Natalie Maines, singer for the Dixie Chicks, and Kanye West both made statements about the now former President Bush. The Difference is how they were treated and what they said. Maines only said she was ashamed that Bush was from Texas, which is not horrible, she just didn't like him. Kanye on the other hand right out says that Bush doesn't care about black people. The Dixie Chicks were bashed, ignored and protested for Maines' comment. Kanye on the other hand had nothing happen to him and was ignored. Now how does that makes sence? One person says something that is a mild comment, while another that is much worse, yet the worse comment is soon forgotten about and the other person is in trouble for a very long time. How does something like this happen? Unfortantly for Maines, her comment came at the wrong time, she happened to say it when Bush was very, very popular. West on the other hand said it when Bush was losing popularity. Another factor that worked for West was the fact that his comment is a issue people like to avoid talking about, so people would let some thing like that slide.
But what about other celebrities? Havn't they spoken about the government or polictics? P!nk and her song "Mr. President" is a song about what P!nk thinks of Bush's policies.
But protest songs have existed for much, much longer then the last 10 years. Songs like Fortunate Son By Creedence Clearwater Revival, 1969, a song about the drafts, it from the point of view of a man who is drafted, but they arn't the son of someone who is wealthy and is therefore not a "fortunate son" and then has to fight.
In the 70s' of the songs I chose was War Pigs by Black Sabbath. I'm nt going to say what it is about, but I do have the song above. In the 80s' Born in the USA by bruce Springsteen. This song is about the Vietnam war and didn't come back.
But should they really being voicing their own opinions in such a way? Do they influance people much more easily then anyone else because they are so famous. Or because they are singing about? I think they should be able to voice their won opinions about these kinds of things. They are still humans and citizens, so just because they reach a larger number of people then the average person, they should lose the right to have their opinions hearded? Besides I belive that people who buy the music have a good chance of sharing the opinion anyway, so its not like its going to make drastic changes to some one's thoughts.
Sites Used:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdXq20oJlC0
roqonaco.wordpress.com
www.b96hits.com
weblogs.newsday.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protest_song#1970s.3B_The_Vietnam_War.2C_Soul_Music (I found songs here, but then I listened to the lyrics to mach sure they were correct.)
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