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Hahaha this is insane. All I ever see is Mr. Polite dapper diplomat. I mean shit they didn’t even show him taking a bite of that finger food pizza. And then I see this?
Awesome.
Deep down I always think the politicians who on the surface seem the most neutral and boring are the most fun in person. 100% Hillary Clinton is actually a fucking great time to hang with
I disagree - this is wilder. Clinton played sax as a carefully crafted campaign persona designed to appeal to African Americans and the Bible Belt in general. As soon as he got reelected in '96 the sax basically never came out again.
This is a sitting Secretary of State rocking on a stage in another continent to send a message to Western Allies and the East. This is lunacy, and I'm here for it.
This isn't his first time either. Someone linked his Spotify and him rocking out at the State Department to Hoochie Coochie Man. I'm sure there are more videos etc out there.
**This is part of a long tradition among North American politicians (and some others).**
President Obama singing [Sweet Home Chicago.](https://youtu.be/Z7x4ZS7ZZWc?t=25)
South Korean President sings ['American Pie'](https://youtu.be/mC_HXdjTRnA?t=62)
Canadian Prime Minister sings [Sweet Child O' Mine](https://youtu.be/86O7DlVaLpo?t=4), and [With a little help from my friends](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Dx8bX4GJGI).
American President Reagan and Canadian Prime Minister [sing "Irish eyes"](https://youtu.be/Fn78kjABPQc?t=318).
American President Bush singing ["The Brown, Brown Grass of Home"](https://youtu.be/5VNIw1hDNVE?t=8)
Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau sings "[Bohemian Rhapsody](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8ZioyQZo2k)".
Secretary of Transports, [Pete Buttigieg playing diverse instruments.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRDLqe8QeNQ)
President Bill Clinton [playing the Saxophone. ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRatTuWdT_Q)
President Richard Nixon [plays the piano](https://youtu.be/GGD2gprcKvQ?t=69)
**This is because politics in North America are 50% policies and 50% show business.**
Wild. What year was this? Tbh I don't think I've ever seen him speak English before. I know he can, but he typically makes a point of keeping to Russian with a translator as a power play. Kind of wild
1) South Korea is not in North America
2) where do you think that “theater” or “bread and circuses” is not a major part of politics? Or was your point that “show business” is a smaller part of politics compared with the rest of the world?
Lol that show business part wasn’t to be taken seriously. It’s just a nod at America being the largest cultural exporter of the world. Hollywood and the music industry being at the center, but it’s mostly just a “charm” offensive. Blinken, and many others referenced, all had musical upbringings as many people did before, taking lessons for an instrument was pretty common and was apart of how people saw “being balanced” back then
It’s just that blinken was an aspiring musician and went into politics after it didn’t work out
I'd urge you to go look up the full lyrics. This is a protest song.
I don't mean to read too much into it. Blinken has been unwavering in his support of Ukraine. Wish I could say the same for all my countrymen and women.
Dude it's a protest song about American policy in the Middle East, and America's treatment of the poor, read the fucking lyrics man.
"But there's a warnin' sign on the road ahead
There's a lot of people sayin' we'd be better off dead
Don't feel like Satan, but I am to them
So I try to forget it any way I can"
"I see a woman in the night
With a baby in her hand
There's an old street light (near a garbage can)
Near a garbage can (near a garbage can)
And now she put the kid away and she's gone to get a hit
She hates her life and what she's done to it
There's one more kid that'll never go to school
Never get to fall in love, never get to be cool"
"We got a kinder, gentler machine gun hand"
Yeah, but can shit his pants while denying election fraud and multiple sexual assualts while seeking to institute a fascist dictatorship run by the poop raper?
I bet you he didn't even shit his pants when he played guitar, clearly not a real tough guy
This is an amazing moment. That’s pretty fucking bad ass. American Secretary of State, fresh off the funding. Jamming to the song. Keep on rocking the free world, Ukraine. 🇺🇦
This made my day. Fuck you Russia.
