Music and Politics don't mix!

Alvin Blaine · Post by **Alvin Blaine** » 19 Jul 2004 10:02 pm

Especially in Vegas.
Linda Ronstadt booed out of Casino

Chris Scruggs · Post by **Chris Scruggs** » 19 Jul 2004 10:22 pm

I wonder what would of happened if she had said,"I'd like to dedicate this next song to our wonderful president, who is doing such a good job defending freedom". She would of gotten applause. That is also mixing politics with music. Safe, popular, nonoffensive politics.

I bet the 25% of the audience that left hadn't even seen the film, and probably had no interest in doing so either. I geuss the lesson here is to wear blinders, support this modern day Manifest Destiny, and be a "good German".

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 19 Jul 2004 11:35 pm

Politics is much too important to be left to the politicians.

Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com

JB Arnold · Post by **JB Arnold** » 19 Jul 2004 11:39 pm

Amen Chris...

JB

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"All in all, looking back, I'd have to say the best advice anyone ever gave me was 'Hands Up, Don't Move!"
www.johnbarnold.com/pedalsteel
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http://www.nrpsmusic.com/index.html

Jussi Huhtakangas · Post by **Jussi Huhtakangas** » 20 Jul 2004 12:14 am

Next time I'm in Vegas I'll make sure that I gamble, drink and eat somewhere else than Aladdin!

George Kimery · Post by **George Kimery** » 20 Jul 2004 3:42 am

On a related subject, I was watching Fox news a couple of days ago and lo and behold, there was a clip of Asleep at the Wheel's Ray Benson chatting with Pres. George Bush. I hope Ray gave him some good advice on the economy and the war!

Alvin Blaine · Post by **Alvin Blaine** » 20 Jul 2004 3:47 am

She did it again the next night in San Diego.
Linda Ronstadt

[This message was edited by Alvin Blaine on 20 July 2004 at 04:53 AM.]

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 20 Jul 2004 4:25 am

Laura Ingraham of Talk Radio fame has a good book she's written called "Shut Up and Sing" which tells it like it is.... These idiots who know nothing of what's happening in the world and shoot their uninformed mouths off should just "Shut Up and Sing" or whatever they do. And Jussi, the next time I'm in Vegas I'll make sure that I give all my business to the Aladdin as they deserve it for standing up to that pinko cow...JH Although I really do like her music...

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Livin' in the Past and the Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

[This message was edited by Jerry Hayes on 20 July 2004 at 05:25 AM.]

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 20 Jul 2004 4:28 am

Shoot, Even the politicians cannot handle the politics of this country. I do not feel she should have made such a display in front of her fans as she did. I am sure not all of her fans agree with her on politics. Sometimes the mouth just overrules the brain and it gets us in trouble.

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 20 Jul 2004 4:50 am

Amen Jerry.

'tis sad how evil always gets the "popular vote". In fact it has left quite a legacy. Would you believe they once nailed a man to a cross for less.

But that man told us long ago,

"You will be mocked, cursed and spat upon for my namesake."

Looks like Linda and Barbara and untold numbers are fullfilling that prophecy to the letter.

Again sad,

carl

Mark Metdker · Post by **Mark Metdker** » 20 Jul 2004 5:02 am

She is paid to sing, not talk politics. yes, it is her right as an American to do so, but she has to be prepared for the consequences.

Chris, I am of German descent and am somewhat offended by your comment.

Alvin Blaine · Post by **Alvin Blaine** » 20 Jul 2004 5:21 am

Chris, I am of German descent and am somewhat offended by your comment.

OK folks,
I didn't post this for people to start offending each other.
I posted it because I thought it was kind of funny that Linda Ronstadt said she didn't want to do shows anymore then the next two nights she pulls a "Dixie Chicks" stunt.

Janice,
If this starts going south I wont be offended if you close it.

Drew Howard · Post by **Drew Howard** » 20 Jul 2004 5:32 am

...These idiots who know nothing of what's happening in the world and shoot their uninformed mouths off should just "Shut Up and Sing" or whatever they do.

I would add Rush Limbaugh to that list. He can go back to spinning records now that he's made his millions spreading lies and hate.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 20 Jul 2004 5:53 am

I think any fair-minded person, regardless of their political leanings, would have to agree either that:

a)It's okay for any artist to express their political beliefs to their audiences, OR

b) It's not okay to do so.

Unfortunately, we see a lot of people (including some here) who think:

c) It's only okay if I happen to agree with their political beliefs.

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 20 Jul 2004 5:59 am

Drew,
Rush is not a record spinner anymore.
He's a radio talk show host!

Linda is a singer hired to preform her music!

Theresa

Janice Brooks · Post by **Janice Brooks** » 20 Jul 2004 6:05 am

Not going to close this yet. However I would not blame anyone who choose to avoid her.

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Janice "Busgal" Brooks
ICQ 44729047

John Pelz · Post by **John Pelz** » 20 Jul 2004 6:07 am

Wisdom from the link in Alvin's 2nd post, above (about LR's antics in San Diego):

Those who complain that Ronstadt should just sing, rather than express her opinions, forget that all art has a responsibility to inspire and provoke, not just soothe and entertain.

It's LR's right to speak her voice, and it's the venue's right to give her the hook. This is America, after all.

I also find it telling that in the above link, it was noted that in San Diego, "half the crowd heartily applauded her praise for Moore, the other half booed." A 100%-accurate description of our current political climate, and that's how the November election is going to break down: this election will be decided on the margin...[This message was edited by John Pelz on 20 July 2004 at 07:08 AM.]

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 20 Jul 2004 6:29 am

For the life of me I can't see how ANYBODY can lend any credibility to that ding-a-ling, Michael Moore!

The liberals must be really getting desperate!

