RE: Does anyone remember the Cold War ? (Full Version)

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MercTech -> RE: Does anyone remember the Cold War ? (3/27/2011 12:09:29 PM)

Cold war?  I grew up in it and chased russkies around the Sea of Japan on subs.

Want a good look at the mentality of the Cold War, go to www.archive.org and have a look at the declassified films.  One I would recommend is "A Day Called X"  The city of Portland, Oregon did an actual evacuation drill.  Interesting at how they thought about how things would work in the 1950s.

One thing we should have learned from the fall of the USSR is that large centralized controlling government just doesn't work.  But inside the beltway, they are convinced the russian model is the way to go.

Stefan



Muttling -> RE: Does anyone remember the Cold War ? (3/27/2011 1:52:03 PM)

I remember the cold war quite well and was involved in a lot of Department of Energy and Department of Defense projects during the last years of it.   After the Cold War, I spent a lot of my career cleaning up the messes we made doing those projects.  Message me if you have any questions that I might be able to answer.  I also have one of the old "Radiation Fallout Shelter" signs that used to be posted on a lot buildings if you want a photo of it.

As for early Cold War music, there really isn't much as musicians were rarely political activists in the1950's.   It wasn't until the late 1960's that musicians really started singing about it and most of those are about Vietnam.



stellauk -> RE: Does anyone remember the Cold War ? (3/27/2011 2:14:56 PM)

From the other side... Poland.. Just so you don't end up with too slanted perspective based on how Americans saw the Cold War.

Perfekt - Autobiografia

This is 'Autobiografia' (Autobiograph) by the Polish rock band Perfekt, the lyrics below were written by frontman Zbigniew Holdys about his life, he was born (I think) in the late 1940's, so he lived throughout the entire Cold War period. But it is a political song as well about the history of Poland during the Cold War. He made it (ambiguously) about his life to avoid the censors.

The song was released immediately after General Jaruszelski imposed martial law in Poland December 13 1981.

I'm posting the original lyrics with my own translation in brackets. Notes (numbers) are below the lyrics.


Miałem dziesiec lat (I was 10 years old)
Gdy usłyszał o nim swiat (When I heard of the world)
W niej piwnicy byl nasz klub (In the cellar was our club)
Kumpel radio zniosl (A mate brought a radio)
Uslyszalem 'Blue Suede Shoes' (I heard 'Blue Suede Shoes')
I nie moglem w nocy spac (And I couldn't sleep at night)
Wujek Jozek zmarl (Uncle Joseph died) (1)
Darowano roznych kar (They handed down different punishments)
Znow sie mozna bylo smiac (We could laugh again)
W kawiarnii gwar (In the cafes talk)
Jak tornado jazz sie wdarl (And like a tornado jazz came)
I ja tez, chcialem grac (And I also wanted to play)

Ojciec, Bog wie gdzie (My father God knows where)
Martinowski stawial piec (Got a Martinowski oven)
Mnie paznokiec z palca zszedl (I lost a fingernail)
Z gryfu zostal wior (And dust down my throat)
Gralem milion roznych bzdur (I played a million different crappy games)
I poznalem co to seks (And found out about sex)
Pocztowkowy zal (Postcard madness) (2)
Kazdy z nas ich piecset mial (Everybody among us had 500)
Zamiast nowe pary dzins (Instead of a new pair of jeans)
A w sobotnia noc (And on Saturday night)
Byl Luksembourg chata szklo (There was Radio Luxembourg, a place and glass) (3)
Jakze sie chcialo zyc (If you wanted to live it up)

Bylo nas trzech (There were three of us) (4)
W kazdym z nas inna krew (Each one of a different blood)
Ale jeden przyswiecal nam cel (But one showed us the way) (5)
Za kilka lat (In a few years)
Miec u stop caly swiat (We would have the world in our hands)
Lecz wszystkiego (And solve all our problems)

