Music & Politics

[EigthAv]

For as long as I can remember,music and songs have gone hand in hand with politics.There seems to be a song for everything.Music to protest a war by.Music to fight a war by.Songs intended to to back a President.Songs intended to squash a President.Campaign songs.Songs of patriotism.Songs to hate your nation by.One of my faves is the olde Big Jim Folsom anthem,"Ya'll Come".Anyways,here is a thread dedicated to this musical genre.Have fun.:)

[elliebea]

It's a good topic, Mike. Wondering though, if you're hoping to see an explosion of nostalgic rememberances, OR perhaps a friendly debate about genres and lyric meanings.

How about what Jimi Hendrix really intended to express with his rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Woodstock?

I've seen the younger generation frequently refer to that as being disrepectful of the song itself, a disparagement of sorts, hence unpatriotic. Is that what you would call a "Song[s] to hate your nation by?"

I ask because I've always utterly disagreed with the notion that it was intentional disparagement. Indeed, it was passionately patriotic, and quite an emotional rendition and intended as such by the man himself. Jimi Hendrix said in an interview that if it 'sounded tweaked,' it was because "the times are tweaked." And indeed they were. The males of our generation, yours and mine, were dying and being permanently maimed in vast numbers, and everyone including parents, wives, girlfriends, siblings, friends, etc. feared the draft. It was an inflamed time in our history, and everyone was wide awake and aware, regardless of point of view on Viet Nam. Jimi Hendrix expressed all of this, and everyone present experienced it that way. So did most who heard it (at least back then).

What's your take?

[EigthAv]

I was a Hendrix fan.His rendition of the Star Spangled Banner is wonderful. It's alive and as you say,expressed the emotions of the times.1968 and 1969 were very very radical years in American history.<!--EZCODE BR START--><!--EZCODE BR END--><!--EZCODE BR START--><!--EZCODE BR END-->I also liked Edwin Starr's rousing "War". Steppenwolf and Credence Clearwater Revival were spot on. Crosby,Stills,Nash & Young had "Ohio" which still gives me chills.<!--EZCODE BR START--><!--EZCODE BR END--><!--EZCODE BR START--><!--EZCODE BR END-->The c&w artists tend to go for more mainstream patrotic contributions. Did you know that George & Lurleen Wallace released two albums? One is a compilation of excerpts from speeches.The other is a compilation of songs from various artists that the Wallaces used over the years in campaign rallies.There was a time when the Wallaces and their cult following really did believe a Wallace Presidency was going to happen. With all due respects,I'm glad it didn't.:eek <!--EZCODE BR START--><!--EZCODE BR END--><!--EZCODE BR START--><!--EZCODE BR END-->"Abraham,Martin and John".I loved that one too.Sgt.Barry Sadler's "Green Berets". A doozie! I would go so far as to consider James Brown's smashing "Living in America" as a song of patrotism.Chuck Berry's "Back in the USA" was cool. I also liked the Beatle's "Back in the USSR".

[Krista]

I recently went to a U2 concert back in May, and they are definitely a political band. As many people know, Bono was one who started www.one.org to get people to put pressure on politicians before the G8 conference, to aid Africa. The concert had alot of that involved in it. They played a song entitled "Bullet the Blue Sky" and had a Jet Fighter Airplane flying on light curtains behind them. During the song Bono had a blindfold that had Coexist on it, the C was from the Crescent Moon from the Muslim religion, the star of david was in place of the x, and the t was replaced by a cross. He got down on his knees and crossed his hands and pretended to be a hostage. Very political, but also pretty powerful. Before "Where the Streets Have No Name" the light curtains were lit up with a map of africa, and in another part of the show they had smoke come up on sides of the stage and a child projected onto the smoke that was saying the civil rights amendment(i guess its called) from the UN. Bono also dedicated a song to the Troops called "Running to Stand Still". It was an odd selection, but nice that he dedicated one to them.

Rock and Roll has always been about "sticking it to the man" as Jack Black said in School of Rock. :)

[bjb22]

I watched the end of Farenheit 911 last night and the Neil Young song "Keep On Rocking In The Free World" was an inspiration. Too bad, as it relates to Grants Pass, Oregon spycho-subliminal subterfuge, that the spirit that song manifests is virtually impossible to acheive.

"We got gangsters in power
And law breakers making the rules"

"When You Gonna Wake Up?"- Bob Dylan

Nonetheless, the endless road continues...

"...Is all I ever have.."

"Redemption Songs"- Bob Marley

[EigthAv]

It's easier to sing about the big decisions and the big bosses than it is to make those tough choices and/or be the bosses.I had a lot of fun playing bass guitar on Back in the USSR and a few other polly tix rockers,but don't expect me to regulate your taxes or tote your m-16s.:lol :lol Rare Earth's "Big Brother" is wicked cool! 8) The Doors,"Unknown Soldier". Dire times inspire great art.

[bjb22]

"The Revolution Will Not Be Televised"- Gil Scott Heron

[elliebea]

I was a Hendrix fan.His rendition of the Star Spangled Banner is wonderful. It's alive and as you say,expressed the emotions of the times.

Steppenwolf and Credence Clearwater Revival were spot on.

"Abraham,Martin and John".I loved that one too.Sgt.Barry Sadler's "Green Berets". A doozie! I would go so far as to consider James Brown's smashing "Living in America" as a song of patrotism.Chuck Berry's "Back in the USA" was cool. I also liked the Beatle's "Back in the USSR".

Rare Earth's "Big Brother" is wicked cool! The Doors,"Unknown Soldier". Dire times inspire great art.

Wow Mike, I could've guessed that you're a musician without having just now read it! You've an ear for 'musician's music!'
And I'm so glad to hear someone acknowledge the meaning of Hendrix' rendition.

About "dire times" and "great art," I'm convinced that comparable songs are being written in the current times, but corporations won't publish them and radio for sure won't play them. Talent isn't generational (though alot of people of our generation like to believe that!)

I remember being at a Dylan concert in a huge venue in the early '70's and upon the line "Even the president must sometimes stand naked" brought a standing ovation, this being merely months before the Nixon resignation.

Dunno who George and Lurleen are, but the names sound familiar and somehow I'm getting this almost comical mental picture!

Are you familiar with John Prine? As you would say, his stuff has wicked great lyrics!


bjb - Neil Young's anything is fantastic!

DMBChic - On Bono -- unfortunately, there was more to the Live8 event than met the eye. When I get time I'll dig up a link and see what you think.