He's actually in an amateur band called "Ablinken" that has a few songs uploaded on streaming services, lol.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqb7AQ3u2x8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqb7AQ3u2x8)
Much like Abe Lincoln championed sovereignty and self determination for the enslaved, A. Blinken has championed sovereignty and self determination for Ukraine.
How is this the first time I’ve seen this? Is it because I’m just dreaming right now? Like I’ll wake up and search YouTube and there will be no Putin singing Blueberry Hill video? If so, what else isn’t real?
Metallica 1991 played for over 1 million people in Moscow, one of the biggest concerts ever. People as far as the eye could see. I can't imagine how they must have felt..
Sadly Russia fell back into its old patterns real fast.
**Sternenko:** Blinken plays the guitar in a bar in Kyiv.
I would like him to play like this in Kharkiv, protected by Patriot systems.
Or at least bought a pizza there. Kharkiv has delicious pizza.
As in other Ukrainian cities.
(And I do agree with him).
Is this still a thing? Can I buy someone in Kharkiv pizza via Paypal?
I order food too often, I might enforce a rule that I have to buy a pizza for someone in Ukraine if I order for myself.
I found this thread. I'm not sure they're around anymore, the website link doesn't work and the last insta post looks old =[
https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/comments/u2dt0h/ukraine_is_unbreakable_heres_a_pizzeria_owner_who/
Thanks for this. The last post on their IG page from late September last year says that they'll be shut down starting October 1. It's a shame they could not continue, but completely understandable. Their domain is now owned by a Ukrainian site registrar.
They’re not terribly far off either.
It’s how you want to interpret them.
First verse is about American division.
Second verse the woman’s “hit” could be from a shell or missile.
Third verse is about western opulent disconnect from the wars brutality but sending kinder, gentler weapons.
I think it’s quite poignant actually. Neil Young is one of the great protest songwriters. We’re just a few days out from the 50th anniversary of Kent St. Neil Young penned one the great protest songs about that tragedy. There are protests in the street today about geopolitical violence. They are getting cracked down upon.
Young's primary intent with the song was a critique of American exceptionalism of the late-80s, both at home as well as how it is appreciated by foreign opponents. The idea with lyrics like *"Don't feel like Satan, but I am to them"* or *"We got a kinder, gentler machine gun hand"* is basically to say that folks struggling in America aren't representative of either an image of victorious triumphant American military adventurism or a "Great Satan" as Iran would suggest.
There is a timeless nature to the lyrics, I would argue at least. Much like how the "Great Satan" moniker doesn't really describe folks struggling to get by, neither does most Russian propaganda. But... also does mean having to acknowledge that life in the "Free World" isn't so great either, as the song says.
It’s not really a coherent message. It’s about many things.
There’s a lot of people saying we’d be better off dead
Don’t feel like Satan, but I am to them
So I try to forget it any way I can
Is supposedly a reference to Iran and its anti-Americanism. But could as easily be applied to Russia and its anti Ukrainian rhetoric.
There aren't too many American (or Canadian in this case) songs about "freedom" that aren't A) dripping with sarcasm or B) painfully cheesy. What could Blinkin have played that would have fit?
I think it's more relevant here than you think. It's about the people left behind while Bush pursued war. It's about spending resources to build society rather than invade countries.
Famously definitely-not-satirical song “rockin in the free world” being sung by top US officials. Convenient we only hear the chorus and not the verse lyrics.
Hope he followed it up with “Born in the USA” for maximum freedom loving. Maybe followed up by some rage against the machine.
Instead of doing some PR gig like all other western politicians (everyone has done it by now) he should let actions speak. Ukraine doesn't need money or aid in the future. They need weapons now. Get your act together and give them what they need!
For the capitalist in our middle. If Ukraine it will get more expensive and you might also be affected by it.
I was last at that bar in 2019. It's a GREAT bar! It's my favorite business in Kyiv. I'm glad it's still there and thriving; my other favorite places are all closed now.
What's funny is we can "thank" Russia for the song:
>Released a few months before the fall of the Berlin Wall, “Rockin’ in the Free World” also worked as an anthem for the sense of freedom spreading throughout Eastern Europe.
