L.J. Writes

War is inherently a hugely conflicted subject, to say the least. I think it's pretty much impossible to have war songs not reflect that. Either it ends up sanitized into pablum, ala America the Beautiful, or it feels like propaganda, because war inherently requires its soldiers be stirred into believing they're doing the right, necessary thing. You don't need propaganda for things everyone already feels good about.

I feel like Cabaret does a good job showing this conflict with Tomorrow Belongs to Me. Like, the song is inspiring and blood-stirring, and I admit that during some really shitty times in the Homeless Year, I'd sing chunks of it to myself... but it's Nazis singing it. It's not a real Nazi song (the Jewish playwrights coined it for Cabaret) but it's so effective that actual white supremacists have taken and performed the song at rallies! You might argue it's TOO effective a song.

--Rogan