uli2000

I have kinda been thinking about this for the past couple of days. I know the past couple of months Ive skipped buying the new They Might Be Giants album and the new Bad Religion album because of political projects they have done lately (TMBG doing a song for a moveon.org cd and BR for participating in rock against Bush). I will pick up both of these albums after the election, but I dont feel the need to do it now, because I will just be supporting their politics which I dont agree with. What do you feel about it? What would you do?

Tscott

There's a whole world of people out there and everyone's unique. If I had to find out that people held the exact same views I held before buying their music, movies, books, etc. I'd be missing out on a lot of great stuff.

The TMBG album you mention doesn't even mention politics, so it's not like you'll be listening to a rant for or against your own views- it's just TMBG doing what they do best, singing some wacky well constructed songs. (I don't know about the BR album, I haven't heard it). So they support of a different party than you do. So what? Many people you know or like do as well, that's what is great about being in a free country. That doesn't mean you should shun these people, just that they've got a differing opinion. And they've got a right to act on it if they want, just like you do.

Personally I find exposure to other opinions to be an opportunity to explore my own. Why does this person feel this way? What exactly don't I agree with? Where are they coming from and how does that differ from my viewpoint? Etc.

For example, I like a lot of the work of Ani Difranco but she holds many often extreme viewpoints that I don't and she often includes them in song. I still enjoy listening to her music, and she's given me a lot to think about in what I believe and why I believe it- but, she hasn't changed my mind on anything yet, if that's your underlying worry in your question. Whenever I do change my views (and I have, and may in the future) it's never been because someone told me to, but because I had come to a realization on my own, or saw things from a different perspective. And I never wonder if I should be supporting someone with such strong views that I may not agree with. However, I do feel good supporting a decent folk artist who, in the tradition of all folk artists, is willing to speak their mind while putting out some very listenable music.

Anyway, I won't tell you what to do. The bottom line is, you can go and buy what you want, whenever you want it. It's your right, and your money.

Burnt Alive

Bad Religion has always been a political band.
And, they've had the same political stance since day one.

Either you're a new fan, or you haven't listened to the lyrics on their last 11 albums (or even read into the album titles themselves, for that matter).

POWERBOMB

Not music, but I won't buy a J. Lo dvd or see any of her movies for comments she made a few years ago. She is prolly the only entertainment artist who I completly ignore and despise.

movieking

I liked Toby Keith before The Angry American and some of his comments towards the Dixie Chicks and the like. Ok, Toby, the only kind of free speech in the US should be what you agree with. Whatever you say, comrade.

The guy's a redneck asshole. Regardless, if he had put out a decent CD in the last couple of years I might have picked it up. I haven't liked his latest stuff.

Giantrobo

I bought Rage Against the Machine's last album before the lead singer quit. But that was after a long debate with myself concerning their socialist views. I've always liked their sound and style but the shit I would see them support and do shows for got on my fuckin' nerves.

To be honest, I'm conservative and most bands have an opposite political view. It's the nature of artistic folks to swing on the side of Liberalism and that's simply the way of things. So what can I do?

Nothing.

fashionvictim86

I don't like Green Day's politics but I've been a fan of them for 10 years and they're my favorite band so that didn't stop me from buying American Idiot.

Jason

But if you want music by politicians you agree with, you'r stuck with Ted Nugent and country music (minus the Dixie Chicks). That would suck.

Buy em used. That way you get the music you want legally, the artist doesn't get any of your money, and you're helping an independent record store. Sounds like a win-win-win situation to me.

atlantamoi

Touche.

I would guess that the vast majority of music and movies I own are created by people that I don't agree with politically. Billy Bragg, Gang of 4 and Morrissey (just to name a few) have music that I don't agree with lyrically at times, but I think they are all brilliant at what they do. I can be a big fan and still disagree.

Having said that, there are times politics have gotten in the way.
I can't stand Rage Against the Machine. Half because of their music and half because of some of the things they espouse. I guess it all depends on how much I like the music before I can tolerate what's being said.

Groucho

1. The poll question is just the opposite of your subject header, which means if people read the subject header, then came here and voted without checking carefully, their response would be different then intended. Big forum poll no-no.

2. What difference does it make if you buy the album now or wait until after the election. I don't understand that thinking at all.

DJLinus

Exactly. Hell, I have most of Consolidated's albums (now there are some leftists).

