Polically active bands...whatcha think?

[Brownsound]

(all those crazy amendments) should I take Jaye w/ me?

If it's Hawaii, book my flight!

I find it interesting that in the sixties, music was a political force "for the better" if I read history correctly. But now, it's not supposed to be political? Clearly, those here that disagree with it vote with their pocketbooks and avoid buying the CD, going to the concert, or seeing certain movies. But to sit around and denigrate artists who do choose to political just seems corny to me.

Jeez...I saw Ted Nugent a couple of years ago on the KISS tour and sat through an entire tirade against gays and some of the most ill-informed information on AIDS I've ever heard. But that doesn't mean I can't respect his guitar playing abilities and just roll my eyes at his schtick.

Ok...I guess I was too general. Having something relevant to say like some music out there is different than self loathing and plain bitching like American Idiot.

I would like to see some good songs about the UN...

[Turdus]

You want political content? Pick up any Bad Religion disc. From what I've heard, Greg Graffin is a PHD, and he teaches at the University Of Maryland. My guess is that he must teach Political Science, LOL

[Guest galejt]

This is the kind of political activism music I deplore!

[Rockola]

Doh!

How could I forget Costello's SHIPBUILDING? That song is still haunting/beautiful.

[Guest bladesbass]

Celebrity breeds power. It can be a musician, politician, educator, etc. The only thing that makes their view powerful is their celebrity. The only difference between the musician and the politician is that the musician was not elected.

[mudshark]

Zappa, Dylan, Lennon.................seems they all did okay expressing political views in songs. I always looked at art as a commentary on the times; why can't those who choose to do so have a take on something? If you don't like it, nobody forces you to buy it, at least not yet. It'll be a sad day when political dissent via song is disallowed, something I can see happening, given the current state of political discourse.

[edgar_allan_poe]

It'll be a sad day when political dissent via song is disallowed, something I can see happening, given the current state of political discourse.

Dude..I luv ya...but that is nonsense. I haven't heard a single person say that they believe in any type of censorship. Something like that would never fly in this country, and everyone knows it.

What has happened is that a couple of bands have decided to speak out politically and the other side has organized a response, sometimes its a boycott.

When the Dixie Chicks decided to wax eloquently, the response was immediate and severe. Nobody was claiming they didn't have the right to say what they said, but the right wasn't going to sit around and not respond. They have an absolute right to speak their minds, and the protesters have the same damn right to respond. When that happened , fans of the Dixie Chicks and the left in general cried foul and claimed they were being censored. Nonsense...the right was expressing their displeasure and had every right to do so.

Freedom of speech works both ways and both sides don't seem to understand that simple concept.

[Stike]

Players of music are no less qualified than any other citizen to say what they want about current conditions. 

Sorry, but I have to respectfully disagree with that. This current trend of claiming that all opinions have equal validity, or “it’s my opinion, and it’s just as important as yours”, is crap. Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day is a high school drop-out. What you are saying is that he is just as qualified to comment on current events as someone who has a BA in Political Science, or a Masters in International Relations. Does education automatically make the more educated person’s opinions right? Not hardly. But in many cases they do have a more informed background from which to reach their conclusions. All opinions DO NOT have equal validity, and some are just completely wrong.

It’s a shame when an otherwise talented band decides to use their music and celebrity as a platform to push an agenda I disagree with. I generally don’t buy albums or go to movies when I know that my money is going to contribute to causes I disagree with. To me, it’s like writing a check to the enemy.

He maybe a high school drop out but he did make about 50 bajillion dollars from the Dookie album alone and he obviouslly hasn't been spending his days woodsheding Yngburst licks so he's probablly got lots of free time for "studying". Not saying anyone's wrong for not agreeing with the albums theme(I'm not saying he's right either) but there are a whole mess of folks working in talk radio that from a education/degree point of view are about as "qualified" as Billy Joe.

[mudshark]

It'll be a sad day when political dissent via song is disallowed, something I can see happening, given the current state of political discourse.

Dude..I luv ya...but that is nonsense. I haven't heard a single person say that they believe in any type of censorship. Something like that would never fly in this country, and everyone knows it.

What has happened is that a couple of bands have decided to speak out politically and the other side has organized a response, sometimes its a boycott.

When the Dixie Chicks decided to wax eloquently, the response was immediate and severe. Nobody was claiming they didn't have the right to say what they said, but the right wasn't going to sit around and not respond. They have an absolute right to speak their minds, and the protesters have the same damn right to respond. When that happened , fans of the Dixie Chicks and the left in general cried foul and claimed they were being censored. Nonsense...the right was expressing their displeasure and had every right to do so.

Freedom of speech works both ways and both sides don't seem to understand that simple concept.

I know ya do, bro, and you know I loveya too, but when it's come to a time that folks have to sign a "loyalty oath" to attend a town hall meeting with our president, one really has to wonder the direction this country is headed.

"You're either with us or against, us," right?!?

[hardheartedbill]

Rush graduated from HS ( and that's all , like many out there )

[Guest Mike Lee]

Stike and HHB bring up an important point that I agree with. Most media people in general do not have the education and experience to really know what they are talking about.

Journalists have degrees and experience in journalism, not necessarily the subjects they report on. Talk show hosts may have no actual qualifications other than a lot of wacky opinions. When you really know a subject well (education AND experience) and then read/watch/listen to popular journalism about that subject, you may find that a lot of the reported info is innacurate. The more you know, the more stuff you notice that is wrong.

And of course, many of the "experts" quoted by journalists are paid proponents of a particular point of view.

Protest songs were part of the culture of the 60's. A LOT of soldiers died in Vietnam, many of them drafted, and the war had little purpose in protecting American interests. What I don't like is how every major military action since then has to be compared to Vietnam with many of the same tired cliche's. It's not the 60's anymore, it's not Vietnam, and George W. Bush isn't Richard Nixon.

[edgar_allan_poe]

It's not the 60's anymore, it's not Vietnam, and George W. Bush isn't Richard Nixon.

And the sh*t has just hit the fan.... ROTFLMAO!!

[edgar_allan_poe]

I know ya do, bro, and you know I loveya too, but when it's come to a time that folks have to sign a "loyalty oath" to attend a town hall meeting with our president, one really has to wonder the direction this country is headed.

Good point...I don't disagree.