and much of art is political. I would hate to think what a person would lose if they decided not to listen to anything that was political.

I agree, to a point. I also think that music is entertainment.
And sometimes being entertained means not having to think about the realities of everyday life like politics and taxes

and artists who use the music to make a point?

I was speaking historically.

Personally I believe music as well as other art forms are there to speak to the times on many occasions. It is up to the individual to reject or use the information the art is presenting or even how it is interpreted.

I was also speaking mainly of music without the poetry or lyrics. Sorry. I would hate to lose so much of the classical repertoire by rejecting the music because of the politics behind it.

With classical music (no lyrics), it is difficult to ascertain a political message from the music alone. I was thinking more of
modern artists, libs AND cons who hit you over the head with their particular agendas. Please don't get me wrong, topical music will always have a place in the musical pantheon, it's just not to my particular liking.

...but I have released over the years "satirical/political/punk/rock" by my band Benedict Arnold & The Traitors.

Here's a "latest news" link.

It's according to if it's like Dylan and indirect or if it's simply in your face with little wit.

If there is not wit involved then most of the time it's "talking points" or cliches that get used and it's a crappy song.

A good song will have a solid melody and provoking lyrics...it should cross boundaries in being a good song for non political folks and for politically conscious folks. Think "Rage Against the Machine" or Dylan.

artists that Rage against the very "Machine" that allows them to
become millionaires.

Have a right winger in the family who claimed that it depends on who's politics it is.
There is a world of difference between Bob Dylan doing 'Hurricane' And a piss drunk Hank Williams making an ass of himself braying on about Obama.

Here is my politics in music joke of the year nominee.
Seen on FOX news Former Minister, ex.gov. Huckabee of Arkansas, one time Presidential hopeful of the religious right. A man who i had seen on the campaign trail rail against the corrupting influence of 'modern culture' ...Sitting in as bass player with Ted Nugent playing 'Cat Scratch fever'...can you smell the irony in that one?

When I was in college in the spring of 1973, a friend came over to my dorm room, totally tripping and ecstatic, with Dark Side of the Moon on vinyl, a pair of headphones, and 3 hits of really great purple microdot.

He said, "You really, really gotta take this, put these on, and listen to this record. Like really."

I did, and I can honestly say that this particular experience had an extremely profound permanent effect on my life perspective. I was already pretty radical, but that experience sent me over the edge; it was a musical and lyrical validation of so many things that I had been thinking and living for the previous seven years.

Most of the original songs that I write and perform are political, even if they don't seem so on the surface, and I have a fondness for artists that say something with both music and lyrics.

"Us And Them"

Us and Them
And after all we're only ordinary men
Me, and you
God only knows it's not what we would choose to do
Forward he cried from the rear
and the front rank died
And the General sat, as the lines on the map
moved from side to side
Black and Blue
And who knows which is which and who is who
Up and Down
And in the end it's only round and round and round
Haven't you heard it's a battle of words
the poster bearer cried
Listen son, said the man with the gun
There's room for you inside
Down and Out
It can't be helped but there's a lot of it about
With, without
And who'll deny that's what the fightings all about
Get out of the way, it's a busy day
And I've got things on my mind
For want of the price of tea and a slice
The old man died

Lyrics to Us and Them, From Dark Side of the Moon

I am a new member, having found this site quite by chance - so please overlook any faux pas I may inadvertently display!

Based in A'stan, I have just recently become a huge fan of the band "The Grass Roots" and particularly of Rob Grill. Please could someone answer the following question: Was Rob Grill Democrat or Republican? If his party affiliations aren't known, then did he show an inclination towards being liberal or conservative?

Thanks!!!

If it's done well and the song is good I like it. If it feels like a speech you put to music, it's probably going to suck.

Last edited Wed Sep 18, 2013, 12:50 PM - Edit history (1)

but then again, I am of the belief that everything is political, even the toilet paper or bidet you use, or maybe both!

My band has been making music that is not shy of tackling moral and political issues at all.

I also like really dumb, meaningless stuff too. It all just depends.

In general I like it when the musician's lyrics have something political. It shouldn't be every song but to give a statement to the society or something like this is ok. However I have got the feeling that there are way too many musicians who pretend to be political, who just want to distinguish themselves or just have no clue of what they're singing about. So in these cases I don't really appreciate politcs in my music.