RE: Political quotes in music rags.

[XNASA]

In this month's Guitar Player magazine, there are a couple of letters from readers regarding anti-Bush comments from past articles.

The letters criticized GP for including the comments. Something about, "Keep your politics and your music separate."

So I ask...."Is that really possible?"

Discuss.

[Ron Green]

1. If your music includes words, then there might well be a political

dimension to it. However, I think that at the very heart of it, the melody, harmony and rhythm, music is way beyond politics.

[XNASA]

2. So you're saying your approach to music is more technical....

..than emotional?

Granted, some songs/works don't have lyrics at all, but I've always wondered.....

When some Jimi-lovin' redneck musician hears "If 6 Was 9", are they really listening?

[Ron Green]

3. I would call the elements of music "emotional" rather than "technical"

...music goes so far beyond words, and indeed seeks to express what words cannot. For many listeners who don't understand much about music but "know what they like," words are the way into the music for them, and a song is all about the story in the words. And of course politics has to come from words. Woody Guthrie never really wrote much in the way of original melody or harmony, but the words in his songs carried a great political weight.

However, the emotion in music, for me, is all about the notes, the phrasing, the chords, the groove. I guess you could call these elements "technical," but that's where the feeling is for me, rather than in the words.

[johnnie]

4. Music has always been political

Being a songwriter and influenced by the likes of Lennon and Dylan, I doubt if I could keep politics out of my lyrics.
I'm not writing as much as I used to so I don't put a lot of politics in, but I am not going to consciously keep it out.

[leftofthedial]

5. I don't know

Let's ask Steve Earle

Or Woody Guthrie

The RW has intentionally and systematically gutted Country music, which once was the voice of working people.

There certainly is apolitical music, but anyone who claims that ALL music should be apolitical is a fascist and should be given one chance to recant their views. Failing that, they should immediately be put to death.

[leftofthedial]

6. before the "election" of 2004

Performing Songwriter had an entire issue in which readers expressed their political opinions

[Beetwasher]

7. Pfffft!

They must never have heard of Rock 'n' Roll or the 60's. Idiots. Music is expression and that includes politics.

[RetroLounge]

8. I think you should write back to GP

about this...

RL