Politics and Music

Mixing politics and music can make music seems relevant and important for the period in which it was written. In that respect, it can support social change and and give voice to things people feel but can’t put into words.

But generally that also makes them irrelevant a few years later. "Ohio" by CSN crystallized a moment, but it doesn’t even get played on the radio anymore and people under the age of 60 have never and will never listen to it..

Contrasted to musicians who are vocal about their politics outside of their work; it doesn’t make sense, musicians have no insight greater than any other people about politics, and you just alienate half your audience.

Consider the reason people still listen to Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and a small set of musicians hundreds of years after they’re dead. People still listen because the music is good. Whatever politics they had or their works represent is largely irrelevant to why we still listen to them.

My 27 year old loves "Ohio". Though I get your point as to a hundred years from now. Beethoven changed his mind about Napoleon,  but the inspiration cannot be overlooked.  Idealism has its place. Our founders were looked upon as radical idealists with no hope of success. A printer, a silversmith, a brewer all "communists" in their day.. And thanks for keeping this thread mostly between the rails.

Musical problems deserve musical solutions and political problems deserve political solutions. Musicians at times may use politics, just as politicians at times use music  This doesn’t make musicians experts in politics any more than it makes politicians experts in music. Now where’s that Nation of Ulysses album I was spinning last night?

@scott22

With your opinion you will educate us on what he Trump did to be called a traitor ? 1.99 gal gas ?

Closed the S. Border ? Tax Cuts for middle class ?

Stop all wars with Peace around the World ? Record low unemployment for blacks & hispanics !

Please enlighten us with your reciepts on Treason !

Compare the puppet who cant put a couple sentences together oh and takes zero questions. Stomps on the Constitutional rights of Americans everyday !

Im sure waiting on your reciepts !

Happy Listening

P.S Watch for all his reciepts ! Zero

Watch what happens next to this post ?

Blocked or taken down. 

While I pay little attention to lyrics, they do seem to have an effect on some people. The young and undeveloped seem particularly susceptible to musical propaganda. But my thoughts are that there are probably no lyricists, or other types of celebrities, with the brainpower of a Thomas Sowell or Jordan Peterson, so people should definitely look elsewhere for their inspirations, political or otherwise.