Monday, April 17, 2006
Shut Up and Sing, Already!
I saw in the paper today that Neil Young has a new album coming out, which he describes as a "metal folk protest." In it, he apparently calls George Bush a liar and calls for his impeachment. Not exactly new ground you're breaking here, Neil. Good luck with that.
I was around for some of the great Dylan, Baez, Ochs, and Guthrie folk protests. Those were some cool times. It seemed then, in my youth, that the protests were edgy, cool, and motivated only by the sincere beliefs of those wonderful musicians. It seems now in the 21st Century that politics motivates everything, regardless of which side you are on. Does it seem that way because it's true, or because I have become more cynical as I put the half-century mark astern? I don't really know.
I'm not a big fan of George Bush. The only reason he got my vote in 2004 was because John Kerry was the best the Democrats could muster up, and he was a walking, talking disaster. But I find it hard to believe that anyone with any intellectual honesty whatsoever could really, truly believe that Bush deserves impeachment. Think he's a lousy excuse for a president? Fine. I got no problem with that. So how about grabbing a big heaping bowl of shut the fuck up about impeachment, and just wait a couple of years? He'll be gone for good. I think a lot of these cats must still be hashed out about the 2000 election. Get over it already, will you?
Now, I'm a big fan of Neil Young, going all the way back to my high-school days with Buffalo Springfield and CSN&Y, For What It's Worth and Deja Vu. What a world-class musical talent!
But here's the truth of the current matter: On Friday, I had an air conditioner repairman over to do some repairs to my cooling system, and later a a plumber to do some other work. Either or both of those guys could have serious political leanings and opinions to express, but they didn't bother me with them. Their job was to repair something, and that's what they were being paid for. Why should I give any more of a shit about what some entertainer thinks than what my plumber or A/C repairman thinks? I just want to be entertained. It's one thing to sing from the heart about societal woes, as in Rockin In The Free World, but quite another to sling political attacks when most of us would rather eat glass than hear it again.
Hit me up again some time when you have something cool, like Heart of Gold. This time around, I'll keep my money in my pocket.
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I was around for some of the great Dylan, Baez, Ochs, and Guthrie folk protests. Those were some cool times. It seemed then, in my youth, that the protests were edgy, cool, and motivated only by the sincere beliefs of those wonderful musicians. It seems now in the 21st Century that politics motivates everything, regardless of which side you are on. Does it seem that way because it's true, or because I have become more cynical as I put the half-century mark astern? I don't really know.
I'm not a big fan of George Bush. The only reason he got my vote in 2004 was because John Kerry was the best the Democrats could muster up, and he was a walking, talking disaster. But I find it hard to believe that anyone with any intellectual honesty whatsoever could really, truly believe that Bush deserves impeachment. Think he's a lousy excuse for a president? Fine. I got no problem with that. So how about grabbing a big heaping bowl of shut the fuck up about impeachment, and just wait a couple of years? He'll be gone for good. I think a lot of these cats must still be hashed out about the 2000 election. Get over it already, will you?
Now, I'm a big fan of Neil Young, going all the way back to my high-school days with Buffalo Springfield and CSN&Y, For What It's Worth and Deja Vu. What a world-class musical talent!
But here's the truth of the current matter: On Friday, I had an air conditioner repairman over to do some repairs to my cooling system, and later a a plumber to do some other work. Either or both of those guys could have serious political leanings and opinions to express, but they didn't bother me with them. Their job was to repair something, and that's what they were being paid for. Why should I give any more of a shit about what some entertainer thinks than what my plumber or A/C repairman thinks? I just want to be entertained. It's one thing to sing from the heart about societal woes, as in Rockin In The Free World, but quite another to sling political attacks when most of us would rather eat glass than hear it again.
Hit me up again some time when you have something cool, like Heart of Gold. This time around, I'll keep my money in my pocket.
