Do you care about the politics of the music you listen to?

[Green_Mist]

and if so to what degree?

(text below doesn't need to be read, but explains what I'm interested in in more detail)

Lets face it most people listen to musicians whose views they don't necessarily agree with, or even despise (so practically most people who listen to music)
usually most people don't even know what the politics of the musicians they listen to

personally I'm not interested in the private lives or opinions of the musicians of people I listen to, even of those whom are very vocal (no pun intended =P) on their opinions

in the end I'm interested in the sound of the music, and how it makes me feel, the atmosphere etc. (trying not to sound too pretentious here)

generally music is apolitical, though of course there is the question of political music

I'm not interested in whether politics belong in music

I listen to a huge range of music, and enjoy trying out new genres (or sounds or however you want to go about this), overtime I have got a taste for black metal, neo-folk, and punk - these are genres which often, even if not espousing political views, use political imagery, or at least what could be interpreted as such

this lead to me often listening to musicians whose politics or at least political imagery I may not warm towards, and which are more in the foreground than they are usually in other types of music

personally I avoid NSBM (and RAC), as well its just embarrassing to listen to, though I do generally ignore the politics of the bands if their imagery or supposed beliefs of the musicians are merely nationalist in nature (despite myself not being interested in patriotism)
though some may have unsavoury views such as Varg Vikernes, though he doesn't have political lyrics in his music, personally I've listened to his b-sides and don't regularly listen to him, though feel more open to listening to him than before, despite his views (its not like I'm going to give him my money)

however with the neo-folk band Von Thronstahl, whose fascist views I knew of before, I now feel less inclined to listen to, especially thanks to many neo-nazi comments from youtubers, which just ruin my mood for listening to the music (some comments are rather amusing - plus there's plenty of anti nazi comments too), though personally the video footage on the videos doesn't much concern me as I can either look away, or just watch it as if I was watching a History channel documentary

thus though in principal I generally couldn't care less about the politics of musicians or the music they make, sometimes (there other cases obviously but I'm not going make a list XD) I do stop listening to music due to the politics of the music, which ruin it for me

how about you guys?

hope this is the right section, and hope I haven't offended anyone with my listening habits on my first thread, don't worry I listen to plenty of left-wing music, after all in crust we trust =D

[TheGodlessUtopian]

I generally care.I mean,some music I just listen to when I want to feel in a fighting mood,so its more right wing in terms of war (usually a remnant from my old ideology),but most of the time my music is either neutral or left-wing.

[Caj]

I listen to death metal sometimes which for some fucked up reason has a tendency to have fascist imagery/lyrics. Apart from that, though, the music to which I listen is largely apolitical. I'm happy if I discover some bands whose lyrics explore more left-wing or anarchist themes, but I don't actively search for or listen exclusively to such bands.

[Magón]

Depends on my mood. I don't see everything through the lens of my political ideology.

[Apoi_Viitor]

Depends on whether or not I find it embarassing to listen to, though I find that most political music is...

[NewLeft]

Extremely reactionary. Anti-woman. Anti-intellectual.

I listen to American pop music.

[Welshy]

I listen to death metal sometimes which for some fucked up reason has a tendency to have fascist imagery/lyrics.

Same here, plus black metal which is very individualistic and tends to also have some fascist tendency. Though I just found one of my friends who is in really good blackened death metal group, considers himself more of anarchist (left wing not the stupid ancap stuff). So that made me happy.

[rundontwalk]

I listen to country music mostly, but fortunately getting drunk is a pretty universal ting.

[Apoi_Viitor]

I don't know what kind of metal you guys listen to. With the exception of NSBM, most metal I've come across has been vaguely leftist, if it had a political inclination at all.

[Ostrinski]

I get passionate to some left wing music, but some of the stuff I listen to has reactionary elements too (Rush, Skynyrd, NSBM, sexist hip-hop, etc.)

Generally speaking, no.

[Belleraphone]

Not really. I admit I've enjoyed a few remixes of the Nazi anthem.

[Kornilios Sunshine]

Except Neonazi,Nationalist,Anticommunist music, I don't give a sh*t about politics on it. ;) It is music you have escape from your daily life by listening to it. :D

[bricolage]

I don't care one bit. Most leftist music is shit anyway.

[Sputnik_1]

I generally do care but as long as it's not against my politic views then I can enjoy it just as much.

[Per Levy]

im not seeking out right wing music or anything but generally i dont care much if the people behind a project are assholes as long as the music is good. i've listen to way to much black metal for that(burzum anyone?).


Though I just found one of my friends who is in really good blackened death metal group, considers himself more of anarchist (left wing not the stupid ancap stuff). So that made me happy.

http://r-a-b-m.blogspot.com/ for leftwing black metal and similar stuff.

[Cencus]

I have a split personality on this. The 80s/90s punk I listen to very much tends to follow my own political leanings anything else as long as they are not biggots I'm not really that bothered, I have been known to listen to Gary Numan even though he is a Tory loving scumbag on occasion.

