Music and Politics
Over the last 2 weeks, I went to two major music events: Ozzfest and Warped Tour. Ozzfest was great- the entire main stage rocked the house- playing music, talking to the fans, playing MORE music- I really enjoyed myself. There was minimal political commentary, and even if you disagreed with it, it was well put (mostly). Warped Tour on the other, was an 8 hour, Bush-Bashing, America-Bashing fest where bands played for 25 minutes and talked politics for 10. Well not really talked, more just yelled out ignorance over a mic. And I have one question: Why?
Both of these events were suppose to be about the music. Ozzfest was. Over the span of 6 hours of solid music (5-11), there were 2 political comments from 2 bands. One was System of a Down, and was expected, and was well said. However, Warped Tour was 8 hours of music, and most of the bands had something to say regarding Bush, government, or America. None of it was good (good as in nice). There was a ‘Take Action!’ booth that was all Anti-Bush stuff, and people walking around with ‘F**k Bush’ shirts on. Warped Tour is suppose to be about bands coming together to play music for their fans. Not brainwash them into thinking their way about politics and government. And they had nothing intelligent to say. NOFX just called Bush an idiot, among other things. Valiant Thor had no idea what they were saying, and added some troop bashing. Anti-Flag, though I only caught part of their performance, was probably the worst. They pose the question ‘What are we going to do about the USA?’ and consistently bash it. Actually, that is the whole gimmick. It’s funny how they create this persona where they bash Bush, America and what it stands for, yet use it as the outlet to get that hate-filled message across. They are getting paid to tour America, as part of Van’s Warped Tour, Vans being part of the dreaded and evil Corporate America. The spit ignorance to the crowd, saying whatever they want and know that their fans will blindly follow them. But they don’t educate. Nor does NOFX or Valiant Thor, to name a few. Thor actually said that people who read think they know everything, but don’t. I guess the people who are really in the know are those who get wasted and are given a mic.
I am not mad because I disagree with what they were saying. I am mad because they took a a musical event and made it into a political contest were your could bash America, George Bush, the Troops, and say anything you want, knowing you will get cheers from people who only know what YOU, the bands, tell them, and YOU, the bands, are OK with that. Later.
Disclaimer: I want to respond to the comment by “rick solum” here in the post. I do not lie on my site. He is asking my to check my facts when I heard what he said. The man was wasted out of his mind talking about the Sweedish Chef, the war, troops and the president. It was nonsense. And, Sure you can’t believe everything you read, but what he said will turn the crowd off from reading and that makes people ignorant. Finally, Vailent being in the army does not make him a supporter of the army. And if someone asks me to check my facts, don’t say ‘i think’ in your comment. Check your facts.
It amazes me how being signed to a label seems to automatically give a “musician” the right to criticize about politics.
I understand about having an opinion and using your influence to state it to the general public but there is a limit. If you had a justified well though out message hey I might even give you respect for the effort, but yelling out over a crowd saying a mindnumbing unjustified phrase might be a bit much.
The irony about corporate america reminds me, “If the economy is so bad how is Roger Moore so fat.”
Speaking of ignorance,
Roger Moore was the blonde guy who played James Bond a few decades ago.
Joe, read Kurt Vonnegut’s A MAN WITHOUT A COUNTRY. That should give you an idea of the mentality of the “America haters.”
It just so happens that there are Americans who, unlike many of their peers, see value in every human life, not just the lives of those born randomly into American citizenship.
And P.S. How do I double space when commenting?
I am not saying we do not value every human life. Far from it. But do not hate America and all it stands for while profiting off of ‘Stupid’ Americans in an ‘ignorant country’
hmmmm….
valient thorr doesnt troop bash. check your facts. valient himself was a soldier in bosnia. i think the song youre referring to is “exit strategy.” its aimed @ military recruiters in schools (valient himself was also a teacher in north carolina i think) and @ what he views as poor choices on those in charge’s part. Those are smart men in that band. can’t speak for the others, but can’t let you bash one of the only bands out there that is making sense. Plus, the part about everyone not knowing what they’re talking about who reads is a true. Don’t believe everything you read. If your readers believed you, they’d think VT was a bunch of soldier haters, instead of war haters. and i think they’d be proud to be called that.
wow….
You are SO misinformed joey….
how about googling or youtubing the video for that song Exit Strategy, and you’ll see what Valient Thorr was talking about…
You sound proud, but your points are about as valid as the idiots who called a state of emergency last week in boston for that cartoon… They didn’t know what that little cartoon represented, and made fools of themselves… and here, you’ve clearly done the same thing. Music is a great way to get a political message across. Look at Joan Baez and CSNY, and everyone who preached peace in the face of the Vietnam war in the 60s. There is no difference. Look it up, listen to the words, and then come back and post something else….
angie rallstead, washington dc