| Thursday, August 11, 2005 |
| Cracking the geezers |
Did somebody in the Bush White House get to Mick Jagger? One minute you're an edgy rock god taking on The Man with a controversial new song ("Sweet Neo-Con") and a bad attitude ("It is direct," Mick Jagger told Newsweek. "Keith said [he breaks into a dead-on Keith imitation], 'It's not really metaphorical.' I think he's a bit worried because he lives in the U.S." Jagger smiles "But I don't."), and the next, you're insisting that your torch song ain't meant to torch the president after all. Lyrics:
“How come you’re so wrong? My sweet neo-con, where’s the money gone, in the Pentagon,” goes one refrain.
The song also includes the line: “It’s liberty for all, democracy’s our style, unless you are against us, then it’s prison without trial.” Backpedal:
The Rolling Stones’ upcoming album contains a song seemingly critical of President Bush, but Mick Jagger denies it’s directed at him, according to the syndicated TV show “Extra.”
“It is not really aimed at anyone,” Jagger said on the entertainment-news show’s Wednesday edition. “It’s not aimed, personally aimed, at President Bush. It wouldn’t be called ’Sweet Neo Con’ if it was.”
“It is certainly very critical of certain policies of the administration, but so what! Lots of people are critical,” Jagger told “Extra.” ...publicist Denial (hat tip to Eric at Classical Values):
Britain's New Musical Express publication, which calls itself "the world's biggest-selling rock weekly," reported last week that Sweet Neo-Con "is believed to be an attack on the politics of George Bush and the Republican administration." Various other publications have made similar reports, and the Rolling Stones Fan Club of Europe says Virgin Records has been telling people the song has "a political message about moralism in the White House."
Not so, says Stones publicist Fran Curtis. The song "is not about nor does it mention Bush or his administration." Curtis did not say what it is about, but no matter: It's Only Rock 'n Roll.
Could it be that certain leaked background files were waved in Mick's general direction? Or is it a sudden burst of marketing savvy -- and a desire to sell concert tickets to an as-yet-un-sold out concert tour...? Bloody geezers ... where have all the rebels gone...?
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