I have passed on buying benefit compilations when I didn't agree with the organization that it supported, though. There the money's going directly to something that I oppose whereas with an artist that I don't agree may just use it to buy toiletries or something.

uli2000

Ive been a fan of theirs for about 10 years. I know all about the politics of their music. I dont care for the politics, what Ive allways loved about them was the passion, the rawness.


I guess what I was kinda getting at was does anyone else see this as supporting something you dont believe in. I guess I was being a little bit of a butthead. I think I will buy them before the election.

Tracer Bullet

Just buy them. I've never understood this idea. Do you interrogate every person you deal with on a business level about their political beliefs?

Amel

I don't pay too much attention to the political stuff. I listen to bands like RATM without agreeing with everything they do and say. It's really all about the music to me. But I did give away my R. Kelly discs after all his recent troubles. That kind of stuff bugs me.

Michael Corvin

I usually don't care about a bands/artists politics. That being said I disagree with two things: One, what the Dixie Chicks did. Free speech and talking smack on you own soil is one thing, but to do it overseas?... fine line I know but whatever.

The only true band I will never purchase a disc from is System of a Down. I read an interview with Serj (is that is name?), and he just ranted about how he hates america and thinks its ironic the majority of the public can't figure that out by listening to his music and line his pocketbook anyway. I mean this guy seems to hate us as much as Saddam, which makes him quite the hippocrite since his wealth comes from us, well not me.

Toad

Yes - I usually detest entertainers shoving their political views down my yapper. I have not bought albums/seen movies because of it, and I'm considering burning my Dixie Chicks, Springsteen, DMB, and U2 CD's. Also Alec Baldwin sucks.

wendersfan

I don't really understand the poll questions (postmodernism hurts my tiny brain) but I would never not buy an album because the artist's politics disagreed with mine. Billy Bragg's a socialist and Johnny Ramone was a Republican, and I love them both, man.

ChiTownAbs, Inc

Tell you what ... you sure as hell won't find me at a Michael Moore movie.

Giantrobo

Do you have link for this? I've liked them and I've seen them in concert a couple times. They're Armenian and after 9/11 I remember the guitar player saying some stuff.....

das Monkey

I don't think any of my favorite bands (or entertainers for that matter) agree with me politically. As long as they have enough class not to shove their politics down my throat and turn their concerts into campaign stops, I don't really care.

Some artists do cross a "line" IMO, and I will not support them, but that's a very small group, and odds are I didn't like them before anyway, so it's no big deal.

das

cactusoly

Ted Nugent is a redneck asshole... but he kicks major ass and I'm a big fan.

The Antipodean

The polls questions are incoherent.

nodeerforamonth

I'm usually torn. Especially since my politics are the exact opposite of 99% of the musicians out there.

But don't want to be missing out. I have not bought a CD due to a musician's politics, but it's not a common practice for me. I also have bought a CD due to a musician's politics (though that a way more rarer thing for me to do).

I'm just way too into the music to make the sacrifice of not listening to a band I like.

To me anyways, lyrics are just an added bonus. If I don't agree with the lyrics, so what. If I do, it makes the song just that much better. An added bonus.

tonyc3742

Yes and no. If the band is 'known' for political statement/music, if I like the music, I'll still buy/listen to them. the Dead Kennedys, for example, have vastly divergent political opinions from my own, but they're one of my favorite bands. Even went to see Jello do a spoken word back at school; I disagreed with him in some ways, and thought he was full of crap in some ways, but I still 'enjoyed' listening to him speak. But again, with DK/Jello, their politics *is* their art, so it's accepted.

Morrissey's last one, however, I was about to buy when I heard him wish death upon GWB instead of Reagan when Reagan died. Agree or disagree with politics, that's just a damn tacky thing to do.

I also listen to Slayer and King Diamond though I'm not a Satanist.

The bigger question in my mind is "Do they use their music/fame as a platform to spout their opinions, when those opinions are irrelevant to their music?" If the answer is Yes, then odds are I won't be buying their stuff.

Michael Corvin

Unfortunately no. It was in a magazine a few years ago. Pre-9/11 maybe. It was definitely before their big break out. And it was only Serj that was being outspoken, the rest of the band didn't share his views. That was the vibe I got at the time. Just one of those things you read and just sticks in your mind. Maybe he(they?) have had a change of heart since they are millionaires now. Or maybe he(they?) were just trying to be 'shocking' to sell some albums. Who knows.