Lockdown! at the Disco #25: The Own-Your-Anger Episode

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Hiya! Are ya fumin? I’m fumin. And I’m gonna have a big ol’stomp about it…

TRACK ONE: “Army of Me” – Bjork

Hiya gang! And welcome to episode #25 of Comics Youth Radio presents Lockdown! at the Disco. That was the unparalleled Bjork with “Army of Me” and it was requested by Shan. And we’re playing it because this is The ‘Own-Your-Anger’ Episode where we’re going to be talking about everything we’re angry about right now, how to manage that anger in healthy ways, and also why sometimes it just feels great to sit inside that anger and to own it and to just enjoy a good old fashioned stomp.

In our Safe Spaces group this past week, we had a little chat about how playing music really loud and just singing along to it as noisily – and as badly – as you can manage (and side note on this: please be considerate of your neighbours and family), can be really cathartic when you’re feeling mad at the world.

Personally, I’m a huge believer in this and always have been. When I’m feeling angry and fed up and mad as heck at everything, just picking tunes that validate my anger and blasting them loudly – sometimes having a little dance to them in my living room – makes me feel so much lighter for it. And so, that’s what we’re going to be doing today. This episode is full of songs hand picked by myself and our awesome Safe Spaces gang here at Comics Youth with which to validate your anger and to find a way to engage with it and maybe even enjoy it in a healthy way that isn’t harmful to yourself or to anyone else.

You know, so long as you aren’t breaking the sound barrier with your angry caterwauling, that is. Please shout along to your shouty songs, responsibly. 

As ever, this is our usual weekly disclaimer that while every effort is made to keep Lockdown! at the Disco as wholesome and cleancut and free of naughty content or language that occasionally the odd song can feature language or content that could be inappropriate for younger listeners. Today’s episode does feature a couple of instances of explicit language that are sadly unavoidable given the theme of today’s episode. 

Which brings us to the political elephant in the room. Heck, it isn’t just in the room. Ol’Nelly here is practically squatting on our shoulders at the moment. I think we can all agree at this stage that our government in this country isn’t doing a great job of anything right now and that’s something to be very angry and concerned about and we’ll be swinging back to this point in a moment.

But many of us have also understandably been very stressed out concerning the incredible mess of an election currently happening in the United States. I’m recording this on Saturday 7th November and at this stage the votes are still being counted, the current president is still lying that he’s won and claiming that any votes currently being counted against him are illegal, and he’s also whipping up his cult of fans to engage with this dialogue in increasingly violent ways.

Now, we’re all savvy enough here at Comics Youth to understand what a dictatorship looks like – you know, leaders of countries who refuse to step down and relinquish their power and who abuse that power for their own ends and agendas. And we’re also all savvy enough to know white supremacy and fascism when we see it.

Ordinarily, we wouldn’t give too much attention to US politics – particularly when we need to keep our focus on things that are happening in our own country right now – but the results of this election can have such an impact and influence on a lot of troubling attitudes and leadership qualities that are current prevalent in this country and across Europe right now.

So, we’re all understandably aghast at what’s happening there – and angry that so many people feel validated in their hatred of policies designed to help people and particularly marginalised people.

I want to reassure each and every one of you though that hate will not win – not here, not in Europe, and not in the united states – no matter what the outcomes of elections may be. And that you will always have support, and a home, and love for everything that you are right here at Comics Youth.

And now that my Ted Talk is over, let’s act like a US Republican and throw a strop over everything, shall we? Rest assured, we’re gonna do it with 1000% more sass and more dignity too. This is “Hate Conquers All” by Anti-Flag and it was requested by Lucas M.

TRACK TWO: “Hate Conquers All” – Anti-Flag
TRACK THREE: “Mildred Pierce” – Sonic Youth

That was “Mildred Pierce” by Sonic Youth and it’s probably one of my favourite tracks by the band. It’s named after the 1954 noir classic which very aptly tackles ideas of social status and class and how capitalism can destroy people.

I’ve played that track on today’s episode because the way that song is structured reminds me very much of a classic temper tantrum, you know? It starts slow, and as the music evolves – in the same way that a bad thought or idea will sit with you and rise – it explodes into this messy crescendo of rage.