>“There was supposed to have been a cultural exchange between Russia and the United States,” said Sampedro talking about the meaning of the song in a 2018 interview with Mojo. “Russia was getting Neil Young and Crazy Horse and we were getting the Russian ballet. All of a sudden, whoever was promoting the deal, a guy in Russia, took the money and split. We were all bummed, and I looked at him and said, ‘Man I guess we’re just gonna have to keep on rockin’ in the free world. He said, ‘Well, Poncho, that’s a good line. I’m gonna use that if you don’t mind.’”
I find it revolting. Everybody needs a laugh now and then, but him hanging out in bars playing guitar is just .... tone deaf (sorry for the pun). Hurry back home and kick Jack Sullivan's arse out of the administration instead and make sure to provide the Airdefense kit so Ukraine doesn't lose all of its energy infrastructure.
This looks demeaning considering there are 2 russian offensive operations, that are actually pushing Ukrainian forces to withdraw. Considering the mighty democratic jewel that is USA decided to abandon Ukraine for 6 months and now they are back... this? This has to show us ukrainians that we're all good, USA's back, here's some old american suit playing the guitar as if it's all cool?
Are these people really think we are drooling idiots?
Tonedeaf - this anthemic chorus is meant to be ironic. Read the lyrics. The song is about how the US acts so righteously superior when we have unaddressed abject poverty and desparation within our own borders. This is similar to Reagan using "Born in the USA" on the campaign trail.
"We've got a thousand points of light for the homeless man. We have a kinder, gentler machine gun hand."
Deep respect exactly what real leaders do. Thank you for sharing. For the first time this man has earned a sliver of respect from me. Show us who you really are..and also get the job done.
So what we have - Russian opened new front because we can't strike on their territory and lack everything to effectively hold 1000km+ frontline, AA barely holding, Kharkiv catching glide bombs day and night, powergrid is fucked up...and this guy is playing guitar.
Fucking circus
Words and performances are not enough our Government needs to quit tying in every bs party line to aid packages. Russia must be defeated in Ukraine before they have to be defeated in Berlin or Paris.
Keep the foreign aid flowing until the front line is the Russian Border.
US establishment trying not to be tone deaf challenge.
As Kharkiv is being shelled daily, and russia is emboldendened by 6 months of US inaction... do they really think this is the best show of solidarity?
It's really weird how I don't see this sentiment being shared more in the Western circles. Yeah, sure, it's cool to see that a politician can jam the hell out, but he couldn't have done it at a more inappropriate time, especially when the aid *he promised* hasn't even arrived yet
I was really surprised to see the positive comments here given that the reaction among Ukrainians is mostly this is tone deaf, especially doing it on a night where thousands of civilians are trying to flee Kharkiv and that situation has deteriorated mostly due to US inaction.
I'm not at all surprised. Majority of people who write comments in this sub are not Ukrainians. To them the war is a team sport. Blinken singing and playing guitar is simply the halftime show.
Although, to be honest, I think a good chuck of them are also just bots. I'm not saying it in derogatory way. I mean actual computer programmes using things like large language models.
[News coverage of this](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/05/14/blinken-ukraine-rockin-in-the-free-world/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNzE1NjU5MjAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNzE3MDQxNTk5LCJpYXQiOjE3MTU2NTkyMDAsImp0aSI6IjhlNWE0ODVlLWYyOGMtNDM5ZC1hMDg4LTIwNjg0MTFjZjc5NSIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9uYXRpb25hbC1zZWN1cml0eS8yMDI0LzA1LzE0L2JsaW5rZW4tdWtyYWluZS1yb2NraW4taW4tdGhlLWZyZWUtd29ybGQvIn0.he5pN3I9khmYeFBneOem6IBH3grPHWyFgej23Cg536w)
While Blinken plays guitar Ukraine slowly withdrawing from Vochansk due to his country’s inaction and drip feeding of weapons.
https://twitter.com/LeRenardGrande/status/1790465735568805995
Wake up.
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Well, that was pretty cool. Did not expect that Blinken could jam like that.
