The Strokes Denounce US Interventionism at Coachella
The Strokes are currently going viral online for their performance at Coachella. During one of their sets, the band surprisingly confronted the cost of US interventionism and imperialism.
While performing the song ‘Oblivius’ from the band’s 2016 album, ‘Future Present Past,’ a clip detailing America’s operations meant to destabilize other countries rolled in the background. The band’s frontman, Julian Casablancas, doesn’t shy away from political commentary. Nevertheless, confronting the atrocities—both alleged and historical—by the United States at a notable music festival was a surprising move.
A history class on US-led operations
The first to appear is the operation that saw the overthrow of the democratically elected president of Iran, Mohammed Mossadegh. The band blamed not just the CIA for the event. With the United States, the United Kingdom’s intelligence community also backed the coup against Mossadegh.
The criticism extends beyond the ongoing war in Iran. In the showcase, Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba of the Democratic Republic of Congo, President Juan José Torres of Bolivia, and other South American leaders also appeared. All of these leaders are suspected of being targets of US-led intervention campaigns.
The Strokes dug deeper and also featured civil rights movement activist Martin Luther King Jr.—accusing the US government of killing King. It’s a heavy allegation that is unconfirmed, but not without reason. The civil rights legend was a target of persecution by the FBI. Perceived as a communist threat by the government agency, King was surveilled and threatened to end his life.
The band proceeded to other oppressive points in US history. They showed images of slavery, the ethnic cleansing of native Americans by settlers, and segregation. Moving forward to current events, the band highlighted that over 30 universities have been destroyed in Iran. They ended the set by showing the last standing university in Gaza, bombed by Israeli forces—funded by the United States.
Moral policing overseas
Every allegation came with a finger pointed to the United States and its allies. In recent events, a war on Iran was launched by the United States together with Israel. The grim events in Gaza and the West Bank are implicitly supported by the United States. Israel is the largest recipient of military aid by the United States.
The only recent event that The Strokes forgot to mention is the capture of Nicolas Maduro. Although widely considered a dictator, the United States still intervened in yet another sovereign country’s leadership. What right does the United States have to play moral police abroad?
That’s a subject of debate—but the reality is, other countries are robbed of their freedom and will to decide their political fates through US interventions. Arguably, Oblivius was the best track to play in criticism of US interventions, as it captures the alienation and hopelessness people feel during the events. It asked, over and over again, ‘What side are you standing on?’ Perhaps it’s a question thrown by the band to the US establishment and their perceived heroism.
Julian Casablancas has gone on record about politics before. He criticized censorship and the excessive control the wealthy have on the political establishment of the United States.
“There are so many conflicts. It’s the more visceral, angry side of ‘Wake the f up!'” Casablancas said. This was during an interview about M.utually A.ssured D.estruction in 2014, one of the songs in Tyranny. More than a decade later, the commentary still applies.
(featured image: s7ven_horses on X)
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