I guess when you've got:

- "BITUSA" being used as a patriotic campaign slogan
- "Lust for Life" which is a song about cold-turkey junksick being used to sell cruises
- "Lord, Buy me a Mercedes-Benz" a song about the patheticness of people who want Mercedes-Benzes being used to sell Mercedes-Benzes

...it becomes clear that marketing people are convinced that Americans have no ability to interpret lyrics.

Most people will only "hear" the chorus, or the part that's in the song title.

It's like watching a couple make out while REM's "The One I Love" is playing.

I think a big part of it is trying to see the music as a work of art, rather than taking it personally. Think of the singer and/or lyricist as playing a character, rather than espousing beliefs to be followed. I imagine this is how Elton John can admire Eminem's music despite the anti-gay rhetoric.

Why? Do you think Americans shouldn't care about the Clash because of I'm So Bored with the USA? Do you think classic rock fans shouldn't care for them because of the way they mock Elvis, Beatles and the Rolling Stones in 1977? How many Britons do you think agree with the sentiments in The Guns of Brixton or White Riot?

If only people who agreed with the lyrics listened to the Clash, they'd have like five fans.

Considering Joplin herself owned a Porsche, I don't think that's it at all. What she's mocking are people who expect good things to fall into their laps. Hence the repetition of "Oh Lord, won't you buy me," and the verse

with its emphasis on waiting for money to seek her out.

If you say so. Regardless, not a song for an M-B ad.

I think we just have to agree to disagree here. If I was in a band spouting off my liberal beliefs, I wouldn't understand how conservatives could dig what I'm singing about while still considering themselves conservative.

It's like zombeaner said above, I vote with my wallet. If I don't agree politically with what someone's singing about, I'm not going to support their ability to do it for a living.

I guess conservatives are more open minded and less judgmental.

bwahahahhahaha

yeah, we saw just how well The Dixie Chicks were treated for being a country band who weren't afraid to say they weren't Republican. We saw the openmindedness and lack of judgment with them.....

I was never really a fan of Dixie Chicks even if I agreed with their political beliefs, but the way they were treated for admitting they disliked Bush (and the same people who called them traitors for daring to attack the president attack Obama daily) was evil and made me lose respect for the country music audience as a whole.

Holy hell, that's one of the funniest things I've ever read on the internet. I tried to end the argument amicably ("agree to disagree") and you hit back by insinuating that I'm closed-minded and judgmental. Classic!

Just the example I was going to use!

Just to be clear, I also don't understand how the OP is able to listen to outwardly hostile homophobic music and simultaneously claim to be an "active gay rights advocate." Personally, I will never set foot on the island of Jamaica or any other countries where human rights violations are public policy, so you can bet your ass I'm not going to support any musician's ability to bring their bigotry to the international stage.

And to address the OP's concerns directly, there are plenty of American ska and reggae bands (and rap and hip-hop groups) that are much more worthy of your attention. There have been a handful of threads on this very forum from people asking for recommendations. I suggest you check those.

I say, I say, that's what we here call a joke. A joke, son, a joke.

You are closed minded. You said so in your first post in this thread:

I mean, if you met a guy who said, "I won't watch Brokeback Mountain cuz that movie is about teh gays having buttsekhs," wouldn't you call him closed-minded?

I wonder how many of those people were later riding the wave of "Bush hate" when it became the "in" thing to not like him.

They also will never score another hit on country radio and wingnut Republicans loathe them as much as they hate Michael Moore, Jane Fonda and Rosie O'Donnell. All because of comments they made that they refused to apologize for and in all honesty had no reason to.

The same people who attacked them and had cd demolitions and the sort because they didn't support Bush are the same people who want Obama impeached. If we're supposed to respect the office of the presidency in one case, we should respect it in all. The same people who hate The Dixie Chicks for making a public comment that they didn't support Bush love people like Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh and others in that ilk who make big $$$$ bashing Obama and Nancy Pelosi and other high powered Democrats. I don't see the difference in why bashing one side is okay but bashing the other isn't?

At this point conservative is just a word that means "repressed homosexual".

I thought about how some might take that particular stance/feeling, not saying anything because Obama is black. I thought it was a huge disservice to the guy to not treat him the same as any of his predecessors. I like Obama, but if he screws up, I'm not holding my tongue.

I think it's a good question and I've always wondered myself why one song about God or hating **** or whatever hate they're spouting bothers me but another doesn't.

I can't get enough of Mahalia Jackson but Jesus Take the Wheel makes me want to barf. I've sung along to some rap songs that say something I feel is totally wrong and rocked my butt off. Also, the level of hate or the way they express their beliefs in the song matters. Is it just a song about hating something or is it just a line in the song? Are you saying god makes you feel great and happy or are you saying it's the only way to think that's right? Is it just the beat or their voice that overcomes the message and let's me enjoy it?

I don't know and the truth is I don't really care. I didn't write it and I'm not putting it out there, I'm just enjoying it. We all do things that are totally hypocritical and make no sense. I guess the fact that I can admit to being hypocritical justifies it for me.

For those of you who say you won't support artists with different views than your own- Would you refuse to listen to, or see a concert by Ravi Shankar because he is a Hindu? (Assuming, of course, that you're not Hindu) Or, more to the point, if you wanted to discover new music from around the world, would you only allow yourself to listen to music from countries that share your own political and religious beliefs?

Or suppose your favorite band, whose albums you've loved for so long came out with an announcement that they've converted to Scientology (again, assuming you're not a Scientologist). They say it won't change their music or their lyrics. Do you: A) Stop listening to the band altogether including all the music you used to love? B) Still listen to the "pre-conversion stuff", but don't support anything that came out after? or C) Give the band a pass because you enjoyed them so much in the past.

They eventually did apologize.


http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...he_War_in_Iraq


Nowadays I won't support musicians and companies who promote views I strongly disagree wtih.
I used to be a big fan of gangsta rap, but then I grew up and realized that much of it promotes an anti-law enforcement sentiment (despite the fact that these tuff guys rely on them for protection), as well as gang life. I'll add more later.

How do you feel about The Godfather, or various films with Jesse James and Billy the Kid as heroes?

I've only seen the Godfather among the movies you mentioned. When I first saw the Godfather I loved it. Now I get tired of movies that have the protagonist be the criminal. That's why I stayed away from Public Enemies.

That said, many gangsta rappers take it one step further and proclaim that what they're rapping is NOT a role.

Snoop Dogg is an actual gang member, and despite not being active any more still bangs on wax.

I've been looking forward to some of Games recent albums but after finding out he has a song called "911 is a joke (cop killa)," and seeing videos of police officers killed in the line of duty, I refuse to support him and others like him.

Here's a sample:

cause you muthafuckas corrupted
can't be trusted
bullet-proof vest wearing always on that tough shit
punk ass police pull me outta my seat
what make a muthafucka wanna plant drugs on me

^But he still raps about slanging drugs and being a criminal in other songs.

So same with movies too. I don't support films like Public Enemies or Hustle & Flow.

< Can't believe it's been so long since I've heard (read) the phrase "bangs on wax"

I'd have to ditch more than half my music collection if I stopped listening to artists I disagree with in real life. If I ever disregard any music it would most likely be over specific lyrics and not the artist. They lyrics would have to be extremely over the top for me to really care much.

I find it hard to believe an artist/band stands a chance today if their lyrics are describing hate (or worse) towards gay people. Who specifically are we talking about here?

OP what religious artists do you like that you're conflicted over?

Dancehall Reggae is rife with homophobia. Specifically Beenie Man and Elephant Man are two of the biggest stars to have gotten in hot water for this.