Would you stop listening to a band or artist if...?

Question

... you found that they held severely different/contrasting views or beliefs to your own?
[This is referring to views or beliefs that you feel at least somewhat strongly about]

Perhaps you're a Satanist and the band members are Christian. Or members of the bands are Pro-choice activists, and you are pro-life... and other such issues.

Would you stop listening? Why or why not?

x

Answer 1

No they are entiltled to there own views.

Answer 2

I think it would depend on the beliefs being expressed.

I grew up Christian, but I am an atheist now. When I was actively singing some of my favorite stuff I learned was old-school gospel and spiritual music - there is a passion there that is rarely duplicated. I still have a great deal of respect for it now, even though my religious beliefs couldn't be any more polarized. Christmas music also falls into this same category - I haven't stopped listening to and enjoying anything just because it mentions "God" - "Oh Holy Night" still gives me chills.

With that being said, if anyone expressed a viewpoint in their music that contrasted with my liberal social views, I probably wouldn't listen. Anything displaying ignorance, in terms of race, gender, orientation, etc., would not get any support from me. People are free to believe what they want, but that doesn't mean I have to listen.

Answer 3

Nope. As per your example, I'm a satanist, and I do in fact listen to some Christian music.

For me, it's not the members themselves that intrigue me in most cases, it's the music. Therefore, their religion doesn't matter.

If the lyrics include references to "God," on the other hand, it depends. If it's just a line or so every now and then, that's fine. However, if it's "Jesus Take The Wheel," I believe by Carrie Underwood? then I most likely wouldn't listen to it. However, I still might. It's just rather unlikely.

With most of my music choices, the lyrics themselves aren't even important. It's the style, the notes, the melodies.. those things are what matter.

Answer 4

No that's never really been a factor for me. Though back in the early 1990's I used to work with a skinhead guy that listened to several different punk rock bands that were popular at the time. This fellow was a bit strange, and proudly racist. His beat up old car displayed swastikas on either side in red paint. He pulled up to work one day playing a CD by the punk band NOFX. I love that band, but I don't think he listened to the lyrics very closely, as the members of the group are Jewish. I let him embarrass himself for a week or two, as he sat out in the parking lot in his car during his lunch break playing this same CD over and over! Eventually when the song 'The Brews' came on, I told him to listen to the lyrics very carefully. He did, and never played anything by that band again! I thought that was funny!

A few years ago when it was publicly known that Mick Jagger and Pete Townsend were both bi-sexual, I had a friend that removed all of the Stones and Who albums from his collection! That was funny too!

But I don't really care what a band are into, whether it's their religion, political beliefs, etc. I might have to draw the line at bestiality though!
It's a good thing that 'Wham' and 'Boy George' never released anything worthwhile, because then I'd be a hypocrite! Haaa!

Answer 5

No. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.I would only not listen if the song was c**p.However most bands who sing about sensitive and politically incorrect issues generally have a valid point to make.Those who do it just to cause offence are only jumping on a bandwagon that was crashed and burned by several well known and some not so well known punk bands in the seventies.

Answer 6

I've had this discussion with a friend for a very long time. I think the answer is that you need to separate the artist from the person. Regardless of what they believe, and whether they are absolute idiots - many of them are - you don't/shouldn't buy music based on the artist's beliefs, you buy based on whether the music moves you and how it makes you feel.
There is a separate question here, which is linked to your one - What do you do if the content of the song is offensive? For example, let's say you like the song's music, but you happen to be French and the song's lyrics are full of anti-French language and hatred? This makes things a bit more complicated!

Answer 7

In most cases, no I wouldn't because most of the artists keep politics aside from their music. Except for perhaps Axl Rose, I don't think I'd be able to tell you what the members of my favorite bands' political views are.

But if politics started rearing its ugly head in music, I might.

Answer 8

I would never completely stop listening to a band I liked simply because we had differing viewpoints. Most of these viewpoints usually fall under political or religious. However, I will confess to one thing. Sometimes when a group is constantly shoving the EXACT same message down your throat, that tends to get old. Best example is Rage Against The Machine. If you take the time to seriously read their lyrics and understand their message, you might find it difficult to give them your undying loyalty all the time.

As for religion, I practice nothing and believe in nothing. Still, I enjoy bands like Flyleaf or P.O.D. I don't feel as though they're trying to convert me.

Answer 9

Yes and no. Yes if the band actually sang about the issue and promoted their opposing views in their music. No if they leave their views out of their songs.
So if I'm pro little people and the artist is anti little people and actually sings about their hatred in their songs then I'd stop listening.

Answer 10

I wouldn't stop listening. I think bands should keep their politics out of their music anyways. I know that there are always going to be people who disagree with my political beliefs, no matter what. If some good musicians are in that group, so be it. I might not listen to interviews, but I'd keep on digging the music.

Answer 11

hi W! a million. Sparklehorse. 2. No Regrets - Johnny Dowd. 3. The Golden Gate - Vikram Seth. Its a appealing e book, telling of a team of people residing / working in Silicon Valley. Its arranged in stanzas and is an astounding study. at circumstances, it had me giggling like a drain, with its humour. different circumstances, i became into crying on the unhappiness.