Behind The Song Episode 46: The Clash "Rock The Casbah"

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In this episode of the Behind The Song podcast, Janda Lane details the lyrics of "Rock The Casbah" by The Clash. It's a song about rising up from oppression, but it started out as a love song. Janda also talks about the reasons why The Clash became known as "the only band that matters" and shares the story of that time she met the late Joe Strummer.
Music: Christian Lane
Video Director: Michael Collier
About Janda:
Behind The Song podcast host and creator Janda Lane is a radio DJ at WDRV-FM in Chicago, the city she now calls home with her husband and podcast partner, Christian Lane, and their two cats, Ollie and Liam. She is a transplant from Los Angeles, where she was a video director at Fender, Executive Producer at Yahoo Music, playlist curator for ITunes, worked in rock management with artists like the Foo Fighters and Beck, was on the radio at KCRW, and she was a DJ at online radio pioneer site Soundbreak. She has not worked a day in her life.
Follow Janda on Facebook and Instagram @jandalaneradio and on Twitter @jandalane.

Пікірлер: 107

  • @EliPorterMahn
    @EliPorterMahn6 ай бұрын

    Joe Strummer kept the band from being corrupted by mainstream expectations imo, every band needs a leader

  • @DrTazMage
    @DrTazMage2 жыл бұрын

    "Should I stay or should I go" hit the charts in the US. and peaked at number 13 on Billboards Top Tracks

  • @gogoyubari366

    @gogoyubari366

    10 ай бұрын

    I don't care for that song.

  • @markchapman4466

    @markchapman4466

    27 күн бұрын

    Thank you - someone needed to say it 🤣

  • @eamonnbohan
    @eamonnbohan Жыл бұрын

    Topper Headon joined the Clash in 1977, not 1979. He first played live with them in France on 26 April 1977. I saw him playing in May 77 on the White Riot tour. The 1st record he made with them was Complete Control b/w City of the Dead released in October 1977.

  • @the_lonely_smoker

    @the_lonely_smoker

    Жыл бұрын

    theres a few things wrong

  • @Shannon_Gaines

    @Shannon_Gaines

    9 ай бұрын

    That’s awesome. Reading the comments it seems like as the above says more than a bit of this vid is wrong

  • @KnockOut242

    @KnockOut242

    3 ай бұрын

    I’m guessing you’re a mid-50’s baby?

  • @outboundflight4455
    @outboundflight44553 жыл бұрын

    5:31 Meaning of the Song and its Lyrics

  • @julianmarquezrodriguez1762
    @julianmarquezrodriguez17623 жыл бұрын

    Amazing band and song analysis! Loved strummer’s playlist story 🙌🏼

  • @behindthesongpodcast

    @behindthesongpodcast

    3 жыл бұрын

    I’m so glad you enjoyed it! That encounter with Strummer remains one of the rock highlights of my life. Strummer forever! Thank you! -Janda

  • @djpookie2000
    @djpookie20003 жыл бұрын

    Fun listen about one of my favorite songs ever. I love the drums.

  • @behindthesongpodcast

    @behindthesongpodcast

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks James! It's one of our favorites too. What a band!

  • @babagandu

    @babagandu

    2 жыл бұрын

    The piano

  • @bigfish6442
    @bigfish6442Ай бұрын

    Over the top analogy Janda...Beeaauuttiiffuull...Thanks🤘🤘🤘

  • @user-id7zy7gy9h
    @user-id7zy7gy9h5 ай бұрын

    Love love this song. I remember taking the cassette to Italy so my cousins could hear it 🎉

  • @sonboogie
    @sonboogie3 ай бұрын

    Appreciate the song even more now.

  • @zapapelttari8226
    @zapapelttari82266 ай бұрын

    Very interesting, thank you. My understanding the cover of Combat Rock was shot in Thailand. Anyway, great song.

  • @SavvyMuhon
    @SavvyMuhon Жыл бұрын

    There’s something so satisfying about the way she says, “Rock the Casbah”

  • @Drumnedwin7

    @Drumnedwin7

    4 ай бұрын

    For it’s the “Sharif don’t like it” part lol

  • @user-wf5lo9hk7b

    @user-wf5lo9hk7b

    2 ай бұрын

    I was just gonna say all of this😂😂😂 that part

  • @RASTANAUT
    @RASTANAUT2 жыл бұрын

    As soon as I heard it on a Sopranos clip, I had to watch the whole series! It's one of those songs I can hear at least once every year of my life til I depart. It just has a certain mystique that helps it endure over time.

