(1) The … Read Full Bio ↴Youth Brigade can refer to two different punk music groups.
(1) The first was a punk music trio formed by brothers Mark Stern, Adam Stern, and Shawn Stern, in Hollywood, California in 1980. The band has broken up and subsequently re-formed a number of times. They have been together again for several years as of 2006, and playing shows throughout California. Youth Brigade have only released a few records, but were influential as the founders of the Better Youth Organization, an independent record label and concert booking firm.
(2) Youth Brigade was also another, unrelated punk band from Washington D.C., who released a 7" EP on Dischord Records in 1981. This band subsequently, during their short life, called themselves DC Youth Brigade. Youth Brigade DC also has 3 tracks featured on the 1982 Dischord compilation Flex Your Head. An unreleased song entitled "I Object" is also featured on the 20 Years of Dischord compliation set. Although only around for a short period of time the DC Youth Brigade played shows with the legendary Minor Threat. Their style is also now considered a classic example of American hardcore punk.
All Style No Substance
Youth Brigade Lyrics
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The lyrics of Youth Brigade's song "All Style No Substance" reflect a commentary on the society's obsession with materialism and consumerism while lacking genuine substance. The song starts with a jab at the infomercial home shopping club that tempts people of all ages to buy things they may not need, making them a cash cow. The society is depicted as all about style and materialism without any real substance, symbolized by flashy cars, expensive clothes, and a large house with 50 rooms. The people living these lives are portrayed as empty and unhappy, with the stench of stale perfume adding to the overall sense of failure.
As the song progresses, the lyrics turn to politics and how candidates make promises on the campaign trail, but once they are in power, they mostly fail to keep them. The land of opportunity is depicted as a place where everything is up for sale, and greed and corruption run rampant. Society is defined by money, greed, and corruption, as depicted on TV, and nothing is free here. The lyrics touch upon the darker side of Hollywood, casting couches, madames' houses, and prostitution. The corruption is so widespread that even breaking the law may not have consequences if you have the right connections and enough money.
Overall, the song's message is powerful and raw, provoking thoughts about society's values and priorities. It highlights the emptiness of consumerism and the deception of those in power that allow corruption to thrive.
Line by Line Meaning
the info-mercial home shopping club.
The home shopping club that airs info-mercial advertisements.
the money flows from young and old cash cash cow coming home.
The company earns a lot of money from both young and old customers. The business is a big cash cow, making huge returns.
all style no substance.
The company relies solely on its flashy exterior and doesn't provide any real substance in its products.
the flashy cars expensive clothes a house with 50 rooms.
The company uses the money it earns to buy flashy cars, expensive clothes, and build enormous houses with 50 rooms.
empty lives bitchy vibes the smell of stale perfume.
Despite their wealth, the people who associate with this company lead empty lives, are nasty to each other, and smell of excess perfume.
the candidate makes promises on the campaign trail.
Before an election, the candidate makes a lot of promises to gain votes.
once they're in it's only sin and mostly they fail.
However, once the candidate is elected, they mostly break their promises and fail to deliver their goals.
america land of opportunity they'll sell you anything cause nothing here is free.
America is known as a land of opportunity where people will try to sell you anything to make a profit because nothing is given for free.
america defined by your tv money greed corruption it feeds cause nothing here is free.
America is a country defined by its television, money, greed, and corruption. These practices feed into each other and nothing is given for free.
casting couches madames houses it doesn't happen here.
The company claims that there is no exploitation of women in the entertainment industry and that 'casting couches' and 'madames' houses' do not exist.
whores abound in tinsel town for at least 100 years.
However, there have been prostitutes working in the entertainment industry for at least the past 100 years.
break the law take a fall not with your connections.
If you break the law, you will face consequences unless you have connections in high places.
your bank account will save your ass everyone's corrupted.
If you're wealthy enough, your bank account may be able to protect you from the consequences of breaking the law. Everyone is involved in corruption at some level.
Contributed by Muhammad Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.