[Manic Impressive]

well I kind of think that pretty much everything is political in a way. whether it's an oh baby baby baby bubble gum pop song to most hip hop there's always politics in there or certainly the influence of politics even if it's unintentional. politics effects every facet of your life there's really no getting away from it. whether a songs talking about the cops or a relationship or just the daily struggle or whatever it's all effected. but I will stop listening to someone because of their views even if it's not reflected in the rest of their work, for example after hearing a tribe called quest's Georgie Porgie I no longer listen to them even though they had been one of my favourites.

[Искра]

No. I listen to christian fundamentalist music (ska, reggae, rocksteady, soul etc.) and patriotic/imperialist/nationalist music (Oi! and SSS) and hardcore reactionary music (RAC).

Music is music... fun. Music is indeed political but you have to be an idiot to change some of your positions because of music. For example I love Skrewdriver's cover of Sweet Home Alabama, but I'll never be a Nazi.

[Leonid Brozhnev]

Not really. I find it harder to enjoy Rush like I used to, I get turned off by Iron Maidens nationalism from time to time and Carnivore/Type O Negative has some questionable early stuff, but I generally try to ignore the political side of music if I enjoy it.
That said, I gave up on Motorhead when I discovered Lemmy was an anti-communist, Nazi collecting, libertarian shit-sack.

On the flip side, when I hear music I used to dislike and it turns out to be somewhat leftist, I do tend to enjoy it more (e.g, Pink Floyds Animals).

[bricolage]

I listen to bashment all the time and most of it is homophobic of misogynistic, it's good music though and I'm not gonna stop out of some lefty moralism... I'm also not about to start beating up gays or women any time soon either.

[L.A.P.]

Music is music, but I just can't get myself to ever be able to enjoy overtly white nationalist or fascist music.

[Tim Cornelis]

I must admit, how embarrassing it might be, that one white nationalist song with disgusting lyrics is quite catchy.

Lyrics:

"take a shit from anyone, 'cause the white race rules
we'll fight the communists 'cause communists are fools,
Tryna take our nation, and give it to the blacks, [LOL, the fuck?]
we won't take it anymore, we'll gonna take our nations back
<too disgusting chorus>"

yeah, pretty fucked up lyrics, but it is so catchy.:blushing:

[Pirate Utopian]

Nope, if I like the music, I like the music. Just like I wouldnt like a song simply because I agree with it.

[OHumanista]

Most music I hear is apolitical from largely apolitical people.
Having said that I refuse to listen to nazi/libertarian/anti-commie music. And I love leftist music.

[anton10]

Mostly no I'm afraid. But I do pick up some political stuff now and then.

[fatpanda]

I love Classical Music , but some genres like Opera coulde be conisdered Music of the Bourgeiosie...while others are more Universal (Bach and Beethoven for Example)

[A Revolutionary Tool]

If I'm listening to political music then of course it has to be left-wing. If I find out some apolitical artists are conservative or whatever I won't care much. 50 Cent supposedly votes Republican but I still like a few songs by him. But I generally don't like songs that are sexist or are all about how much money they make.

[#FF0000]

I listen to Burzum and Death In June.

But yeah music that is like explicitly and in-your-face racist with lyrics all about white pride don't fly with me.

[marl]

There's some awesome Neo-Nazi heavy metal.

I generally don't care about the politics of music, but I'd be more interested in left-wing bands.

[hatzel]

I only care about politics in music to the extent that if it's too 'there' I turn it straight off. If you're going to come out all "workers of the world unite, now it's time to start the fight!" or some shitty sloganeering like that then I will laugh in your face, and will probably keep doing so for 5 or 10 minutes...

On the other hand, if you're going to write a 'Dancing in the street' or a 'For what it's worth' or something then we might well be in business. I mean c'mon, what happened to subtlety and poetry and anything vaguely resembling art? I'd rather listen to something with semi-hidden allusions than to just be hit round the face with the lyrical equivalent of a wet fish.

This isn't to say I'm all that fussed about the opinions of the musicians I listen to, or their intentions for the song. But if you're going to do a political song you should probably make it good. Rather than shit.

[Azraella]

No. I can enjoy almost anything, though I avoid most things that are outright fascist or anti-communist. My personal favorites are bands/groups that hit topics that are nominally leftist positions though I can enjoy stuff that is not normally leftist at all.



I get turned off by Iron Maidens nationalism.


It could be worse.

They're my favorite metal band for having exceptionally intelligent lyrics and themes in their music.

[black magick hustla]

I listen to death metal sometimes which for some fucked up reason has a tendency to have fascist imagery/lyrics. Apart from that, though, the music to which I listen is largely apolitical. I'm happy if I discover some bands whose lyrics explore more left-wing or anarchist themes, but I don't actively search for or listen exclusively to such bands.

actually death metal has been traditionally left wing, at least compared to black metal. napalm death comes to mind.

[La Comédie Noire]

It depends on the music and how I'm feeling. Most of the time though I just want to dance or get lost in my own head. Sometimes I think people forget the pleasure aspect of music and instead treat it like an intellectual curiosity or hobby to be collected and sorted like butterflies or stamps. Mostly I'm thinking of those music snobs who get really territorial about their music and lament about the death of "meaningful" music, whatever that may be.

