Why can't people like John Cougar understand that we want to hear songs not their political view points.

Good for V.P Quayle!


Walking tall, and out

Dan Quayle took time out from participating in the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship in Stateline, Nev., on Friday to attend John Mellencamp's concert only to run into a political statement.

He then made a statement of his own by walking out during Mellencamp's rendition of ``Walk Tall.'' Before launching into the song, Mellencamp told the Harveys casino crowd, in effect, that it was dedicated to everyone hurt by policies of the current Bush administration.

Quayle, who served as vice president for President Bush's father in 1989-93 walked out of the venue before Mellencamp finished the song.

Quayle said through a publicist: ``Well, I think Mellencamp's performance was not very good to begin with, and the comment put it over the top.''

Mellencamp couldn't be reached for comment.

Democracy and free speech and all that, I dont see a problem. The government are representatives for the people, the least they can do is listen to what they have to say, after all they pay their wages.

I dont see anything wrong with that.

John Mellencamp's political engagement didn't magically occur overnight and singers expressing their views on-stage are far from a novelty.
If somebody doesn't like the opinions of an artist, they simply shouldn't go see his shows. I know I wouldn't go to a Prussian Blue concert.
However, being caught there (at a PB show) by circumstances (as Quayle seems to have been at JM's) I would have walked out also.
Freedom works both ways. Otherwise it ain't worth manure...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: flashman,

Ditto,

Another illustration of a celebrity where perceived self importance and an absence of critical thinking skills may do more harm than good.

Contrasting one example, Robert De Niro: Likely to command a public forum in the media at will, yet his liberal activism remains for the most part, in the background. Despite a long list of contributions to the leftest lefties that ever lefted, his acting career and corresponding public relations show a little common sense.

Bravo to the former Vice President for pointing out proper time, place and forum.

Come on, MikeyD...be honest. It's not that you don't like artists voicing their opinions, it's that you don't like these particular opinions. I notice you didn't mention shitkicking hillbillies like Toby Keith in your list of musicians who should shut up and play music. He regularly voices his opnions on stage, along with Merle Haggard, 3 Doors Down, etc...

they should use their popularity for whichever cause they seem fit. Nothing wrong with saying it out loud.

If I went to a concert, and got the performer's political agenda foisted at me, I would leave and demand my money back. When I go to a concert, I want to hear music, not political statements made by someone who is overestimating their selfimportance.

Alan

<Just my $0.02>

It is mystifying to me that Mellencamp, the Dicksie Chicks, and others either think that people are coming to their concerts to hear their views, or that they think most or all of their fans think in lock-step with them. I consider it pretty disrespectful toward the audience in any case.

If they think it will increase fan base, they're wrong. If they think it will "purify" their audience (smaller concerts for hipper people who "get it" - per Natalie Maines), then its likely they never cared about free speech to begin with - they just want to indoctrinate as many young people as possible. Gee, John Mellencamp is sounding more like a college professor all the time.

I agree that their speechifying on behalf of A) Peace B) Whales C) Bush-hatin' is annoying. I learned long ago to separate the music/art from the performer/artist.

What bothers me most of all, however, is that they rarely have anything original to say on the topic. The Dixie Chicks, though I'm not a fan of their music anyway, offer up nothing but trite, facile little gems bashing Bush, the war, etc. It's nothing we haven't heard before.

These celebs absolutely glow with self-righteous fury and think they're going to save us all from ourselves. It's as if they became famous for their intellect and not their pretty faces and mostly lame music.

I agree if I went to a concert, the last thing I would want to hear is someone spouting out their political stance on things. That said, if you knew there was a politician in the hall it would be worth the swipe.

I agree with Scott that the worst aspect of these political statements is that they are so obviously unencumbered by the thought process. I saw the lead singer of the Dixie Chicks do an interview on TV a few weeks ago. The woman is cute as a button and talented as hell but she speaks like she has been lobotomized. "The President is really .. . he's just so ... like... you know ..." I also find it hysterical that so many entertainers - most of whom never attended a college - consider Bush to be an idiot, despite his two Ivy League diplomas.

Here's the thing...you guys only seem to complain when it's a LEFT WING musician spouting nonsense. MikeyD failed to mention Toby Keith, Merle Haggard, 3 Doors Down or any of the other right wing artists who spew equally simple-minded stuff. All in all, it doesn't bother me either way...art has to stand for something to be good. I'm not going to stop buying Merle Haggard or John Mellencamp CDs because they use their notoriety to open a discussion on the issues.

quote:

Originally posted by Extensioncord:
Here's the thing...you guys only seem to complain when it's a LEFT WING musician spouting nonsense. MikeyD failed to mention Toby Keith, Merle Haggard, 3 Doors Down or any of the other right wing artists who spew equally simple-minded stuff. All in all, it doesn't bother me either way...art has to stand for something to be good. I'm not going to stop buying Merle Haggard or John Mellencamp CDs because they use their notoriety to open a discussion on the issues.

Cord,

I don't care who the performer is, I don't want their political agenda.

