Is our current political crisis inspiring any good music, the way Vietnam did?

Question

I don't really have the impression that it is. However, I grew up in the '70s so I might be prejudiced. In addition, I live in a cultural backwater, so maybe you can educate me !
I know of a few good lines by the folk singer, John Prine, concerning the war in Iraq. But that is about it.
Sorry to go looking for a positive aspect of this horrible situation - it's just my nature (and it really annoys my husband!)

Answer 1

if you allow me to give you an outside US point of view, political music has faded with the exceptions of Springsteen, Pearl Jam, or even Tool. You have to be political in the beginning to start writing music or songs with this significance. It looks like 95% of music is controlled by the major labels and people buy only whatt they see advertised. Remember what happened with hip-hop. It started as a political outcry of the street beat and faded into the lustrous R'n'B hype. Plus the fact that in US, information is also biased concerning the war in Iraq, Afghanistan or Somalia and people need much more effort to see behind the curtains. (Like Michael Moore f.i.) Music is a simple reflection of society's worries and needs. The majority doesn't seem to care unfortunately...

Answer 2

Unlike Vietnam, We do not have a draft and the number of Service members lost over 4 years is smaller than any 8 week period in Vietnam. This means that there is little populist opposition, it is all Political. Young Americans don't need to run to Canada or England to avoid service, and songs like Arlo Guthrie's 'Thanksgiving Day Massacre' don't apply to today's situation. My mother was terrified to learn I was a boy, all she ever knew was that the boys grew up, were sent to Nam, and came home dead. That kind of fear isn't as prevalent today. This would explain the limited expression in today's pop culture. The Political climate also means we don't get too many songs saying 'Thanks for a Job Well Done', even though our Soldiers deserve it, no matter your position.

Answer 3

if you can get to the underground, you have a better chance. artists with contracts with bigger labels are restricted in much of their content. these labels are owned and operated by corporations with no intensions of letting their artists spout off anything that will bring heat to the label. in the 70's there wasn't much in the music industry to keep an artist from expressing their feelings and inspirations - hence the tag "artist". sadly the only way to say how you really feel as artists today is to fund your own record label or find one daring enough to sign you. do you notice that just about every new artist starts out as a "pop" star? they had to comform to the industry untill they have the funds to back up the music they really want to make.

Answer 4

All music these days is ruthlessly commercialised, so it lessens its power to be used as a political statement.

Answer 5

In this case, I don't think history will repeat it's self.