Does politics belong in music?
Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke recently hit out at White Stripes singer Jack White for the lack of political commentary in his songs, saying: "I was amazed when Jack White said it wasn't his job to be critical about foreign policy because he was being paid to be an entertainer. I thought that was treacherous because it's complicit with the capitalist society. Selling more records is the only thing that's important to him, not provoking debate".
Do you agree with Okereke's comments? Do you think political and social commentary belongs in music, or should musicians keep their opinions to themselves?
Your comments
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Andy from Hamilton says:Sep 23, 16:15
In a word NO. Leave politics to the politicians. What a turn-off, why bore your fans many of whom couldnt give a sht, with politics.
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do what from wap wap says:Apr 23, 23:40
what when has it never been?
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mmoloki from south africa says:Sep 25, 11:53
i think most of these rock acts(GREEN DAY,LAUREN HILL)
get political only because they dont want to have the same status as britney spears and maroon5 -
kai motta from london/folkestone says:Jul 23, 17:58
It's a joke for any artist signed by a major label to even begin to make political points considering they are signed by major label that is owned by a corporation, the modern day totalitarian edifices that control our lives on a daily basis and also have a strong influence on the media and the political system. The chances are half of these artists on major labels are unaware of half of this.
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conned from drabton says:May 9, 15:49
the difference is bloc party are pretty tame. bands like rage against the machine, public enemy, sex pistols, pitchshifter, die pretty, senser and the dead kennedys make ferocious music. dylan and marley wrote great ascerbic lyrics. most of the british indie bands however are schoolboys from privileged backgrounds, they have nothing incisive to say about the drab squalor most people live in. the slavery we endure at the hands of our corporate masters. and whats more, bands like bloc party and maximo park all sound much of a muchness.
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