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Posted on 08/05/2004 10:02:43 AM PDT by Dubya
The culture war just got a little louder
Concert tour aimed at defeating Bush Music stars target swing states with a series of shows featuring more than 20 acts By Cary Darling Star-Telegram Pop Culture Critic
The culture war just got a little louder.
With Wednesday's announcement that music superstars such as Bruce Springsteen, the Dave Matthews Band, the Dixie Chicks, R.E.M., John Fogerty and Jurassic 5 are launching a series of October concerts specifically designed to defeat President Bush in November, the entertainment industry is pumping up the volume on an already high-pitched political season.
"I feel this is one of the most critical elections in my lifetime," Springsteen told The Associated Press on Wednesday. "This wasn't one that a concerned citizen felt comfortable sitting out."
The 34 shows will focus specifically on cities in states considered up for grabs in the Nov. 2 election -- Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The more than 20 acts participating will perform in various lineups Oct. 1-8. Tickets for the Vote for Change Tour go on sale Aug. 21; prices have yet to be set, although The New York Times reported that they were expected to sell for $75.
"This is unprecedented," said Jenny Toomey, director of Air Traffic Control, an organization that matches performers with political causes and was one of the catalysts for the Vote for Change Tour. "On a scale of 10, it's a 10."
Coming on the heels of the fracas over Linda Ronstadt's pro-Michael Moore comments at a recent concert in Las Vegas -- after which some concertgoers stormed out in protest -- and Whoopi Goldberg's controversial remarks about President Bush at a fund-raiser for Democratic Party nominee John Kerry, the tour could provide ammunition for conservatives who say the entertainment industry leans too far to the left.
The concerts are being presented by MoveOn Pac, the electoral wing of MoveOn.org, a liberal interest group. Proceeds go to America Coming Together, a liberal group attempting to get Democrats out to vote.
Republican response
In a speech in Davenport, Iowa, on Wednesday, President Bush didn't directly address the Vote for Change Tour, but he did allude to Hollywood and American values. Danny Diaz, a spokesman for the Bush-Cheney camp, said: "The president believes that the heart and soul of America is found in places like Davenport, Iowa. They're creating jobs and businesses, and he's going to speak to them, and they're going to make the decision on who's elected."
Some conservative musicians such as Ted Nugent and Martina McBride have banded together, teaming up for a Freedom Concert in New Jersey last month, and pop stars Jessica Simpson and Britney Spears have publicly expressed support for Bush. Yet Republicans courting the youth vote concede that the Democrats tend to have the glitz and glamour. But they also suggest that it doesn't pay off on Election Day.
"What we found is that, if you look at the numbers of young people voting since 1972, it continues to decline," said Eric Hoplin, national chairman of the College Republicans. "If you look at the left, they go with the rock-concert approach, and they go with the celebrities, and this year is not any different. But there hasn't been an uptick in young people voting for Democrats."
"Each side has an agenda, so it wouldn't be at all surprising if the Republican Party does try to use this in some way to show that the Democrats are tied to Hollywood and don't really speak for the people," said Melinda Newman, West Coast bureau chief for Billboard, the music-industry trade magazine. "But these are smart artists who are leading with their hearts and they know they can get their opinions heard."
Under a microscope
The Dixie Chicks' Natalie Maines, who caused a row last year with an anti-Bush comment made at a London show, told the AP on Wednesday: "A change is in order. There's never been a political climate like this, which is so polar opposite of me as a person and what I believe in."
The artists realize that they're under a microscope and that their opponents will be scrutinizing their comments closely. "We want respect for the office of the presidency," Springsteen told the Los Angeles Times. "We don't want to be Bush bashers. We are Bush questioners, is the way I would put it."
This is the first time Springsteen, known for his socially conscious lyrics, has been actively involved in a political campaign. In 1984, Springsteen asked President Reagan to stop playing Born in the U.S.A. during his rallies. In recent days, Springsteen's No Surrender has been a soundtrack on Kerry's campaign stops.
Many observers say the tour, though newsworthy for its scope, is really business as usual.
