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Did people finally give up? I assumed being an election year, I would most likely get annoyed by all the artists going on political rants, however the only one i heard was the fairly mild/expected eddie veddar rants. I feel kind of let down now. Were the artists maybe told to keep mum about the election, or...?
Post by strumntheguitar on Jul 22, 2008 15:42:16 GMT -5
I believe all the performers were too busy trying to make sure the crowd still thought Kanye sucked to worry about whether or not the attendees were voting or not.
I was at both BSS shows where they had the Obama song going, it was some funny stuff. They also made some good points and we're generally good hearted about it
I think it was basically like...why bother? They'd be preaching to the choir. 97% of the Bonnaroo population already has their mind made up to vote for Obama, or an independent. No ones gonna vote for McCain, at least, I'm sure. So...like....whats the use?
If you haven't heard politics @ Roo since '04 you obviously missed The Nightwatchman performance last year! ;D ;D If like mixing the politics and music check out an Axis of Justice concert....it's the way to do it for much better causes than the self-serving "Vote for Me, I'm Not As Bad As The Other Guy" campaign deals.... For one, I was glad there was not much vote pleading.....and what politiking was done was done rather tastefully imo....
Politics were confined to a small, discreet white trailer with Obamaroo written on the side.
The end of Zach Galifianakis' set was pretty political, especially with his Obama '08 poster, and Eugene Hutz went on a bit of an anti-government rant during Superjam. But yeah, I thought there would be more political speeches from the artists, considering it's an election year.
I just hope the voters don't take the same approach as the performers apparently did at the Roo and say "why bother"
Unfortunately....I suspect/fear that this is what may very well happen.....actually I am EXPECTING it sad to say. I don't think I EVER remember such an apathetic presidential election at this point in the campaign year/cycle I think we've finally reached the point where we've traded dirty politics for no politics at all.....and I don't know if that's better.....or just sadly lame?
when musicians take a public political stand it serves more as an awareness thing that hopefully will make their fans take a look at why the artist is endorsing a certain candidate. that being said, telling people how to vote at in the upcoming election would be more or less useless because i'm sure that the crowds that are coming to bonnaroo have already made up their minds.
Post by gryphonkin on Jul 26, 2008 14:50:07 GMT -5
I think you can do it in a way that doesn't shove it down your throat. As much as I dug Pearl Jam's set, Eddie failed to find that line and got downright preachy. The Bluegrass Allstars, on the other hand, did it well. They kept it contained to one ad lib line in a song. "There's a Bush in the White House and he ain't worth a damn. The only good Bush, his name is Sam."
If musicians influence your voting decisions you should not vote.... or speak.... or breath.
I dunno man... Growing up as a teenager listening to Eddie Vedder rant on Pearl Jam bootlegs turned me on to some interesting/perspective-changing stuff. The work of historian Howard Zinn being one notable example. Same goes for bands like Rage... I'd be looking through liner notes thinking, "What the hell does THIS part mean...?", then look it up and be all "oh sh*t, that's heavy..."
I mean, these musicians were important role models growing up. And look at me now... a history/poli sci dual major in college.
Was I impressionable? Maybe. But I'm glad to have been exposed to that stuff, and as far as I'm concerned, you can't separate music from politics.
Great point ^^^ Artist are a good way to get the wheels turning...to expose you to an idea or ideal. It's up to you as an individual to make your own decision. So as long as they aren't preachy and trying to shove their own point of view down your throat it's all good
If musicians influence your voting decisions you should not vote.... or speak.... or breath.
I dunno man... Growing up as a teenager listening to Eddie Vedder rant on Pearl Jam bootlegs turned me on to some interesting/perspective-changing stuff. The work of historian Howard Zinn being one notable example. Same goes for bands like Rage... I'd be looking through liner notes thinking, "What the hell does THIS part mean...?", then look it up and be all "oh sh*t, that's heavy..."
I mean, these musicians were important role models growing up. And look at me now... a history/poli sci dual major in college.
Was I impressionable? Maybe. But I'm glad to have been exposed to that stuff, and as far as I'm concerned, you can't separate music from politics.
I totally understand. Growing up, I was way into the Woodstock-era bands, and almost all the music was political. It used to confuse the hell out of me...why don't we make political music anymore? It left a mark on me as well...I mean, somehow "Fortunate Son" still rings true, and it makes me sad that a lot of young people today have never even heard it. Also, karma to a fellow poli sci major
Post by Fishing Maniac on Aug 7, 2008 12:46:33 GMT -5
People can and should write songs about politics the same way that filmmakers and painters should express themselves in their artwork. Art is a form of expression. I'm not saying that they shouldn't. I'm saying that people should know better than to allow themselves to be nfluenced (dare I say manipulated) by entertainers. When any celebrity begins to endorse a candidate or shoot their mouth off (usually without appropriate information) about an issue it becomes dangerous. My point is that people should not be influenced by the words of public figures to have certain opinions and vote a certain way the same way public figures influence them to by a brand of shampoo. It's an abuse of influence and I think that more often than not it makes people lazy and apathetic about issues. They let artists/celebrities give them their opinions instead of looking for factual information upon which to base their ideas. Most people can't site any factual information to substantiate their opinions on chic issues ("global warming" comes to mind). It's because they have been told what to think and as a result have stopped thinking.
That and I don't like being preached to in between songs about the realities of life I'm trying to escape through entertainment.
Broken Social Scene got the crowd in on a Sing Along. "Put down the bong and vote for Obama...you know that you wanna." Anyone else catch that?
I caught it. They sang that when I saw them at The Sonic Stage....which was the only time I got to see them. I was kinda pissed cause they made it into a song and sang it twice . It was such a short set that this was pretty much all they sang. I would have liked to have heard some more "songs" than listen to them sing the Obama song twice.
I thought it was a huge opportunity that a lot of artists let go to waste. My dad and I were both surprised that Vedder was the first person we heard say anything political all weekend. I'm a little mixed about telling people who to vote for, but a simple "Go out and vote. It's one of the most important things you can do" from some of the bands wouldn't have hurt (or been overtly political)
Last Edit: Aug 17, 2008 23:53:29 GMT -5 by Deleted - Back to Top
;D
For one, I was glad there was not much vote pleading.....and what politiking was done was done rather tastefully imo....
