Young Communist League

[Pickman's model]

I always remember that when the CP would have delegations from Youth Sections from other Communist parties over they always looked older than my father

yeh it's always been surprising to me that "youth sections" are generally run by people (generally men) auld enough to be the fathers or grandfathers of those involved, be those bodies the hitler youth or the komsomol

 

[Sue]

Wikipedia sez 350 but, as the YCL probably made that entry, it's likely to be inflated. Wikipedia has CPB at 856.

And for the record, my favourite YCL alumni are George Michael and Shakin' Stevens

I knew about Shakey but had no idea about George Michael. (Now going to have to revisit the Wham back catalogue so I can tease out (semi) hidden political messages. )

 

[charlie mowbray]

Of course, Peter Mandelson was also a member of the YCL.

 

[hitmouse]

I knew about Shakey but had no idea about George Michael. (Now going to have to revisit the Wham back catalogue so I can tease out (semi) hidden political messages. )

Didn't George Michael play benefits for the miners? Although he's dead now either way, so the membership is down to 349 now.

 

[rekil]

I knew about Shakey but had no idea about George Michael. (Now going to have to revisit the Wham back catalogue so I can tease out (semi) hidden political messages. )

Let me take you to the place
Where membership's a smiling face

 

[Pickman's model]

Wikipedia sez 350 but, as the YCL probably made that entry, it's likely to be inflated. Wikipedia has CPB at 856.

And for the record, my favourite YCL alumni are George Michael and Shakin' Stevens

this year's best winterval parlour game will be putting together bands whose members spent some time in communist youth movements

 

[SpackleFrog]

More than I'd like. For a group of cosplaying stalinists who think the CCP as an example of actually existing socialism, they seem to have far more members than sense. I fell into a Redtek stream over Xmas. Pretty good music all told, but the chat was full of YCL tankies

It is actually quite depressing that at least online it appears Stalinism is alive and well.

I think a fair portion of it must be young people who are pissed off at the world (entirely correctly) and Google search 'communist.

 

[Serge Forward]

Not necessarily yoof rebellion with George Michael. Apparently, his dad was in the Kappa Kappa (CP).

 

[JTG]

this year's best winterval parlour game will be putting together bands whose members spent some time in communist youth movements

 

[ItWillNeverWork]

Didn't George Michael play benefits for the miners? Although he's dead now either way, so the membership is down to 349 now.

George Michael is dead? How the fuck did I miss that one?

 

[hitmouse]

George Michael is dead? How the fuck did I miss that one?

Happened end of 2016, so I didn't think my posting about it on a YCL thread was going to be how anyone found out about it.

 

[SpackleFrog]

Happened end of 2016, so I didn't think my posting about it on a YCL thread was going to be how anyone found out about it.

Can't believe you didn't use the spoiler function

 

[The39thStep]

I knew about Shakey but had no idea about George Michael. (Now going to have to revisit the Wham back catalogue so I can tease out (semi) hidden political messages. )

Girls Aloud allegedly released a limited edition promotional cd for record companies that had a song about Krondstat. Apparently one of Nadine Coyle's friends had a connection to the CP and was a song writer. When they signed for Polydor they were advised to drop it by one of the managers there who was an ex anarchist.

 

[two sheds]

Girls Aloud allegedly released a limited edition promotional cd for record companies that had a song about Krondstat. Apparently one of Nadine Coyle's friends had a connection to the CP and was a song writer. When they signed for Polydor they were advised to drop it by one of the managers there who was an ex anarchist.

scratch an ex anarchist

 

[Serge Forward]

Girls Aloud allegedly released a limited edition promotional cd for record companies that had a song about Krondstat. Apparently one of Nadine Coyle's friends had a connection to the CP and was a song writer. When they signed for Polydor they were advised to drop it by one of the managers there who was an ex anarchist.

Was that their hit We Shot Them Down Like Partridges or I'm Gonna Dust My (Iron) Broom?

 

[The39thStep]

Girls Aloud allegedly released a limited edition promotional cd for record companies that had a song about Krondstat. Apparently one of Nadine Coyle's friends had a connection to the CP and was a song writer. When they signed for Polydor they were advised to drop it by one of the managers there who was an ex anarchist.

