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From [1]: "Many musicians have made songs referencing their heroin usage." That article provides references and examples. What do Apocalypse Now and A Scanner

by Fnoord 6y ago

From [1]: "Many musicians have made songs referencing their heroin usage." That article provides references and examples. What do Apocalypse Now and A Scanner Darkly have in common? Drug abuse (I use the term abuse because the usage turns out harmful in both works). Philip K. Dick (writer of A Scanner Darkly, and other science fiction) is known to have used e.g. amphetamine. I would assume its because the authors are or have been recreational users as well. Heroin was used as medicine long before it was made illegal. Musicians used it, and wrote about the usage. A lot of the references are hidden, for example Alice D. in Wonderland or Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. When I told my parents about that (they were teens/young adults in the 60/70s) they were flabbergasted. Its kind of like a wink or nudge, given drug usage or abuse being socially not accepted. Edit: Another thing to add: Religions and traditions are full with drugs references as well. Find the mushrooms in old paintings of say Jesus Christ. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroin#History https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroin#History

egypturnash 6y ago
Are you sure your parents weren’t just pretending to be flabbergasted? I was a kid in the seventies and it was pretty common knowledge that Lucy was a drug joke despite Lennon’s insistence that it was just based on a drawing his kid did.
- Fnoord 6y ago
  About the average or random parent, no. Mine? Yes, 100% sure. My parents aren't native English speakers though. Plus, they never experimented much with that type of drugs (it was tobacco, alcohol, and a few joints during teenage years). I've been a tad more naughty, and that was a period in my life. It was after that period that I brought it up to my parents. Found yet another reference (also brought up in the PDF), in Brave New World: "Huxley took the name for the drug used by the state to control the population after the Vedic ritual drink Soma, inspired by his interest in Indian mysticism." [1] Folklore has an abundance of drug references. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soma_(drink) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soma_(drink)
varispeed 6y ago
I wonder why the industry does not single out musicians who aid their work with drugs akin to using illegal supplements by athletes. It seems like by use of substances those musicians get competitive advantage over musicians who abstain from drugs and want to be on the right side of law. But somehow still the drug use among artists is viewed as "cool". This fascinates me that for one group such behaviour seems acceptable, but for another it's a big no-no.
- TeMPOraL 6y ago
  My guess would be: because the audience - the general public - doesn't care about the in-industry competition for the top spots in music popularity charts[0]. People enjoy songs in isolation - a piece may be "good", or "bad", but isn't "unfair". In most spectator sports, however, ranking of the performers is everything, and perceived fairness is paramount - so the industry does its best to equalize every possible factor except the intrinsic qualities of people and teams. -- [0] - Hell, at least for pop music, IIRC those charts are mostly manufactured anyway and have little to do with any subjective or objective qualities of the songs in question.
  - varispeed 6y ago
    But wouldn't the public also enjoy seeing the athletes breaking the records beyond what is possible without any supplements? I must admit that I like music that has been done under influence as it feels more stimulating. But I wonder if there are other areas then, where such culture is acceptable? It seems like it is widely accepted that bankers or stockbrokers also give themselves a boost (you never read about stop and search around the financial districts)
    - stickfigure 6y ago
      > But wouldn't the public also enjoy seeing the athletes breaking the records beyond what is possible without any supplements? The answer seems to be an obvious no? Besides, if you simply want competitors to go faster you could just give them bicycles. Or cars.

by Fnoord 6y ago

egypturnash 6y ago

Are you sure your parents weren’t just pretending to be flabbergasted? I was a kid in the seventies and it was pretty common knowledge that Lucy was a drug joke despite Lennon’s insistence that it was just based on a drawing his kid did.

Fnoord 6y ago
About the average or random parent, no. Mine? Yes, 100% sure. My parents aren't native English speakers though. Plus, they never experimented much with that type of drugs (it was tobacco, alcohol, and a few joints during teenage years). I've been a tad more naughty, and that was a period in my life. It was after that period that I brought it up to my parents. Found yet another reference (also brought up in the PDF), in Brave New World: "Huxley took the name for the drug used by the state to control the population after the Vedic ritual drink Soma, inspired by his interest in Indian mysticism." [1] Folklore has an abundance of drug references. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soma_(drink) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soma_(drink)

varispeed 6y ago

I wonder why the industry does not single out musicians who aid their work with drugs akin to using illegal supplements by athletes. It seems like by use of substances those musicians get competitive advantage over musicians who abstain from drugs and want to be on the right side of law. But somehow still the drug use among artists is viewed as "cool". This fascinates me that for one group such behaviour seems acceptable, but for another it's a big no-no.

TeMPOraL 6y ago
My guess would be: because the audience - the general public - doesn't care about the in-industry competition for the top spots in music popularity charts[0]. People enjoy songs in isolation - a piece may be "good", or "bad", but isn't "unfair". In most spectator sports, however, ranking of the performers is everything, and perceived fairness is paramount - so the industry does its best to equalize every possible factor except the intrinsic qualities of people and teams. -- [0] - Hell, at least for pop music, IIRC those charts are mostly manufactured anyway and have little to do with any subjective or objective qualities of the songs in question.
- varispeed 6y ago
  But wouldn't the public also enjoy seeing the athletes breaking the records beyond what is possible without any supplements? I must admit that I like music that has been done under influence as it feels more stimulating. But I wonder if there are other areas then, where such culture is acceptable? It seems like it is widely accepted that bankers or stockbrokers also give themselves a boost (you never read about stop and search around the financial districts)
  - stickfigure 6y ago
    > But wouldn't the public also enjoy seeing the athletes breaking the records beyond what is possible without any supplements? The answer seems to be an obvious no? Besides, if you simply want competitors to go faster you could just give them bicycles. Or cars.