Politics in Music

[Jack]

Well seeing as there haven't been any fully-fledged debates around here for a while, I decided I would start another one.


Well, as you can probably guess from the title, this debate is about politics in music. Hundreds of bands and artists use politics as a basis for their music, and I want to see what you guys think about this. Is politics in music a good thing; a way of expressing things wrong about society through art? Or is it simply a way to gain attention to older, more adult audiences and boost a bands popularity?

To me, Politics in music is one of the only things that really stands out in a song. It is much harder to write a song that will be accepted by a wide audience about politics than it is to write a song about love or how stoned you get on the weekends. A more recent example of this (and hugely popular one) is Green Day's American Idiot, and there new album (released tomorrow) 21st Century Breakdown.

http://www.dance-lyrics.com/ama/american_idiot_b0002oeri0.jpg

I am really interested to see what you guys think about this...

[perfectmess]

i dont think that politics should be used in music because then listeners will start to feel inclined to listen to music that supports their political beliefs, rather than the music they like. it should be about the music, not politics. in my opinion, the two things should be kept separate. music is the only thing we can actually think and feel freely about these days and it should stay that way.

[Jack]

Perhaps perfectmess, but making music is about a band/artist expressing him or herself through the music they write. If someone likes there music and goes out to by it, then that's good because they share the same views. I don't believe that people should make music for the soul reason of making money, and if politics is something a writer feels strongly about then that is what they should write about.

[perfectmess]

maybe.. but if they were doing it for their sole enjoyment they wouldnt go to a record company. they're doing it for the cash as well. they need to think about the consumers. and what about those who arent musically inclined and cant create their own music? surely they should still be able to enjoy the music they listen to? i'm not saying that music is all about the cash but it should be accessible to everyone. and those who arent fans of 'politics'? i think its all a load of b.s. and avoid that stuff at all costs. i dont want it contaminating the thing i love most.

[Jack]

Again, most bands started on an independent label and were picked up by a major label for doing the thing they love most. If someone doesn't like politically charged music then they shouldn't listen to it, but I think it is good that it is out there. It gets people thinking and really questioning there role and the society we live in, which is something that most, if not all other types of music fail to do.

Music branched out to the ordinary people of the world far more effectively than any philosopher and debating hall can imagine, and it would be a missed opportunity if something as important as society itself was left out of it.

[perfectmess]

everything now is beginning to revolve around politics and even our artists, our musicians, are becoming toys to the political empire. music should be about the sound and the melody, just as much as the words. say i like the melody, like the sound but dont agree with the political stuff, it makes me angry, upset? i'm not going to want to listen to that and thats a waste of a good song.

music shouldnt discriminate.

in the future you might start getting a particularly religious singer singing anti-gay songs. music should NOT become a tool of society.

[Jaz]

Music is about emotions, and any good music can perfectly express a chosen emotion. One of the easiest, like you said, is about love and stuff, but capturing happiness, or depression, or anger is a lot harder. And writing music about poilitics isn't anything special. It is stating a fact. You can't listen to it and empathise can you? You can't relate to a song about politics. Sure, there will be a small market for it, but music is basically emotion. Good music should be able to do that, and express it well, not go on about politics that are in the news and everyone knows about. I do understand what you are saying, but I disagree strongly. Tell me the truth. Do you go out to buy music, and look for politics? Do you listen to mucis when you think about politics? No. You listen to music to feel something, to relate to it. And you can't relate to politics through music. It just doesn't really happen.

[Jack]

I am not saying it is a tool for society, in fact for the case of American Idiot it was the opposite. It wasn't what everyone wanted to hear but it was the truth, and the truth is important out have out there. To say that having a song about politics but with a good melody is a waste of a good song is pretty silly. The lyrics are the story of the song, the thing that makes it, the melody is just the material it is written on.

Politically charged music is not discriminative, it is a way of spreading your views on something that really matters. If someone wants to sing anti-gay songs and people buy them then he has support. I am not saying that this is right, I am just saying that his views are supported. The fact is, they wont be.

And going on Jaz's point, songs about politics often do encapsulate emotions, anger, sadness, distress, paranoia etc. And they often do it far better than other types of music. Politics in music aren't simply about writing what's in the newspapers, it is expressing your views about immensely important subjects that effect everyone. Also, politics is excellent to relate to, to hear that someone else shares your point of view is an excellent feeling. People don't listen to music about politics to get converted into believing something by there favourite band, but because that band believes the same thing they believe.