There's a mention of it here : Mostly Pop November 2012

Yay! It’s Nicola, Kimberley, Cheryl, Sarah and Nadine! They’re back! It’s an objectively-decided fact that Girls Aloud created the greatest pop music of the 21st century, possibly of all time. Yes, it is. And I know they came from a Cowell-inflected TV talent show, but it was back in the old days when the format was fresh and, crucially, they were launched with a sequence of tunes so astonishingly great they’re still pop benchmarks. Furthermore, their ratio of proper pop bangers to tedious ballads is a mighty 3:1 (yes, I did the maths), making them better than anyone ever. The songs are provided by ultraproducers Xenomania, of course, but Xenomania are behind lots of pop songs and none are as good as those performed by Girls Aloud. It’s kind of a perfect match. And one of their B sides was about the freaking Kronstadt* rebellion, because they’re a) awesome and b) really the last great working class band, now that you can’t be a musician on the dole. I haven’t really fleshed that argument out, but it’s 100% true. Who are our pop stars now? Mumford and Sons. Fuck’s sake.

 

[The39thStep]

Was that their hit We Shot Them Down Like Partridges or I'm Gonna Dust My (Iron) Broom?

No it was just a promo .

 

[planetgeli]

Girls Aloud allegedly released a limited edition promotional cd for record companies that had a song about Krondstat. Apparently one of Nadine Coyle's friends had a connection to the CP and was a song writer. When they signed for Polydor they were advised to drop it by one of the managers there who was an ex anarchist.

In the Russian snow
the sailors said to Lenin go
But Trotsky was not afraid
A revolution he had made
So if you are down and you feel sad
You won’t feel as down or bad
As the anarchists did at Kronstadt ”

The anarchists are on the ice
Shot by Lenin which wasn’t nice
In the freezing Russian cold
There is a story which must be told
About Kronstadt

It must be said
There were some dead
And that isn’t very pleasant
But Russia’s better Red
Than run by Whites and peasant



Christ that's bad isn't it.

 

[two sheds]

Last line doesn't scan

or rhyme

 

[Sue]

In the Russian snow
the sailors said to Lenin go
But Trotsky was not afraid
A revolution he had made
So if you are down and you feel sad
You won’t feel as down or bad
As the anarchists did at Kronstadt ”

The anarchists are on the ice
Shot by Lenin which wasn’t nice
In the freezing Russian cold
There is a story which must be told
About Kronstadt

It must be said
There were some dead
And that isn’t very pleasant
But Russia’s better Red
Than run by Whites and peasant



Christ that's bad isn't it.

Everyone's a critic.

 

[The39thStep]

In the Russian snow
the sailors said to Lenin go
But Trotsky was not afraid
A revolution he had made
So if you are down and you feel sad
You won’t feel as down or bad
As the anarchists did at Kronstadt ”

The anarchists are on the ice
Shot by Lenin which wasn’t nice
In the freezing Russian cold
There is a story which must be told
About Kronstadt

It must be said
There were some dead
And that isn’t very pleasant
But Russia’s better Red
Than run by Whites and peasant



Christ that's bad isn't it.

I would have bought it

 

[Sue]

I would have bought it

I like these bits the best.

The anarchists are on the ice
Shot by Lenin which wasn’t nice

It must be said
There were some dead
And that isn’t very pleasant

Kronstadt for primary school kids

 

[not-bono-ever]

What lot was the Welsh Elvis / Shakey involved with ?

 

[The39thStep]

What lot was the Welsh Elvis / Shakey involved with ?

He used to do Morning Star benefits .

 

[charlie mowbray]

Those Kronstadt lyrics aren't as bad as this little gem fro Sean Matgamna, big cheese in the Alliance for Workers Liberty:

We fight the sea at Kronstadt

Across the frozen, hostile, misted sea

To Kronstadt, to attack entrenched White Guards
Manning the garrison there, mysteriously
All-powerful, where once we could command,
Talking now to our own as we talked before:
Workers' control, soviet power (with no
Bolsheviks!), peasant rights—echoing the roar
From the countryside: impossible demands!

What could we do? Abandon the fort commanding
Petrograd? Call it off? Surrender? Give up
The workers' power, looming chaos notwithstanding?
No: we would take a stronger, firmer grip,
And fight to bridle History run amok!

We marched to conquer fortress Kronstadt;
Beating them as we beat the other Whites
(Who did not sound like us) wreaked bloody spite.

We marched to conquer Fortress Kronstadt:
Under their guns across the ice-clad sea
Went Congress delegate and soldier elite;
Their cannon smashed the ice on which we stood;
The abyss opened under us; ice closed
Above white-sheathed warriors splashed with blood:
The ghostly camouflage, pale cloaks like clouds
We wore, did duty too for billowing shrouds.

