OT: Our conversation about politics and music

[Forty_Sixand2]

Remember the other day when we discussed politics and music.

Some people mentioned that they did not like certain artists because of their personal political stance.

I mentioned that since I did not let what Nicklas Backstrom thinks about the economy, I could care less about what RATM thinks about foreign policy. Therefore I listen to music that rocks, sounds unique and that generally, I just like.

Well I was flipping through youtube this morning and came across this and found it pretty funny and on point. I know that there is a certain irony about an entertainer telling you not to give a shit what entertainers say about politics and shit, but what do you expect to get out of Buzz Osbourne. He is an interview gem.


Modern Rock/Alternative/Grunge Gods!!!

I mean, I lean to the right on most issues, to the extreme right on others, and the the extreme left on others. My political philosophy has come from things that I have read, experienced, places that I have been, stuff that I see in my work and my experiences in general. It is a living creature that continues to evolve and get more intricate as I age and gain more experiences. I find "team politics" dull and a cop out, but that is just me.

Hell if I only listened to music that leaned right I would be stuck with country, contrived Christian rock and awful quasi-aryan thrash rock. My brain and ears would bleed.

Anyway, I though that it was a good conversation and wanted to continue it with a bunch of people that I consider to be highly educated, have good taste in music and sensible logical ways of thinking. Since I could not find any, I figured that you idiots would have to do! :p

 

[SLY]

Remember the other day when we discussed politics and music.

Some people mentioned that they did not like certain artists because of their personal political stance.

I mentioned that since I did not let what Nicklas Backstrom thinks about the economy, I could care less about what RATM thinks about foreign policy. Therefore I listen to music that rocks, sounds unique and that generally, I just like.

Well I was flipping through youtube this morning and came across this and found it pretty funny and on point. I know that there is a certain irony about an entertainer telling you not to give a shit what entertainers say about politics and shit, but what do you expect to get out of Buzz Osbourne. He is an interview gem.


Modern Rock/Alternative/Grunge Gods!!!

I mean, I lean to the right on most issues, to the extreme right on others, and the the extreme left on others. My political philosophy has come from things that I have read, experienced, places that I have been, stuff that I see in my work and my experiences in general. It is a living creature that continues to evolve and get more intricate as I age and gain more experiences. I find "team politics" dull and a cop out, but that is just me.

Hell if I only listened to music that leaned right I would be stuck with country, contrived Christian rock and awful quasi-aryan thrash rock. My brain and ears would bleed.

Anyway, I though that it was a good conversation and wanted to continue it with a bunch of people that I consider to be highly educated, have good taste in music and sensible logical ways of thinking. Since I could not find any, I figured that you idiots would have to do! :p

Pussy.

 

[SLY]

I can't see your video... So I don't know what to say. Although I am a musician and not a lyricist, however I tend to pay more attention to the vocals of a song. I believe instrumental music can speak for itself, but when I hear vocals I like them to have meaning. Which is why I hate most hip hop. The subject matter is piss poor. I like intelligent lyrics that either have a clear cut point, or lyrics that are very poetic and out there to make you think.

So when I hear a bunch of guys yelling about how Geoge Bush's head should be on a pig pole it pisses me off and I can't listen anymore. Which is why I try to stay away from political music. I love the band Misery Index (grindcore), and thankfully I don't know what he is syaing most of the time... However I know their stance on politics and it is very annoying, so I tend to not listen to them... That's just me though. I am open to many things when it comes to music, but politics and blind faith piss me off more than anything.

 

[pixburgher66]

Politics shouldn't be a part of music. You can send a message about what you believe and all, but I hate when you get a song you like, with a great beat, and as you're singing along you realize the political angle it has.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

Politics shouldn't be a part of music. You can send a message about what you believe and all, but I hate when you get a song you like, with a great beat, and as you're singing along you realize the political angle it has.

If it sounds good, does it really get to you?? I mean it is cool if it does, i totally get that. I just don't much care. Hell, I have Onyx on my workout IPOD and they sing about "the white man calling them master" in a song with Biohazard (white guys). It is just poetry to me, I guess.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

I can't see your video... So I don't know what to say. Although I am a musician and not a lyricist, however I tend to pay more attention to the vocals of a song. I believe instrumental music can speak for itself, but when I hear vocals I like them to have meaning. Which is why I hate most hip hop. The subject matter is piss poor. I like intelligent lyrics that either have a clear cut point, or lyrics that are very poetic and out there to make you think.

