artists and politics

[hmmnmm]

not in the best of moods and also justly accused of incoherence I will avoid the usual lengthy intro.
How do you folks out there handle your favorite music artists when they become suddenly vocal in politics?
Know what I mean?
For example: when I was a teenager I loved Ted Nugent. And his stances were no secret to those who would take the time to learn, yet it did not seem that his politics intruded so much into his music - at least thirty years ago. Now, I see him as something of a kook but I just got his Free For All album and it's really great.
On the other end you have someone like Don Henley, tremendously talented, but then got on these save the Everything Soapboxes.
Don't know if I'm getting this across very well.
Never mind.
maybe someone can clarify better.
Thanks.
It kind of bugs me when these musicians and such go political. That's what I'm saying. Wondering what anyone else thinks about this.

 

[BlackShanglan]

If the art is still good art, I blush a little and look the other way, as I go with other foibles and silly choices by the authors. If agenda makes the art bad art, then I lose respect for the artist as an artist, whether I agree with the agenda or not. Flat statements of political beliefs, rambling rants and screeds, and raging polemic rarely make good art. That said, there are works where the art and politics combine beautifully - "1984" springs to mind. There's good work done on that fine line; however, there's also a lot of bad work.

(Sorry. Flashbacks to a poem I was once forced to read. *violent facial tic* Nearly better now.)

I did once have to learn to endure a mediocre actress because I respected a personal action of hers. That was very difficult. I still don't seek out her movies, but if watching one with others I keep quiet on her less sterling qualities.

Shanglan

 

[English Lady]

Like Shanglan I'll just sort of ignore it, unless it seeps into the music and I find it difficult to agree.

Everyone is entitled to his/her thoughts on verything including politics and I can imagine it is easy or an artists leanings to come over in the music. As long as I'm enjoying the music theres no problem

 

[Op_Cit]

There are actors/musicians on my "do not patornize" list purely because of their politics.

I think it is the height of stupidity for an entertainer/artist to be politically active. There are ways to properly express one's beliefs and support one's views through one's work (like Michael Landon's goody-goody shows, or as Shang mentioned, exploring a perspective like "1984").

Stepping outside of one's medium to support a politician or movement, or directly supporting/attacking within one's medium is rightly perceived as a direct attack on those of the alternative viewpoint. Not good business, and rarely ever changes somebody's political position.

 

[hmmnmm]

I guess it is one thing to announce your intentions from the outset and then to set other intentions away from the original.
Another example: I just got another CD, AC/DC, circa Bon Scott. Now, they pretty much stick to the good old themes of drinking and fucking. Whatever Bon Scott's personal political beliefs may have been - if anything other than good old fashioned anarchy - I could not care less. His vocals were great. the music was/is great. Yet, what if, thirty years later we saw the same Bon Scott becoming a primary spokesman for the NRA or the NEA or whatever... would that effect my listening pleasure of previous works?
I mean, I love Ted Nugent's Free for All album - fucking great work - but I have zero interest in what ever music he may do now.

 

[Lucifer_Carroll]

Not really, but I guess I've been lucky enough to be vaguely on the same political wavelength as most of the bands I listen to.

In fact, sometimes the best songs of a band are their political ones because they put a lot of energy into something they believe in. The anti-war anti-warmongerer songs "War Pigs", "Electric Eye", "Angel's Punishment" are all among the best works of Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, and Lacuna Coil. Same with Metallica's "Master of Puppets" or Green Day's entire American Idiot album.

Other bands best selling points and muses are their frank statements of politics that no one else has had the balls to say and their ability to say it in a new visceral or sardonic medium. See R.E.M., Rage Against the Machine, or Megadeth.

It can be embarrassing seeing them live I'll admit, ranting and raving on a political topic while everyone's waiting for them to shut up and play a god damned song, but otherwise, I don't mind much the messages in the music as long as they don't directly offend me and is well done.


Anyway, my point is that talent is talent and passion is passion. And as long as passion and talent is showing in a good work, should it matter so much that it's political? And if it does, so be it. That's why they invented the skip button or if neccesary a jump to an old album. Treat it like you would a bad or inferior song on an old album and just don't listen to it too much.

 

[hmmnmm]

I just now remembered Steppenwolf.
They were blatantly political. But they (in my opinion) made great music to suit. Even if you did not agree with the political statements you could not get around the thought processes of the lyrics. They challenged, in a most cool way.
This was just something that has bugged me for several years and I have nothing else to do at the moment - nor these successive moments - so it was just an idea to throw out there.