In the '60s and late '70s, music carried a powerful message about politics and life. Songs such as "Where have all the Flowers Gone" and "Fortunate Son" were symbolic of a generation of youths nearly lost to an unnecessary war that blew up in our nation's face. Despite the artificiality of today's music, pop culture has once again stepped up to the plate thinking it can make a difference. The difference is this comeback seems more like Michael Jordan's third NBA tour than the revival it intended on delivering.
Before the war in Iraq, we learned a little more about the situation through the compelling words of two of country music's biggest acts. On one side, hardcore redneck Toby Keith whaled away on behalf of every Southerner who thinks bombings across the Middle Eastern world will ultimately wind up in peace. On the other side were the Dixie Chicks, whose lesbian appeal ironically had them bashing Bush at home and abroad.
Each artist's songs quickly shifted into either pro- or anti-war topics. They also began to hurl insults back and forth. The Dixie Chicks even performed with shirts with the initials F.U.T.K. as a shot at Keith. Keith continues to preach that America should "kick ass," and the Chicks continue to oppose the war in Iraq.
It is always intriguing to see how involved in politics these musicians get, especially considering that most of their listeners think Copenhagen smokeless tobacco is a member of the food pyramid.
Now, before the most anticipated election in the past few decades, pop culture is back in full swing. MTV's "Choose or Lose" campaign has been up and running for a while but with peculiar ads and documentaries.
After "Fahrenheit 9/11" premiered, MTV followed college students who had their minds changed from watching the movie. They began to believe George Bush was responsible for everything from Sept. 11 to falsely elaborating the necessary fear this nation must have of terrorism. This program was clear praise of Michael Moore's propaganda to a youthful audience with little knowledge of the actual situation.
What makes MTV's campaign even more peculiar are its ads. One depicts two college students at a party discussing their plans after college. They discuss work and travel options until one cuts in to say that those plans won't matter if a draft is enacted and that everyone's vote can work against it.
Recently the draft has become a minor fear tactic from the left. Al Sharpton, who once again failed to be nominated by the Democrats, actually attempted to have the draft reinstated through Congress. He figured this would create even more opposition to the war, which would ultimately reflect poorly on Bush.
Finally we come to the "Tour for Change." While other artists such as P. Diddy have also encouraged their well-informed audience to vote a certain way, none made the stand of this crowd.
Artists such as R.E.M., Bruce Springsteen and the infamous Dixie Chicks have toured all over the northeast part of the United States, hitting swing states such as Pennsylvania and Ohio multiple times, encouraging their fans to vote for anyone but the man in office. While a single concert with these big names is great news for concert enthusiasts, the pure negativity and audacity of their message is shocking. They don't seem to care who you vote for, apparently, as long as it's not George W. Bush.
These performers may have had fantastic careers, but to think that some concert could have an impact on this presidency sounds very dangerous. We're talking about bands getting stoned and singing music on stage, and for some reason you are supposed to listen to them about who the next president of our country should be. If you're brain is half functional, a siren should go off in your head telling you "Well, maybe these guys don't really know what's best for the country."
It is just scary to imagine how many uninformed young Americans have been influenced either way by these tactics. Some of these guys' toughest decisions came when they had to choose between installing an Xbox or Playstation 2 in the back of their Hummer. If these are the people you want telling you who to vote for, you and this nation have already lost.
