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Music and politics

A post yesterday about U2 prompted me to listen to them today. And one comment from yesterday got me to thinking. The author wrote dismissively that they should "keep their politics to themselves." (Those may or may not have been the exact words, but that gets to the point.) As I've been listening this afternoon, I've thought: I'm neither a born-again Christian nor a political leftie, but I do love this band. And then I thought further: If I listened only to bands or singer-songwriters whose politics were like mine, I surely wouldn't spin a whole lot of recordings. (For the record, I consider myself a radically pragmatic centrist with occasional libertarian leanings. Got any bands who'd fill that bill?) I care about the music, and not about what the people making that music happen to believe. Am I alone in this? Do others dismiss certain artists because of their politics -- or religion or the kind of car they drive or whatever else?
hodu
jaybo
4,478 posts
 
great art generally has a 'point of view'. you don't 'have to' buy a ticket to 'anything'. even cal thomas and toby keith dig jimmy webb. i loved merle haggard and david allen coe, and didn't agree with anything they ever said.
entrope
482 posts
 
Bongo-

The key as you stated "as long as its in the music". A separate political rant does not have to be part of the performance I paid to see.

If you freely express your views on a street corner I can walk away or argue on even terms but in a concert venue where I paid for a seat and entertainment I have very limited recourse. Leave and lose my money or shout my opinion without a PA system. Where is my equal freedom of expression?

If they will perform for free I will listen to their political viewpoints because I lose nothing walking away.
dcrugby
96 posts
 
the arrogance of you liberals to have all of the decent musicians is quite shocking. you ought to just shut your quiche-holes, too, every name of a famous lefty artist that you throw out there just makes you sound more and more intolerant of country music.

and so, as i'm reading this thread, i am for the first time feeling the pain of the conservative music fans who have no decent musicians to whom they can give their money in good conscience (i'm assuming, of course, they've already acquired l'oeuvre complet de ted nugent).

but then i remembered a little gem that you can find online by doing a web search for the phrase "youtube young con anthem", i'm sure these guys would put any money you send them to good use....
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,186 posts
 
Fmpnd, got your e-mail. It really wasn't necessary on your part, but it is a testament to your high character. I would have directly answered you, but I just completed moving and I have a new internet provider. I can receive e-mails but not send them out. I need to reset something, but I haven't figured it out yet.

Anyway, keep fighting the good fight.
cyclonicman
693 posts
 
That guy should have posted 25 years ago. Maybe he was too young or just woke up. U2 has always been about politics and social issues. They just expanded their viewpoint from Ireland to the world.
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