Political activism in music - are we doing our duty (lyrics, country)

littleknowitall · 06-25-2007, 05:49 AM

Ok, I'm really going to go all out and put myself on the line with this one,

The Vietnam (spelling) war, mass political protests in which artists like john lennon put themselves on the line, infact there have been many instances over the past decades in which music has meant something, music has been political and not simply self absorbed in the way it's written.
My problem with this is if you ask me any shred of decency and beauty left in the music industry was swiftly torn away at the beginning of the 90's and gradually it's carcuss has began to rott into this day and age.
Music of the commercial variety, music of the masses all simply seems to have lost any meaning, lyrics aren't even being written by pop artists, stadium rock is dead, and we seem to have lingered into a new wave of indie lead on the forefront by bands such as razorlight and the kaiser chiefs of whom have written music bland enough to appeal to simply the easily pleased or the mass.
Their lyrics aren't constructive, don't mean anything on a grander scale, their music is poorly constructed.
Is there any hope really?
There was a time in which people in power in the music and art industry spoke out politically.
Britian especially seems to have fallen into a small town mentality in which nothing out of the local area is now of any significance, people can live in this country off government benefits in a mediocre routine fueling depression in which they slowly but surely forget what the relevance of politics is and are more concerned with what the neighbours are doing and watching corrination street on the bbc.
When was the last time anyone here attended a political protest?
I've never been to one....
Students these days seem to be the most conformed ever, in the 70's in swanseas (the place i live) there were 5 anarchist groups in the schools, that were quite active and considering the size of swansea that's impressive, i couldn't imagine it now,
You might put the lack of involvement down to a lack of things to protest, but the world is in extreme poverty and the estimate for deaths in the iraq was is mortifying.
So where did it all go wrong?
And who want's to stand up for the youth of today and debate this with me?
This is now officially open to discussion....

~~The Unfan~~ · 06-25-2007, 07:06 AM

I was unaware that entertainers had an obligation to be political in their acts...

chumb · 06-25-2007, 08:17 AM

The only thing the hippies accomplished was presenting a schism between the adult generation in control and the younger college generation, most of whom held radical beliefs and thus weren't taken seriously. The Vietnam war didn't end until '73, more or less a decade later, so their protests didn't even accomplish anything.

Despite this, the Sixties definitely were a turning point, as those same people grew up and, despite being somewhat disillusioned, made America somewhat of a less conservative nature. However, I don't think that the nineties marked the end of political activism (especially in music), I mean, I don't think that disco, new wave, or hair metal (the big three off the top of my head) were very politically aware.

So what has changed? There are no longer anarchist groups... well, did they ever accomplish anything? The youth of today are certainly apathetic, but they're not in control so who even cares.

Divide and Fall Apart · 06-25-2007, 08:30 AM

To be honest, I get slightly bored of musicians trying to be too political anyway....sometimes I just think "where do they get off?".

Stick to what your good at.

As for political protests. I just dont think they're as persuasive as they used to be. Look at the Iraq war or G8 protests. What did they achieve? Nothing really.

I guess the bottom line is, your talking about a different time, a different era, practically everythings moved on since then, including music. And I'm actually glad about that.

anticipation · 06-25-2007, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littleknowitall

Ok, I'm really going to go all out and put myself on the line with this one,

The Vietnam (spelling) war, mass political protests in which artists like john lennon put themselves on the line, infact there have been many instances over the past decades in which music has meant something, music has been political and not simply self absorbed in the way it's written.
My problem with this is if you ask me any shred of decency and beauty left in the music industry was swiftly torn away at the beginning of the 90's and gradually it's carcuss has began to rott into this day and age.
Music of the commercial variety, music of the masses all simply seems to have lost any meaning, lyrics aren't even being written by pop artists, stadium rock is dead, and we seem to have lingered into a new wave of indie lead on the forefront by bands such as razorlight and the kaiser chiefs of whom have written music bland enough to appeal to simply the easily pleased or the mass.
Their lyrics aren't constructive, don't mean anything on a grander scale, their music is poorly constructed.
Is there any hope really?
There was a time in which people in power in the music and art industry spoke out politically.
Britian especially seems to have fallen into a small town mentality in which nothing out of the local area is now of any significance, people can live in this country off government benefits in a mediocre routine fueling depression in which they slowly but surely forget what the relevance of politics is and are more concerned with what the neighbours are doing and watching corrination street on the bbc.
When was the last time anyone here attended a political protest?
I've never been to one....
Students these days seem to be the most conformed ever, in the 70's in swanseas (the place i live) there were 5 anarchist groups in the schools, that were quite active and considering the size of swansea that's impressive, i couldn't imagine it now,
You might put the lack of involvement down to a lack of things to protest, but the world is in extreme poverty and the estimate for deaths in the iraq was is mortifying.
So where did it all go wrong?
And who want's to stand up for the youth of today and debate this with me?
This is now officially open to discussion....

because children these days have nothing to worry about. The world is perfect.