Alpagi lyk (A taste of Alpagi) (6)
I dyskusje po swit (And discussions late into the evening)
Niecierpliwy w nas ciskal sie duch (We were impatient right down to our souls)
Ktos dostal w nos (Someone got smacked in the nose)
To poplakal sie ktos (Someone cried)
Cos dzialo sie (Something happened)

Poroznila nas (She went through us in turn) (7)
Za je Poli Raksy twarz (Attracted to her Pola Raska face)
Kazdy by sie zabic dal (Everyone would have killed to be with her)
W pewnia letnia noc (One summer night)
Gdzies na dach wynioslem koc (On the roof I brought a blanket)
I dostalem to, com chcial (And I got what I wanted)

Powiedziala mi, ze klopoty moga byc (She told me that there could be problems)
Ja jej, ze egzamin mam (For her, because I had an examination)
Odkrecila gaz (She turned on the gas)
Nie zapukal nikt na czas (Nobody came in time)
Znow jak pies, bylem sam (Again like a dog I was alone)

Stu roznych rol (A hundred different roles)
Czym ugasic moj bol (Which one to take away my pain)
Nauczylo mnie zycie jak nikt (This taught me about life like nobody could)
W wyrku na wznak (In a daze lying down)
Przechlapalem swoj czas (I wasted my time)
Najlepszy czas (The best time)

W knajpie dla braw (In a bar for applause)
Kelner kazal mi grac (The barman told me to play)
Takie rzeczy, ze jeszcze mi wstyd (Such things that I'm still embarrassed)
Pewnego dnia (One day)
Zrozumialem ze ja (I discovered)
Nie umiem nic (That I don't know anything)

Sluchaj mnie tam (Listen to me there)
Pokonalem sie sam (I made it myself)
Oto wysnil sie Wielki MOj Sen (And this was My Great Dream)
Tysiecy tlum (Crowd of thousands)
Spija slowa z mych ust (Singing words from my mouth)
Kochaja mnie (They love me)

W hotelu fan (In the hotel a fan)
Mowi, 'na tasmie mam' (Says 'I have it on cassette')
To jak w gardlach im rodzi sie spiew (And so in their throats they start to sing)
Otwieram drzwi (I open the door)
I nie mowie juz nic (I don't say anything)
Jeszcze jeszcze (Yet)

Notes
(1) This refers to the death of Joseph Stalin in 1953
(2) This refers to the time of Gomulka, the Polish leader between 1956 and 1970, when there were ration cards and shortages of consumer goods.
(3) This refers to a typical night of enjoyment, being at home listening to Radio Luxembourg and drinking vodka or 'bimbir' - illicit alcohol (glass)
(4) This refers to the partitioning of Poland when it was occupied in history up to the time of the Second Republic of Poland - Eastern Poland was occupied by Russia, Southern Poland by Austria-Hungary and Western Poland by Prussia. Holdys is singing as if they were three friends to beat the censors.
(5) 'But one showed us the way' refers to the communist Third Republic of Poland being directed by Gomulka and the communist party from Warsaw.
(6) Alpagi lyk is 'a taste of LPG' which (I think) is something to do with an organization in the Gdansk shipyards. The verse refers to the 1970's Uprising in the Gdansk shipyards and the transition of power after Gomulka resigned (to prevent a Polish revolution) for Edward Gierek.
(7) Pola Raksa was a very well-known Polish movie actress during the 1960's and 1970's who also appeared at Teatr Powszechny (General Theatre) in Warsaw. She was considered the equivalent of Marilyn Monroe for Poles and other eastern Europeans.


I hope this helps



stellauk -> RE: Does anyone remember the Cold War ? (3/27/2011 2:21:02 PM)

I also remember the end of the Cold War personally because it's what led to my success as a fringe playwright and director and the first place outside the UK I worked was in Leningrad (took me ages to get the Soviet visa) and left when it was St Petersburg.



janigrey -> RE: Does anyone remember the Cold War ? (3/27/2011 2:26:52 PM)

The Russians by Sting.

