The Politics of Music

Social commentary has been at the heart of music – whether directly or indirectly – since Thomas Edison invented the phonograph. Leadbelly sang “Jim Crow,” Billie Holiday “Strange Fruit,” Woody Guthrie “Dust Bowl Ballads,” Bob Dylan “Masters of War,” XTC “Generals and Majors,” U2 “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” Pearl Jam “World Wide Suicide.” The list goes on and on. However, I feel that the essence of commentary has waned the last decade or so. I remember being at South By Southwest last year, and marching in an anti-war protest through Austin – including the main strip of the Festival, 6th Street. Very few – if any – musicians joined the march.

Now, I am not saying that musicians should automatically join a protest without cause. Rather, I encourage musicians to reflect the society in which they live. In other words, do NOT be afraid of your opinions and social outlook just for the sake of not ‘offending’ your audience. After all, John Lennon was once famously (mis)quoted as stating that the Beatles were much “bigger than Jesus Christ.” After that, everyone predicted the end of the Beatles. However, they are just as relevant today. Basically, standing up for something – and taking a risk - is better than standing next to something, and hoping that the ‘revolution’ will fix it in the mix.

See ya' on the open road!

- gypsy george.