Can you enjoy music if you disagree with its politics?

[MrChad]

I don't want this to become political, so I'm hoping it stays in OT.

Music has always been a vehicle to express strong opinions, especially political ones. I've always been able to look past politics in songs when I disagreed with them and appreciate the music for what it is. I'm curious how other folks feel.

Two strong instances of political music I can think of are Rage Against The Machine's self-titled album (anti-capitalist) and Green Day's American Idiot (anti-Bush, anti-war). There are examples from all genres, from hip-hop to country. What are your thoughts? Can you look past the political message, or do the lyrics turn you away?

 

[Journer]

yes...i love RATM and green day is not bad either...i freaking hate green day's political message too :/

 

[slsmnaz]

The 2 you listed were my first thoughts. I have listened to Rage and Green Day for a long time but hate the "message". Sometimes I think they try too hard.

 

[George P Burdell]

Most of the songs I "like" have something that caught my attention. It may be any of these: a good beat, a good tune, great intro, good lead vocals, good chorus or just a 2-second part of the song that sounds awesome. So, to quite an extent, I don't care about the political meaning of the music I listen to. Especially if the song is in another language.

 

[DivideBYZero]

I rather listen to their lyrics than something like 50cents 'Candy Shop' or similar that appear penned by a nine year old.

 

[dug777]

RAGE

 

[dug777]

Can you actually name an example of a song that you DON'T like just because of its politics? I can't think of any

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

Depends on the level of the political contents and on how it is brought. Racist songs are a reason never to listen to someone again.

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: dug777
Can you actually name an example of a song that you DON'T like just because of its politics? I can't think of any

Personally, no. But the Dixie Chicks lost a lot of followers a few years ago because of political reasons (although those were statements they made and not actual songs).

 

[vi edit]

I guess if you are really really politically engaged and followed the views of the band closely you could understand the political message in their lyrics. But most of the time bands (like Rage) have such obscure references that your average listener has no idea.

They're mad. Ok. I get that part. What are they mad at? No clue.

I've never been a lyric oriented person though. Music has always been more of a background thing for me to use while working out or to add "noise" to a quiet room.

 

[theprodigalrebel]

I can appreciate good music without paying attention to the lyrics. For instance, I've never really paid attention to RATM's lyrics. I remember the choruses but not necessarily the whole rant.

I know most ATOTers wouldn't even touch anything Linkin Park makes but this is off their new record and joins the Anti-Bush/Anti-War bandwagon:

Hands Held High by Linkin Park

Turn my mic up louder I got to say somethin.
Lightweights step it aside when we come in
Feel it in your chest, the syllables get pumpin
People on the street they panic and start running.
Words on loose leaf sheet complete coming.
I jump in my mind and summon the rhyme i'm dumping.
Healing the blind I promise to let the sun in
Sick of the dark ways we march to the drumming
Jump when they tell us that they wanna to see jumping.
Fuck that, I wanna see some fist pumping.
risk something, take back what's yours
say something that you know they might attack you for
cause I'm sick of being treated like I have before
like it's stupid standing for what I'm standing for.
Like this war's really just a different brand of war.
Like it doesn't cater to rich and abandon poor.

Like they understand you in the back of the jet,
when you can't put gas in your tank,
and these fuckers are laughing their way to the bank, cashing the check, asking you to have compassion,
and have some respect,
for a leader so nervous in an obvious way
Stuttering and mumbling for nightly news to replay
and the rest of the world watching at the end of the day
in the living room laughing like what did he say?

Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen

In my living room watching, I am not laughing, Cause
when it gets tense I know what might happen
The world is cold, the bold men take action
have to react or get blown into fractions.
Ten years old, it's something to see, another
kid my age drug under a jeep,
taken and bound, and found later under a tree,
I wonder if he had thought the next one could be me.

