Blogcritics Comments on No Beating Around the Bush: Impressive Array of Artists to Stage Anti-Bush Concerts

Comment by Pat

Wed, 3 May 2006 20:45:39 EDT

Why should i care what Dave Mathews thinks. First of all hes south african, second of all he dumped feces on many many people, and third of all HES A MUSICIAN.

Comment by Al Barger

Sun, 8 Aug 2004 04:36:49 EDT

I sometimes bitch about musicians taking advantage of their audiences with cheap political crap, but this is actually perfectly fine. They are making an organized effort to make a statement. Notably important point: You know what you're getting when you buy a ticket. Eddie Vedder has every right in the world to go on stage in this context and just completely unzip himself and go on a big hatey-hate rant against the pres. I still tend to think that they're idiots, but, hey, knock yourselves out. I do, moreover, hope that ticket buying eyewitnesses, plus reviewers and reporters carefully and accurately report any foolishness that comes from the stages for the record. As to Bruce being the "most important" American rocker of the last 30 years, well that's a little silly. His first four or five albums were quite good, but it's been rapidly downhill on any artistic criteria since Darkness on the Edge of Town. As to rockers more important than Bruce [and sticking to Americans], on any artistic level Prince has him 10 to 1. It's really not close. If you want to arbitrarily ghettoize Prince to R&B rather than "rock" (in which case I swear to Rand I'll sic Diva on you - and you DO NOT want both of us after ya) there are still at least several other choices. Perhaps he lacks some cheesy mythology thing, but as a songwriter, singer, and band, Tom Petty and his Heartbreakers have it all over Springsteen. I would also take Mellencamp over Springsteen, though perhaps that's Hoosier hometown hero pride talking. Oh, and did I mention LYNYRD FRICKIN' SKYNYRD?

Comment by RJ

Sun, 8 Aug 2004 01:36:19 EDT

BTW, I liked several songs on Springsteen's post-9/11 album. He has talent. Unfortunately, he aims to use this talent against the one candidate who is truly anti-terror. I think Bush loses in November. I think Kerry brings US forces home. And I think Iraq becomes another Vietnam, with Americans flown out of Baghdad at the last moment before Sadr's forces gain power and turn Iraq into another Iran. Thank you John F. Kerry! We Americans really enjoy your help in causing us to LOSE wars! I'll be dipping my freedom fries in mayo from now on...

Comment by RJ

Sun, 8 Aug 2004 01:22:25 EDT

Notice how the advertisement isn't endorsing Kerry. It merely asks for "change." I suspect very few Dems actually support Kerry. They just hate Bush.

Comment by ihateoreilly

Sun, 8 Aug 2004 00:15:52 EDT

Elton is far more important than Sprinklestein, who RAPED the 911 Victims with The Rising. I bet you Brucie is helping to plan the next terrorist attack so he can write a new no-talent, nursery rhyme song. By the way, I hate Bush too.. but I'm sick of has-beens like Bruce Springsteen milking every political situation for every penny it's worth and no-brain idiots actually falling for his bs.

Comment by Shark

Fri, 6 Aug 2004 18:30:56 EDT

Daniel obviously worships Elton because he immortalized him in song. BTW: Daniel, your musical opinions are as good as your spelling! Exselent, dood!

Comment by Shark

Fri, 6 Aug 2004 18:27:31 EDT

Re: Springsteen's liberal political views Jeesus. Is anybody in America paying attention? I swear this nation seems to be turning into a horde of slobbering, sleepwalking morons. ANYBODY who has listened CLOSELY to Springsteen's songs over the last 30 years shouldn't be surprised that he's one of those dreaded 'liberals' and is against Bush. Reminds me of the millions of morons who thought "Born in the USA" was some sort of pro-American Republican anthem... Good gawd. Read the fuckin' lyrics. (Hint: "Tom Joad" isn't a character in "Wind in the Willows")

Comment by Kurt Nordstrom

Fri, 6 Aug 2004 14:29:41 EDT

Actually, what I meant was not that Elton fit the title for "Most Important Blah Blah Blah", just that he was at least, if not more, influential as the Boss. Nirvana's just below the radar, IMHO.

Comment by Eric Olsen

Fri, 6 Aug 2004 14:24:13 EDT

I like Elton John a lot, but has he really been important since about 1978? And what's his last new song that actually rocked?

Comment by Distorted Angel

Fri, 6 Aug 2004 14:07:18 EDT

?? Elton John ?? Really?

Comment by Kurt Nordstrom

Fri, 6 Aug 2004 14:06:58 EDT

It is a sad day when the youth of America see Nirvana as more influential in the currents of Rock than Bruce Springsteen. And it's spelled "Cobain". I might agree with you on Elton John, though.