[perfectmess]

correct me if i am wrong but which came first, music or lyrics?

i think it was music.

lyrics were an addition.

and as jaz said, politics are a statement. music is about emotion and expressing yourself through it.

[Jaz]

I don't disagree with that. I don't disagree that some people will like poilitics enthused songs. But the fact is, most people do listen to music for the emotion. Politics is a bunch of bands trying to be different from the usual, and in my opinion failing. I'll admit, sometimes there will be a song that does involve politics that I love, and well agree with. But I just think, in the grand scheme of things, emotional music is better. Or, better still, if someone can combine strong emotion with politics. I don't want any of that shitty love stuff, but just not a meaningless poilitics song. And the people writing it have tor eally feel what they are saying, beacause then you will get the emotion behind it as well. Do you get what I'm saying?

[Jack]

I completely agree with that Jaz. I completely think that bands writing politically enthuses songs just for the sake of being different then it is crap. I political song needs to be meaningful and needs to be emotional otherwise it will just fall to crap.

[Mercy]

Personally, I like mixing music and politics, but only if the beliefs in the song are similar to my own. xD

[perfectmess]

i define a good song as being something everyone can relate to, among other aspects.. so naturally, having politics involved rules that out.
politics frustrate me, just like religion. they just give a certain type of person the right to do whatever the hell they like.
and bands that think they're being all anarchist by mouthing back at the authority in question? just as bad as the authority in my opinion. they're all playing the game.

[Mercy]

That's not true. =/ Everyone is subject to the law. I know, I just took government.
Some bands actually care about what the government's doing, because some of it isn't right (and they will be punished for it later, I'm sure).

[Crocolyle]

Political standpoints can and should be incorporated into music for several reasons. First off, modern music is often connected with charged emotions, and because political viewpoints are often at the core of someone's beliefs, it is only nature that someone should write a song about political beliefs. Secondly, a lot of songs tell a narrative. Any modern day ballad about a soldier dying in war or someone fighting for a cause, is naturally about politics. Thirdly, Western humor often makes use of satire, so to satirize politics via song, politics would have to be incorporated into the song (see what I did there?).

This being said, I do not agree with musicians just saying stuff. Who cares what the Dixie Chicks think about George Bush? The same goes for actors. I don't care what Kumar from Harold and Kumar thinks. I do not care that Chuck Norris is a creationist. Though they have a lot more influence than I do, I do not think that they know any better than me or anyone else. They should get off their soap boxes and stick to singing or acting, and only incorporate politics when it fits into their profession.

No one really knows about anything. I think most people, me especially, are unqualified to discuss current events, because none of us have a good understanding of the nuances of the hard facts and figures. We just rebottle opinions we've heard and read. Stick to discussing fields you have a degree, or at least experience in.

[Jaz]

I see what you're saying. and I agree to an extent. But music is there for enjoyment, and a good song should be able to express emotion, or whatever message they are trying to portray without many lyrics, and politics being as complicated as it is cannot be expressed without strong lyrics. I admit that this can and does work, but in my opinion music is emotion. Not politics, not noise. Just emotion.

[Jack]

Emotion is portrayed through the lyrics of a politically charged song, and that is what is so great about them. It is one thing to a write a great piece of music, but to then write great music for those lyrics is doubly difficult, and if it is pulled off a politically charged song is doubly good. Without great lyrics, I political song falls to crap, I'll admit, but that is what makes a GOOD political song so good: The Lyrics and Music, not just the music.

[DefJam101]

I find political song lyrics tiring these days. There's only so much you can say in a single song, and it almost always comes out sound shallow and juvenile. As for making an 'emotional statement' against the government, I think there are far more interesting ideas to convey than how X person or thing makes you so angry and not proud of your country because... well, you don't really have time to explain that in a song.

Besides, political ideas expressed through music have virtually no effect on anyone. People don't hear a 3 minute song and suddenly feel like they have learned something new about how things should be run. And if they do, I think that's rather pathetic. For the most part, political lyrics are for people who already share those views. So what's the point? Find something more interesting to talk about.


Certain types of satire and indirect/vague criticism are exempt from this.

[ScottyMcGee]

I don't mind political songs. *shrug* Sing about what you want. And if you don't like the song because of what it implies, then don't listen to it.

My favorite song that has a political undertone is "Take a Bow" by Muse. Anyone heard it before? Good son.

[Bowie20049]

Yes, I have Take a Bow. I say it's dedicated to our previous president

[Fiction]

Where would we be without JibJab and Weird Al? They are the comedians of the future.
As for my music, I prefer it to be a little political, not religious, not fluffy, and generally not crappish.