"Popular culture always tends toward the anti-establishment," said Jeffrey Hyson, a history professor at Philadelphia's Saint Joseph's University and a pop-culture commentator. "What's distinctive here is that it's an alignment across different artists and a wide range of genres."
The shows include an array of artists, from hip-hop's Jurassic 5 to R&B's Babyface to rock's Pearl Jam.
"I don't think it's that shocking for artists, especially these artists, to be outspoken about their views," Newman said. "What is surprising is the scope of the tour and the strategies employed in terms of doing this in a little more than a week and saturating swing states."
Mobilizing music fans
Though perhaps the most visible and star-driven of the efforts to reach younger voters, the Vote for Change Tour is not alone in trying to mobilize music fans. Russell Simmons' Hip-Hop Action Summit Network reportedly has registered more than 100,000 potential voters, and HeadCount, aimed at fans of jam bands, is going for similar numbers. Meanwhile, two Web sites, www. conservativepunk.com and the left-leaning www.punkvoter. com, battle for punk-rock hearts and minds.
Jay Strell, a spokesperson for Rock the Vote, an organization aimed at getting young music fans to the polls, says more than 400,000 have been registered. The Rock the Vote bus will be on the road with the Dave Matthews Band and at the Republican National Convention this summer.
At MTV, they're not surprised by the increasing politicization of the musical sphere. "Musicians are people, too, and everybody is much more interested this year," said Ocean MacAdams, MTV News vice president. "The interest level across the board is unprecedented. Every time we go anywhere, we see that people are divided and opinionated in this election."
It remains to be seen if the Vote for Change tour accomplishes its mission, but observers say that, no matter what, it represents a high-water mark for activism. "This is not going away," Air Traffic Control's Toomey said. "With technology and the climate we're living in, it has inspired people to engage in a way that they haven't for years."
"Even when you had the charity events of the '80s like Live Aid, there was a diffuse quality to the activism," said Hyson of Saint Joseph's University. "For a lot of people, it was, 'Wow, Phil Collins is playing,' but that the issue the campaign was directed at was not all that important to a lot of people. But this one I think people think that the end really does matter. It's more aggressive pop activism that's certainly broadly based but also strategically targeted in the swing states. This is really political."
Some acts on the tour
Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews Band, the Dixie Chicks, John Fogerty, Pearl Jam, R.E.M., John Mellencamp, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Keb' Mo', Babyface, Jurassic 5, Death Cab for Cutie and Bright Eyes
Tour stops
Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin
Vote for Change Tour
Prices for tickets, to go on sale Aug. 21, have not been set. Other acts will be announced. For more information, go to www.moveon.org
Bruce Springsteen, R.E.M., John Fogerty and Bright Eyes: Philadelphia (Oct. 1), Cleveland (Oct. 2), Ann Arbor, Mich. (Oct. 3), St. Paul, Minn. (Oct. 5), and Orlando, Fla. (Oct. 8).
Pearl Jam and Death Cab for Cutie: Reading, Pa. (Oct. 1), Toledo, Ohio (Oct. 2), Grand Rapids (Oct. 3), St. Louis (Oct. 5), Asheville, N.C. (Oct. 6), and Kissimmee, Fla. (Oct. 8).
Dixie Chicks and James Taylor: Pittsburgh (Oct. 1), Cleveland (Oct. 2), Detroit (Oct. 3), Iowa City, Iowa (Oct. 5), St. Louis (Oct. 6), Tampa, Fla. (Oct. 8)
Dave Matthews Band, Jurassic 5 and My Morning Jacket: State College, Pa. (Oct. 1), Dayton, Ohio (Oct. 2), Detroit (Oct. 3), Madison, Wis. (Oct. 5), Ames, Iowa (Oct. 6), Gainesville, Fla. (Oct. 8)
Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt and Keb' Mo': Williamsport, Pa. (Oct. 1), TBA (Oct. 2), Kansas City, Mo. (Oct. 5), Des Moines, Iowa (Oct. 6), Jacksonville (Oct. 8)
John Mellencamp and Babyface: Wilkes-Barre, Pa. (Oct. 1), Cincinnati (Oct. 2), Kalamazoo, Mich. (Oct. 3), Milwaukee (Oct. 5), Miami (Oct. 8)
Inside
• Kerry urges CEOs in his corner to go public with endorsements. 19A
• Iowa town gets dueling campaign events. 19A
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This Report Includes Material From the Associated Press and The New York Times. Cary Darling, (817) 390-7571 cdarling@star-telegram.com
Geo Soros and moveon.org strike again.
