91 replies to this topic

[elvia]

Music and politics don't mix.

[CollectingVinyl]

Frankly, I couldn't give a shit what politic views R.E.M. have. I got into the band for their music, not to hear their political views. As long as they're not coming out saying that they love Hitler or something, I don't care.

[Numb]

As much as I'd love to think I would be able to support them no matter what, if they were seriously right-wing I doubt I could listen to their music anymore. Although I don't particularly like how they campaigned against Bush at the last election - they're musicians, not politicains. Leave them to the lies and deceit.

[Kelly A]

elvia said:

Music and politics don't mix.

Four dead in O-hi-o...

I disagree. I think it's a perfect medium to express one's opinions.

[Mary Alice]

well it depends on what kind of conservative.   If they were the nutso conservatives I wouldn't like them but not all conservatives are nutso. I could potentially still like them.

And I don't care if Toby Keith is registered Democrat - I live here in the south and not one of his fans here would believe that.  They got a rise out of him bashing Natalie Maines for saying she was embarrased that the pres was from Texas, the smart ones  got a rise just for the kick of the game and the stupid ones got a  rise because they thought he was a republican like them and all they believed that entailed.  I see Toby's point, that Natalie was in a different country and I have to say not all democrats (me included) think she represented our views well.  But he knew what he was doing, playing the politics republican string and leading people on with the line of thinking that the only way to be patriotic is to agree with the pres 100%.  While  the Dixie Chicks might have gone about it the wrong way, I feel not enough people are supporting the large number  of people who live and breathe and bleed  for this country and call ourselves democrats.  We love this country just as much as the republicans do, we just have different views  of how to  get there, but suddenly it's become en vogue to call us "anti America" or "against the soldiers"  I am dating a soldier and my dad is a retired Navy officer.  No one cares about them more than I do, but yet I am labeled "anti-American?"  And to me it's this kind of simplistic thinking that Toby Keith was capitolizing on in his tour and that's sick.  It's even sicker than his crappy music.  Listen to what he said - he wasn't  making an intelligent point, he was riling up the audience.  

(by the way I love the  Dixie Chicks new album, and some of their old stuff.  I don't like Goodbye Earl but just about everything else they did just rocks. )

I like that R.E.M. shares my beliefs but I know there are  good peple that are conservative and if R.E.M. seemed like that kind of conservative I would be  ok.  But I glad I don't have to ponder this question because to me their beliefs match their music and I like that.

[Tuatara Taupo]

At R.E.M.'s concert in October 2004 in Berkeley, California (that I attended) Michael acknowledged his appreciation for where he was, but he also acknowledged appreciation for his fans who have views that are different than his.

That's a sure sign of maturity, professionalism, and being considerate.

Certainly most of us are here because we love R.E.M.

I see no reason for partisanship to interfere with appreciation for R.E.M's music or their members.

Thank goodness we are free to express opposing views--something that too many people take for granted.

In any case, The Thoughts Are Free.

[elvia]

Kelly A said:

Four dead in O-hi-o...

I disagree. I think it's a perfect medium to express one's opinions.

I listen to music because it moves me, not because it's someone's platform for political views.

[dirk-jan]

To answer the question: Yes i'd still love them. But it's pretty hypothetical.

To me their democrat (i'd rather say sensible) outcries on songs from document or on Ignoreland only add to my association with and admiration of them that i've been feeling. It didn't start with this, it started with the music, the political view was just a thing that came next to it. I think R.E.M. is really sensible but also romantic and dreamy, imaginative. And this transcends either left or right wing views. For me it somehow all fits together.

In my opinion there just seems to be this tendency in society that people who have right wing views are way more down to earth than fits R.E.M. or is good for anyone. But what is down to earth? Everyone just has different ideals i guess.

There are some things in which I disagree with them, but then I don't know them as persons. By what i've read I sometimes think they're slightly more materialistic than I'd like to see...

[NearWildHeather]

Tuatara Taupo said:

At R.E.M.'s concert in October 2004 in Berkeley, California (that I attended) Michael acknowledged his appreciation for where he was, but he also acknowledged appreciation for his fans who have views that are different than his.

That's a sure sign of maturity, professionalism, and being considerate.

Certainly most of us are here because we love R.E.M.

I see no reason for partisanship to interfere with appreciation for R.E.M's music or their members.

Thank goodness we are free to express opposing views--something that too many people take for granted.

In any case, The Thoughts Are Free.

Yes-yes-yes-fucking-YES. And something that should've been kept in mind by entirely too many people in Duluth, Georgia, on an October night nearly two years ago. Some of those people should've been tossed. Seriously.

[merchgrrl]

It's a personal question, so i offer a personal reply.  I live in a world of free speech, whatever that speech may be. While I more than respect the views of conservatives, and can't say that I share them.  REM's personal and political views have directly influenced the art they have produced over the years- and as a result, a great deal of the respect and admiration I have for them is due in part to those views.
Had REM been a conservative band, I imagine my general interest in the songs they create would be left at the passive humming along to their tunes on the radio, and nothing more.
They wouldn't be a lesser band, or lesser people- just not something I'd be a fan of.

[chiarem]

i felt in love with them due of their songs, not political ideas...but we have to consider that if they were conservative they would never write such great songs like final straw and a lot of others.

[jimmy09]

I don't mind what their political view is. It's about the music.