It sums up the entire cold war.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHylQRVN2Qs






janigrey -> RE: Does anyone remember the Cold War ? (3/27/2011 2:33:12 PM)

Here are Sting's lyrics to "The Russians" song

In Europe and America, there's a growing feeling of hysteria
Conditioned to respond to all the threats
In the rhetorical speeches of the Soviets
Mr. Krushchev said we will bury you
I don't subscribe to this point of view
It would be such an ignorant thing to do
If the Russians love their children too

How can I save my little boy from Oppenheimer's deadly toy
There is no monopoly in common sense
On either side of the political fence
We share the same biology
Regardless of ideology
Believe me when I say to you
I hope the Russians love their children too

There is no historical precedent
To put the words in the mouth of the President
There's no such thing as a winnable war
It's a lie that we don't believe anymore
Mr. Reagan says we will protect you
I don't subscribe to this point of view
Believe me when I say to you
I hope the Russians love their children too

We share the same biology
Regardless of ideology
What might save us, me, and you
Is that the Russians love their children too

((there is another verse about Reagan but it won't seem to cut and paste over))



lazarus1983 -> RE: Does anyone remember the Cold War ? (3/27/2011 2:48:00 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: stellauk

I also remember the end of the Cold War personally because it's what led to my success as a fringe playwright and director and the first place outside the UK I worked was in Leningrad (took me ages to get the Soviet visa) and left when it was St Petersburg.


I'm soooooooooo jealous of you, stella.



TheHeretic -> RE: Does anyone remember the Cold War ? (3/27/2011 2:57:49 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: FelineFae

i was a small child in the sticks when the Wall came down.




I had gotten back to the barracks after work, and went for a Coke from the vending machine. When I walked through the dayroom, people on TV were climbing the Wall with picks and hammers. I watched for a long time.



ThatDamnedPanda -> RE: Does anyone remember the Cold War ? (3/27/2011 3:10:24 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: stellauk

I also remember the end of the Cold War personally because it's what led to my success as a fringe playwright and director and the first place outside the UK I worked was in Leningrad (took me ages to get the Soviet visa) and left when it was St Petersburg.


You've made yourself a fascinating life, Stella. Absolutely fascinating. I often wish I could sit down and spend a whole day just chatting with you over a pot of tea. But then, I'd only want to come back and spend the next day doing the same thing, and the next, and the next...



SylvereApLeanan -> RE: Does anyone remember the Cold War ? (3/27/2011 3:14:11 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: FelineFae
Well, i feel okay with what i've got for my history class, but when i last reviewed it, i thought it would really add something if i could augment the report with exerts from a song about the time.


From an academic standpoint, this isn't necessary and might not be advisable depending on your professor.  Digital media such as movies, musical recordings, and websites can be a pain in the arse to notate in proper MLA format and you'll have to cite the song, album and artist as one of your sources if you use any excerpts.  Unless you can make the quotes relevant to your paper by using the lyrics to support your thesis, I'd skip it. 
 
On topic: I remember the Cold War Era from the Watergate years until the Berlin Wall fell but, since that was the time of my childhood and adolescence, it didn't really register for me.  It was just this nebulous, over-arching Thing that lent itself to post-nuclear-Apocalypse movies such as The Day After and Mad Max.



ThatDamnedPanda -> RE: Does anyone remember the Cold War ? (3/27/2011 3:21:02 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: MercTech
One thing we should have learned from the fall of the USSR is that large centralized controlling government just doesn't work.  But inside the beltway, they are convinced the russian model is the way to go.



Now that you're no longer at sea, you should have access to daily newspapers. You might want to invest in one and catch up a bit.



January -> RE: Does anyone remember the Cold War ? (3/27/2011 3:28:32 PM)

I remember "Duck and Cover" drills, too. I always thought it was to encourage the population's fear of the Russians. A form of propaganda--the drills were not intended to give anyone hope.

