91 replies to this topic

[mrdavesanchez]

If they supported Bush, or "Generally" supported Conservative Ideals could you still be a fan. Since generally speaking people on this site are more liberal I would wonder if the bands politics would come into play.

Personally I do not think I could be a fan if they did that.

[lizish]

Very very difficult time.

Especially when it would come to buying new stuff and going to concerts. I would not want my money supporting such views.


'Course the Ticketmaster and Clearchannel service fees are funding things like Floridian voter drives anyway....

[October]

When I started to love their songs and music, I didn't know where they were politically. It's been great to know their ideals are just like mine.

No, I couldn't be a fan if they were right wingers.

[October]

Now I'm wondering if and how ideals can influence music and art. I mean, would be R.E.M. as great as they are, if they were right wingers?

[laura z]

i would have a hard time, but you know their songs would be different too.  can you imagine if they dropped the line from i believe: "change is what i believe in"?  i really respect them for their beliefs...

[purple scapolite]

I would still enjoy their music. I did enjoy their music very much, like October said, before i knew much of anything about their politics. The fact that i also agree with how they seem to feel about things politically adds even more additional respect for them to that, but i think pretty much i would still enjoy their music either way. It's just great music to me.

[October]

laura z said:

i would have a hard time, but you know their songs would be different too.  can you imagine if they dropped the line from i believe: "change is what i believe in"?  i really respect them for their beliefs...

You just did answer my question. I agree. :)

[vetiver]

I like REM first and foremost for their music.  Their political leaning is just an added bonus.

But I wonder if their music would have been different had they been right wing conservatives instead?  I think it probably would have been.

[October]

shawna said:

I would still enjoy their music. I did enjoy their music very much, like October said, before i knew much of anything about their politics. The fact that i also agree with how they seem to feel about things politically adds even more additional respect for them to that, but i think pretty much i would still enjoy their music either way. It's just great music to me.

OK, but, as Laura Z said, their music wouldn't be the one we love.

There is not a thing like 'Righ Wingers R.E.M.' ;)

[October]

vetiver said:

I like REM first and foremost for their music.  Their political leaning is just an added bonus.

But I wonder if their music would have been different had they been right wing conservatives instead?  I think it probably would have been.

Hey! I asked first! ;)

[vetiver]

October said:

Hey! I asked first! ;)

LOL!  *hangs head in shame*  Oops!  :o

[purple scapolite]

[quote name='laura z']i would have a hard time, but you know their songs would be different too.  can you imagine if they dropped the line from i believe: "change is what i believe in"?  [QUOTE]

This is true as well. hm... some songs would be different, some not, i'd think. Or maybe they all would be, because they're seeing everything from a different perspective.... I'll just say i love R.E.M. for being R.E.M. as they are, and all the additional benefits that go along with that. :p

[Kelly A]

Does that mean they wouldn't be gay? :p

But seriously, I would still probably be a fan as long as they weren't all ted nugent about it.

[October]

Kelly A said:

Does that mean they wouldn't be gay? :p

But seriously, I would still probably be a fan as long as they weren't all ted nugent about it.

*They* ??!??

Ted what?

[October]

REMFMFAN said:

This is a tricky question for me because there are plenty of "liberal artists" whose music I think sucks. I don't really like the music of John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, Bonnie Raitt, Barbra Streisand or Pearl Jam. On the other hand, I really like the music and political views of Moby, Natalie Merchant and (most of) Bruce Springsteen. Also, Patti Smith is still endorsing Nader this time around, but I love Patti's music (even though I don't agree with her continuing to endorse Nader...) The Dixie Chicks are against Bush but I still think their music sucks... On the flip side, Alice Cooper is a Bush supporter, but I like some of Alice's music...

BUT R.E.M. is an entirely different world for me...I don't think I could handle it emotionally if they came out in support of Bush... :eek:

Well, to like the music is a thing but what the poll is about, another thing. It asks if we will be still 'fans' or 'supporters'.

Definitely not, for me.

[Kelly A]

October said:

*They* ??!??

I was just kidding. The title reminded me of an old thread :)

October said:

Ted what?

Ted Nugent is the only artist I can think of where I used to like the music, but stopped listening because of his outspoken views that differed significantly from mine.

[acheron]

wow, this thread is crazy. I've always thought of REM (and Dave Matthews, etc) as *musicians*. I don't care what their politics are. I'm not sure why anyone does, actually... what, they make good music, so suddenly their politcal views are more important than us normal folk? Or they disagree with you politically, so you can't like them? That goes for actors and stuff too... Arnold the Governator seems to have pretty good political views, but that doesn't mean T3 didn't suck... Tim Robbins is pretty horrible politically, but I still loved Shawshank Redemption. Same for music.. I like REM (and Dave), even if I disagree with them.

As long as they don't make it blatant, however. If any song on ATS contains the phrase 'no blood for oil', I might have to reconsider. ;)

[October]

Kelly A said:

I was just kidding. The title reminded me of an old thread :)




Ted Nugent is the only artist I can think of where I used to like the music, but stopped listening because of his outspoken views that differed significantly from mine.

Thanks! :) I thought  'nugent' was some shoes polish.. ;)

I got your joke, Kelly... ;)

[mrdavesanchez]

What is a musician? Just three chords and a cloud of dust? What about artists such as John Wesley Harding, Bob Dylan, Billy Bragg? These artists are very much motivated about the times and write lyrics about specific political and or social issues.

REM has written very politically motivated songs in the past. Ignoreland and Revolution are very specific in their complaints as we know who Stipe is singing about as the Antagonist.  Other songs have touched on issues but not as direct. And while they are great musicians their politics does play into their music. REMs relavance in the world today is based upon their social/politcal beliefs.

Music and Politics are interrelated. Art is a representation on society and what we listen to is based on our own attractions to not only the music but the lyrics.

Would we listen to lyrics or music concerning ideas or thoughts that were against our own?

If REM wrote a song that supported the death penalty for instance how would that make you feel?