Alan

quote:

Originally posted by Extensioncord:
Here's the thing...you guys only seem to complain when it's a LEFT WING musician spouting nonsense. MikeyD failed to mention Toby Keith, Merle Haggard, 3 Doors Down or any of the other right wing artists who spew equally simple-minded stuff. All in all, it doesn't bother me either way...art has to stand for something to be good. I'm not going to stop buying Merle Haggard or John Mellencamp CDs because they use their notoriety to open a discussion on the issues.

Sorry to say but you are wrong about Toby Keith.

NORM: Democrat Keith sticking with Bush

Toby Keith says his political views have been mislabeled.

Country superstar Toby Keith wears his patriotism on his sleeve but usually keeps his politics under his hat.

So when a nosy reporter asked him Friday whether he would be in New York next week for the Republican National Convention, Keith could have played it safe.

"You got the wrong guy," Keith said, inviting more discussion on the subject.

When I caught up to him after a news conference announcing his new theme restaurant at Harrah's Las Vegas, Keith cleared the air about some misconceptions.

Because of his running feud with the President Bush-whacking Dixie Chicks, Keith said he's been mislabeled. "All I ever hear is that I'm some right-wing nut," he said.

The fact of the matter is, he said, he's a registered Democrat, but "a very conservative Democrat. I'll always support our troops, wherever the war is."

Without further prodding, Keith, whose 19 No. 1 hits include "Beer For My Horses," made it clear who he was backing in the presidential horse race. "I don't think we should be switching our commander in chief in the middle of a war," he said.

Building on the patriotic messages in Keith's music, Harrah's announced the 17,000-square foot restaurant and entertainment venue, set to open next summer, will offer comped food and drinks to active military personnel.

And wrong about Merle Haggard. Should I stop now?


Even Merle Haggard, who was for Vietnam and Nixon, doesn't like Bush anymore.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Country singer Merle Haggard says he's as red, white and blue as they come, but has been disappointed by how President Bush responded to the panel probing the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Haggard

Haggard, 66, has been critical in songs and in interviews of the Iraq war and of what he views as an erosion of individual freedom.

"I certainly wasn't going to vote for Gore, so he is my man," Haggard said of Bush in an interview with The Associated Press. "But I'm not really all that happy with him."

On Thursday he cited the administration's flip flop on National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice's requested testimony to the Sept. 11 panel as another example of poor leadership.

"There have been some things, like saying no with (Condoleezza Rice) to begin with and then having a White House reversal," Haggard said in a telephone interview from California. "I don't think a White House reversal looks good anytime."

The administration at first argued that Rice shouldn't testify publicly under oath before the commission because of an infringement on the division of powers between Congress and the White House.

The White House has agreed to allow the testimony.

Haggard's many hits include Okie From Muskogee, and The Fightin' Side of Me, both patriotic songs that were released at the height of the Vietnam War. He played for Richard Nixon at the White House in 1973 and at Ronald Reagan's ranch in 1982.

Mike D...Making Liberals eat their words!

Yeah right... Anyway, artists should be able to sing, write, paint, say (etc.) wathever they wan't, whenever they wan't as their heart and soul dictates, whatever their beliefs. The public decides in the end whether they follow or not -- and their revenues flucutuate accordingly. Some groups and artists -- I'm not talking Dixie Chicks here -- have built their public persona taking political stances (John Lennon (solo) or U2 are good examples).
And it would be absurd to make laws or construct collective taboos to prevent artists from expressing any opinions, political included.

You miss the point. Everybody should have the right to say their peace about politics. But when you sell tickets to your concert and your going to spew your political views as well as sing songs, put it on the ticket. That way you are not walking into it blind.

Would you be fine with the idea of hearing someones polital view while you were buying a car from them? Think about being in a car dealership for 3-4 hours buying a car and hearing them go on and on about Clinton this or Bush that.

Sing the songs and shut up!

And by the way, no one said anything about making laws to prevent people (artists included) from expressing their opinions. Unless we can pass that law and it would only apply to you!

quote:

Originally posted by mikeyd501:
You miss the point. Everybody should have the right to say their peace about politics. But when you sell tickets to your concert and your going to spew your political views as well as sing songs, put it on the ticket. That way you are not walking into it blind.

Like I stated, some artists are obviously more political than others even -- some times especially -- in their art. John Mellencamp or U2 expressing their political opinions in a concert is not unusual at all for those artists. No big surprise really.

quote:

Would you be fine with the idea of hearing someones polital view while you were buying a car from them? Think about being in a car dealership for 3-4 hours buying a car and hearing them go on and on about Clinton this or Bush that.

Sing the songs and shut up!

A car salesman can hardly be compared to an artist. Nor music to cars. If you want just the songs, just listen to the CDs and don't go to shows of artists which don't share your opinions.

quote:

And by the way, no one said anything about making laws to prevent people (artists included) from expressing their opinions.!

I know, I was just making an exageration to underline the fact that we should not try to censor artists in any way. Other than choosing to buy their stuff or not.

quote:

Unless we can pass that law and it would only apply to you!

Classic Mikey. (Yawn). But I'm afraid you'll have to do with me and my opinions.