Politics and Music

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???? 

To me, an entertainer's opinion is worth every bit as much as anybody else's, even 'some guy on the internet', which is really what people on forums ultimately are.

I'd ask people who think entertainers/athletes' opinions are worthless, what it is that THEY do for a living, and why that makes them better or smarter human beings than musicians or athletes? 

@tylermunns - from what I understand, Merle actually wrote that song as satire, but it was taken at face value, as too often happens with satire....  Cause like most musicians, Merle was smoking plenty of marijuana, whether in Muskogee or anyplace else...

Yes, I do "get" Frank Zappa just fine. Been listening probably before you were born.  

A musician's political opinion is nearly worthless.  The local plumber's or bricklayer guy's are probably better because they live in the REAL world, working 8 to 12 hour days, making ends meet.  

Considering most musicians have liberal arts degrees (except for maybe that guitarist in Queen who was an astrophysist), I doubt most even took Econ 101 and 102.  People like Bela Fleck supporting a communist like Bernie Sanders, who even the OMB said his plans made no fiscal sense, speaks volumes about the non-critical thinking that most of these people do. 

Whatever. Just play the music already and dispense with the political posturing.  If I want political opinions I'll seek them out by those who can at least intelligently discuss them, their pluses and minuses.

Anyone giving a musician's or actor's or actress's political opinion any more than anyone else's deserves the lame government they get.  

Looking at my current 401K thanks to Bidumb and company shows me that I won't be spending $8k on any damned speakers anytime soon, that's for sure.