So when I hear a bunch of guys yelling about how Geoge Bush's head should be on a pig pole it pisses me off and I can't listen anymore. Which is why I try to stay away from political music. I love the band Misery Index (grindcore), and thankfully I don't know what he is syaing most of the time... However I know their stance on politics and it is very annoying, so I tend to not listen to them... That's just me though. I am open to many things when it comes to music, but politics and blind faith piss me off more than anything.

Wasn't that your prison nickname????

JK


But seriously....listen to the Melvins A LOT!!!!

 

[pixburgher66]

If it sounds good, does it really get to you?? I mean it is cool if it does, i totally get that. I just don't much care. Hell, I have Onyx on my workout IPOD and they sing about "the white man calling them master" in a song with Biohazard (white guys). It is just poetry to me, I guess.

Sometimes it's more blatant than others. It doesn't happen too often, but even during the SuperBowl halftime show when the Black Eyed Peas name-dropped Obama, it's okay, but I'm more entertained when politics are kept out of it. I mean, for me religion is a bit different, because I listen to Christian music, but when I'm listening to that it's intentional to hear a message.

 

[SLY]

Wasn't that your prison nickname????

JK


But seriously....listen to the Melvins A LOT!!!!

I love the Melvins.

 

[Darkstone42]

It doesn't bother me if moral and political stances are mentioned because I consider those compelling subjects for a poetic medium, but using actual people's names and making direct references to current politics kind of irks me. It's so much more poetic to be introspective about politics and convey what your deep-rooted beliefs are. I suppose for me, as a guy who really likes to analyze poetry, those introspective songs are just that much more compelling, whereas the pop-culture political feel like a waste.

 

[SLY]

46, you like Fantomas?

 

[TOX1]

I love the band Testament, but their political/social views are almost the exact opposite of mine.

What does that mean?? Who fucking cares. I love their music and that's all that matters to me.

 

[SLY]

Yea Jack, but not every song is like that... Bands like RATM and SOAD push it on you. They use their music as a tool to try and push their political views. It's one thing to have a couple soings on an album reflect your views, but to over-do it gets fucking annoying.

 

[TOX1]

No offense JS, but if you know that going in then we bother listening to their shit at all??

I mean, I know if I stick my hand in my running blender that I will lose fingers.....no need to prove myself right by doing it.

 

[SLY]

I dont know what the hell you guys are getting at... I usually just stick to bands that dont incorporate politcal garb in their lyrics. Or if they do, hide it in a poetic way... When it's straight forward, cut throat and against my views, I can't listen.

 

[SLY]

Listen to The Black Dahlia Murder - "Deathmask Divine", now thats good music

 

[NullDefault]

Music is art plain and simple. It will reflect a broad spectrum of beliefs and experiences that a handful of people will identify with if it's any good. Generally, political views for me are always tempered by my understanding that as you pull the extremes at either end somewhere towards the middle you approach a more common experience or thoughts that most people will feel. One of the most valuable experiences I've ever gained is the understanding that everyone is right and everyone is wrong at the same time.

To bring this around full circle that last sentence is very similar to a verse in a Public Image Limited song.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

46, you like Fantomas?

I like just about anything that Mike Patton touhces, so .....YES!!!

Faith No More - Angel Dust is on my "If you were on a desert island with 5 albums......" list.

 

[Automattic]

I dig the message in "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." I mean, cuz it's like...How i really wonder what you really are.....ya know...man.....that shit's deep...

 

[TOX1]

I dig the message in "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." I mean, cuz it's like...How i really wonder what you really are.....ya know...man.....that shit's deep...

 

[makeshiftb0y]

Sometimes it's more blatant than others. It doesn't happen too often, but even during the SuperBowl halftime show when the Black Eyed Peas name-dropped Obama, it's okay, but I'm more entertained when politics are kept out of it. I mean, for me religion is a bit different, because I listen to Christian music, but when I'm listening to that it's intentional to hear a message.

This doesn't seem a bit contradictory to you? You think politics should be kept out of music, but you're fine with religion being a part of music because with that, you're listening to it for a message. You don't think some people listen to some music for political messages?

I'm very into music. I'm almost always listening to it; I play a few instruments, yadda yadda yadda. I love hearing music that it very creative and artistic, etc, but I also care very much about lyrics (perhaps it comes from being a literature major in college), so when songs have lyrics that mean something to me, it makes the songs more enjoyable. To me, it doesn't matter if the message is political or whatever; if i can relate to it, it makes it that much better (I'm fairly political, and listen to several bands that write mostly political songs). And on the other hand, normally, if the song is good, musically, I can overlook lyrics with views that I don't necessarily agree with. However, if a song is not good, and it has lyrics conveying views I disagree with, I will probably find myself saying it sucks ass.