Politics and Music


The Trumpets of Jericho

Beethoven and Napoleon 

Wagner and the Nazis

"Ohio" and the Vietnam War

"Imagine" and consumerism 

The Dixie Chicks 

Countless examples illustrate the intersection of Music and Politics. Jerry Garcia referenced his group as "just a dance band." Always pondered how we react to our choices of music. Divorce it entirely from the controversies of the day and merely enjoy the artistry or allow it to change the way in which we view the world. Transformative, escapism, nostalgia, intellectual profundity, cultural discovery. Large questions. Your thoughts?

jpwarren58

Actually, Frank Zappa himself got very involved in politics in 1987, when he went up against Tipper Gore over warning labels on albums, even testifying before Congress.

I know a fair number of musicians who identify as Libertarians, the interesting mix of social liberalism and economic conservatism.

@moonwatcher Your agenda clear, always inculcated belief system based on indoctrination for liberals, truth for conservatives, inevitable zero sum game.

 

And talk about repugnant, forcing victims of rape and incest to carry child to term.

Kind a simple if you do not like an entertainers political opinions (who really cares?) Then do not listen, buy or view their material. 

No one is making you listen, unless you are in North Korea. 

I'd prefer not have a performer's politics take front and center. This is all too common these days. But I won't stop listening to Joni or Neil because we part ways politically. I don't care for Bruce Springsteens politics either, but I wasn't a big fan before I knew, so not much of an issue for me.

@moonwatcher -

It’s like Frank Zappa said of these political types of music artists, "Shut up and play yer guitar".

WOW, you sure don't get FZ at all, do you????