So I care about music, but only to the point where it doesn't interfere with my sleep or sense of self worth.

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

I listen to music that I enjoy and whose message I at least vaguely agree with. I genuinely listen to artists who, in one way or another, inspire me - Springsteen for one. Though his politics is obviously not 'Socialist' per se, there is a lot that you can take from his music.

As long as there is something philosophically/musically/stylistically interesting in a musician's lyrics, then they don't have to be 100% 'my politics', though because of the above qualification, I do tend to listen to a lot of left-leaning and left-wing music. I quite like Punk and Folk music, so that obviously has a positive influence on the politics of the artists I listen to, too.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

There's some awesome Neo-Nazi heavy metal

If by "awesome" you mean "shit" than yes.

[Die Rote Fahne]

If the band is known to be reactionary, has made reactionary songs or has been involved in that sort of thing, I refuse to listen to even their non-political music. I know some revlefters listen to the neonazi band "Skrewdriver" without remorse.

Every time I see someone here exclaim that they listen to a nazi band, I lose some respect for that person. When they go on to defend it, I lose more.

[RedGrunt]

Generally, I do. If it's something small that I don't agree with, I can pass it over so long as it isn't too bad. If I'm listening to music that has lyrics - I consider the lyrics of importance, and I simply can't separate my beliefs, be they of any category, from the music, and the lyrical content therein, I listen to. I don't give one shit if the music is catchy or whatever, infact that's more reason for me to stop listening to it. Putting something in musical form allows whatever lyrical content to be easily remembered, and music appeals to a, though not solely, to a very emotional side of ourselves. I find myself humming or singing(in my head) music that I don't listen to - or like, often - from sheer exposure to it through others or whatever. Now, I don't think listening to a song with lyrics you disagree with will make you suddenly go to that side(it would, however, affect someone who has no opinion of the subject - propaganda of sorts), but I would hate to find myself humming or singing lyrics of something that my beliefs are contrary to. I prefer to listen to something I agree with - as a sort of reinforcement.

I do like to listen to music that is outside of my immediate perspective however, such as historical music reflecting the times or different cultural styles, languages and their perspectives.

[brigadista]

sometimes but i like to dance so i listen to bashment -

[black magick hustla]

i like some RAC. i think i heard some nsbm i thought was good. but i like a lot of things really

[Rusty Shackleford]

sometimes.

when i am aware of something that is seemingly fucked up i get nervous about listening to it. i just cant focus on the music if i know theres nazis or whatever making it.

Like Ajattara for example. Awesome music, then i found out one of the band members was affiliated with finnish nazis or whatever. the same goes for most scandinavian metal. like, i love folk and viking metal but at the same time, theres a big chance of it actually being reactionary.

Or even imagery. Electric Wizard is obviously into the black magic occult demonic type stuff. it makes for good music. though they dont use anything beyond obviously druggy images their myspace page had a book about the occult with a german helmet on it.


Or "Ghost"

fucking awesome cover. iffy image.

r8oFlXnnwKI

[Ocean Seal]

I will enjoy a song more if its leftist music, but otherwise its about the same for me.

[Elsa]

I like opera, especially Wagner, who hardly was a bourgeois - there are even some Marxist interpretations of his Ring des Nibelungen ;) On the other hand he wrote some antisemitic things. This doesn't have to much to do with his music though.

From more modern music I like some leftist bands, like The Redskins, The Clash and recently Billy Bragg, and politics are a nice additional value. But I also listen a lot Death in June and a lot of people associate them with neonazism (which is untrue, but they certainly play with martial aesthetics). I like some old Soviet songs (sovmusic.ru is an excellent source), but often the Stalin-praising bothers me just too much.

Btw I think there's a lack of good quality modern recordings of The Internationale ;) German recording by Hannes Wader is excellent imho.

[Chambered Word]

I only care about politics in music to the extent that if it's too 'there' I turn it straight off. If you're going to come out all "workers of the world unite, now it's time to start the fight!" or some shitty sloganeering like that then I will laugh in your face, and will probably keep doing so for 5 or 10 minutes...

On the other hand, if you're going to write a 'Dancing in the street' or a 'For what it's worth' or something then we might well be in business. I mean c'mon, what happened to subtlety and poetry and anything vaguely resembling art? I'd rather listen to something with semi-hidden allusions than to just be hit round the face with the lyrical equivalent of a wet fish.

This isn't to say I'm all that fussed about the opinions of the musicians I listen to, or their intentions for the song. But if you're going to do a political song you should probably make it good. Rather than shit.

so true. but then again Anti-Flag aren't always too subtle, yet I think they're great.

[Art Vandelay]

so true. but then again Anti-Flag aren't always too subtle, yet I think they're great.

This. I am personally kind of a fan of blunt lyrics. The minutemen were great for this, they got their point across usually without rhymes or floral language.