Do you see, the soldiers, they're out today they
Brush the dust from bulletproof vests away.
It's ironic, at times like this you pray,
but a bomb blew the mosque up yesterday.
There's bombs on the buses, bikes, roads,
inside your market,your shops, your clothes, My dad,
He's got a lot of fear I know
but enough pride inside not to let that show.
My brother had a book he would hold with pride
A little red cover with a broken spine.
On the back, he hand wrote a quote inside:
"when the rich wage war, it's the poor who die"
And meanwhile, the leader just talks away
Stuttering and mumbling for nightly news to replay
and the rest of the world watching at the end of the day
both scared and angry like what did he say?

Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen.

With hands held high into a sky so blue,
the ocean opens up to swallow you.

 

[manowar821]

I've never had this problem, no bands or electronic artists I enjoy have ever had opposite political views than myself. A couple of them have slightly different views, but not really conflicting. I answered "no" though.

 

[ThePresence]

Depends. I don't like singers or actors who think their opinion matters more than the average Joe because they have a particular talent. If the message is in the song it's easier for me to take than if the song is from a guy or group who stand for something I strongly disagree with. I can just not listen to a song, but it's different when someone's political views begin to define who they are. I stopped listening to Springsteen when he became a political hack. I just couldn't get into his music anymore when my brain was constantly reminding me of things he said.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

i hate the anti-bush crap in most of the songs...not that i'm a bush fan but its just the same stupid argument that we've heard hundreds of times. many rap songs with their whole 'helpless black people always being oppressed' bullshit is pissing me off too.

 

[lokiju]

So many bands now days try to have a political slant like Green Day and Rage and IMO it's gotten stale and old.

I don't give a shyte about their political views, I just wanna hear the music.

 

[Mucho]

NO! I don't listen to Country Music mainly because I think they are all rednecks.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

There is almost no conservative popular music (other than country, which I hate anyway), so this isn't an issue that comes up for me. Although I am liberal, some bands are guilty of beating the listener over the head excessively with their political beliefs, but it's nothing I can't deal with.

 

[manowar821]

Originally posted by: Inspector Jihad
i hate the anti-bush crap in most of the songs...not that i'm a bush fan but its just the same stupid argument that we've heard hundreds of times. many rap songs with their whole 'helpless black people always being oppressed' bullshit is pissing me off too.

Yeah, repressed, with their 300 dollar fubu outfits and Cadillac Escalades. :laugh:

The truly repressed people aren't heard on MTV.

Rap is a joke, nowadays.

Well.. Most of it. There are still a couple amazing rap artists.

 

[manowar821]

Originally posted by: DonVito
There is almost no conservative popular music (other than country, which I hate anyway), so this isn't an issue that comes up for me. Although I am liberal, some bands are guilty of beating the listener over the head excessively with their political beliefs, but it's nothing I can't deal with.

I agree. It's gotten to the point where even bands like Anti-Flag annoy me, now.

NoFX still manages to pull it off, though. Probably because not every single one of their songs is about the same anti-bush anti-nationalism topic. They hit a LOT of topics, including non-political ones.

I :heart: NoFX

 

[clamum]

I can as long as they're not too ridiculous. I listen to Rage and System of a Down occasionally but don't agree with all of their politics, and some of it is just stupid.

Anti-Flag, while I think the music is good, I don't listen to cause their lyrics (to me) are just fuckin stupid.

 

[Skacer]

I'm a beatwhore. Lyrics always come second to me.

 

[Kev]

Speaking of political lyrics, I can't believe NIN used Capital G as the 2nd single. That is by far the worst song on the cd. Probably the worst song trent has ever made.

 

[Oil]

American Idiot is good but I thought Green Day was better in their earlier, drugged out albums (Dookie and Insomniac)

 

[Aikouka]

Yes, I tend to listen to Muse often enough and their latest album is almost completely anti-Bush and anti-War. Hell, the first song on the CD is practically telling Bush he's going to hell for what he's done... okay, it is telling him that with a line like, "You'll burn in hell... yeah you'll burn in hell!"

 

[glenn beck]

I am pretty conservative, and just as long as it is not over done, I will listen to anything, it isn't like they have been saying the same stuff for years now anyways, rap and rock.


Fact is the more liberal they are the better it sounds(prob cause of the drugs, I dunno)