(Credits: Far Out / Sony Music Entertainment / The Psychedelic Furs)
In the late 1960s, The Beatles embarked on an enlightening and meditative journey that would influence Western culture’s perception of and relation to Indian spirituality forever. This coincided with the major hippie revolution that saw large factions of British society appropriate Indian culture as a conduit to greater and deeper spirituality. As time went on, however, the pure beauty of this convergence became infiltrated with other Western groups, threatening to change its appeal: a transformation that captured the critical eye of The Psychedelic Furs.
Although the Fab Four experienced their spiritual journey in Rishikesh, northern India, these quintessential parts of its culture could be found anywhere. Across the country, the Transcendental Meditation that The Beatles were taught can be accessed in most major cities or practised by anyone who immerses in its silent meditative technique for up to 20 minutes twice a day. Its main purpose is to generate stress relief and promote relaxation.
Aside from its spirituality, India yields many benefits for those looking for serenity, including its tropical climates and beautiful scenery. Goa, for instance, has miles of gorgeous beaches that, at the time, attracted visitors and enjoyed the positive impact this had on the economy. Along with the hippie revolution encouraged by names like The Beatles and The Beach Boys, Goa drew in many hippies from all over Europe, who each adopted various aspects of its culture into their peace-promoting, holistic lifestyles.
However, it’s said that the state soon began to suffer at the hands of American tourists, who disregarded the cleanliness of the location in favour of a more littered approach. Many say that the influx of Americans resulted in a significant downfall regarding the tidiness of Goa, which turned many people off visiting and caused economic demand to plummet. This caught the attention of The Psychedelic Furs’ Richard Butler, who channelled it into the song ‘India’.
Discussing the piece with Songfacts, Butler recalled hearing stories about how the tourists would “go over there” and leave “needles all over the beach and what a ruin it was”. He noted the tragic transition it experienced as a result when a once-beautiful destination became a “junkie destination” filled with Americans who were “laughing, kind of sarcastic, tongue-in-cheek”. This is evident in the song as Butler navigates the pretence of appreciating other cultures: “India, I’m American, ha ha ha,” he sings, showcasing his own personal disdain.
The criticism that Butler makes about tourists in India is evident from the outset; he doesn’t offer any sense of remorse from the opposing perspective. Instead, he assumes the role of the American, promising the country that it will “see the ceiling raining tears” and “you will cry a thousand tears”. In his view, this is a place where saying “I love you” is enough for requests like “please me” to be justifiable. India is suffering, and no one is there to put a stop to it.
The hippie revolution may have introduced a new wave of spirituality into Western culture, but tracks like ‘India’ show the pitfalls that existed on the other side. The song shows that the movement served hippies well, but the problematic nature of it left places like Goa with nothing but the ghost of a once-vibrant paradise.
Related Topics
This article was originally published by a faroutmagazine.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .