TorrentFreak

• enigmax
• December 20, 2011
• 49
• Dan Bull,
  sopa
• Print

Since the recording industry is one of the key supporters of the pending SOPA legislation in the United States, it seems fitting that its opponents should use the medium of song to make their counter argument. Following previous musical escapades in support of file-sharing, Internet and gaming culture, today UK activist artist Dan Bull sharpens his lyrical bayonet and plunges it deep into SOPA’s heart.

There can be little doubt that versatile UK rap artist Dan Bull is on a roll.

His solo, label-less productions have amassed nearly 6 million views and in the last month alone (on the gaming topics of Assassins Creed, Skyrim and the upcoming Grand Theft Auto V) have been viewed more than 2 million times.

Following on from his 2010 track “Death of ACTA“, today Dan releases his second track targeting copyright legislation, this time homing in on the pending SOPA bill in the United States.

“As an internet geek, a musician, and a non-evil person, SOPA is abhorrent on several fronts,” Dan told TorrentFreak. “It threatens the future of the internet, which is something far more valuable both commercially and socially than the entertainment industry ever has been, or ever will be.”

Dan recognizes that everything we do is influenced by something else, and richer cultural landscapes can be achieved through remixes, mashups and sharing.

“Creativity is all about interpreting and re-imagining what you see and hear around you. The idea that creativity exists in some kind of vacuum, and that you’re not a real artist unless you can make something ‘completely original’ is not only stupid, it contradicts the most fundamental axioms of how the universe works,” he adds.

“Thirdly, the internet is an amazing new forum for free speech and holding those in power to account. The idea that governments and even private corporations can police the internet and decide what people on a global scale are allowed to say and hear is tyrannical.”

In his new track (titled ‘SOPA Cabana’) the story is told from the perspective of an old man in a post-SOPA future, looking back fondly at the days when the internet was free. The song comes complete with a crowd-sourced video and input from Dan’s fans who join with him in opposing SOPA.

“After I finished writing the song, I put a post on my Facebook wall asking people to take photographs of themselves presenting lines from the song. The response was phenomenal, and I ended up with far more volunteers than I could include in the video,” Dan told TorrentFreak.

“People from all around the world wanted to share in the creative process, for free, and to me that demonstrates the best of what the Internet is about. I hope it comes across as a great example of precisely what SOPA will destroy – free speech, free culture and a free internet,” Dan concludes.

Enjoy the track.

There can be little doubt that versatile UK rap artist Dan Bull is on a roll. His solo, label-less productions have amassed nearly 6 million views and in the last...