Politics In Music
 

I love a band called Rage Against The Machine. They easily could of been one of my all time favorite bands. There is one issue I have with their music. Their politics. I disagree with them in every way possible when it comes to there politics. Which causes it to be extremely hard for me to listen to one of there albums all the way through. After a bit it starts to feel like they are calling me an idiot for believing in concepts they don't like. I was just curious if anyone else has ever had an experience like this.

RATM is one of your all-time favorite bands but you struggle to make it through one of their albums? Weird.

Did you used to agree with their politics but have evolved, and so there's some friction between you and your erstwhile favorite band? Or what? What's going on?

Yeah I have similar issues with S.O.D./M.O.D. I love the music but hate homophobic/racist lyrics. I've heard they're supposed to be ironic but even if that is the case it puts me off the music.

Are you 12?

I never agreed with their politics. I struggle to get through their album because I just get tired of hearing what after awhile begins to feel like someone calling me an idiot for not agreeing with them. I love Zach De La Rocha's rap. I think Tom Morello is one of the greatest guitarists out there to date. His style has had a lot of influence on my own guitar playing. Tim Commerford's bass work is just incredible to me. The melding of the four individuals given instruments makes just amazing music. But the lyrical content becomes a nuisance after awhile because of my difference in beliefs. That's all there is to it.

Exactly! It makes me also have to wonder if that is truly a viable option for bands.

Are you Paul Ryan?

Yep. You caught me. I'm Paul Ryan. Speaker Of The House. Hahahahaha.

Too much politics everywhere - TV, radio, music, sport. Make love - not politics!

If you could actually do that and not have your liberty takem from you while you sit back and zone out Id agree.

So you believe in the police abusing their power? When we go to war because an administration lied about weapons of mass destruction? When we detain anyone we choose at Guantanamo even if they've never been found guilty of anything? You believe in torture, and illegal search and seizure? You don't mind the gross inequalities that currently exist in this country, or the fact that most politicians are bought and paid for by big corporations?

Your'e OK with all of that stuff?