I always loved that poster that had the duck and cover instructions listed, followed by "Kiss your ass goodbye".

I believe I read somewhere that the 50's science fiction novel tropes about being attacked by scary aliens was prompted by cold war paranoia. Mentioning SF tales in the OP's report might be a better way to go than using songs. I doubt there are many songs from that era that actually embody cold war fears. Most people like to forget the end of the world is around the corner.

January






areallivehuman -> RE: Does anyone remember the Cold War ? (3/27/2011 4:10:18 PM)

Oh right, song lyrics.Here's a Bob Dylan tune from "Freewheelin Bob Dylan", there are a couple of songs that might be interpreted as about the cold war, this one the most obvious,"Talkin World War III Blues"






Talkin' World War III Blues
Some time ago a crazy dream came to me
I dreamt I was walkin’ into World War Three
I went to the doctor the very next day
To see what kinda words he could say
He said it was a bad dream
I wouldn’t worry ’bout it none, though
They were my own dreams and they’re only in my head

I said, “Hold it, Doc, a World War passed through my brain”
He said, “Nurse, get your pad, this boy’s insane”
He grabbed my arm, I said, “Ouch!”
As I landed on the psychiatric couch
He said, “Tell me about it”

Well, the whole thing started at 3 o’clock fast
It was all over by quarter past
I was down in the sewer with some little lover
When I peeked out from a manhole cover
Wondering who turned the lights on

Well, I got up and walked around
And up and down the lonesome town
I stood a-wondering which way to go
I lit a cigarette on a parking meter and walked on down the road
It was a normal day

Well, I rung the fallout shelter bell
And I leaned my head and I gave a yell
“Give me a string bean, I’m a hungry man”
A shotgun fired and away I ran
I don’t blame them too much though, I know I look funny

Down at the corner by a hot-dog stand
I seen a man
I said, “Howdy friend, I guess there’s just us two”
He screamed a bit and away he flew
Thought I was a Communist

Well, I spied a girl and before she could leave
“Let’s go and play Adam and Eve”
I took her by the hand and my heart it was thumpin’
When she said, “Hey man, you crazy or sumpin’
You see what happened last time they started”

Well, I seen a Cadillac window uptown
And there was nobody aroun’
I got into the driver’s seat
And I drove down 42nd Street
In my Cadillac. Good car to drive after a war

Well, I remember seein’ some ad
So I turned on my Conelrad
But I didn’t pay my Con Ed bill
So the radio didn’t work so well
Turned on my record player—
It was Rock-a-day Johnny singin’, “Tell Your Ma, Tell Your Pa
Our Love’s A-gonna Grow Ooh-wah, Ooh-wah”

I was feelin’ kinda lonesome and blue
I needed somebody to talk to
So I called up the operator of time
Just to hear a voice of some kind
“When you hear the beep it will be three o’clock”
She said that for over an hour
And I hung up

Well, the doctor interrupted me just about then
Sayin’, “Hey I’ve been havin’ the same old dreams
But mine was a little different you see
I dreamt that the only person left after the war was me
I didn’t see you around”

Well, now time passed and now it seems
Everybody’s having them dreams
Everybody sees themselves
Walkin’ around with no one else
Half of the people can be part right all of the time
Some of the people can be all right part of the time
But all of the people can’t be all right all of the time
I think Abraham Lincoln said that
“I’ll let you be in my dreams if I can be in yours”
I said that

Copyright © 1963, 1966 by Warner Bros. Inc.; renewed 1991, 1994 by Special Rider Music





Aylee -> RE: Does anyone remember the Cold War ? (3/27/2011 4:42:02 PM)

duck and cover turtle:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKqXu-5jw60

99 Red Balloons by Nena

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14IRDDnEPR4

You and I, and a little toy shop
Buy a bag of balloons with the money we've got
Set them free at the break of dawn
'Til one by one, they were gone