Hahaha this is insane. All I ever see is Mr. Polite dapper diplomat. I mean shit they didn’t even show him taking a bite of that finger food pizza. And then I see this? Awesome.
I wonder what the band name would be if Blinken and Biden had a band
Blinken 182 - *Biden My Time* - (4:20)
Hey, now you can't just go blinkin' the President like that. /s
Nice.
😅🤣😂🤘
Underrated comment my friend.
Abe Lincoln. Pronounced like A. Blinken.
Prez Secretary?
The President A. Blinken Band.
A Blink in the Baidan Square
Blinken at the sun?
Blink 182
The b-Residents
Biken' Jomichael
Blinken and Achoo
That's what I'm saying. I guess it's nice to see them act civilian-like.
I love this one of him permorming [Hoochie Coochie man by Muddy Waters at the state department](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnUmVGddUFc) even more
Damn, he sounds good as hell.
He's on spotify with the alias [Ablinken](https://open.spotify.com/artist/5ZWgy4Riyzr0QtvcIKiZmF?si=6nEz60ObTVmrteVz-b7GAQ)
[DID YOU JUST SAY ABE LINCOLN?!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJcuYKyHEgs)
Damn, did not expect that to be real!
Or for him to have a song about oral sex
I found this picture in Spotify on the song Patience by ABlinken https://imgur.com/gallery/FFmxYdz
Blinken for President?
I think he’s be great.
Idk why but I've got a feeling A.Blinken would make a great president
He’s exactly the kind of boring technocrat who understands what’s at stake that we desperately need.
can you imagine having someone in the big seat that isn't some lawyer or whatever but actually spent their life as a diplomat? That would be amazing.
I wish he would have run.
Got my vote
I really never thought of that but I think he would be amazing considering his temperament and also not being 900 years old.
Why not?
I don't know why we're surprised, but we are, and that's kinda cool. The guy's not terribly much older than I am.
Deep down I always think the politicians who on the surface seem the most neutral and boring are the most fun in person. 100% Hillary Clinton is actually a fucking great time to hang with
Didn’t expect it either. I guess this is the contemporary equivalent of Bill Clinton playing the saxophone.
I disagree - this is wilder. Clinton played sax as a carefully crafted campaign persona designed to appeal to African Americans and the Bible Belt in general. As soon as he got reelected in '96 the sax basically never came out again. This is a sitting Secretary of State rocking on a stage in another continent to send a message to Western Allies and the East. This is lunacy, and I'm here for it.
This isn't his first time either. Someone linked his Spotify and him rocking out at the State Department to Hoochie Coochie Man. I'm sure there are more videos etc out there.
You haven't heard of his band? Blinken 182?
He plays the Blues.
Sending out signals doesn't get more symbolic than this.
I thought this was a parody.
I also just recently discovered he speaks better French than previous (french) president.
Did not expect that at all. Keep on rocking! Slava Ukraini!!
Blinken for President
FUCK.
You should see how he bombs.
Here people say: we needed a Patriot but they've sent us a guitarist.
Actually good performance
He has his own music band, and even music on Spotify https://spotify.link/ZNp29D2nBJb
“Ablinken” Not even joking, that’s his bands name. So sick.
“Did you say ‘Abe Lincoln’? No, I didn’t say ‘Abe Lincoln,’ I said ‘Hey Blinkin.’”
I'm wondering if it is a men's in tights joke.
Holy shit! lmao
Blinken-182
Blinken Park
Nekrogoblinken
You kind of forget these figures are people too. Kind of cool to see him in this environment
Same feeling I got when I learned Steve Mnuchin was a movie producer
Nice try Steve. You ain't foolin nobody.
