Is It Freedom of Speech?

[Justawoman]

What is your take on artist who use their concerts as a venue to publicly express their viewpoints and try to sway your opinion? Take for example The Dixie Chicks and their Englis fiasco in 2003. Or even more recent, Linda Rondstadt being removed from her gig in Vegas? Do you expect to hear a political rally when you pay to hear a music concert? Would it anger you to be in the audience of an artist that does this?

[theyeti]

I think if you like an artist enough to go to their concert or buy their stuff, you ought to know what kind of a message they bring to the table. And the message is the music. For example, up here our Republican governor was dismayed when he found out Bruce Springsteen was part of this Vote For Change your. Well, if you've ever listened to Springsteen's lyrics, it's obvious that he's very much for progressive, social change and he's not afraid to speak out about it.

Probably some people don't think the same way as me, but I like music just as much if not more because of the lyrics as because of the beat. To me, the best music gives a message that resonates with you in some way, whether it be a situation that applies to your life, or a social issue that affects you personally or that you're very interested in, etc.

So I can't really understand someone seeing their favorite singer on CNN someday and saying, "Wow, I didn't know he/she was a ___(political party)___". And no matter what side, it takes guts to come out on a controversial issue - as an entertainer - and thus risk losing part of your audience, especially in the dixie chicks' case. So I respect people that do it, and I don't see why they shouldn't - if I don't agree, I can always spend my money elsewhere. If I was in their situation I'd probably do the same thing. Sometimes people ask, "What expertise does a musician or an actress have to be able to make a political statement?" If that's the case, and only the politicians or pundits are able to make a political statement, then I guess I can't either, and this isn't a democracy anymore.

[Justawoman]

You are so correct Yeti. There are those artists out there that blatantly put their beliefs in their lyrics. John Mellencamp is a good example. There are those out there that don't use their music for a political platform. If you just listened to their words you would have no idea that they were one party or another. Dixie Chicks are a good example of such a group.

When you consider the cost of a ticket to just go see one of these artists I find it rich that they want to give me their political viewpoints. They do have freedom of speech, as you and I do. But they fail to stop and think about when and how to voice that opinion they are entitled too. If I were to go to work and start spouting off my mantra on who to vote for and why, or any political view I might have, I would probably get reprimanded, especially if I insulted someone at work. My boss would have to take my fellow workers complaints in consideration and do something about them. If it were severe enough I might even get fired.

I don't see much difference in what an artist gets paid to do and my job, what I get paid to do. It is their lively hood. My hard earned money makes them a living. But unlike you and I there are no checks and balances for their job. They don't have to think before they speak. Even though at times they should and often realize this too late when they are booed or their work is shunned by radios and fans. Just because they are celebrities doesn't mean they need to have the same consideration for differing viewpoints. Often times they are rude instead and very indifferent to their listening audience. Sometimes they don't even get why their fans are mad. Linda Ronstadt even went so far as to say that she wished there were no christians in her audience.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=39542

I just wish they would think before they speak. It does make the fan view them in a different light and not always a flattering one. I understand they think our world is in turmoil and a horrible place to live. But not all of us do. I don't want them telling me how horrible a job Bush is doing and how America is falling apart. I came to be entertained by music I love to listen too. I am sure they would not give me 10 minutes to tell them why I don't share the same viewpoint. Keep the political rally out of the concert and at the political rally. When does one get so big that their poopoo doesn't stink??? Excuse me Jim.....

[jamesglewisf]

I don't care which party you are for, I just don't want to spend $40-150 a ticket for a music concert and spend 40% of the time listening to your opinions on politics or religion or smurfs or anything else.

Do you have the right to say whatever you want? Yes. Is it polite to charge someone a ton of money for a concert ticket and then spend a lot of time talking instead of singing? No. It's the equivalent of going to a movie, and half-way through the movie, the director has a segment where he talks about whatever.

In my opinion, Christian music artists are the worse about this.

[CuriousG]

I agree, Jim. Artists can do whatever they want, but it's rude and I don't want to hear about it at their concert. That's the kind of stuff you get from reading interviews with the artists, etc. I don't mind if a singer encourages everyone to go out and vote at his or her concert, buy I don't want to hear a rant about how George Bush needs to go because of this, or John Kerry in office would be the end of America because of that, etc. Most of the artists that are prone to this behavior are pretty well known, so it's not really unexpected when you go to their concert, but I really don't want to go to a concert with an "agenda." I just want to be entertained.

[jaimegerise]

It's all well and good that an artist has opinions, but they need to remember that their fans are usually fans because of the music, not because of their political views.....I personally don't wanna shell out the money to go to a concert and hear a bunch of malarky, I wanna hear the music!

[Justawoman]

Well now we have another Diva throwing her two cents in on Bush. Cher!! The whole article is pretty amusing even right down to her apology for not more people showing up to this disco to her her music.
http://www.drudgereport.com/dnccb.htm
I think it is how they voice their opinions and how they come across. Celebrities tend to come across as great know-it-alls. IMHO