TheBig3 · 06-25-2007, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Divide and Fall Apart

To be honest, I get slightly bored of musicians trying to be too political anyway....sometimes I just think "where do they get off?".

Stick to what your good at.

I never really got this argument. Musicians are citizens and therefore have a right to say whatever they want. Secondly, the stick to what you're good at part baffles me. A large amount of pundits on television and radio have no more credibility than a musician. Other than they get paid to speak about it, what does it matter?

Let me put it to you in a more assanine way. I studied politics at college, and Im going to go out on a limb and assume you didn't. That being said, what right do you have to say who can talk about politics? You shouldn't be speaking about it at all by your logic. Stick to what you're good at. I'll handle this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by littleknowitall

My problem with this is if you ask me any shred of decency and beauty left in the music industry was swiftly torn away at the beginning of the 90's and gradually it's carcuss has began to rott into this day and age.

This is more whining that todays music "sure ain't the 60's" (when you weren't alive). Boy, the grass is always greener huh?

What i think happened here is you heard some reheated political tripe by Lennon and then you heard some new green day song and lamented the death of musical intelligence.

Music is fine, and the bands that are political just aren't favorable to market-friendly office radio. Political bands have an outlet, if I want political music I can find it. I wouldn't worry so much, just stick to what you're good at.

Divide and Fall Apart · 06-25-2007, 12:24 PM

The point I was trying to make was that the whole music/politics connection isnt as strong as it once was.

Musicians can talk about politics as much as they like, the difference is that these days less people listen.

Sound Devastation · 06-25-2007, 01:04 PM

A recent survey of my university showed that the majority of students would vote conservative. Our generation doesnt care - doesnt care about politics OR music and certainly doesnt care about the relationship between the two.. they just want a comfy easy life with some catchy background music to listen to. The fact that its not in the mainstream is nothing to worry about.. NOTHING good is in the mainstream - whether its in music, politics, art etc.. so get used to it.

I personally think its dusgusting that young people dont care about things like this... we're in a very important period in time, we need to act on climate change for example - yet there is not one environmental activist group in my uni. However there are groups out there, and there are lots of bands out there with strong political views AND awesome music.. if theyre not on our doorstep then we just need to work a little harder to support them.

DontRunMeOver · 06-25-2007, 01:54 PM

What exactly were the political messages which were being sent out in songs during the 60's? If somebody could send me a link to any lyrics which were considerably more detailed than

- "Don't drop bombs, man"
- "Open your mind, man"
- "Love everybody, man"
- "Feel the freedom and fight the man, man"
- "Revolution, man"

Then I'd appreciate it, because most of the so called political songs I've heard from the 60s were actually about as politically compelling as one of those t-shirts with "Havana" written on the front.

chumb · 06-25-2007, 02:04 PM

Meh, how much can you really say in a song anyway? You can say that war sucks, capitalism sucks, that dying needlessly for your country sucks, but if you try to put a manifesto in the form of a song you end up with something hopelessly preachy where the lyrics detract from the music.

