White, Discussion by Live

Album: Throwing Copper (1994)

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This song is a very cynical look at political correctness. The line, "All of this discussion, though politically correct/Is dead beyond destruction, though it leaves me quite erect," sums up the entire song. >>
Suggestion credit:
Beau - Phoenix, AZ
Lead singer Ed Kowalczyk's weariness over "disenchanting discourse" found a new layer of meaning in the age of social media - a fact that wasn't lost on the singer as he performed the song ahead of the album's 25th anniversary. "I was thinking that the other night onstage. We were playing it, and I really feel like lyrically it could have come out yesterday and made a lot of sense to people," he told Loudwire in 2019. "25 years ago I was singing about these things, and 25 years later they still have these themes. They're sort of perennial. They don't really change that much. The world changes but when you nail it in a lyric, and I hope I have nailed it a few times, they don't really change. They sort of, they may adapt to the times, but they don't change. We still get that feeling of, 'Wow, I'm singing something that still matters to me and still matters to my fans.'"
The song includes a sample of a preacher delivering an ominous sermon about the end of the world, but Kowalczyk has no idea who he is. "It is taken from a shortwave radio broadcast of a guy somewhere in Colorado, I think," he explained. "I don't know for sure because I don't know much about the radio, and I just heard him and taped him one day because I thought he had an amazing voice. So there's no more mystery to that!"
This was used in the 1995 movie Virtuosity, starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe.
The slow-burning album, Throwing Copper, reached #1 in the US on May 6, 1995 after spending 52 weeks on the chart. In the meantime, the band got a lot of exposure when they played at Woodstock '94 and showed up on Saturday Night Live and MTV Unplugged.
"White, Discussion" was the album's fifth and final single, but it wasn't available to buy. All but the lead single, "Selling The Drama," were released as radio promos so fans would have to purchase the album to listen to the songs. The strategy was popular in the '90s as a way to boost album sales, and helped Throwing Copper move 8 million copies in America.

Unfortunately, until 1998 Billboard policy precluded radio-only singles from being eligible for the Hot 100, but it peaked at #12 on the Mainstream Rock chart and #15 on the Alternative Airplay chart.

Comments: 9

Jacob Grabow from Brodhead Wisconsin Great song but t also very Controversial today even in the heated political climate of 2021. This Political climate is almost like the heated climate of the Civil Rights Movement 60 years ago. One of the reasons why it is hardly played and heard on the radio.
Paul from Cape Town, South AfricaSong (very briefly) appeared in the 1995 sci-fi movie Virtuosity starring Denzil Washington and Russell Crowe
Luke from WisconsinAs a long time listener of Shortwave radio, The man speaking in the song is probably Ralph Gordon Stair, a American Radio Evangelist based in Walterboro, South Carolina. Ed stated in an interview that he heard a crazy man on the radio preaching the end of days in the early 90's. It is most likely Brother Stair speaking. He can still be heard on the radio today, although he sounds a little older, the voice is the same as it was 25 years ago.
Jackie from Blacksburg, VaI thought I'd submitted this as one of the songfacts a while ago, but the quotes form the end are supposed to be Rev. Jim Jones (of Jamestown fame). Sounds like him from what I've listened to before, but I can't find a direct reference, and most of the footage I did find was poor.
Vynsint from St. Louis, MoDoes anyone know if that quote "I Warned you, i prepared you, i instructed you, i told you what to expect..." is from something? or was it just made for the song?
James from Hamilton, OnI agree. This song is about the end of the world, and the fact that if/when it comes (say in a large war) that no political discussions or partisan views or etc etc will matter because, well, it's all over.
Musicmama from New York, NyBeau from Phoenix: What you said sums up the '90's music scene: One line that sounds profound, or one riff that seems to rock (but was a rip-off of some other musician) could keep sullen young people smug for weeks. And they'd call it art. Why do you think the story of Cobain's suicide was a bigger deal than anything he or nearly any other '90's performer did?
Chris from Loves Park, Ilit is about the end of the world!!! Video was shot live at the TLA in Philadelphia!!
Cory from Lancaster, PaThis song is about the End of the World from the mouth of Ed Kowalczyk himself.

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