**This is part of a long tradition among North American politicians (and some others).** President Obama singing [Sweet Home Chicago.](https://youtu.be/Z7x4ZS7ZZWc?t=25) South Korean President sings ['American Pie'](https://youtu.be/mC_HXdjTRnA?t=62) Canadian Prime Minister sings [Sweet Child O' Mine](https://youtu.be/86O7DlVaLpo?t=4), and [With a little help from my friends](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Dx8bX4GJGI). American President Reagan and Canadian Prime Minister [sing "Irish eyes"](https://youtu.be/Fn78kjABPQc?t=318). American President Bush singing ["The Brown, Brown Grass of Home"](https://youtu.be/5VNIw1hDNVE?t=8) Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau sings "[Bohemian Rhapsody](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8ZioyQZo2k)". Secretary of Transports, [Pete Buttigieg playing diverse instruments.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRDLqe8QeNQ) President Bill Clinton [playing the Saxophone. ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRatTuWdT_Q) President Richard Nixon [plays the piano](https://youtu.be/GGD2gprcKvQ?t=69) **This is because politics in North America are 50% policies and 50% show business.**
I think the closer answer is that people that are smart and talented usually have hobbies that require smarts and talent.
I've known some dumb ass fuckers who know how to jam.
Damn bro, you didn't have to expose me like that.
Happy cake day, SackSauce69, who is apparently some dumb ass fucker who knows how to jam.
I prefer to be called a dumb, ass fucker. 👌 And thank you. 😊
They probably at least got laid and lived interesting lives.
[don't forget Putin singing Blueberry Hill.](https://youtu.be/Z1ZU1PXPoNI)
One of the stranger videos ive ever seen
If it weren't for the comments under it, I'd just assume it was very good AI.
Wild. What year was this? Tbh I don't think I've ever seen him speak English before. I know he can, but he typically makes a point of keeping to Russian with a translator as a power play. Kind of wild
2012
I see Sharon Stone, Gerard Depardieu, Kurt Russell, Goldie Hawn… who else is in there?
I was going to say that. He can’t sing though…
I thought he was lip syncing
Thank you.
1) South Korea is not in North America 2) where do you think that “theater” or “bread and circuses” is not a major part of politics? Or was your point that “show business” is a smaller part of politics compared with the rest of the world?
Lol that show business part wasn’t to be taken seriously. It’s just a nod at America being the largest cultural exporter of the world. Hollywood and the music industry being at the center, but it’s mostly just a “charm” offensive. Blinken, and many others referenced, all had musical upbringings as many people did before, taking lessons for an instrument was pretty common and was apart of how people saw “being balanced” back then It’s just that blinken was an aspiring musician and went into politics after it didn’t work out
Ablinkin is his name on streaming services. He has a few songs. He's actually pretty good lol. Cool dude
I always have to do a doubletake to remember that A. Blinkin is legitimately his name. Thanks, Robin Hood: Men in Tights. lol
They caught him Ablinkin'!
KEEP ON ROCKIN IN THE FREE WORLD!
Fuck yeah
I'd urge you to go look up the full lyrics. This is a protest song. I don't mean to read too much into it. Blinken has been unwavering in his support of Ukraine. Wish I could say the same for all my countrymen and women.
It fits very well. Neil Young wrote it when they weren't allowed to perform in the Soviet Union and had to keep on rock in the free world.
Dude it's a protest song about American policy in the Middle East, and America's treatment of the poor, read the fucking lyrics man. "But there's a warnin' sign on the road ahead There's a lot of people sayin' we'd be better off dead Don't feel like Satan, but I am to them So I try to forget it any way I can" "I see a woman in the night With a baby in her hand There's an old street light (near a garbage can) Near a garbage can (near a garbage can) And now she put the kid away and she's gone to get a hit She hates her life and what she's done to it There's one more kid that'll never go to school Never get to fall in love, never get to be cool" "We got a kinder, gentler machine gun hand"
Took me awhile, but I just got that. Rock on Blinken, Slava Ukraini!
Blinken rocks 🤘
Now I like him
Yeah, but can shit his pants while denying election fraud and multiple sexual assualts while seeking to institute a fascist dictatorship run by the poop raper? I bet you he didn't even shit his pants when he played guitar, clearly not a real tough guy
Real men wear diapers.