[Chambered Word]

This. I am personally kind of a fan of blunt lyrics. The minutemen were great for this, they got their point across usually without rhymes or floral language.

what annoys me is boring sloganeering, sounding like you're giving a political lecture or putting effort into writing 'radical' lyrics while the music itself just sounds dull. or just using 'fuck x-thing-we-don't-like' to denounce a certain person or institution, over and over again. let the boots do the talking was a good song but I've downloaded a bit of oi polloi and can't really stand it for these reasons.

[Niccolò Rossi]

Nope, if I like the music, I like the music. Just like I wouldnt like a song simply because I agree with it.

But I mean isn't that the point. 'Music' is often more than just a beat or a groove or meaningless vocal expressions. Music (often) involves lyrics and those lyrics have a meaning. Lyrical content is of course open for interpretation but there is usually some inherent meaning in what is being said.

Personally lyrical content does have an affect on whether or not I like certain music. Where lyrics speak to me very directly, that song will occupy a special place in my mind and in my music library. At the same time, when a song expresses ideas that I find pernicious, it's not going to be possible for me to enjoy that music in the same way.

Saying that, I'm not a fan of much (any?) overtly political music. But yeah, message is important in me being able to appreciate music.

[Solar Storm]

well i listen to progressive rock/fusion jazz.

And yes i care about politics of the writers.
For example Frank Zappa
He was an "right winger" and i didn't listen to his music for 3 mouths because of that. But his music was way to good to avoid. So i said: Fuck it! music is music if its good listen to it no mater what are the musicians political/religion he leaves.

ok summary about i was talking

If its good music listen to it no mater what's the musicians be-leave

[Firebrand]

I couldn't listen to right wing music, lyrics are a very dominant part of my enjoyment of music and I couldn't enjoy music that I was that solidly opposed to. I do listen to some apolitical music but on the whole its mostly left wing music. Although I would never listen to a bad band just because they were left wing, I do have a preference for lefty bands.

[Pirate Utopian]

But I mean isn't that the point. 'Music' is often more than just a beat or a groove or meaningless vocal expressions. Music (often) involves lyrics and those lyrics have a meaning. Lyrical content is of course open for interpretation but there is usually some inherent meaning in what is being said.

Personally lyrical content does have an affect on whether or not I like certain music. Where lyrics speak to me very directly, that song will occupy a special place in my mind and in my music library. At the same time, when a song expresses ideas that I find pernicious, it's not going to be possible for me to enjoy that music in the same way.

Saying that, I'm not a fan of much (any?) overtly political music. But yeah, message is important in me being able to appreciate music.

The first thing you hear is the music itself, if that doesnt do it, I'm already out. I appreciate good lyrics but if it's good the music and vocals are good enough to compensate for weak lyrics. Good lyrics are definitely a bonus, but to be honest, they're not essential.

Not all lyrics have meaning and that's okay. Sometimes a song just needs vocals. Besides, I'm getting more into instrumental stuff lately anyways, James Blake, Jet Age of Tomorrow kinda stuff.
Sometimes it's about primal emotion, some songs just scream anger or happiness and even if the lyrics are kinda basic the way they transfer their emotions into the listener makes them strong.

There's plenty of great lyricists out there I like but almost none of them are political. Like Frank Ocean.

[newdayrising]

I do care, but not to the extent where I won't listen to something I like musically just because of the politics. I won't buy it if I know my money will be going to finance nazi stuff, for example. But I'll download it. Sometimes just out of curiosity, because most fascist bands are horrible anyway.

Also, I don't fully agree with most left-wing artists politics anyway. They're usually supportive of all kinds of things I find unsavory, from nationalist/stalinist regimes to individualistic/nihilistic anarchism. But I'm able to appreciate the "spirit" and the fundamental emotions behind the misguided politics.
Even my favorite commie band had links to organizations I'm very critical of. So there you go...

I'm also deep into punk rock DIY culture because it's a good way to produce stuff and interact with people as far as capitalist relations go, but I'm also critical of DIY as an ideology and the idea that it's somehow revolutionary.

I try to avoid becoming neurotic and over rationalizing art. Of course there's no such thing as real neutral/apolitical art, but fortunately we still can enjoy it on a level that goes beyond reason.

[RedAnarchist]

A lot of music I listen to is apolitical, but if it's political and something I listen to, it's left-wing.

[Sixiang]

I don't know what kind of metal you guys listen to. With the exception of NSBM, most metal I've come across has been vaguely leftist, if it had a political inclination at all.
Yeah, same here with my experience.


I love Classical Music , but some genres like Opera coulde be conisdered Music of the Bourgeiosie...while others are more Universal (Bach and Beethoven for Example)
I love classical, too. And there are some outright leftist classical composers out there. Probably more so than any rappers or rock musicians. Aside from Soviet and PRC composers, there are some composers from capitalist countries who have expressed Marxist beliefs in their music. Some Marxist composers who I think are worth checking out for both good music and messages are: Sergei Prokofiev, Aram Khachaturian, Dmitri Shostakovich, Cornelius Cardew, Christopher Caudwell, Christian Wolff, Frederic Rzewski, Yuji Takahashi, and Luigi Nono.


actually death metal has been traditionally left wing, at least compared to black metal. napalm death comes to mind.
Yeah.

I've found black metal to be revolting. I gave it a lot of tries, but I just cannot get into it. I like practically every other kind of metal, though.

I go through phases. Sometimes I care a lot about their politics. Other times I don't. But I can say that I never listen to outright racist, fascist, imperialist, or conservative musicians. The closest I'll get is some liberals. Basically it's a mixture of apolitical, liberal, social-dem, and communist. I don't really like anarchist punk. When I found out about Eric Clapton's racist and nationalist comments, I kind of stopped listening to his music altogether. The same goes for a few other musicians whom I just could not reconcile some of their comments with music that usually wasn't that great anyways. And by apolitical music, I usually mean artistic stuff that isn't too outright political. I don't really listen to party music and "just feel good" music of that sort.

[Zav]

Most of my music has Leftist undertones, or at least I see them. If I find out an artist/band's political views are not in agreement or mutually respectful disagreement, I will be less inclined to listen to them. The exception is Wagner.

[Ostrinski]

I've found black metal to be revolting. I gave it a lot of tries, but I just cannot get into it. I like practically every other kind of metal, though.Casual.

[∞]

Politics make me feel like poo-poo.

Good music.

Q3SZ4lSvH9o

A-cT6SwFIHA

[Sixiang]

Casual.
I don't get it...:confused:


Politics make me feel like poo-poo.

Good music.

Q3SZ4lSvH9o

A-cT6SwFIHA

Tim and Eric are funny. That second one was just stupid.

[Agent Ducky]

I listen to whatever sounds good, although I'm definitely influenced heavily by the politics of the band. I'm much more likely to listen to commie/anarchist/political bands, because it's like a beautiful complete circle for me.... sounds great with lyrics I can feel good singing along to. More interesting for me than just the typical love/sex/drugs/partying songs, I can relate to them more. I connect to it more. Not that I have a problem with non-political music. I love that too, especially when it's funny.

[o well this is ok I guess]

The more I think about it the more I realize Refused and The International Noise Conspiracy really suck
I think I only listen to them for the politics

[Prometeo liberado]

Music is part of the cultural hegemony and therefore its subtle way dictates the way in which we define and reason our surroundings. There is great political music out there, billy bragg and paul weller just off the top of my head. Also try interpol or secret machines. Great music that is progressive and doesn't give a fuck about sounding cool.

[Jimmie Higgins]

Political music can be really great and inspiring, but it's a bonus for me if a band has good politics. I have books, lots of political books, which are for the purpose of getting new political information and arguments - music is for listening to and enjoying. So unless the politics are overtly offensive or is made to be offensive in that way, I'll generally give it a pass if a really talented rapper has some ugly lyrics or if a great rock band has a questionable song.

Incidentally I can't listen to early Dylan political music - his rock n' amphetamine days electric music is much more enjoyable to me. But when I read the lyrics to some of his political folk I'm like, this is amazing... still can't listen to it though.

[the last donut of the night]

look most music nowadays is apolitical because apathy dominates most of our culture in capitalist society, although this is changing. and i listen to everything from dirty southern rap to fucking powerviolence so no i just dig good music

[Tovarisch]

Not really. Politiks is politiks. Music is music. I love listening to 60's-80's rock, some of which tends to be right-wing. I'm not going to listen to music if the lyrics encourage killing sand people and drawing swastikas on synagogues, but otherwise I don't care much

[brigadista]

cha - listening to bashment and dancehall feels good... lol

[Frank Zapatista]

I most certainly do care. I mostly listen to leftist music (a lot of anarcho-punk, even though im not an anarchist). I do listen to some neutral, non-political music too though.

[LuckyStrikes]

I don't listen to music with a lot of fascist imagery, but at the same time I don't listen to music with exclusively left-wing sources. I love music with left-wing lyrics, but I don't actively listen for it.

[Zanthorus]

napalm death comes to mind.

The thing about Napalm Death is that they were originally a punk band influenced by bands like Crass, and the politics come more from that side of their music than from the metal influence. ND are a good example of why I wouldn't listen to music for the politics though, most leftie political bands have shitty liberal/activist politics. Some of, the political content of the first ND album borders on third-worldism.

[Lanky Wanker]

Well some Nazi punk like Skrewdriver is catchy, but I can't enjoy it as much, hearing him grunt "fight for Britain" which makes him sound like a total cretin. 99% of Nazi punk sounds the same (boring and crap) though so it doesn't bother me too much. Anarcho-punk tends to annoy me because they usually talk about the same crap and generally focus too much on rewriting other bands' lyrics to actually make a creative instrumental that sounds original. I'm trying to keep political views out of my band, but my friend (bassist) did write a song called Politics which is about as far as we'll go (...though I'm thinking of doing a sort of 'educate yourself and fuck what your friends tell you' song in reference to leftist politics mainly, but not in the typical "lolz, fuk da police!!" way).

[∞]

Before the "OMG U SO MAINSTREAM" shits reply to me. I must say I really like Behemoth.
Actually read the lyrics of their songs and enjoyed them even more. Definitely poetic.

Some kind of a Nietzsche-element listening to it. Not a big fan of Nietzsche but it makes for badass music.

[Lanky Wanker]

Actually, I want to answer the OP's question again:

UC5ADVceEC0

When the music can make me laugh this hard, YES I CARE! You just don't get this kind of quality humour from any other type of political music or punk rock. That brain-dead grunt he seems to have slowly developed over the years is probably from where all the redskins have been kicking his head in on the streets. Let's sing along!

[Os Cangaceiros]

I've only heard one Skrewdriver song but I thought it was OK (by the standards of the genre it occupies).

Generally I don't care.

[anarchoash]

Yeah cos I listen to mainly punk rock but the non-political music I listen to still covers important issues going on in the world and of course the closer to home issues

[Fawkes]

Kind of, but barely. I won't dislike a band solely because of their politics, nor will I like one because of their politics. However, I will like a band slightly more if they happen to be anarchists/commies/whatever.

[Yuppie Grinder]

I try not to let politics interfere with my enjoyment of art, but it does sometimes. Truth is, far-right politics are always pretty anti-intellectual, so very little decent art comes from that mindset.

[hatzel]

Truth is, far-right politics are always pretty anti-intellectual, so very little decent art comes from that mindset.

That's an utterly ludicrous thing to say for some reason...

Anyway: for me the ideal political music is something like this:

sSqMsckgM

No obnoxious sloganeering, nor any incessant cries of "hey! You! Listen! This is political!" and yet still it clearly demonstrates an acute social awareness. Clever that.

[Nicolai]

I'm quite the opposite. When a song/band mention poltical isues, I kinda expect a bit more leftist influence over it. I generally enjoy music more when its lyrics is about world issues today. But it also dephends on genre. But when I meet sexist, nationalistic and capitalistic lyrics and yada yada I tend to move away, and look for something else.

Serious note though is that this is what I "tend" to and prefer. But I too fall /SOMETIMES/ when a song is damn catchy. As said earlier though by others, I would never copy the views of such song.

[Nicolai]

Actually, I want to answer the OP's question again:

UC5ADVceEC0

When the music can make me laugh this hard, YES I CARE! You just don't get this kind of quality humour from any other type of political music or punk rock. That brain-dead grunt he seems to have slowly developed over the years is probably from where all the redskins have been kicking his head in on the streets. Let's sing along!

Funny: at 1:38 he says "Meow" :laugh:

[HomelessMaoist]

Not really, I mean, my favorite band of any genre is Queen, and their lyrics weren't exactly leftist. Mercury, I believe, once said "Spend, spend, spend." Not exactly the most pro working class quote.

[Goblin]

Most of the stuff i listen to were made by liberals. So, no.

[LOLseph Stalin]

Not hugely unless the lyrics are openly advocating fascism, genocide, racism, etc. I like to keep politics separate from at least some aspects of my life, music being one of them.

[Kalinin's Facial Hair]

I try not to.

I always fail.

[Skyhilist]

I usually care when I'm listening to punk (to an extent). When it's metal or something like that, I honestly couldn't care that much though. For example, I listen to Megadeth but recognize that Dave Mustaine is an absolute nut.

[Jesus Saves Gretzky Scores]

As long as it's not explicitly stupid. I can stand Democrats and liberal music, I can even stand Toby Keiths overly-patriotic crap, I can't stand fascism of course, or anything close.

[Skyhilist]

As long as it's not explicitly stupid. I can stand Democrats and liberal music, I can even stand Toby Keiths overly-patriotic crap, I can't stand fascism of course, or anything close.

The only good fascist is a very dead fascist :D

[Pleb]

Someone was giving me shit for liking Pantera and even went out the way to show me some of the lyrics containing some racist shit, I dont really care. Most of the time I cant understand what Phil is saying but its irrelevant. Pantera is all about the shredding!

[Le Libérer]

Someone was giving me shit for liking Pantera and even went out the way to show me some of the lyrics containing some racist shit, I dont really care. Most of the time I cant understand what Phil is saying but its irrelevant. Pantera is all about the shredding!

I worked as a publicist and one of the bands I did press for was Pantera. I also dated a member of Down, Phil's after band. I will say this, he is about the Confederacy etc, but has lightened up a lot since those early lyrics. The rest of the band didn't hold those views, so if politics in music is important to you, then you have a dilemma. If not, just enjoy it.

And one of the members of Down is Jewish, so bring that to the rodeo when you are struggling with your decision.

Personally, if someone has racists or anti-woman lyrics, I am not going to support them by buying their music. They are not going to get my money.

[Philosophos]

It depends on the political views. The best example I can get is Notis Sfakianakis. He's a great greek singer that has a very nice voice and his songs are very touching but since he started talking about politics he makes throw up every time he speaks.

He says things like "a king will save us", "Golden dawn does well that they beat the crap out of the foreigners because they "rape" us" and such bullshit that have no actual meaning and they are said to just be said.

[Nevsky]

I usually listen to apolitical baroque, vienna school and romantic classical music, where it is possible to enjoy the artistic accomplishments without thinking too much about class struggle. When it comes to politically motivated music, however, I am very intolerant of non leftist contents. For example, I can't stand shitty nationalist rock bands like Frei.Wild who claim to be apolitical while promoting strict reactionary ideals through their lyrics.

Contemporary nationalism has a pretty dangerous potential as it often hides under supposed apolitical romanticism (mostly national, local-patriotic or martial imagery). If I notice any signs for said phenomenon, I boycott the band/musician. Within the black metal and neofolk genres it is sometimes difficult to draw a dividing line between potential politically threatening music and genuine apolitical, nature or pagan inspired artists. The latter can also involuntarily induce reactionary sentiments but that is mostly the listener's fault who wants to see it in the wrong light.

[redfist.]

Some leftist music is really fucking great (The Clash, and to some degree Gang of Four, This Heat, The Pop Group, Aus Rotten etc.), but most of it really fucking sucks. I don't actively seek out leftist music, but when I find something I like, it tends to stick around in my playlist. However, the only time I genuinely care about the political views of a band or an artist is when they are completely opposite to mine. For example, I love black metal, but I have avoided Burzum, one of the classics of the genre, due to Varg being a raging anti-semite who also views communists, muslims, feminists etc. as subhuman scum.

[Taters]

The Future of the Left is probably a more pessimistic take on the left what with all the symbolism of failed movements and whatnot. I'd say it's definitely anti-capitalistic though.

Here are some songs:
Manchasm
Drink Nike
Arming Eritrea
Lapsed Catholics
The Hope That House Built

can't post links but all of those songs are on Youtube

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

I listen to the lyrics of music, they're important. Not so much for the overt politics, but the sentiment.

Someone like Bruce Springsteen, for example. Clearly not a communist by any stretch, but I challenge anyone to listen - really listen - to some of his songs and not empathise with the loneliness, the struggle, the depression, or to get swept up in the 'cars and girls' lyrics that hide the undoubted sadness and depression that the guy has dealt with his whole life. It's not waving the red flag around or whatever, but it encapsulates working class sentiment better than most.

I do like a bit of overt leftist music sometimes, but more often than not it's about whether someone's personal lyrics tell you something about them, in terms of a story. I find that more impressive than overt political positioning.

[kashkin]

I don't really care. I am a fan of Sabaton and Man o War, the lyrics of both bands could be seen as right-wing. I am also a big fan of Wagner.

Too much left-wing music is folk/country.

[bricolage]

Someone like Bruce Springsteen, for example. Clearly not a communist by any stretch, but I challenge anyone to listen - really listen - to some of his songs and not empathise with the loneliness, the struggle, the depression, or to get swept up in the 'cars and girls' lyrics that hide the undoubted sadness and depression that the guy has dealt with his whole life. It's not waving the red flag around or whatever, but it encapsulates working class sentiment better than most.
I mean I agree with all this and straight up no music has ever spoken to me more than Springteen. But you've gotta remember that he's crossed picket lines in the past and when I heard that, man it really made me a rethink his music. I think especially because what he writes is not about politics but about I guess principles and when he says in the Promise film, something like 'it's an album about where you are going to stand and who you are going to stand with', so then to stand on the wrong side of a picket line for me that's really flawed. So anyway I still think he expresses genuine life experiences of many far greater than most, but that this is undercut by his personal actions.

[John Lennin]

Speaking for myself, i keep it very simple:
Music is music and politics are politics.
I wouldn't refuse listening to an awesome song just because i don't share the meaning of its lyrics.

[MarxSchmarx]

Frankly, I don't have time for music that lacks political merit.

[homegrown terror]

if the music itself isn't political in nature, i usually don't give a shit (motorhead, as said before. i don't care what lemmy's opinions are as long as the music is awesome)

if it IS political in nature, i do tend to only listen to music that's at least somewhat in line with my views.

[one10]

I can't tolerate music with anti-leftist content. Aside from that, I don't let politics dictate entirely what music I listen to. Even if I disagree with the political ideals of the artist, as long as they keep it out of their music, I'm ok with it.

[Stand Your Ground]

Definitely. I used to like listening to alot of, the more popular rap (50 Cent & G-Unit, DMX, Eminem etc.) but after my political views became more clear I couldn't stand to listen to anything sexist or homophobic anymore. Even if they say they 'don't mean it that way'. Now it's just political & sxe rap. Rock & metal is easier to find more acceptable music.

[conmharáin]

I actually listen to Burzum. I don't speak Norwegian, and that in part makes it difficult for me to appreciate the message of the lyrics in the emotional context of the music. But I don't harbor any illusions about the content of the lyrics or the political convictions of the musician. I find it easy to relate to the music's anger, bitterness, and hopelessness. And I've also got my unquestionably creepy fascination with fascism.

[bcbm]

not at all. i listen to lots of stuff i don't agree with politically

[l'Enfermé]

I only listen to the National Anthem of the USSR.

