Politics and Music

Just off the top of my head, The American Ruse by MC5, really matched my perception of just about everything. I also very much identified with Respect Yourself, Staple Singers, I was very much an outlier in those days, alienated from both the 'system' and the 'social order'.

As for all the peace, love, togetherness songs of mid to late 60's through early 70's, those messages certainly haven't turned out to be salient or mindfully present for the children and adolescence of that era.  Turns out we boomers didn't really believe in those sentiments, only a dream world imagined by innocents. I get it with the "OK, Boomer" attitude of younger generation. Hippie Dream by Neil kinda gets to these sentiments.

I try to separate the artists from the art.  Looking to entertainers for serious thoughts on political issues is like asking your accountant how to fix your boiler.  I have a little more trouble when the art itself is so political, and, of course in a way that I find personally objectionable, I might get to the point where I dismiss the artist and their repertoire entirely.  I have done so for a handful of artists.

@bondmanp Looking to entertainers for serious thoughts on political issues is like asking your accountant how to fix your boiler. 

Quite so. 

Carefully worded to include all manner of superficial vox pop by artists (broadly defined), despite their disciples cringing enthusiasm over their relentless superficial dribble.

If present-day Russia claims, for example, Tchaikovsky as a "national treasure", then under present circumstances it makes sense not to perform him at the moment.  Nothing against Piotr, everything against his appropriation.  Perhaps though, a suitably contextualized performance of some Shostakovich might make the opposite point.

If present-day Russia claims, for example, Tchaikovsky as a "national treasure", then under present circumstances it makes sense not to perform him at the moment. 

And what exactly would that achieve?