The last time I broached the topic of politics in this space was back in CREEM�s April �86 issue, when I put in my two cents� worth of dissenting opinion on the subject of �Sun City.� As I write this month�s column, however, my television set—the same one that I watch all the videos on— is showing broadcasts from the Congressional hearings into the Iran-Contra connection secret arms deals conducted by members of the U.S. National Security Council in direct violation of laws passed by our own government. Perhaps the scariest thing about this whole mess is how calmly most people are taking it. It�s as if we�ve seen so much deception and corruption in our country�s political leadership since the 1960�s that we�ve become desensitized to it. There is curiously little moral or humanitarian outrage being voiced from most quarters about ransoms paid to terrorists or illegal warfare being conducted against foreign governments. Rather, the talk centers around a bizarre kind of Watergatestyled excitement that mainly involves trying to guess whose neck (if anybody�s) from the current administration is going to wind up on the chopping block.

How appropriate, then, that Genesis� new video, �Land Of Confusion,� should show up right at this moment. It is, without a doubt, the most impressive political music video I�ve yet seen, and it is so jarring when viewed within the context of the rest of the never-never land atmosphere of MTV (where, after all, there is no reality but video reality, and the VJ�s are all talking to you on pre-recorded tape) that I fully expect it to get yanked before long. Except that Genesis is a monumentally successful band, and that the song, a good one, could very well become a hit. Which makes it doubly impressive.

The �Land Of Confusion� video is a biting piece of political satire that has no qualms about depicting Ronald Reagan as a teddy bear-clutching old man given to dressing up in Superman costumes and cowboy outfits and riding off to face �the enemy� atop dinosaurs. In the clip, a beddy-bye bound Reagan (after mistaking Bonzo for Nancy and planting a goodnight peck on the chimp�s cheek) happily falls asleep in his White House bedroom, only to enter a nightmare world where war and belligerence is the only common ground between nations. Significantly enough, Reagan�s only calm moment during his dream, comes in the middle of a jungle dinner where, protected by Rambo, he and Nancy gorge themselves on raw meat off the bone. Finally, Reagan wakes up and, parched by fear, grabs a glass of water, which he promptly spills all over Nancy. His thirst unrelieved, he decides to ring for the nurse, but he pushes the wrong button—the one marked �Nuke.� Bingo! Mushroom cloud. End of video.

Keep in mind that this is no small time group seeking to grab some attention by being �outrageous.� Nor is it Bruce Springsteen giving us the Vietnam War over and over again (how about something we don�t know?). This is Phil Collins and crew—nice old harmless Genesis—who, together with the inspired work of the maskmaker and puppeteer responsible for the characters used in the playlet, are telling us, right here, right now, that things are very screwed up everywhere, and that we�d better find the courage to start trying to effect some changes if the earth is to survive. No sermons here, no preaching to the already converted. Just outrage and concern. To which I say, right on.

SNAP SHOTS

Which Twin Has The Toni? The Burns Sisters, �I Wonder Who�s Out Tonight�—And I wonder how on earth a record company could be so stupid as to sabotage a halfway decent song with a video that does little more than undermine the very act it�s supposed to be promoting. Here�s a band with a heckuva hook: Five (count �em!) actual, real life siblings. More than Sister Sledge! More than the Pointer Sisters, even counting Bonnie! And not only are they a good-looking quintet, but they have this nice jangly song that probably could do some business if presented properly. So what happens? The director makes all of them run around in front of hand-held cameras that seem out of focus most of the time, and then, just to make sure you have no idea what you�re looking at, the editor cuts it all up so you don�t see any single one of the five at any one time for more than a millisecond. And you can just bet that the poor girls will be told that there�s no second video coming because they blew the budget on this one and the song wasn�t a hit. Can�t beat that logic, now can you?

Would You Buy A Used Car From This Band? The Rain* makers, �Downstream�— There�s no denying that these guys are smart. There�s also no denying that Bob Walkenhorst is one of the most unappealingly smug lead singers to come down center stage in a long time. Both this performance video and its predecessor, �Let My People Go Go,� have sported an altogether much too easily discerned condescending attitude towards the audience—it�s as if everybody should hurry up and make them rich and famous simply because they feel they should be. Last time I got vibes like this from a band was with the Hooters. At least those folks were smiling when they said it. These people just kind of smirk. Maybe they should re-name themselves Elmer Gantry...

Revenge Of The Nerds! They Might Be Giants, �Put Your Hand Inside The Puppet Head� —This guitar/accordion duo has gotten quite a bit of mileage out of their little video, and with good reason: Done on what must have been a sneakerlace budget, the TMBG boys take their song—a good one, one might add—and use it as the basis for dancing around, making faces, acting silly, and generally conducting themselves in a manner that shows that they not only have a sense of humor but also aren�t wandering around claiming they�re God�s gift to music (see above). Besides, who can argue with a video this short?