The politics of rock and roll

iTunesI’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again. Well, maybe I’ve said it more than once. I can’t be all too sure. Anyway, a wise man once told me that any music that you listen to and love, then that’s what rock and roll is. I have lived by that mantra for the past ten years and will probably go to my grave saying it over and over.

I noticed something the other day. Living in the world of iTunes, there are certain playlists of goodness that I have setup up. “Bueno” is all things good with little care of any particular genre. “Happy Joy” is straight up electronic, usually something of a booty shaking quality. “Sleepy” is pretty self explanatory, but it’s something that you mellow out to as well as relax to while you drift off to la la land. It’s the new era of making mix tapes, and I know that there are a variety of those that I made and are still floating around somewhere.

MuseThere’s one playlist in particular that gets more adding and subtracting than others, and this means it also goes into play quite often. Going back to my post about listening to a lot of the new Muse album, the political tone of a majority of the album has captured my attention. Sure, the 2008 elections are coming up for the U.S., so this would stand to reason. Iraq, Afghanistan, terrorism, climate change, and the list can go on and on.

I’ve never been one to seek out politically minded music, nor have I ever been against it. I’ve also known people that listen to only such things. Like I said, it all comes down to that which sounds good to you and you simply have a love for what you hear.

So who is that has changed? Is it the artists or me?

It could be that my tastes have changed. It could also be the political climate of today. Regardless, more people are putting the message in their music. Thing is, it’s not all the same argument of “down with the man”. Sure, there is some of the “destroy and rebuild” message, but I think that it’s more than that.

Sparta @ Richards on Richards
Me and Jim Ward of Sparta
Photo credit: miss604 on Flickr

In the interview of RadioZoom#118 with Jim Ward of Sparta, he told me straight up that the track “Taking Back Control” is all about getting into the system of government and creating change from the inside. Running for office and becoming apart of those who make decisions that control our lives. This, of course, is in relation to the dissatisfaction with the current U.S. administration. A great concept, indeed, but we’re having a hard enough time getting younger generations to vote, period. However, I like the idea a whole lot.

I wish I could speak to these issues like Matt Good can, but my mind is a messy sponge when I get going. Combine his musings and my playlists consisting of, but not limited to, The (International) Noise Conspiracy, Muse, The Decemberists, and so on, I’ve noticed this shift in my personal method of thought when it comes to political issues. I used to abstain from it as much as possible, only considering the negative aspects that it would bring to relationships between me and those around me. I still don’t have a good label on what my stance is on anything and everything, but liberal is a good start.

It’s tough. I live by the rule that you can never know enough of everything that there is to know because being a know-it-all is no fun. I keep an open eye and mind on everything I read and hear. Limit yourself to one brand and side of media, and you’re bound to get blind sided. At this point, you have to put faith in yourself to figure out the truth.

I have to invoke a quote from High Fidelity[imdb], but with some minor tweaking. Do I listen to politically minded music because I am politically aware? Or am I politically aware because I listen to politically minded music?

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