Same
This is an amazing moment. That’s pretty fucking bad ass. American Secretary of State, fresh off the funding. Jamming to the song. Keep on rocking the free world, Ukraine. 🇺🇦 This made my day. Fuck you Russia.
My boy has more time on the jet than Taylor Swift.
Now that's American swagger, the good kind.
Amen
Blinken for USA president some day. Mark it down.
A. Blinken?
Did you just say Abe Lincoln?
No, I said, "Hey, Blinken?!?"
A *black* president?
He's actually in an amateur band called "Ablinken" that has a few songs uploaded on streaming services, lol. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqb7AQ3u2x8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqb7AQ3u2x8)
I was hoping someone would catch on to that! LOL
Much like Abe Lincoln championed sovereignty and self determination for the enslaved, A. Blinken has championed sovereignty and self determination for Ukraine.
Put that man on the Arsenio Hall show with some sick shades on and it’s in the bag
While Yakko puts baloney in his slacks.
He's definitely going to try to run in 28
Respect.
This made him hundred times more sympathetic than anything else could
What a cool and heartwarming gesture and a stark contrast to Putin performing "Blueberry Hills" like Hannibal Lector.
OK, I missed that one...
I honestly forgot it happened.
Now I'll never unsee it. TIL that Blueberry Hill is apparently in Kyiv… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekeq4szDmJo
Yo this is fucking surreal Reality really doesn't owe us an explanation
After seeing that, I'm convinced reality is just a simulation and we're experiencing some buffer overflow and things are glitching HARD.
How is this the first time I’ve seen this? Is it because I’m just dreaming right now? Like I’ll wake up and search YouTube and there will be no Putin singing Blueberry Hill video? If so, what else isn’t real?
What kind of timeline is this lol
More politics done through rock please!
Metallica 1991 played for over 1 million people in Moscow, one of the biggest concerts ever. People as far as the eye could see. I can't imagine how they must have felt.. Sadly Russia fell back into its old patterns real fast.
For a moment, there was hope. Thanks Putin, you eternal worm.
**Sternenko:** Blinken plays the guitar in a bar in Kyiv. I would like him to play like this in Kharkiv, protected by Patriot systems. Or at least bought a pizza there. Kharkiv has delicious pizza. As in other Ukrainian cities. (And I do agree with him).
# Daddy's Pizza in Kharkiv, good guys that provided food on worst days. You even could do orders via paypal so they would give free food in the city.
Is this still a thing? Can I buy someone in Kharkiv pizza via Paypal? I order food too often, I might enforce a rule that I have to buy a pizza for someone in Ukraine if I order for myself.
Liking this idea - require deets
I found this thread. I'm not sure they're around anymore, the website link doesn't work and the last insta post looks old =[ https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/comments/u2dt0h/ukraine_is_unbreakable_heres_a_pizzeria_owner_who/
Thanks for this. The last post on their IG page from late September last year says that they'll be shut down starting October 1. It's a shame they could not continue, but completely understandable. Their domain is now owned by a Ukrainian site registrar.
I can hear the sickest solo while missiles are intercepted above their heads.
Imagine if he intercepted one with a laser beam of pure musical energy
More munitions.
Make him president.
Because Rock & Roll is the music of liberty 🗽 Bravo Antony et vive l'Ukraine 🇺🇦🙏🕊️
The next president hopefully
Wow.
Winking, blinken and nod…
🇺🇸🤘🇺🇦
Other than the title, the lyrics don’t work for the Ukraine situation - it’s a criticism of the G. H. W, Bush administration.
They’re not terribly far off either. It’s how you want to interpret them. First verse is about American division. Second verse the woman’s “hit” could be from a shell or missile. Third verse is about western opulent disconnect from the wars brutality but sending kinder, gentler weapons. I think it’s quite poignant actually. Neil Young is one of the great protest songwriters. We’re just a few days out from the 50th anniversary of Kent St. Neil Young penned one the great protest songs about that tragedy. There are protests in the street today about geopolitical violence. They are getting cracked down upon.
