L.A. Times on protest songs and "the music of war"

L.A. Times ^ | 7-2-06 | Ann Powers

[mnnymonhak]

THE MUSIC OF WAR

By Ann Powers

Is Chamillionaire's hit song "Ridin' " a political anthem? What about Shakira and Wyclef Jean's "Hips Don't Lie"? When seeking anthems for a new political age, should those critical of the Bush administration be turning toward a Dirty South rapper mad at the cops for disturbing his cruising game or a belly-bared dance music queen who slips a line about immigrant rights into a nightclub seduction? Or does today's climate demand voices raised with urgency that can be inspired only by old-fashioned protest music of the kind country stars like Toby Keith have produced for their conservative fans?

When Young stated that he made "Living With War" because no younger artists were picking up the countercultural torch, he associated his efforts with a generational attitude that drives Generations X and Y crazy. "It's a clichéd Rolling Stone boomer-idea, that pop culture managed to stop a war, that musicians once had power as galvanizing figures," wrote twentysomething Tom Breihan in a Voice column decrying such views...

Folk music has always been topical, as has its more politically conservative sister, country - one reason, as Chris Willman explains in his fine book on country music politics, "Rednecks & Bluenecks," that Nashville's Bush supporters (and rebel voices like Steve Earle and Merle Haggard) were way ahead of the curve when it came to offering visceral opinions of current events. But as shock at the Iraq invasion wore down into inevitability, the need to speak out has become constant, therefore less dramatic - and less intimidating. The media-fueled firestorm over Maines' 2003 anti-Bush quip tarred dissent with a risky red stripe, but artists themselves - including the Chicks, who've suffered from the fallout over Maines' remarks but also arguably used it to redefine their career....

[Dog Gone]

When seeking anthems for a new political age, should those critical of the Bush administration be turning toward a Dirty South rapper mad at the cops for disturbing his cruising game or a belly-bared dance music queen who slips a line about immigrant rights into a nightclub seduction?

Do they actually pay journalists to write these questions?

[muawiyah]

Rulz is rulz ~ so, 'air she be, SHAKIRA, SHAKIRA

Irrespective of her "politics", this lady keeps all her money invested in productive enterprise outside the risk of being taken by leftwingers.

[rawcatslyentist]

It aint Slim W, but this'll gitr done!
Kill A Commie For Mommie

Seven Dead Monkeys Page O Tunes

[Celtjew Libertarian]

Woody Guthrie would have approved.

Really? You're talking about the same Woody Guthrie who ended "The Sinking of the Rueben James" with:

Now tonight there are lights in our country so bright
In the farms and in the cities they're telling of the fight.
And now our mighty battleships will steam the bounding main
And remember the name of that good Reuben James.

(Mind you, you rarely, if ever, hear the Weavers and the other folkies from the Cold War on sing that verse.)

[Dog Gone]

You know, I've never heard of her and I don't even know if she can sing.

I just want to know if she's free next weekend.

[muawiyah]

OK, deal with Shakira is that she's between boyfriends ~ dumped the son of the President of Bolivia recently.

She bellydances ~ she sings ~ better in Spanish than in English but her English is getting better. She plays her guitar. Word is she plays many other instruments.

And, she's smart. This has led some to believe she's a typical Latin leftwingnut, but in that part of the world it's always smart for an entertainer to talk the talk ~ keeps you alive longer.

As she says, though "Hips don't lie".

[muawiyah]

One more thing ~ her daddy's an Arab and her momma's a local 'gal from Columbia, or thereabouts.

Shakira is a good example of where America has "exported" jobs ~ in this case rock and roll has fallen into the hands of Latin musicians willing to work for less ~ all you have to do is learn a little Spanish to figure it out.

Americans, in the meantime, have turned against rock and roll, and it's now a job you can't get Americans to do (at least not correctly).

Which, I guess, makes the Administrations' arguments correct as far as they go, but only for rock and roll. Plenty of Americans are underemployed and they're willing to do anything for more money.

[Blind Eye Jones]

When Young stated that he made "Living With War" because no younger artists were picking up the countercultural torch....

Young is delusional! There were so many on the Bush bashing wagon that, in the end, there was no room left... and they started to bash themselves. It was Kerry's hay ride to hell.

[Blind Eye Jones]

When Young stated that he made "Living With War" because no younger artists were picking up the countercultural torch.... = "When Young stated that he made "Living With War" because no younger artists were picking up the countercultural torch...."

[weegee]

Rock is not dead. The corporations turned their backs on it. As they did in the later 1950s and kept their backs turned in the 1960s (the Beatles went through 5 labels in America before becoming a HIT) and again in the 1970s (senesitive songwriters and "corporate rock") and 1990s (boy bands replaced grunge and indie).

There are plently of notable bands that play it. The clueless suit that has never had taste still has no taste.

Tune out the mass media. Not just when it comes to news.

[muawiyah]

Hey, real easy to tune out the mass media when it comes to rock ~ I learned enough Spanish to understand Shakira and Daddy Yankee for example.

[Northern Yankee]

Reading about Young's venture back into protest is disappointing.

But I suppose when you're surrounded by everyone who thinks the same way, its not surprising.