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Politics?
Not in MY music! - A Deaditorial
We interrupt our regularly scheduled Not
Quite-So DeadShow for this special Deaditorial from Dead Sun.
“Man is by nature a political animal.”---
Aristotle
“For every action there is an equal
and opposite reaction.”--- Newton’s Third law
It could hardly be argued that the political
climate has not leaked its way into just about everything in the world
these days. There’s no escape--- turn on a radio or television set, or
open a magazine, and chances are you’re going to catch a huge whiff of
it. The political climate these days has turned pervasive, heated, and
in some cases downright ugly. These things are simply unavoidable, for
such are the times. But if man is truly a political animal, as Aristotle
would have us believe, then evidently the political animal of today has
gone rabid.
Musicians and entertainers--- being only
human--- aren’t insulated from this.
Should they be?
I’m trying to look at this from each side.
They’re subject to the same signs of the times as the rest of us are. Perhaps
even more so, if we’re willing to concede that if music derives so many
of its expressions and ideas from the world around us, and politics is
one of the main forces “turning” that world, it is completely unreasonable
to expect music and politics to remain mutually exclusive of one another.
I believe that. Nevertheless, in the kind of politically charged environment
we’re living in, it should come as no surprise that many musicians these
days are finding out that when the political stakes skyrocket, the operating
costs of mixing politics with music do so in a like manner. There’s nothing
unfair about that, either.
At some point during the course of our
schooling, most of us are required to take a course in physics. It is usually
then that we learn about Newton’s Third Law--- for every action there is
an equal and opposite reaction. That has always stuck with me. Think about
that. Physics aside, it seems to be found in just about every dimension
of life that I have encountered to date--- and this is one law that is
inviolable. Musicians : proceed at your own discretion, for just as you
have the right to lace your goods with a little political sermonizing,
the consumer reserves the right to pull away, if you do so in a way that
is perceived as sneaky, brash, or transparent. Deal with it. When you chose
to be a public voice, you took that step for better or worse. In the school
of hard knocks, there is a saying : “Them’s the breaks, kiddo.”
Some musicians are somewhat protected against
a backlash from their fans, usually if they are a band who takes up the
political torch in their SONGS--- as opposed to the ones who wait until
they get you at the venue to expound their political views. No one is particularly
alarmed to hear this stuff from Bono, Zack de la Rocha, System of a Down,
Joan Baez, Jello Biafra, or Michael Stipe, are they? The Dixie Chicks (
to give a well known example ) are a slightly different animal though,
aren’t they? If those three couldn’t muster the collective logic to realize
that, given their fan base’s general demographic and the content of their
music, Newton’s Third Law would bite them full force, then they are either
unbelievably naïve, or need to retake Thinking 101.
That having been said, things are evidently
no better at the other extreme. Tearing down posters and damaging property?
Please tell me there isn’t a soul among us who is willing to even BEGIN
to justify this kind of garbage. What is wrong with us? I’m getting these
visions of the legendary, en masse destruction of Beatles albums that ensued
when John Lennon quipped that the Beatles were more popular than Jesus.
I feel like I’ve been zapped back to 1966, for Christ’s sake. Is this where
we are heading? Remember the golden days, when purple-faced zealots were
kept to the side as a kind of quietly acknowledged embarrassment? By all
means, disagree. By all means, have a healthy debate. By all means, boycott.
These are all fine. These are the earmarks of a free, healthy, CIVILIZED
society. Just not as much foaming at the mouth, if you please.
Even boycotting would have to be selective.
Not all protestations against the negative consequences of warfare come
whining campus prats, either. How about a song like “War Pigs”, by the
Mighty Black Sabbath? Anyone remember “Two Minutes to Midnight”, by Iron
Maiden? How about Metallica’s “Disposable Heroes”? Food for thought, that’s
all. If you decide you’re going to boycott every artist who has a beef
with the political state of affairs, chances are there won’t be a hell
of a lot left for you to choose from. Let’s face it--- artists are UTTERLY
idealistic by nature. They strive for what is desirable, not what is practical,
and “desirable”, while great in fueling the creative drive, rarely works
well in the material world. That’s why they often find sanctuary with the
utopian Left. No big deal. If you think that I’m ready to relieve myself
of my Lou Reed catalogue because I don’t see eye to eye with his politics,
then maybe it’s time you take a little vacation. I know of a smashing location,
too--- nice, white rooms, soft, padded walls, great medication, and a friendly
wait staff. To summarize : you’re out of your tiny little mind.
Let me know.
What is new under the sun? A-List artists
will have to keep bashing conservatives, so long as they do not wish to
be ostracized from the posh cocktail party circuit and miss getting the
headlines. When you ride into Hollywood, Los Angeles, New York, etc, and
don’t bring along the standard issue Leftist groupthink--- every person
reading this knows what will happen--- the only work you would get would
be at the frozen yogurt bar. You’d probably get the flip side of the coin
in Nashville, Memphis or Branson. That’s just the way it is. Them’s the
breaks, kiddo--- but if you’re anxious enough to dance, be ready to pay
the piper.
In the meantime, I wonder aloud how possible
it would be for the cameras and microphones to find their way past the
witch hunters, and give reason a chance to prevail. Course, that doesn’t
make for thrilling action news, does it? I look at the world around me,
and I see political allegiances railroading us off to the fringes of blind
hawkishness or perpetual pacifism--- neither of which will demonstrably,
by way of history, sustain a people. It’s maddening. I suppose it’s a fair
assumption to speculate that this is what’s presently happening in the
music and entertainment industries. Just a little less foaming at the mouth,
and a little more civilized opining is all I ask for.
NOW who is being “utopian”? ( smirk )
Still : if your wish is to proselytize
to the public with impunity, you will not succeed.
Beware.
For every action, there is an equal and
opposite reaction.
Thank you, Mr. Newton.
DS
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