When I was younger, I fell for this kind of thing hook, line and sinker. I was influenced by the messages in all of the music I liked. I used to get really angry listening to Rage Against the Machine and I could spout some of their lines as if they were my own. When the Tool album Aenima came out, I automatically took it as an unarguable fact that Los Angeles is a big, fake, plastic, disgusting place with horrible people, who don't care about anything but plastic surgery, fashion, and lattes. I decided to just agree with Tool and I hoped that Los Angeles would fall into Arizona Bay.
Wait just a minute, though. I have never been to LA. At the time, I didn't know anyone who was from California. Frankly, the only knowledge of LA I had was Beverly Hills 90210 and Beverly Hills Cop movies. In essence, I was taking my opinions from Brandon Walsh, Axel Foley and Tool. To think about that in hindsight is kind of embarrassing for me. Now that I am a little bit older, I don't jump on board with anything just because a guy who can sing or play guitar tells me I should. For the record, one of the messages that Tool sends to their fans is that they should think for themselves. I was just too immature to understand at the time.
According to press coverage before their latest album came out, Thursday claim that their music doesn't have as many political messages as it is just storytelling of personal strife and triumph filtered through political imagery. That's fine, but when I have seen them live, they have spoken to audiences about different topics and different things that they believe. They were critical of political ideas and politicians. It is their right to say whatever they want onstage, just as it is my right to not buy a ticket if I don't want it, but that doesn't really cover the entire issue.
Again, I am left thinking; what makes singer, Geoff Rickly, uniquely qualified to teach me about anything? Is he somehow smarter than I am? I can't help but come to the conclusion that the answer is a resounding, NO. I am not saying he is a dumb guy. He could be right about everything he says on all accounts, but as a singer for a rock band, he doesn't have a secret pipeline to political enlightenment and it is important for fans to remember that.
We all know what experts are. Alan Greenspan is an experienced veteran on the economy, interest rates and things like that. Nobody asks him how he feels about drug laws at the state level. Roger Ebert is an experienced movie critic, so nobody asks him how he recommends cooking paella. Hell, Roger Ebert might cook a really great paella, but in order for us to listen, he must somehow prove to us that he has some expertise before anyone will care. So be careful whose speech you filter into your brain.
Article comments
1 - Al Barger
Some musicians actually get involved in LEARNING something about the politics they espouse, and might have some legitimate input. Bono and debt relief comes to mind as an example.
Even then, though, it won't work out so good as a few seconds shoehorned in between songs.
2 - Craig Lyndall
An important point, Al.
I am not saying these guys don't have points and some of them might even have insight as Bono has proven over the years. My problem is when I get peppered by every other band I see. And I see a lot of kids at these shows who are are as impressionable as I know I was back when I was a young'in.
3 - Al Barger
Yeah, that's the problem, isn't it? For every one Bono who has sought education and actually spent time and effort to make a reasonable and extended argument, we get a dozen dumb bunnies like Natalie Maines interested only in snorting a quick line of self-righteousness.
4 - Mark Saleski
most of the bitching about this kind of thing is against left wingers. big deal.
why no bitching about people tossing out "support our troups", "god bless our troops", etc?
and i think you all are giving kids too little credit. maybe they'll investigate the issue being spouted. they may find out more about it...including the possible fact that the artist was indeed full of crap.
5 - HW Saxton Jr.
Interesting post Craig. I've always been
suspect of bands that mix politics with
music.Chiefly because so many don't seem
able to articulate their thoughts and/or
agendas beyond personal opinion.Jello B.
and a handful of other rockers being the
exception here.
A lot of punk bands/rock bands/hip-hop
artists etc. run around screaming "Oh I
Hate Bush".Well that's OK but,when asked
why usually the answer is usually along
the lines of "Because he sucks" or "He's
an asshole".While there may be some sort
of validity to those points(depending,of
course on your personal slant on things
political)it takes a bit more argument
than that to convince most people of why
they should want him out of or into the
Oval office.
But on the same hand,if they can help to
convince their fans to register and vote
through spewing political discourse(misguided
as it may be)at their shows then maybe they
have served some purpose.
6 - Craig Lyndall
Mark, I mentioned conservativepunk.com in order to try and be a bit fair, but ultimately it is impossible to get too crazy about the right wingers on an issue like this because they either don't exist or aren't at all vocal.
I will admit it if I am wrong, but in my experience at shows over the last few years and reading articles and liner notes, etc, this is how it has been.
7 - JR
Come to think of it, a lot of performers sing about love all the time. Do they really have any more experience with monogamous relationships than the rest of us?
8 - Craig Lyndall
that's not the same thing and you know it. my original article was talking about politics and religion because there are also a lot of Christian hardcore/indie/emo bands out there that I see every week. I decided they had to be different articles.
You could say that religion and politics could be similar, but your point about love is lost because love has never proven to be a controversial divisive topic.
9 - Vern Halen
Let's not forget that getting behind a cause has been fashionable for years, regardless of whether it's legitimate or not. What about bands that support PETA or espouse vegetarian lifestyles or eschew leather clothing (wow - first time I ever used eschew anywhere!)? If you don't agree with them but like their music, are you going to boycott their concert? Does anyone really care if you do or not?
Let's also not forget it's fashionable to question the legitimacy of anything and everything in our modern cynical world. And so we get the music critics critcising the musicians who criticise the government who criticise the musicians who criticise them and right back on down the line.
What's needed is not more posing, but solutions and leadership, both of which are seriously lacking. It's a sad state of affairs when musicians make political points while the politicians play the image game. Nowadays, just who are the real rock stars?
10 - Craig Lyndall
Vern Halen, I can't help laughing every time I see that name.
You made some very good points here, but I think more than trying to be critical of musicians, I am trying to make sure music fans think for themselves.
11 - Mark Saleski
he sings for a country & western Van Halen cover band, ya know.
;-)
12 - brown_boognish
If someone believes in something strongly enough they should say it.
13 - Craig Lyndall
I know. I agree. Just be careful what you, as a listener, derive from what someone says.
14 - Vern Halen
Yes, I agree, one must be firm in one's convictions and speak your mind when necessary. As well, you've got to learn to think for yourself. I think these are both components of responsible leadership through example.
I can't help but wonder, though - all those hippies & radicals fron the 60's (musicians included) - where did all their political beliefs get them? Did they really mean anything after all, did they bring people to a deeper understanding of themselves, did they change the world? Shouldn't the world be a better place, or what happened? Not being from the 60's, I can't answer that.
Maybe it's simply a case of (as the saying goes), "What was once passion is now style."
15 - brown_boognish
the vietnam war ended, i would say thats an improvement for the world.
People aren't preaching politics because they think it will make them money. If anything its risky because some people may disagree and stop listening. But if someone really believes in changing things they cannot remain silent.
16 - Craig Lyndall
my message is more for the listener. Be careful where you get your info.