Is there ANY plan by pro-Bush bands to counter this with concerts as well?
Yeah, they "banded together" to raise $2 million for the sons and daughters of those who are killed in batter, not to rip on John Kerry.
please let FReeper "weegee" know if you want on or off the ping list!
Folks...how do you fight this!!!
These concerts will backfire in their face. People already think pop-stars have too much influence on our society. We don't need them telling us who to vote for too. I expect a major revolt, and like the Wellstone funeral in 2002 it will help the Republicans because these artists have gone too far and people will vote against that, by voting for Bush.
If you wany singers to shut-up and sing then Vote for Bush.
$75 to see has-been's and nobody's? Even if politics wasn't involved I wouldn't spend 1/2 that to see any of those artists. The only one that even looks good is Pearl Jam--I'd go see their show for $25, maybe $30.
OK...yesterday, Jimmy Buffet's name was thrown into this mix. Is this still the case? God I hope not.
"...those who are killed in batter,..."
Deep fried???
BaCk from the dead?
I'm hoping for 23 things to happen here: 1) This "Rock The Vote" event is a failure 2) Bush wins in a landslide and 3)These leftist a**holes lose all their money and have to beg for bread.
Declare them to all be satan-spawned, demon scum, and require mandatory usage of ear plugs within 5 miles of every concert.
Oops, my insert key was on. It should be 3 things.
I posted this on another thread.... But I sent this letter out to record companies today.
Yesterday, I took 19 cd’s of Willie Nelson, Jimmy Buffet, and James Taylor to a used cd store and sold them. We have a collection of over 200 different ones, so I may be going back if I have anymore of those who speak out in this concert against President Bush or any concert for that matter. I was given $38.00 (of which I originally spent $255.00) and I sent it to the RNC. Before when Natalie Maines, of the Dixie Chicks spoke out her views I sent my cd's to her record company. But this time, I did not want to spend any more of my hard earned money mailing them back. I am sick and tired of the artist who will just not shut up and sing. I am tired of the smear campaign they are involved in against President Bush, and most of all during this time we are at war. They are aiding the enemy in their hate and rage. My husband and I have spent many hundreds of dollars going to the above concerts many times and I will NEVER listen to another one of their songs again. After our last Willie concert, he was so stoned he could not remember the words to Beer for my Horse, that should have taught us something!
I am upset and will use my ability as a consumer to not support them. Yes, they have a right to speak their mind, and they have over and over. We have our right as a consumer to not support them and their beliefs. We have men and women who are in harms way and the more these types of hate concerts go on the more it aids the people who want to destroy us. The real heroes in my mind are our military and their families.
I am one person, but I know many who feel the same way I do. You might wonder why Fox News ratings are so high. It is because they give a fair and balanced reporting instead of NBC, ABC, CBS, MSNBC, CNN, and almost all newspapers biased view. We are a split country and I fully support President Bush, no matter how many of the so called Elitist is using their fame to flame him.
You all are forgetting who pays part of your bills. I know that James Taylor has royalties and is ok for life, but he lost one of his big fans, in me. His decision to go out on this 30 something concert, in swing states during October, has sent me away from him and all the others for good. I also have had to stop going to movies with stars that are so public in their hate and anger against President Bush and my conservative values.
Thank God, we have XM radio now and we can choose our stations and what music we listen to while traveling in our car. Because when they play any of the blabbing anti- American artist songs, (YES, I said anti- American) artist, we will flip the channel.
Isn't America Great? We have a choice to not buy or go see their concerts or movies. If and when it hurts their pocket books, maybe they will realize who they have alienated by being so bluntly public in their political views. You all can have the Michael Moore’s and propaganda of the world. I will take President Bush and his family along with our values as my agenda.
God Bless America- and God Bless President Bush, his family and his cabinet.
So is this a "swing-state" tour?
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