We’ve seen a lot of strops this past week with the US elections. And I think we’ve all learnt a lot from seeing a certain potential presidential loser throwing a temper tantrum that even the most tempestuous of toddlers would likely side eye and be like ‘damn lad, get up off the floor and show some respect for yourself’.

And I think we can all learn a lot from Donald Trump’s tantrums in how not to throw a strop. Because I’d like to put it out there sometimes we all need to throw a little tantrum and just go berserk at the world. But if your strop or tantrum harms anyone or even makes you feel worse for it, then it shouldn’t be done. Go and take minutes to meditate instead. Light some incense, play some FKA Twigs, and put yourself in time out for a little bit while you cool off.

But, I’d argue that there is an art to throwing a healthy strop and that every now and then you need to give yourself permission to be a little bit childish over things and just let it all out.

Some advice on doing this in a way that is healthy and not detrimental to you or to anyone else:

First and foremost: Make sure you do it in private, honey! Put your phone on silent or turn it off for an hour, and just give yourself some you-time. Nobody needs to be involved in your strop but you do deserve the time to explore it and to unleash it in a healthy way.

Secondly: Make an event out of it! Maybe light some candles, and most definitely play the tunes that allow you to bathe in this anger and to pour it back out into the world that’s caused it.

Thirdly: Be constructive with your strop! Use it to get some stuff done! Maybe pour that anger into aggressively tidying your bedroom or giving the kitchen or bathroom the scrubbing of a lifetime! Or, if you’re feeling creative, pour your anger into poetry or artwork. Make stuff that you might not ever want to share with the world but that makes you feel better for putting it down onto paper.

I promise that by the end of the strop, you’ll feel lighter and better for it. And on that note, here’s another fine childish strop of a song – and one of my absolute faves – get ready to stomp about to some chonky riffs cos this is “He’s My Thing” by Babes in Toyland.

TRACK FOUR: “He’s My Thing” – Babes in Toyland
TRACK FIVE: “Gold Medal” – Destroy Boys

That was “Gold Medal” by Destroy Boys and it was requested by Rosa. That’s my first time hearing that track and hearing anything by Destroy Boys – great band name by the way – and I am officially obsessed. So thank you as ever for this one Rosa. 

Now, I wanted to move away from the noisy, chonky, stompy tunes for a moment to offer the reminder that sometimes in order to process your anger, you need a little swagger. A solid beat, some snaking basslines, and a furious flow.

R&B and hip hop can be oh so good for the soul on days when you’re feeling mad at the world. And the next two tracks that I’ve got lined up for you are two of my fave angry R&B songs from way back when.

Now, both of these songs deal with the idea of owning your anger but they’re from the perspective of a woman discovering that her other half has cheated on them. At their core, they’re songs about being lied to and the fury that comes with that. But they’re also songs about acknowledging the lie, rising above it, and of refusing to be treated like a fool.

You know where this is going, right? Allow me to hop back up on my soapbox here to address y’all about the lies and mistreatment we’ve all received from this current government.

Because there’s definitely a certain parallel to be talked about in terms of the levels of gaslighting and hurt that can come into play when a partner cheats on you to how it feels as a member of society being cheated by and lied to by their government, as well.

But, we’re gonna listen to these next two tracks, we’re gonna vibe with our anger over everything, we’re gonna rise above and refuse to be made fools out of, and repeat after me: We’re gonna be ok.

This is “Caught Out There” by Kelis.

TRACK SIX: “Caught Out There” – Kelis
TRACK SEVEN: “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay” – Whitney Houston

That was “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay” by Whitney Houston and I’m playing it for my fellow Whitney fan Tom, who had asked for “Beautiful Liar” by Beyonce and Shakira – I adore that song but I just couldn’t make it fit the narrative for today’s episode, sadly. Even though, I agree – it’s also one of my anger jams. We’ll be hearing a different song requested by Tom in a little while though – and it’s an absolute BANGER so look forward to that one!

For now though, some more notes on managing and processing anger.

Obviously, this episode is encouraging you to see anger as a bad thing and to find healthy ways with which to take ownership if it – and maybe even turn that anger into something constructive.

One thing you can do that might be helpful is to write to your local MP about things you’re concerned about when you’re feeling angry. It can help you to feel like you’re being heard for one thing, but writing to your local MP can also help to bring about tangible change. Especially if you can organise a group of likeminded people to back you up on whatever issue is of a concern to also write to them as well.

