While most musicians tend to stay way from the political arena, there is a number of other (both known and unknown) who are speaking out through their music. Most recently we have seen rappers come out in opposition to the Bush administration and it’s polices. Kayne West’s comment at a live concert “George Bush doesn’t care about black people.” helped push other prominent hiphop artist like Big Boi (of Outkast), David Banner, and Young Jezzy into playing a concert for the hurricane’s victims.
If one-steps out of the “main stream” music industry, there are a verity of artists who are making their stand against the Bush administration, and seem to be gaining popularity.
Omaha folk singer Conor Oberst of the band “Bright Eyes” has performed some of his more heavily political songs on national television. Most recently, he appeared on Jay Leno singing “When the President talks to God.” Spouting lyrics like “Does he smell his own bullshit, when he kneels beside the presidential bed?”
A single from the latest Bright Eyes album called “Road to Joy” proclaims
“When your asked to fight war that’s over nothing, it’s best to be on the side that’s gonna win…I ‘m not sure how all of this got started, but we’ll make em’ goddamn sure how it’s gonna end”
This single got extensive play on the radio and rose to number two on KROQ’s top five.
Mick Star, an indie singer songwriter penned an anti-war song “Jets” and released the song on the Internet were it gained enormous popularity and is being downloaded all over the world. Other artists such as REM, System of a Down, Jill Scott, and even the Rolling Stones have released songs criticizing the administration and it’s policies.
So in the end it seems that we have taken another page from the Vietnam era. Music has always been a gauge for the thoughts and feelings of a society. Today it is much easier for any artist, known or unknown, to create a protest song and bypass the straight-laced “suits” in the music industry and through alternative means (the Internet) get the message to the people who need the most: the American people.
If you want to support these artists here are some of their websites:
www.saddlecreekrecords.com (Bright Eyes)
www.mickstar.com (Mick Star)
www.soad.com (System of a Down)
If there are any other artists or sites you know about, please feel free to leave a comment! Help support artists who speak their mind!
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