Twenty-four years ago today, on 5 September 1998 – Welsh legendsMANIC STREET PREACHERS nailed their first numero uno hit single in the UK with one of their most emotive masterstrokes. IF YOU TOLERATE THIS YOUR CHILDREN WILL BE NEXT (more than 60 million streams on Spotify) is a titanic anthem that takes your breath away every single second of its almost 5 magnificent minutes.
The song’s title came from a Republican propaganda poster during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), showing a captivating photograph of a young child killed by the Nationalists under a sky filled with bomber planes, with the warning “If you tolerate this, your children will be next” written below.
Going back in sonic history looking for memorable albums…
12 September 2018
Band: MANIC STREET PREACHERS
Album: THIS IS MY TRUTH TELL ME YOURS
Their fifth studio LP and their first No 1 LP in the UK
Released: 14 September 1998 – 20 years ago
ALL MUSIC review: ” ‘If Everything Must Go’ found ‘Manic Street Preachers’ coping with Richey James’ sudden, unexplained disappearance, its follow-up, ‘This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours’, finds them putting the tragedy behind them and flourishing as a trio. Wisely, the group builds on the grand sound of ‘Everything Must Go’, creating a strangely effective fusion of string-drenched, sweeping arena rock and impassioned, brutally honest punk. Since the band never writes about anything less than major issues, whether it be political or personal, it’s appropriate that their music sounds as majestic and overpowering as their pretensions… it emphasizes the Manics’ uniqueness as one of the few bands of the ’90s that can deliver albums as bracing intellectually as they are sonically.” Score: 4/5 – Full review here
TURN UP THE VOLUME! says: With every LP The Manics turned more and more into intensely gripping-and-melancholic-sing-along-anthem-smiths. Glowing symphonies, human stories, and epic sounds touching countless souls. I clearly remember the concert they played in Brussels on 22 October 1998 in a small club (try-out for UK tour) and hearing those top tracks (see below) off the album live for the very first time. Eternal souvenir!…
THREE TOP TRACKS: If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next /
You Stole The Sun From My Heart / Tsunami
* IF YOU TOLERATE THIS YOUR CHILDREN WILL BE NEXT – imperishable standout…
* YOU STOLE THE SUN FROM MY HEART – one of their live classics for many years…
Twenty years ago today – 24 August 1998 – Welsh legends MANIC STREET PREACHERS released one of the most impressive and emotional masterstrokes of their outstanding career. IF YOU TOLERATE THIS YOUR CHILDREN WILL BE NEXT is a soul-stirring anthem that takes your breath away every single second of its almost 5 magnificent minutes. The swagger, the harmonies, the guitar solo, the whole orchestration and last but not least the song’s truly gripping story about Welsh volunteers going to Spain to fight against dictator general Franco‘s army in the Spanish Civil War in the late 30s. The song’s title came from a Republican poster of the time, showing a captivating photograph of a young child killed by the Nationalists under a sky filled with bomber planes, with the warning “If you tolerate this, your children will be next” written below. A genuine classic in sound and vision and still a towering highlight of their live set today. It sold 156,000 copies in its first week and reached the Number One spot on the UK Singles Chart.
The Manics talked to NME about what happened 20 years ago. Read the feature here.
Relive the imperishable momentum…
The future teaches you to be alone
The present to be afraid and cold
“So if I can shoot rabbits then I can shoot fascists”
Bullets for your brain today
But we’ll forget it all again
Monuments put from pen to paper
Turns me into a gutless wonder
And if you tolerate this then your children will be next
And if you tolerate this then your children will be next
Will be next, will be next, will be next
Gravity keeps my head down
Or is it maybe shame
At being so young and being so vain
Holes in your head today
But I’m a pacifist
I’ve walked La Ramblas but not with real intent
And if you tolerate this then your children will be next
And if you tolerate this then your children will be next
Will be next, will be next, will be next, yeah will be next
And on the street tonight
An old man plays with newspaper cuttings of his glory days
And if you tolerate this then your children will be next
And if you tolerate this then your children will be next
Will be next, will be next, will be next
From fifth album THIS IS MY TRUTH TELL ME YOURS – Released: 14 September 1998