  • @behindthesongpodcast

    @behindthesongpodcast

    2 жыл бұрын

    I couldn’t agree more!

  • @seaacow6347

    @seaacow6347

    2 жыл бұрын

    Haha, the clip where Tony chases Phil about his money. I watched that ep last week, I’m about a dozen episodes from finishing the series and love it, but at also a bit sad that there will be no more episodes. Great song nonetheless.

  • @lycheeedits5780

    @lycheeedits5780

    6 ай бұрын

    exact scenario I'm in now, It's been a near daily listen for a year now haha

  • @j.rebekah8605
    @j.rebekah860511 ай бұрын

    I'm not sure if its my favorite song of all time, but it's in the running. Learning it on the piano this week. Cool channel, thanks!

  • @behindthesongpodcast

    @behindthesongpodcast

    10 ай бұрын

    Awesome! Thank you!

  • @tomharry9465
    @tomharry9465Ай бұрын

    Thanks for this. I have a greater appreciation of this song after this and a YT short I saw. I'd still like to hear how it would have turned out had it remained a love song.

  • @hansschjlberg172
    @hansschjlberg172 Жыл бұрын

    One issue only: the cover photo of Combat Rock was not shot in the US, but in Asia. I think it was in Thailand.

  • @borbetomagus

    @borbetomagus

    Жыл бұрын

    Pennie Smith shot the cover photo for "Combat Rock" in March 1982 outside Bangkok in Thailand on a deserted railway line east of the Makkasan train station. Pennie Smith also shot the photo used for the cover of "London Calling" which was taken at the Palladium in New York City on September 20, 1979. The music video for "Rock the Casbah" was filmed in Austin, Texas by director Don Letts on June 8-9, 1982.

  • @johnolmos8670
    @johnolmos867011 ай бұрын

    Song was extremely ahead of its time. Very awesome way to rebel against the middle East’s embargo on western music

  • @theclashcalling_
    @theclashcalling_ Жыл бұрын

    The band's first gig was indeed with the Sex Pistols but was in fact on July 4th at Sheffield's Black Swan pub. AKA 'The Mucky Duck' (!)

  • @gerrymeyer813
    @gerrymeyer8134 жыл бұрын

    The Clash were awesome

  • @behindthesongpodcast

    @behindthesongpodcast

    4 жыл бұрын

    Gerry Meyer Yes they were!

  • @behindthesongpodcast

    @behindthesongpodcast

    4 жыл бұрын

    Yes they were!

  • @kellyj.azania4371
    @kellyj.azania43712 жыл бұрын

    Woo, girl! Thank you for explaining and breaking it all down! I remember where I was when I first heard this! It was my first day as a 12th-grader. As I walked into the school cafeteria for breakfast, my best friend, Paula ran up to me all excited. She couldn't WAIT to catch me up on the local neighborhood news (I'd spent the summer on my grandmother's farm). Back then, our school would play the radio over the p.a.--- "Rock The Casbah" came on. Mind blown! I'm like, "What is this?!". Paula's response, "Girrrl, that's THE CLASH! We gotta catch you up!" Those were the days.

  • @behindthesongpodcast

    @behindthesongpodcast

    2 жыл бұрын

    I love this story so much!! Thanks Kelly!

  • @kellyj.azania4371

    @kellyj.azania4371

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@behindthesongpodcast 😉✊

  • @behindthesongpodcast

    @behindthesongpodcast

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@kellyj.azania4371 ✊😁

  • @pentegarn1
    @pentegarn17 ай бұрын

    Well "Sharif don't like it" makes total sense now. And still has meaning on the streets right now.

  • @SunCity95
    @SunCity9511 ай бұрын

    Very interesting 👍🏼 liked how you dissected the lyrics. Came across your video by chance. Glad I did.

  • @behindthesongpodcast

    @behindthesongpodcast

    11 ай бұрын

    Awesome, thank you!

  • @KnockOut242
    @KnockOut2423 ай бұрын

    I’ve always loved this song but never knew any of the backstory to it. I am a sixties baby and grew up listening to The Clash.

  • @vthyaga
    @vthyaga2 жыл бұрын

    Excellent work, BTS!

  • @ianmcbride412
    @ianmcbride412 Жыл бұрын

    Met Strummer the last time he played Dublin with the mescaleros, and kept each other company till dawn, a pure gentlemen with hollow legs, Felt he was wrong dumping both Topper n Mick, 🧷😎🎵

  • @cream7947
    @cream794711 ай бұрын

    This is DOPE ❤

  • @tacticaltuna
    @tacticaltuna5 ай бұрын

    Way more interesting than i expected

  • @juevosrantsyoutube
    @juevosrantsyoutube Жыл бұрын

    great video thanks for making this

  • @behindthesongpodcast

    @behindthesongpodcast

    Жыл бұрын

    Glad you enjoyed it!

  • @user-wf5lo9hk7b
    @user-wf5lo9hk7b2 ай бұрын

    I honestly never liked this song or should I stay or should I go? I just didn’t and now that you’ve explained all of this including what the band was going through at that time and each meaning with historical fact I have a new respect for this song and for the members, thank you so much.

  • @tbone2859
    @tbone28594 ай бұрын

    I always thought it was “ drop your bombs using the Memorex” Damn, 42 years getting this banger wrong😂

  • @KingRanchW
    @KingRanchW Жыл бұрын

    always heard it the sheriff don't like it 😂 i will continue to sing it that way

  • @SavvyMuhon

    @SavvyMuhon

    Жыл бұрын

    Same with me always saying, “Rock the cash box” as a kid lol. I always just imagined the Clash were robbing a dive bar or something

  • @nomiddlenamenmn427

    @nomiddlenamenmn427

    11 ай бұрын

    I believe the sheriff still doesn’t like it 😂

  • @johanhemblom446
    @johanhemblom446 Жыл бұрын

    Wow! Amazing sum up!

  • @behindthesongpodcast

    @behindthesongpodcast

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you!

  • @ivanfranco2363
    @ivanfranco23632 жыл бұрын

    You did your homework, lady! Loved the lyric explanation! It was a big eye opener!!!

  • @zappababe8577
    @zappababe8577 Жыл бұрын

    Sad that the drummer didn't get to be in the video, when it was his song and he was so talented. Don't do heroin kids, stick to weed and you'll be okay.

  • @stoneygamer2094
    @stoneygamer20945 ай бұрын

    I love ur channel can you do don henley the end of the innocence

  • @marioduran7913
    @marioduran79135 ай бұрын

    I love you!!

  • @TheMajestic-band1
    @TheMajestic-band17 ай бұрын

    Topper Headon said in a recent interview that it was Norman Watt-Roy played bass on "Rock the Casbah"

  • @tageschance5501
    @tageschance550127 күн бұрын

    🤩👍🏽❤️‍🔥🙌🏾😍

  • @marctopel7982
    @marctopel79824 жыл бұрын

    Umm, you got the lyrics wrong. It should be "Sharlene don't like it, rock the cashbox"

  • @behindthesongpodcast

    @behindthesongpodcast

    4 жыл бұрын

    I think you meant “the sheep don’t like it.” 🎶

  • @jameshalbert181

    @jameshalbert181

    2 жыл бұрын

    My ex wife is named Sharlene this has real meaning to me she's a total materialist

  • @lethargicstove2024

    @lethargicstove2024

    2 жыл бұрын

    Think you meant “Shawty don’t right click, rock the cat box “

  • @charlenerevell7543

    @charlenerevell7543

    2 жыл бұрын

    Lol. This song came on the radio today while we were traveling & my daughter thought it was my name....Charlene. I read the lyrics & listened to the explanation. This song is still a hit in 2021!!! 💯

  • @charlenerevell7543

    @charlenerevell7543

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@lethargicstove2024 Lol. Lol

  • @cestwhat1317
    @cestwhat13172 жыл бұрын

    Amazing analysis!

  • @behindthesongpodcast

    @behindthesongpodcast

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you!

  • @phoenixbleu1730
    @phoenixbleu1730 Жыл бұрын

    This video is extremely underrated. This is musical, cultural and political history all wrapped up in one amazing song! Sherif don't like it!

