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

the entire purpose of this thread is so obvious. Ray Charles could see through it.

Artemus5,

“The 60's  movement was all about peace, love and ending wars. Yet since we, the baby boomers have grown and taken the roles of power, we have endless wars, violent riots and now the cancel culture where only one viewpoint is even allowed.”

As a  youth I marched to oppose the Vietnam War, and the songs of Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, The Jefferson Airplane, Country Joe, and Barry Maguire were very much the playlist of protest. Even then there were Young Republicans who counterprotested, shouting Love it or Leave It,  Cut your hair, Get a job, etc. The ‘60s Woodstock generation was not everywhere the same, and there were plenty of straight young people who would not have had to reject the pieties of the left in order to become the adult Neo-Cons who pushed our dear country into endless unwinnable wars of opportunity.  As for “violent protests”, they were a reaction to police murder of Black men and really were a new expression of the Civil Rights movement.  Their legitimate protest was commingled with property damage in some places, but overwhelmingly they were peaceful. Left “Cancel culture” is a regrettable campus  phenomenon and an abuse of Social media.  On the Right It is more widely practiced …ask Liz Cheney!  

Why does Florida’s Ron DeSantis promote laws banning public schools from teaching the role played in our Founding by the legacy of Slavery by labeling it “CRT”?  Why ban the discussion of current thinking on gender identity by falsely claiming educators are “grooming” students?  In the current highly siloed world of Red vs. Blue, Truth is the central victim..

Sting whom I admire greatly wrote quite a few political tunes.

I typically prefer instrumentals as I can create my own story

in my tiny brain.

Regards,

barts

Surprised no one has mentioned Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young as a group or solo were very political while also making great music.

I have always enjoyed "Wake Up Everybody" by Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes featuring Teddy Pendergrass. It contains an unexpected and seldom heard dig at the Beatles (who I also love) with the line "The world won't get no better if we just let it be." Remember, it's not politicians who change the world for the better, it's the people. Grass roots efforts ended Jim Crow, the Vietnam War, etc. and grass roots efforts can still work.