Comment by daniel

Fri, 6 Aug 2004 13:57:27 EDT

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN THE MOST IMPORTANT ROCKER OF THE PAST THIRTY YEARS? lol! Please give that title to someone who has at least an OUNCE of talent. Bruce can't write, can't sing, and can't play guitar well. He spoke out against police officers, exploited 911 for every penny it was worth, and is now trying to exploit the current political situation. The most important rocker of the past thirty years would have to be someone like Elton John or Kurt Kobain.

Comment by Distorted Angel

Thu, 5 Aug 2004 13:03:07 EDT

Weak-willed fans: "Oh, if John Cougar is gonna vote for Kerry, so will I!" Give the fans a little more credit than that. I stayed up way past my bedtime last night to catch Bruce on Nightline. His fans give him a piece of their collective mind when they disagree with his politics. If you spent any time on the Springsteen boards, you'd know that he's pissed off a sizable portion of his fan base by stating his position. I'm not at all interested in Mellencamp, so I don't know if he talks politics during his live performances, but I would imagine his fans might respond in much the same way if they disagreed with him. Springsteen certainly doesn't need any more money, so while he's not going to suffer financially by alienating a segment of his fan base, I do give him credit for taking a stand in spite of the boos and the "New Jersey salutes" (his words to Ted Koppel last night).

Comment by Shark

Thu, 5 Aug 2004 12:42:14 EDT

RE: "...atmosphere of repression..." Oh, and don't forget: Hundreds of radio stations NEVER pulled the Dixie Chicks from their play lists; and there really WERE Weapons of Mass Destruction. Feh. "Atmosphere of repression" is the PERFECT phrase.

Comment by Mark Edward Manning

Thu, 5 Aug 2004 12:10:33 EDT

I love how you kicked this entry off with "It's too bad the atmosphere of repression in the United States is preventing musicians from speaking out on matters political." Yeah, I'm waiting for Bush to call out the National Guard when these concerts start too! For Fogerty, Browne, and Mellencamp, it's just their way of striving to remain relevant in the the music biz. As for Eddie Vedder, he has always been the most prominent character screaming, "We're losing our free speech rights!" Yeah? Well, dude, you must be quivering with fear at the thought of taking the stage at these concerts, mustn't you?

Comment by Eric Olsen

Thu, 5 Aug 2004 08:52:24 EDT

like the Dream Team vs Uganda

Comment by Shark

Thu, 5 Aug 2004 08:23:22 EDT

re: Pearl Jam, R.E.M., Dave Matthews - vs - Toby Keith, Ted Nugent, Kid Rock Our pretentious, has-been, past-their-prime, marginalized, rock singers can whip your pretentious, has-been, past-their-prime, marginalized, rock singers!

Comment by Eric Olsen

Thu, 5 Aug 2004 07:22:50 EDT

Thanks for the link Greg, Lono, they guys should get blogs like we do

Comment by Lono

Thu, 5 Aug 2004 00:18:41 EDT

This is indeed a strange and interesting time. My blog also is often a mouthpiece to eliminate the Bush regime. It is true that musicains aren't any more knowledgable than us... but at least they are taking a stand and making a commitment to something they regard as important... how many of us do that? Viva Democracy, Viva John Kerry regards, Lono

Comment by Sussman

Wed, 4 Aug 2004 23:24:33 EDT

Weak-willed fans: "Oh, if John Cougar is gonna vote for Kerry, so will I!"

Comment by Greg

Wed, 4 Aug 2004 22:14:57 EDT

Bruce has the op ed in Thursday's NY Times--"Chords for Change" http://nytimes.com/2004/08/05/opinion/05bruce.html pretzelboy

Comment by Eric Olsen

Wed, 4 Aug 2004 17:52:12 EDT

there is a vast amount of talent and almost innumerable great songs in this lineup, and Springsteen is the msot important American rocker of the last 30 years.

Comment by Kurt Nordstrom

Wed, 4 Aug 2004 17:43:15 EDT

Hey, don't hate on the Boss like that. He may have some twisted political views (in my not so humble opinion), but songs like "Thunder Road", "The River" and "Dancing in the Dark" will always have their place in my heart (and CD collection).

Comment by Jill McFarland

Wed, 4 Aug 2004 17:05:49 EDT

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN? The guy has no musical talent whatsoever. Not only does he sing like a dead cow, but his songwriting skills are like those of a 6-year-old. Anybody can write songs about how bad police officers are and anybody can exploit 911 for every penny that it's worth.

Comment by JR

Wed, 4 Aug 2004 15:24:13 EDT

Hmmm, the only act mentioned above that I've actually paid to see is Ted Nugent. (Well, I also saw Keb' Mo', but he was an opening act.) So the Democrats aren't yet the run away leaders for my musical dollar.