After, when our bodies were reclaimed from the sacrifice,
The red still showed, frozen, in long coffins of ice.

 

[SpackleFrog]

Those Kronstadt lyrics aren't as bad as this little gem fro Sean Matgamna, big cheese in the Alliance for Workers Liberty:

We fight the sea at Kronstadt

Across the frozen, hostile, misted sea

To Kronstadt, to attack entrenched White Guards
Manning the garrison there, mysteriously
All-powerful, where once we could command,
Talking now to our own as we talked before:
Workers' control, soviet power (with no
Bolsheviks!), peasant rights—echoing the roar
From the countryside: impossible demands!

What could we do? Abandon the fort commanding
Petrograd? Call it off? Surrender? Give up
The workers' power, looming chaos notwithstanding?
No: we would take a stronger, firmer grip,
And fight to bridle History run amok!

We marched to conquer fortress Kronstadt;
Beating them as we beat the other Whites
(Who did not sound like us) wreaked bloody spite.

We marched to conquer Fortress Kronstadt:
Under their guns across the ice-clad sea
Went Congress delegate and soldier elite;
Their cannon smashed the ice on which we stood;
The abyss opened under us; ice closed
Above white-sheathed warriors splashed with blood:
The ghostly camouflage, pale cloaks like clouds
We wore, did duty too for billowing shrouds.

After, when our bodies were reclaimed from the sacrifice,
The red still showed, frozen, in long coffins of ice.

Its genuinely amazing to me that anyone can read Matgamna's poetry and remain a member of the AWL.

 

[splonkydoo]

There's been some resignations of the female membership recently over the handling of an apparent sexual assault and accusations of misogyny.

 

[Pickman's model]

Those Kronstadt lyrics aren't as bad as this little gem fro Sean Matgamna, big cheese in the Alliance for Workers Liberty:

We fight the sea at Kronstadt

Across the frozen, hostile, misted sea

To Kronstadt, to attack entrenched White Guards
Manning the garrison there, mysteriously
All-powerful, where once we could command,
Talking now to our own as we talked before:
Workers' control, soviet power (with no
Bolsheviks!), peasant rights—echoing the roar
From the countryside: impossible demands!

What could we do? Abandon the fort commanding
Petrograd? Call it off? Surrender? Give up
The workers' power, looming chaos notwithstanding?
No: we would take a stronger, firmer grip,
And fight to bridle History run amok!

We marched to conquer fortress Kronstadt;
Beating them as we beat the other Whites
(Who did not sound like us) wreaked bloody spite.

We marched to conquer Fortress Kronstadt:
Under their guns across the ice-clad sea
Went Congress delegate and soldier elite;
Their cannon smashed the ice on which we stood;
The abyss opened under us; ice closed
Above white-sheathed warriors splashed with blood:
The ghostly camouflage, pale cloaks like clouds
We wore, did duty too for billowing shrouds.

After, when our bodies were reclaimed from the sacrifice,
The red still showed, frozen, in long coffins of ice.

Pass the mind bleach pls

 

[The39thStep]

Those Kronstadt lyrics aren't as bad as this little gem fro Sean Matgamna, big cheese in the Alliance for Workers Liberty:

We fight the sea at Kronstadt

Across the frozen, hostile, misted sea

To Kronstadt, to attack entrenched White Guards
Manning the garrison there, mysteriously
All-powerful, where once we could command,
Talking now to our own as we talked before:
Workers' control, soviet power (with no
Bolsheviks!), peasant rights—echoing the roar
From the countryside: impossible demands!

What could we do? Abandon the fort commanding
Petrograd? Call it off? Surrender? Give up
The workers' power, looming chaos notwithstanding?
No: we would take a stronger, firmer grip,
And fight to bridle History run amok!

We marched to conquer fortress Kronstadt;
Beating them as we beat the other Whites
(Who did not sound like us) wreaked bloody spite.

We marched to conquer Fortress Kronstadt:
Under their guns across the ice-clad sea
Went Congress delegate and soldier elite;
Their cannon smashed the ice on which we stood;
The abyss opened under us; ice closed
Above white-sheathed warriors splashed with blood:
The ghostly camouflage, pale cloaks like clouds
We wore, did duty too for billowing shrouds.

After, when our bodies were reclaimed from the sacrifice,
The red still showed, frozen, in long coffins of ice.

Jesus., that is dire.
The thing with The Spice Girls lyrics is that it's to the point and sums up what Kronstadt is about to many.

 

[discokermit]

fun and sunshine, theres enough for everyone.