by Jeanette Arsenault
When I first googled the title of the Dictator’s new single “Anthem For a Doomed Youth” up came a poem by Wilfred Owen from 1917 which begins with:
“What passing-bells for these who die as cattle? Only the monstrous anger of the guns”
Then I read an interview on The Fountain website where Dictator explains:
And I said to myself “Whoah”. Looks like not much has changed in just over 100 years. Our young people are looking at the world they are going to inherit and are sickened by “the monstrous anger of the guns”, the “cesspit” of world politics and that “the more you learn the more confusing and less human like it becomes.”
And you might think “OMG – we are doomed! If our youth have no hope in the future, what happens when they are in charge?”
But you’d be wrong.
“I think thanks to social media the younger generation are more engaged than ever so it kind of feels like we’re the ones with the world on our shoulders and it’s up to us to put the spine back into politics”, says Michael.
There is a spunk & drive in the upcoming generation. They see a broken world and they are determined to make it better. Yes they are angry at what they see we’ve done with our turn at running the world.
But this is the BEST kind of anger because this kind sparks monumental changes in the world. Going beyond the boundary of “but-we’ve-always-done-it-this-way” that 100% guarantees zero change.
“If you always do what you’ve always done, you always get what you’ve always gotten” said Jessie Potter in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1981.
“So… that’s all great and all – but what do you think of the song?” Ah yes. The song.
Loved it. From start to finish. Great opening sonic sound, good hook, bouncy and, dare I say happy and fresh? I guess I am dating myself. But hey – why not test out whether someone over 30 likes your groove & your sound, too.
Yes Dictator has a great fan base and Dictator knows how to “feed” their tribe – give them what they want to hear. You heard me right: their “tribe”. Some things never change throughout the ages – since the dawn of time people like to gather around things they like, things they are passionate about and they will shout it to rooftops “Hey – you’ve GOT TO HEAR THIS!”
That’s how it grows – when your dedicated fans bring in new fans one by one to grow your tribe. That’s the new music business baby. (dating myself again….)
But you want to expand beyond your tribe – you want music that transcends restrictions, boundaries & even continents (welcome to Canada). You want to share your music, your enthusiasm, your rage, your anger, your hopefulness. Because that’s where music is at its best. It picks up where words leave off. And as a writer, I am a BIG FAN of words. But words with music takes it to a higher plane.
“Anthem For A Doomed Youth” with such a driving, “we’re-not-gonna-take-it” and at the same time “there-is-hope-for-the-world” catchy music makes my heart happy and hopeful.
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Facebook: @dictvtor
Twitter: @Dictator_Band
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Contact Details: Dictvtor@outlook.com
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