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I was infuriated by all the nonsense the woman from "Reason" was putting forth. How could she compare Greenday's "American Idiot" to Monsanto putting a political ad out for defending Genetically Modified corn products?!!! One is a corporation with a financial interest in it's statement,the other a band just ticked off about
what was happening in this country at a particular time. Music and art have always been about making people aware of the world around them.And artists have expressed how they feel about a myriad of topics including "politics". Songs were a way of getting news from other towns back in the days before telegraphs.
And of course we have a great tradition of social protest songs in this country.But if you don't like then don't buy the nusic and don't see the concerts.That is the chance the artist takes in making a "political"statement or for that matter any musical statement.Not everyone is going to like it. By the way, I am a musician/composer

John: Will whoever books guests at WNYC please understand that "Reason" magazine is not a bipartisan, agenda-free, reasonable information source that its name sounds like, but is instead a right-wing, radical libertarian (of the Ayn Rand stripe) magazine with a very specific agenda and very unbalanced spokespeople whom they use to promote that agenda. Having someone from the Guardian on with someone from Reason isn't a balance, it's mainstream added to radical.

One of the best political songs I've heard is "Come in out of the Rain" by Parliament. Its funny how you can listen to it now and it seems like it was written for todays politics. For musicians to make good music they have to write about what they know. The beatles knew about love, Parliament knew about race inequality. Greenday does not know about oppression.

The "Rent is Too High Party" has possibly the catchiest campaign song ever. It has been stuck in my head for weeks. Look it up!

Of course all the best protest music comes from the left! The left is about changing injustices, the right is about maintaining status quo, which makes right-leaning music come across as propaganda-like (i.e. Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA," SHUDDER).

Can you imagine a "protest" song from the Teabaggers??? DOUBLE SHUDDER.

I'm tuning in late, but I'm shocked that someone from, I believe, Reason magazine, is being so unreasonable...

Art and politics are both reactions to our humanity. A more erudite individual than I should be able to show that art and politics are, in many ways, equivalent.

On the other side of the last caller I stopped listening to the dixie chicks for them coming out and voicing their views so I think it goes both ways

There are bands who wouldn't exist at all without politics like Black 47.

The United States has a rich tradition for the “protest song” starting from perhaps the folk songs of The Weavers, and Dylan to the Beatles and extending through the 60”s and 70’s to today. The counter culture’s mantra was Revolution. U2 has always has a political edge so has Pink Floyd. The list goes on and on. Music is an artistic reflection of the time(s) and as such musicians must be given to muse on whatever, they think. People may agree or disagree. But it is the nature of this type of art

What totally kills me are Hollywood Actors shooting off their mouths as if acting is some profound reflection of the times. I don’t think so. Acting may be art but it does not lend itself to political viewpoint as does music. Actors are popular mostly due to their skin deep beauty. They don’t even write the words they say.

REM is moot -- hardly anyone listens to them anymore.

Musicians who've got great aspirations want to make a buck. They need to please the masses, who want to escape. Who wants to hear about things that make them think and may bring them down.

The trick is learning how to write political songs in a subtle way where you slip in political comments that sink in your unconscious and then one day come alive.

Billy Bragg is a great political songwriter. His "Back to Basics" album is a brilliant example of tempering political with personal. He'll lull you in with great melodies. Then, years later, his lyrics will all of a sudden make sense. Excellent stuff.

Howsabout a lot of country music, which is normally right wing? There is a lot of pop which supports the status quo.

Gang of Four was great when they did political songs. They went downhill when they stopped doing them and became a dance band.

No no no. People expect musician to be vocal on issues. Dixie Chicks picked up my father as a fan after criticizing Bush.

why would we at all separate politics from art? everything we do is a political statement. all art is in some way political, whether explicit or implicit. art that is good SAYS something.

"Hurricane" by Bob Dylan is a political protest song that is not only one of Dylan's best songs, but one of the best songs of all time. And it worked--it helped get The Hurricane out of prison.

I think an artists' activism works when its genuine, informed and seamlessly integrated into the music, whether it's a patriotic support our troops rallying or a protest of war. It should always serve the music rather than just be a soap box forum for an issue du jour.

Over 40 years ago, Tom Lehrer satirized those oh-so-sincere folk singers going back as far as the Spanish Civil War:
"Remember the war against Franco,
That's one where all of us belonged,
They may have won all the battles,
But we had all the good songs!"
The more things change.....

There are different musicians for different factions of society. Music is the one forum where everyone seems to have a voice. People find the music speaks to them.

I can appreciate a song like Gods of War by Def Leppard because it was a meaningful reaction to what was going on in the world at that time. I'm a little put off by a showy display like Sinaed O'Connor ripping up a photo of the Pope on SNL.

The Cranberries negotiated this well, I think; it came across as music first, though had clearly political references.

gang of four another with great songs and great message ("ether" about the UK prison in northern ire.)

"This Land Is Your Land" was originally a protest song. Go ahead, tell a Republican THAT song stinks, Katherine.

While their hearts are often in the right place, most times artists end up just looking silly. Just look at the "Sometime in New York City" album by John & Yoko- the earnestness, while heartfelt, just makes it laughable.

roy zimmermann sums up everything I hate about music and politics: cynicism slathered over the great american song book...there is nothing compelling or interesting about these types of singers, nothing like Dylan's Hurricane, which actually accomplished something.

Thanks Stuart, but another truth is that either action would accomplish naught.

It's true what Erica P says, except that politicians would rather meet and talk with Bono rather than attend a U-2 concert...

My longstanding quip: "The only thing worse than hearing Bono sing is hearing him talk."