We have a guide about how to write letters to your local MP up on our website on comicsyouth.co.uk which will give you all the advice and information you need to get that done.

But I also want to serve the reminder that sometimes anger can be so overwhelming and so powerful that you don’t want to engage with it and you just want comfort and relaxation.

I’ve certainly felt that over the past couple of weeks. Something that I’ve been doing is making what I call a duvet cocoon – which is where I drag my duvet off my bed, bring it into the living room, and wrap it around me while I read, or re-watch Gilmore Girls for the millionth time, or play games on my switch.

I’ve realised I have sensory issues that come with anger and so having that soft, cushy shell of a duvet just really helps me to cool down and chill out and feel safe when the news has left me feeling mad and insecure about the world.

Listening to really chill music can also help with that. I’ve been listening to Karma and Desire, the new album by Actress, which I heartily recommend for such things. Actress describes the album as being a romantic tragedy of two lovers caught between heaven and hell and it’s just absolute bliss. Especially when you have a duvet cocoon to enjoy it within.

Massive shoutout to my lovely parents too who gave me the money to buy a new cosy, snugly winter coat this year so I can basically wear a duvet cocoon on my way to and from Comics Youth HQ.

I also want to give a massive, huge gigantic shoutout to one of our listeners and a regular attendee of our junior sessions here at Comics Youth by the name of Noah – although we know him best as Pumpkin.  

Pumpkin runs the world’s smallest rock museum from his family shed and you can check that out on Facebook by searching for The World’s Smallest Rock Museum on there. Sometimes when I’m angry at the world, I think about the world’s smallest rock museum and it brings me so much joy and makes me feel so light and it reminds me that this next generation – all of you listening to this episode right now – are going to change the world in the most positive, wonderful ways.

We have an amazing profile about Pumpkin and the world’s smallest rock museum in the first issue of The Comics Youth Newspaper Project which we’ll be printing up and have available for everyone in the coming month or so. That will also be a great salve for all of our anger, I think.

But now, we’re going to return to our chokny, stompy, riff-heavy tunes. These next two were requested by Cheesecake who has an 800+ song playlist full of tunes they like to blast when they’re feeling angry.

And let me tell ya, with a great set of headphones, and in a solid pair of boots, you can take these tunes to the streets and stomp your angry out against the floor. Give it a try sometime, it’s therapeutic.

This is “Papercut” by Linkin Park.

TRACK EIGHT: “Papercut” – Linkin Park
TRACK NINE: “Plug In Baby” – Muse 

That was “Plug In Baby” by Muse and those two tracks took me back to my teen years when these songs were a huge vibe for me and my pals. So I hope they were a huge vibe for all of you listening right now too.

And that draws us to the end of another awesome episode! I don’t know about you but the past fortnight has been exhausting for numerous reasons and I strongly suspect that we’re all feeling that at the moment.

So with that in mind our next episode is going to be The Always Tired Episode because I’m tired and I think all of us are tired and I feel like we’re just always tired right now.

So for that, we want song requests for tunes about feeling tired or sleepy or that feeling of being half awake most the time – tunes like “I’m So Tired” by Fugazi or “Pretty Pimpin’” by Kurt Vile.

Let me know what you wanna hear over email via amy@comicsyouth.co.uk! We’re also looking for anecdotes about the silliest thing you’ve done recently because you’ve been half awake or sleepy.

A few months ago, for instance, I went absolutely out of my mind looking for where my milk was when I was making a coffee. Couldn’t find it anywhere. And then when I came to make dinner that night I discovered that I’d put it in the oven after making my morning coffee.

And then yesterday morning, I completely forgot how to drink coffee and accidentally inhaled a mouthful of it and err – yeah, almost drowned. On coffee. Spat it out all over my duvet and, well, I really wish it hadn’t happened.

Let me your stories so I feel a little less stupid about all of this.  

And until then, remember: Everything is not cool, but it can be. Stay safe, stay sassy, and my goodness – stay angry. But channel that anger in healthy ways please, gang.

This is “Shout” by Tears For Fears and it was requested by Tom and this is Amy Roberts signing off, 

BYEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!

TRACK TEN: “Shout” – Tears For Fears