Alvin Blaine · Post by **Alvin Blaine** » 20 Jul 2004 6:44 am

So here is Michael Moore's response.
Open Letter to Bill Timmins, President Aladdin Casino

The latest on the Vegas news station is that the Aladdin is now claiming a breech of contract because the Ronstadt show was to be a "Greatest Hits Show", and they claim that most of the songs she did that night were covers.
I thought that was what she always did was cover other peoples songs?

Nicholas Dedring · Post by **Nicholas Dedring** » 20 Jul 2004 6:56 am

Chris, you've got a person of German descent here who thinks you are right on the money...

I think what the comment about "being a good German" was meant to do was provoke a bit of thought, with tongue firmly planted in cheek...

We are facing an unbelievable pressure to conform, both members of government, and just regular folks.

Erv, if I called Bush a ding-a-ling, you would be all over me probably... and the topic would get shut down. Hey, I find toby keith an offensive troglodite, but I'm not going to go off about it...

Art has long been a vehicle for political expression, and personal expression to boot. There are those who would justifiably say that you aren't doing your duty by your beliefs if you don't use the bully pulpit of your craft to advocate for them.

Those here who are devout christians have spoken in the past about using their music "to witness", which I think might be offensive to non-Christians, but I respect your right to do that; in that same sense, a person of strong political convictions must also have a right to express their own set of beliefs in a similar way.

The Aladdin can fire her over this (I don't know if it's legal... her contract is probably pretty complicated), but it is her belief system she is speaking from, and it saddens and disgusts me a little bit that we are so accustomed to mindless commercialized music that we can't accept someone owning their own careers, and saying whatever the hell they want.

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 20 Jul 2004 7:31 am

I think it's tragic that performers feel so compelled to share their politics. Not that they shouldn't be political or share their views, but it's that the public at large is so uneducated that artists feel they need to be the ones to help enlighten the folks. People in this country just don't do their homework. They don't read and search, they're just spoonfed. If they lean left they watch CNN. If they lean right they watch FOX. "you ain't gonna learn what you don't wanna know".

I watch both and read between the lines. I didn't need Michael Moore to hip me to the evils of the military/industrial complex and how deeply enmeshed the Bush and Bin Laden families are with that agenda. Hell, I've been following that since the '80s. It's no big secret or conspiracy theory, never has been. Oil and Drugs and Arms reign supreme. Been that way for years, ...duh. It's simply the business our "government" is in and has been for decades (centuries). Anyone who thinks otherwise is just plain naive and dangerously idealistic.

Most people are good and idealistic and have a hard time believing that their government has been sold out. Entertainers learn about it and feel they need to use their forum to educate. I tend to dislike this behavior because it instantly alienates part of your audience Left from Right. They're there for the music and the love. However, sometimes the political condition becomes so flagrantly corrupted that the "people" become desperate and they cry out in attempts to change things. This Ronstadt and Dixie Chicks kind of stuff is pretty widespread lately. The sad thing is that even though they'll likely help bring about a changing of the guard, I don't think that ANY replacement will have the ability to heal the depths of corruption that exist. The current administration isn't that unique. It's corrupt all around. Republican, Democrat, it's all still the same larger global agenda. It's sad that we get divided thinking that one party is good and one is bad. Divide and conquer is the motto of the powers that be, and the political loudmouths, while trying to inform and help are actually contributing to the divide.

People should seek the news, not wait to be spoon fed the stuff. The feeders of "information" will always, by their own nature, have an agenda other than "truth". And if people are waiting to learn about the world from their favorite musicians or favorite news channel, then they're surely going to be misguided and underinformed.

B. Sarno

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 20 Jul 2004 7:34 am

"Pinko cow?" I thought "pinko" referred to Communist sympathizers? These wars seem to me to be more about radically different spiritual mandates than about economic systems.

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 20 Jul 2004 7:39 am

In a living, breathing, democracy every person has a right to voice his/hers political/religious convictions.
I can't understand why that right shouldn't also count for an artist/musician. And as John said,- people have the right to choose whether they want to listen to that conviction or not.
But saying that somebody should shut up simply because they are 'celebrities' and you don't like their opinion is highly undemocratic, and I would also belive,- un-American (at least according to those values I've always believed America is built upon).

Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 20 Jul 2004 7:42 am

I have to chime in here...

I believe my idol Merle Haggard and my friend Jim Cohen have this issue a bit wrong. This isn't simply about freedom of speech. It's also about equal opportunity to be heard. I have no where near the opportunity to be heard that Linda Ronstadt has. So, if I'm in her audience I can only be "heard" by reacting to her political speech. That's my freedom of expression.

Very few people would react so strongly if Linda or the Dixie Chicks would put their thoughts to music -- "Shutup and Sing". At least they'd know ahead of time what they were paying to hear.

If it's okay to cheer the songs we like we ought to be able to boo the speeches we don't like. The artists need to remember why they have the stage. No one elected the drama club to run this country. Let's keep it that way.

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HagFan

[This message was edited by Ron Page on 20 July 2004 at 08:44 AM.]

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 20 Jul 2004 7:45 am

David. That's exactly what they want you to think. West vs Islamic culture. It's an age-old political tactic, literally hundreds of years old. Today it's the battle for global economy and energy in the guise of religious/cultural conflict. Just stir up old interminable differences like those that exist between Islamic and Western societies and you can create and provoke all kinds of instability. Then you can get all kinds of public support for action. It's a sleazy and cheap old trick that many governments use and your comment reminds me that it's working. It's ALL about money and power. The religious/cultural aspect is merely a tactic and a tool. There's oil in them thar dunes! Whoa, I better stop while I'm behind.

B. Sarno[This message was edited by Brad Sarno on 20 July 2004 at 08:48 AM.]