06-25-2007, 05:49 AM	#1 (permalink)
littleknowitall Pow! Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,671	Political activism in music - are we doing our duty Ok, I'm really going to go all out and put myself on the line with this one, The Vietnam (spelling) war, mass political protests in which artists like john lennon put themselves on the line, infact there have been many instances over the past decades in which music has meant something, music has been political and not simply self absorbed in the way it's written. My problem with this is if you ask me any shred of decency and beauty left in the music industry was swiftly torn away at the beginning of the 90's and gradually it's carcuss has began to rott into this day and age. Music of the commercial variety, music of the masses all simply seems to have lost any meaning, lyrics aren't even being written by pop artists, stadium rock is dead, and we seem to have lingered into a new wave of indie lead on the forefront by bands such as razorlight and the kaiser chiefs of whom have written music bland enough to appeal to simply the easily pleased or the mass. Their lyrics aren't constructive, don't mean anything on a grander scale, their music is poorly constructed. Is there any hope really? There was a time in which people in power in the music and art industry spoke out politically. Britian especially seems to have fallen into a small town mentality in which nothing out of the local area is now of any significance, people can live in this country off government benefits in a mediocre routine fueling depression in which they slowly but surely forget what the relevance of politics is and are more concerned with what the neighbours are doing and watching corrination street on the bbc. When was the last time anyone here attended a political protest? I've never been to one.... Students these days seem to be the most conformed ever, in the 70's in swanseas (the place i live) there were 5 anarchist groups in the schools, that were quite active and considering the size of swansea that's impressive, i couldn't imagine it now, You might put the lack of involvement down to a lack of things to protest, but the world is in extreme poverty and the estimate for deaths in the iraq was is mortifying. So where did it all go wrong? And who want's to stand up for the youth of today and debate this with me? This is now officially open to discussion....

06-25-2007, 08:17 AM	#3 (permalink)
chumb awamba Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 133	The only thing the hippies accomplished was presenting a schism between the adult generation in control and the younger college generation, most of whom held radical beliefs and thus weren't taken seriously. The Vietnam war didn't end until '73, more or less a decade later, so their protests didn't even accomplish anything. Despite this, the Sixties definitely were a turning point, as those same people grew up and, despite being somewhat disillusioned, made America somewhat of a less conservative nature. However, I don't think that the nineties marked the end of political activism (especially in music), I mean, I don't think that disco, new wave, or hair metal (the big three off the top of my head) were very politically aware. So what has changed? There are no longer anarchist groups... well, did they ever accomplish anything? The youth of today are certainly apathetic, but they're not in control so who even cares. __________________ ... I begged her, shoot me in the head She took my gun and shot my leg instead

06-25-2007, 08:30 AM	#4 (permalink)
Divide and Fall Apart Groupie Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 38	To be honest, I get slightly bored of musicians trying to be too political anyway....sometimes I just think "where do they get off?". Stick to what your good at. As for political protests. I just dont think they're as persuasive as they used to be. Look at the Iraq war or G8 protests. What did they achieve? Nothing really. I guess the bottom line is, your talking about a different time, a different era, practically everythings moved on since then, including music. And I'm actually glad about that. __________________ We all got wood and nails, and we turn out hate in factories [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

06-25-2007, 12:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
Divide and Fall Apart Groupie Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 38	The point I was trying to make was that the whole music/politics connection isnt as strong as it once was. Musicians can talk about politics as much as they like, the difference is that these days less people listen. __________________ We all got wood and nails, and we turn out hate in factories [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

06-25-2007, 01:04 PM	#8 (permalink)
Sound Devastation Music Addict Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 728	A recent survey of my university showed that the majority of students would vote conservative. Our generation doesnt care - doesnt care about politics OR music and certainly doesnt care about the relationship between the two.. they just want a comfy easy life with some catchy background music to listen to. The fact that its not in the mainstream is nothing to worry about.. NOTHING good is in the mainstream - whether its in music, politics, art etc.. so get used to it. I personally think its dusgusting that young people dont care about things like this... we're in a very important period in time, we need to act on climate change for example - yet there is not one environmental activist group in my uni. However there are groups out there, and there are lots of bands out there with strong political views AND awesome music.. if theyre not on our doorstep then we just need to work a little harder to support them. __________________ Out soon... AMENRA - Mass III 2xLP [stunning vinyl release of the belgian sludgecore giants epic 06 album] FALL OF EFRAFA - Owsla & Elil CD&LP [British crust/doom/post-metal band Fall of Efrafa deliver part two (Elil) on their dark conceptual trilogy. Part one (Owsla) will also be re-released for the first time in the UK] *** visit... Sound Devastation Records website**

06-25-2007, 07:06 AM	#2 (permalink)
~~The Unfan~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Methville Posts: 2,116	I was unaware that entertainers had an obligation to be political in their acts...

06-25-2007, 02:04 PM	#10 (permalink)
chumb awamba Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 133	Meh, how much can you really say in a song anyway? You can say that war sucks, capitalism sucks, that dying needlessly for your country sucks, but if you try to put a manifesto in the form of a song you end up with something hopelessly preachy where the lyrics detract from the music. __________________ ... I begged her, shoot me in the head She took my gun and shot my leg instead