Back at base, bugs in the software
Flash the message, "Some thing's out there"
Floating in the summer sky
Ninety-nine red balloons go by

Ninety-nine red balloons
Floating in the summer sky
Panic lads, it's a red alert
There's something here from somewhere else

The war machine springs to life
Opens up one eager eye
Focusing it on the sky
Ninety-nine red balloons go by

Ninety-nine Decision Street
Ninety-nine ministers meet
To worry, worry, super-scurry
Call the troops out in a hurry

This is what we've waiting for
This is it boys, this is war
The President is on the line
As ninety-nine red balloons go by

Ninety-nine knights of the air
Riding super high-tech jet fighters
Everyone's a super hero
Everyone's a Captain Kirk

With orders to identify, to clarify and classify
Scrambling in the summer sky
As ninety-nine red balloons go by
Ninety-nine red balloons go by

Ninety-nine dreams I have had
Every one a red balloon
Now it's all over and I'm standin' pretty
In this dust that was a city

If I could find a souvenir
Just to prove the world was here
And here is a red balloon
I think of you and let it go

(The original in German did specify a UFO. However you should look up the story behind the song.)



popeye1250 -> RE: Does anyone remember the Cold War ? (3/27/2011 5:29:03 PM)

I grew up in the 1950's and 1960's and I can't remember any songs about the cold war.
It was just "kinda there in the background" I guess.
It wasn't in the news a lot like Vietnam was, you just knew that the "Russians" were up to no-good doing something thousands of miles away.
I think any of Bob Dylan's songs were about Vietnam.



Louve00 -> RE: Does anyone remember the Cold War ? (3/27/2011 5:33:20 PM)

Never knew 99 red balloons was about the Cold War.  (Thanks for teaching me something Aylee! [:)] )  Prince's 1999 was also written about the Cold War, too.    Funny how naive I was back then.  I never put it together for either song until later (just now for 99 red balloons, in fact!)

Here are the lyrics to 1999....

I was dreamin' when I wrote this
Forgive me if it goes astray
But when I woke up this mornin'
Could have sworn it was judgment day

The sky was all purple
There were people runnin' everywhere
Tryin' to run from the destruction
You know I didn't even care

They say two thousand zero, zero, party over,
Oops, out of time!
So tonight I'm gonna party like it's 1999!

I was dreamin' when I wrote this
So sue me if I go too fast
But life is just a party
And parties weren't meant to last

War is all around us
My mind says prepare to fight
So if I gotta die
I'm gonna listen to my body tonight

They say two thousand zero, zero, party over,
Oops, out of time!
So tonight I'm gonna party like it's 1999!
1999!

If you didn't come to party
Don't bother knockin' on my door
I got a lion in my pocket
And baby, he's ready to roar

Yeah, everybody's got a bomb
We could all die any day
But before I'll let that happen
I'll dance my life away

They say two thousand zero, zero, party over,
Oops, out of time!
(We're runnin' outta time)
So tonight we're gonna party like it's 1999!

Say, say,
Two thousand zero, zero, party over,
Oops, out of time!
So tonight we're gonna party like it's 1999!

Alright, it's 1999!

You say it, 1999!

1999!

1999! Don't stop, don't stop, say it 1 more time!

1999!




pahunkboy -> RE: Does anyone remember the Cold War ? (3/27/2011 5:58:14 PM)

The neighbor I cut grass for had a bomb shelter. 



CarpeComa -> RE: Does anyone remember the Cold War ? (3/27/2011 6:00:48 PM)

Billy Joel; Leningrad



Arpig -> RE: Does anyone remember the Cold War ? (3/27/2011 6:25:06 PM)

quote:

I think any of Bob Dylan's songs were about Vietnam.
Vietnam was part of the cold war.



SAMHAIN09 -> RE: Does anyone remember the Cold War ? (3/27/2011 6:28:47 PM)

It was way before my time man.



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