfectly! Thanks for the compliment.

  • isnt it ironic that rap and hip hop were so anti establishment and pretty much a voice for the dissaffected and now it is the music of choice of the establishment!!

  • @modz74 Definitely. I refer you to "When the Smoke Clearz" by Taalam Acey.

  • @modz74 All threats to the status quo that can't be stamped out directly get their power diffused by being co-opted.

  • @tobiasaurusrex correct classic miss direction ie engage the populace in other activites such as tv , reality shows and such to take the eyes of the real issues!

  • @modz74 exactly... that's why dont watch tv or listen to the radio... i'd rather read a book and bump some old school hip hop. hit up my page to take a trip back and reminisce about the time when everything was simple and smooth. #RealHipHop

  • @modz74 Yeah, but its not hip hop. It's pop rap and they call it hip hop.

  • TWENTY ( 20 ) YRS AGO I SAID THIS GROUP WAS

    A GROUP WITH A MESSAGE WORTH LISTENING TO & I GOT LAUGHT AT BY MY FRIENDS....LISTENING AGAIN TO THIS SONG STILL HOLD UP & PIT IT AGAINST LIL WAYNE,,,,KAYNE,,,,EVEN JAY-Z THEY WILL MOP THE FLOOR WITH ANY TOP !0 RAPPER NOW ADAYS

  • The first time i heard this song was in a U2's ZOOTV concert, simply awesome, great lyrics

  • "But mostly BS".

    Love that line.

  • Love these guys...

    Ironic I am listening to them on youtube with ADS on it though!

    VIVA LE REVOLUTION!

  • gry nig an ers

  • Comment removed

  • This is simply fantastic! :-))

    Mostly B.S. - oh yes!

    Gotta love them lyrics, way to go bro. COOL! :-)))

  • Would it be ironic if I saw this music video on TV?

  • @imdaman0000 my brother did

  • Thank you Mr Franti.

    I only have the Beatnigs version of this on CD, hadn't heard this one in years.

    You and Adam Sherberne should do an album and tour together.

    The two of you going back and forth with some amazing beats to keep it catchy for the kiddies could spark something...

  • ZOO STATION

  • I have been looking for this for years great to see it here thanks for uploading :)

  • "And being killed by your army

    Is now called

    Friendly Fire"

    Best lyric ever.

  • Comment removed

  • @rddcproductions I avoid it as much as possible. 250 channels and still nothing worth watching.

  • Brilliant! Back to a time when rap/hip-hop actually meant someting instead of the homophobic, sexist, cowardly, generic shit which is produced today by the corporate suckers of satan's cock. The cunts are a disgrace to their predecessors.

  • @wackallen lmao brilliant comment..a bit angry but nevertheless accurate

  • @wackallen haha!!! hilarious

  • @wackallen What a poetic rant man, right on! I miss Run DMC, Public Enemy and all that good shit that was funky AND intelligent.

  • @wackallen MAN YOU SAID A MOUTH FULL MY FRIEND

  • @wackallen Is that a Bill Hicks reference you've snuck into this excellent comment? If so I highly approve, and if not, if it's just a coincidence, then I highly approve anyway because you've made a great point.

  • @D119heavy ...and here's Madonna with TWO heads!

  • @wackallen Amen, brother! We actually were inspired to think back then, not to gawk at and idolize idiots wearing bling, driving expensive, showy cars rappin' about murdering people, demeaning women and smoking dope.

    To whoever posted this: THANK YOU!

  • @wackallen Yeah this good but your opinions on new era rap are missguided as they are expressing the troubles of their own world this is about television ohhh touchy subject haha

  • @irideafitbikeyo92

    I disagree that current rap artists speak about the troubles of their world. I find the majority denegrate, insult and belittle those who are different from their own image eg gays and women. They don't touch on current problems 'cos that would be truly controversial and they are terrfied this would hurt sales..They stick to the same old tired topics, play to their uneducated moronic, audience and count their money. Fine if you like it but personally it makes me puke.

  • @wackallen Your just not peepin the right shit!!

  • @wackallen Top comment!!!

  • @wackallen i love when I see fellow bill hicks followers :)

  • @wackallen you got my vote!

  • @blakeyonthebuses That's made my day, that 'as

  • @wackallen Oh, how f**king true dude!!! G. ;)

  • Yay, I found them! Best hiphop/rap EVER!