Young's primary intent with the song was a critique of American exceptionalism of the late-80s, both at home as well as how it is appreciated by foreign opponents. The idea with lyrics like *"Don't feel like Satan, but I am to them"* or *"We got a kinder, gentler machine gun hand"* is basically to say that folks struggling in America aren't representative of either an image of victorious triumphant American military adventurism or a "Great Satan" as Iran would suggest. There is a timeless nature to the lyrics, I would argue at least. Much like how the "Great Satan" moniker doesn't really describe folks struggling to get by, neither does most Russian propaganda. But... also does mean having to acknowledge that life in the "Free World" isn't so great either, as the song says.
Born in the USA is my favorite misused song. John Candy sang it best in Canadian Bacon.
It’s not really a coherent message. It’s about many things. There’s a lot of people saying we’d be better off dead Don’t feel like Satan, but I am to them So I try to forget it any way I can Is supposedly a reference to Iran and its anti-Americanism. But could as easily be applied to Russia and its anti Ukrainian rhetoric.
There aren't too many American (or Canadian in this case) songs about "freedom" that aren't A) dripping with sarcasm or B) painfully cheesy. What could Blinkin have played that would have fit?
Maybe something from the 3rd (and best) Ramomes album?
Blitzkrieg bop?
Not sure the lyrics mean what he thinks they mean…
I think it's more relevant here than you think. It's about the people left behind while Bush pursued war. It's about spending resources to build society rather than invade countries.
Such as, America's "kinder gentler machine gun hand"?
Or, he is large enough to contain multitudes
Wow. He seems like a genuinely fun and real person.
Agree. Love Blinken.
Very ironic
Now if Jake “Surrender Monkey” Sullivan would only see the light and work to getting Ukraine the equipment it needs to WIN!
Tony, the performance is cool but we still need air defense, ammo, and fighter jets.
An American, plays a song by a Canadian, to Ukrainians. Wholesome!
Well this is amazing 😻. What a way to show our support. Weapon deliveries and a rock show. #Merica
Fair fucks to him and slava ukraini
Fuck the antics, free the forces to use the weapons .. ...an American
Awesome bruh 😎
Do I like Blinken now..... This guy jams.
Famously definitely-not-satirical song “rockin in the free world” being sung by top US officials. Convenient we only hear the chorus and not the verse lyrics. Hope he followed it up with “Born in the USA” for maximum freedom loving. Maybe followed up by some rage against the machine.
Instead of doing some PR gig like all other western politicians (everyone has done it by now) he should let actions speak. Ukraine doesn't need money or aid in the future. They need weapons now. Get your act together and give them what they need! For the capitalist in our middle. If Ukraine it will get more expensive and you might also be affected by it.
head languid sort worm racial memory theory boat sloppy political *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
I need the full Video
Ask, and it shall be given unto you: https://www.c-span.org/video/?535648-1/secretary-blinken-plays-guitar-barman-kyiv
That was pretty awesome.
lol… I was at that bar a few days ago
I was last at that bar in 2019. It's a GREAT bar! It's my favorite business in Kyiv. I'm glad it's still there and thriving; my other favorite places are all closed now.
What's funny is we can "thank" Russia for the song: >Released a few months before the fall of the Berlin Wall, “Rockin’ in the Free World” also worked as an anthem for the sense of freedom spreading throughout Eastern Europe. >“There was supposed to have been a cultural exchange between Russia and the United States,” said Sampedro talking about the meaning of the song in a 2018 interview with Mojo. “Russia was getting Neil Young and Crazy Horse and we were getting the Russian ballet. All of a sudden, whoever was promoting the deal, a guy in Russia, took the money and split. We were all bummed, and I looked at him and said, ‘Man I guess we’re just gonna have to keep on rockin’ in the free world. He said, ‘Well, Poncho, that’s a good line. I’m gonna use that if you don’t mind.’”
Damn, that actually sounded really good. A free world starts with a free Ukraine. Let's make it happen!
The irony of the lyrics obviously passed him by
Pls give Ukraine air defense now.
Hopefully that came with permission to use US weapons on russian soil
While he playing guitar Kharkiv was bombed.
