Music and Politics

[kepstein8888]

Do you listen to music based on politics?

If Natalie said INTJs eat kitty litter, would you run over Dixie Chicks CDs with your tractor? Or do you not give a crap, so long as the music is good?

If the lyrics of a song offend you or are at odds with your politics, does it affect what you think of the song or the artist?

Do you think artists should get involved in politics, or use their popularity and fame to promote their agenda?

Etc...

[Shauru]

Do you listen to music based on politics?

Well it's hard to say. Depends how thinly veiled the politics are. I like Marilyn Manson's older stuff because it definitely commented socially, maybe no so much politically.

I tried KMFDM based on a recommendation, but when you're screaming things "Bush is Evil, Fuck the War" to music, it just doesn't impress me.

If Natalie said INTJs eat kitty litter, would you run over Dixie Chicks CDs with your tractor? Or do you not give a crap, so long as the music is good?

I'm an INTJ, I was curious, so sue me. And I have no idea who Natalie is and I don't care for the Dixie Chicks. I can name on a single hand the bands I like enough to purchase their stuff. Hardly any music is 'good'.

If the lyrics of a song offend you or are at odds with your politics, does it affect what you think of the song or the artist?

If it's anything like KMFDM, then it's going right off, whether I agree or not. Once again depends on how it's presented, but like I noted I don't listen to a lot of music anyway.

Do you think artists should get involved in politics, or use their popularity and fame to promote their agenda?

This is huge pet peeve of mine. I hate when other people think celebrities should shut up about their views or politics. They're people with opinions too, they worked hard to get where they are(sometimes thats debatable I know) and as such are just as entitled to their opinion. As the people who have the means, I think they should perhaps be somewhat more entitled to get involved. Put some money and energy towards what they preach. And sure you may not agree entirely with their political direction, but at least they're using their celebrity to move an agenda they believe will make the world better forward.

[kepstein8888]

I'm an INTJ, I was curious, so sue me. And I have no idea who Natalie is and I don't care for the Dixie Chicks.

That was just a high profile example; Natalie was the "Chick" who allegedly said she was ashamed of America or GWB, or something to that effect. Perhaps asking how someone would react if their favorite artist said "INTJs eat kitty litter" would have been better.

...I hate when other people think celebrities should shut up about their views or politics...

To me, the bottom line is freedom of speech. As for preference, I don't have a strong opinion on this, so long as they deliver tunes that I like. For example, Ted Nugent is a right-wing, self-righteous loudmouth who doesn't know what the **** he's talking about half the time. I don't like his style, but I like his guitar style.

[Taylored]

Do you listen to music based on politics?

If Natalie said INTJs eat kitty litter, would you run over Dixie Chicks CDs with your tractor? Or do you not give a crap, so long as the music is good?

If the lyrics of a song offend you or are at odds with your politics, does it affect what you think of the song or the artist?

Do you think artists should get involved in politics, or use their popularity and fame to promote their agenda?

Etc...

I do not care about an artist's political views. I listen to what is pleasing to my ears.
I find that the majority of entertainers do not share my political views, but that does not bother me because entertainers are typically not very intelligent.

I do not like that artists use their popularity and public trust to try to sway people into believing their BS, but there is not much I can do about that.

[rara avis]

There is something to be said for voting with your dollar. If an artist- or company, for that matter, is pouring every dollar you give them into a ferocious campaign against everything you believe in... you might think twice about buying their latest product.

My mother won't listen to Barbra Streisand, or see Ron Howard movies in the theater, because she disagrees with their politics- it's a vote-with-your-dollar thing, but it's also a gesture of personal disgust.

Personally, I don't pay that much attention to artists' politics- particularly musicians'. If their art is about their politics, I'm sure I'll notice then, and it will have some effect on my enjoyment of their art, so whether I listen or not falls naturally into place.

---------- Post added 01-03-2010 at 12:52 PM ----------

I find that the majority of entertainers do not share my political views, but that does not bother me because entertainers are typically not very intelligent.

Broadly speaking, I agree with this. Many people make enjoyable music, but on a more specific, personal level are evidently abominable idiots. I'm surprised when I see anyone in the entertainment industry behave with integrity and intelligence that resonates with me... so I do a lot of blind eye turning.