  • @behindthesongpodcast

    @behindthesongpodcast

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you!

  • @DeanMartinson-ci3lk

    @DeanMartinson-ci3lk

    Жыл бұрын

    sherif does like it.

  • @heathcornbeef
    @heathcornbeef Жыл бұрын

    Kia ora hello hay my favorite band ever my ex wife and i named our oldest son 16 years old now Strummer Clash Palace ✌️👍

  • @chewacan
    @chewacan Жыл бұрын

    Too cool! Great job.

  • @behindthesongpodcast

    @behindthesongpodcast

    Жыл бұрын

    So glad you enjoyed it!

  • @publicalias8172
    @publicalias81724 жыл бұрын

    I guess Gerry liked the clash

  • @behindthesongpodcast

    @behindthesongpodcast

    4 жыл бұрын

    David James Evidently!

  • @FerdinandDGr8
    @FerdinandDGr8 Жыл бұрын

    Awesome 👌 class A s**t

  • @cswann8
    @cswann8 Жыл бұрын

    Hmm...I'm early. I guess I can lay down the drum, piano and bass tracks myself. Legend! Also how in hell does this have less than 200 likes after 2+ years?

  • @inspectre27

    @inspectre27

    Жыл бұрын

    Because there's about a million errors in it?

  • @feelkollins
    @feelkollins Жыл бұрын

    The cover was shot by Pennie Smith in Thailand not Austin, fwiw

  • @roybennett9284
    @roybennett92842 жыл бұрын

    Joe strummer..sadly missed...heart attack early 50s...get checked early guys with your medico.

  • @DeanMartinson-ci3lk
    @DeanMartinson-ci3lk Жыл бұрын

    the oil down the dessert way has been shaken to the top.

  • @peterschwarz7158
    @peterschwarz7158 Жыл бұрын

    Is this Megan Mullally?

  • @jameshalbert181
    @jameshalbert1813 жыл бұрын

    Mentally tardated is what I always heard

  • @behindthesongpodcast

    @behindthesongpodcast

    3 жыл бұрын

    Ha! I heard it as mentally bodacious.

  • @greggstrasser5791
    @greggstrasser57912 жыл бұрын

    11:37 Let's just gloss over it not being kosher.

  • @inspectre27
    @inspectre27 Жыл бұрын

    OK, I know the person above (who makes a lot of mistakes in this video) and some of the internet lyrics pages both say that the line is "electric camel drum", but don't you think that it could possibly (and more feasibly) be "electric kettle drum"? Electric camel drum is nonsense, but electric kettle drum is a play on words using the terms "electric kettle" (which every good English household must have) and "kettle drums" (also known as timpani), creating a sort of portmanteau phrase. So don't you think it makes more sense for the phrase to use "kettle" rather than "camel"? Any response, Behind the Song?

  • @brettblyth1857

    @brettblyth1857

    6 ай бұрын

    A traditional Arabian method of playing the drums by a camel carrying a man with double drums which he is beating with sticks.

  • @escapefelicity2913
    @escapefelicity2913 Жыл бұрын

    You get A+ in elocution

  • @crushsatan
    @crushsatan10 ай бұрын

    The Iranians probably wouldn't be so uptight about Western music if we hadn't overthrown their government.

  • @algerianjonsnow4911

    @algerianjonsnow4911

    10 ай бұрын

    Exactly.

  • @riff2072
    @riff2072 Жыл бұрын

    Words written on a napkin. Most valued....

  • @gerrymeyer813
    @gerrymeyer8134 жыл бұрын

    The Clash were awesome

  • @gerrymeyer813
    @gerrymeyer8134 жыл бұрын

    The Clash were awesome

  • @gerrymeyer813
    @gerrymeyer8134 жыл бұрын

    The Clash were awesome

  • @gerrymeyer813
    @gerrymeyer8134 жыл бұрын

    The Clash were awesome

  • @zappababe8577

    @zappababe8577

    Жыл бұрын

    I think you were trying to tell people The Clash were awesome, but I'm not quite sure.

  • @brettblyth1857

    @brettblyth1857

    6 ай бұрын

    I'm afraid "awesome" is not an accurate English discription for a British band, it's an adjective that grates on the ear, so please refrain.

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