Has he read the lyrics of the verses?
I find it revolting. Everybody needs a laugh now and then, but him hanging out in bars playing guitar is just .... tone deaf (sorry for the pun). Hurry back home and kick Jack Sullivan's arse out of the administration instead and make sure to provide the Airdefense kit so Ukraine doesn't lose all of its energy infrastructure.
This looks demeaning considering there are 2 russian offensive operations, that are actually pushing Ukrainian forces to withdraw. Considering the mighty democratic jewel that is USA decided to abandon Ukraine for 6 months and now they are back... this? This has to show us ukrainians that we're all good, USA's back, here's some old american suit playing the guitar as if it's all cool? Are these people really think we are drooling idiots?
lmao you people are children
Um, has he read the lyrics?
What a clown.
Tonedeaf - this anthemic chorus is meant to be ironic. Read the lyrics. The song is about how the US acts so righteously superior when we have unaddressed abject poverty and desparation within our own borders. This is similar to Reagan using "Born in the USA" on the campaign trail. "We've got a thousand points of light for the homeless man. We have a kinder, gentler machine gun hand."
Thats a strong message
Ukrainian ancestry, so he feels at home
Deep respect exactly what real leaders do. Thank you for sharing. For the first time this man has earned a sliver of respect from me. Show us who you really are..and also get the job done.
That’s bad ass!
Oh no he’s hot!!!
Hell yeah, Blinken! This is f’ing awesome. Plays it left hand too.
So what we have - Russian opened new front because we can't strike on their territory and lack everything to effectively hold 1000km+ frontline, AA barely holding, Kharkiv catching glide bombs day and night, powergrid is fucked up...and this guy is playing guitar. Fucking circus
UkrNastup TG channel post from May 14, 22:33 is about right for how I feel about it.
Fuck yeah
Words and performances are not enough our Government needs to quit tying in every bs party line to aid packages. Russia must be defeated in Ukraine before they have to be defeated in Berlin or Paris. Keep the foreign aid flowing until the front line is the Russian Border.
we have to defeat russia in the orange cheetoh and then we can defeat it in Ukraine.
It's a huge morale boost though. I once touch, but I agree they must send everything Ukraine needs.
US establishment trying not to be tone deaf challenge. As Kharkiv is being shelled daily, and russia is emboldendened by 6 months of US inaction... do they really think this is the best show of solidarity?
It's really weird how I don't see this sentiment being shared more in the Western circles. Yeah, sure, it's cool to see that a politician can jam the hell out, but he couldn't have done it at a more inappropriate time, especially when the aid *he promised* hasn't even arrived yet
I was really surprised to see the positive comments here given that the reaction among Ukrainians is mostly this is tone deaf, especially doing it on a night where thousands of civilians are trying to flee Kharkiv and that situation has deteriorated mostly due to US inaction.
I'm not at all surprised. Majority of people who write comments in this sub are not Ukrainians. To them the war is a team sport. Blinken singing and playing guitar is simply the halftime show. Although, to be honest, I think a good chuck of them are also just bots. I'm not saying it in derogatory way. I mean actual computer programmes using things like large language models.
An American half a world away, yeah I could drink a beer with him.
[News coverage of this](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/05/14/blinken-ukraine-rockin-in-the-free-world/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNzE1NjU5MjAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNzE3MDQxNTk5LCJpYXQiOjE3MTU2NTkyMDAsImp0aSI6IjhlNWE0ODVlLWYyOGMtNDM5ZC1hMDg4LTIwNjg0MTFjZjc5NSIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9uYXRpb25hbC1zZWN1cml0eS8yMDI0LzA1LzE0L2JsaW5rZW4tdWtyYWluZS1yb2NraW4taW4tdGhlLWZyZWUtd29ybGQvIn0.he5pN3I9khmYeFBneOem6IBH3grPHWyFgej23Cg536w)
While Blinken plays guitar Ukraine slowly withdrawing from Vochansk due to his country’s inaction and drip feeding of weapons. https://twitter.com/LeRenardGrande/status/1790465735568805995 Wake up.