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Music and Politics?

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#46
Jarnett said:
Since when did your political views matter when it comes to playing in a band?

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Does this mean you can't play with them if you own a gun?
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This person is looking for people- As far as I'm concerned it's entirely his call.
To avoid friction further down the line he is just looking for people he sees eye to eye with politically too.
Fair enough I recon.
It's his call.
 
#47
I have read some really good commentary in this thread. My take on the original post is that I appreciate that they are up front from the beginning. They must have the view that republicans are damaging to their way of life and artmaking, and they'd rather not have to deal with people they perceive to be against them.
 
#48
powderfinger said:
We had 2 guys in an old band of mine once. One was a Rush Limbaugh, Fox News, never had an original though in his life, close minded, mean spirted redneck... the other was a pinko commie socialist who thought the world should be an open borders and live as a commune... they butted heads. Frequently.
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I really don't care what someone's political persuasion is or what position they hold as long as they've actually thought about them. People who uncritically accept a position are what really bothers me.
 
#49
Personally, I find it funny how easily we generalize/categorize/stereotype to make us feel better about ourselves. Race, religion, politics. It's no better for a "liberal" to slam anyone who doesn't think the same way they do as a "right wing, Fox News, brainless warmonger" than it is for a "conservative" to call anyone who doesn't think they as they do a "tree-hugging, economy killing, Constitution hating socialist". To me, there are d-bags on both sides of the issue at hand, and they hide behind that issue to try and mask their own flaws.

As for celebrities/musicians, etc using their fame to promote their own opinions/agenda, that's fine IMO. This is supposed to be a free country, and the minute we start demanding that those opinions should be silenced takes us down a very dangerous road. However, the well known fact that that same industry has blackballed many people with opposing views is beyond hypocritical. It's that attitude that irks me most, and causes me to resent whenever I see <insert famous person here> tout his/her virtues.
 
#51
One thing to keep in mind is that celebrities dont always (and i assume usually dont) have a choice whether their political views are made public or not. True there are plenty that believe in a cause and use their influence, time and resources to push that cause as publically as possible, however I would think the vast majority just have opinions and state them or contribute to causes like most americans do...however the media glorifies these opinions and actions for exposure.

I for one basically have said the same thing about politics for years: "Bipartisanship will be the death of this country."
 
#55
livinitup0 said:
One thing to keep in mind is that celebrities dont always (and i assume usually dont) have a choice whether their political views are made public or not. True there are plenty that believe in a cause and use their influence, time and resources to push that cause as publically as possible, however I would think the vast majority just have opinions and state them or contribute to causes like most americans do...however the media glorifies these opinions and actions for exposure.

I for one basically have said the same thing about politics for years: "Bipartisanship will be the death of this country."
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There's a difference between their views getting out, and putting their views out there. I have no problem with people adding to a debate in a reasoned, thoughtful manner. I have no problem with celebrities who actually take the time to research an issue, and then make reasoned decisions, and THEN use their status to assist in that issue.

I have a problem when people get automatic "expert" status because they are a celebrity and have chosen a cause du jour.
 
#58
I'll thrown my two cents in with those who don't give a rat's patootie about the political (or ethical or religious) views of my favorite musicians. Shut up and make music, man ...
 
#60
powderfinger said:
There is so such thing as a "liberal" or "conservative". You cannot place millions of people neatly into these 2 categories, although the media does a great job of promoting this notion.

I know plenty of "liberals" who own guns, go to church, and are pro life.

I know plenty of "conservatives" who are pro choice, do not own guns, and are anti war.
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Add to that that the media has butchered the meaning of the words "liberal" and "conservative." When the media says the word "liberal," it has a very different meaning than when a political scientist says the word "liberal."

While I like political themes in art, particuarly music, I've always been ambivalent about artists being political themselves outside of their performance or creation of art while using their fame as a soapbox for said politicism. Of course, as Adam Clayton once said, "Some people say that you shouldn't mix music and politics or sport and politics...and I've always thought that was kinda bull****." Of course, U2 is a little different, because they've actually put their money with their mouth is, so to speak. They have actually done things to enact the change that they believe in.

As far as my band, my drummer and I lean left, and our singer and guitarist are pretty apolitical, even though our guitarist is a registered Republican. We all laugh quite equally at the political circus. :D
 
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