[Taters]

I only listen to the National Anthem of the USSR.

Otherwise known as the best national anthem ever.

[bcbm]

i only listen to nsbm and neo-80s synthesizer music

[conmharáin]

i only listen to nsbm and neo-80s synthesizer music

You and I haven't exchanged words before this, but we are now the best of friends.

[Flying Purple People Eater]

Not hugely unless the lyrics are openly advocating fascism, genocide, racism, etc. I like to keep politics separate from at least some aspects of my life, music being one of them.

This. I listen to lots of music regardless of content, but I stay the fuck away from right-wing politicised music.

I'm someone who appreciates the lyrics in songs, so hardcore metal with a skinhead screaming "GO BACK TO AFRICA" is not something I'd enjoy listening to.

[Ceallach_the_Witch]

It doesn't bother me, which is fortunate because I like some fairly repellant stuff, all told. A lot of it is NS black metal/punk/neo-folk and so on but i have plenty of other objectionable stuff too. Some of it is Burzum/Fanisk type stuff where it's not too overt but I have a bunch of stuff which is pretty blatant about it. The latter is actually harder to find since usually the more transparently NS and racist a band is the crappier they sound, but there are a few exceptions.

I have a lot of music which deals with horrifying violence and mutilation and stuff, often misogynistic/homophobic in nature. And that's before we get into the music recorded by actual murderers.

As long as I actually like listening to it, I keep it, and more often than not I listen to stuff out of curiosity anyway.

[Radio Spartacus]

I prefer music with communist themes because that can be relatable, but apolitical music can be incredible as well so I don't listen exclusively to political music.

That said, the folk punk scene is fun. I find the music much better to the ear than other forms of punk, and there are quite a few anarchist bands. I recommend Ramshackle Glory. Can't go wrong with songs like "Exploration of Coercion in Everyday Life" and "Song For Next May Day". "From Here to Utopia (song for the desperate)" is lyrically interesting as well.

Apolitically, Okkervil River writes beautiful music that often has philosophical or emotional takeaway. I recommend "Black", "John Allyn Smith Sails", "Calling and Not Calling My Ex", and "The War Criminal Rises and Speaks". War criminal verges on political, but isn't preachy.

[Red Flag Waver]

Most of the music I like isn't overtly political and I have no idea what opinions are held by the musicians. With oldies and rockabilly and stuff, I'd guess that many of them were/are right-wing, especially when it comes to modern rockabilly and greaser-type people (don't you have to be somewhat reactionary to fetishize mid-century America like that?) but I really don't know. All I know is that the music is good.

If a band I like exhibits gross beliefs/behavior independent of their music, it's honestly pretty disappointing, not because it makes the music worse, but because every time I listen to it I'll think "oh, these guys supported that dipshit candidate," "this guy beats his girlfriend," etc. It depends, but sometimes I can get over it. For example, Bo Diddley's music is so good that I forgive him for recording a shitty pro-war song after 9/11. As for bad politics in the music itself, I do listen to some objectionable stuff. "Tiki" music is awesome even though it's a racist appropriation of Polynesian culture, 60s garage bands are fun but really misogynist (lyrics sound like stuff you hear today from Nice Guys and PUAs). But fascist music? Songs about goose stepping and eugenics? I mean, how do you groove to that? Even without those kinds of lyrics, if I know that the band harbors fascist sympathies, I'm going to be way too creeped out to enjoy the music.

Anyway, this thread is surprising. I didn't realize there were this many leftists listening to Nazi bands :ohmy: Also, people listening only to leftist bands? Doesn't that get boring?

[Creative Destruction]

yeah, i do. music is expression and i don't want to support expressions of what i see as wrong. Skrewdriver may write masterpieces, but i wouldn't know because of who they are. i've also stopped listening to Eric Clapton after finding out what a racist piece of shit he is.

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

A lot of the music I listen to is pretty radical, like for example, Miley Cyrus, so I don't really have this problem?

[Creative Destruction]

actually death metal has been traditionally left wing, at least compared to black metal. napalm death comes to mind.

death metal hasn't been traditionally anything. it just so happens there are some lefty death metal/grindcore bands, but those bands tended to grow from their anarcho-punk origins, like napalm death. tbf, apart from ND, i can't think of any other death metal band that is left-wing. i guess carcass had some political stuff, and six feet under is kind of lefty (more of the dumb hippie variety.) but other than that, it's been primarily apolitical. brujeria may be considered political.

black metal has always been more politicized, just because of the nature of the scene it grew out of: kids obsessed with conservative, though anti-christian, movements. fascist, ultra-conservative politics if it was stuff coming out of norway. more recently, there has been more leftist bands being formed, but primarily in the united states, like wolves in the throne room.

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

1. Why did this shitty thread need to be necro'd? Do I really need to read two years worth of assholes admitting that they listen to reactionary horseshit 'cos, "It's just music"?

2. All music is political. The bizarre idea that "culture" or "art" is somehow magically independent of social realities is, well, some idealistic crap. I'm not just talking about content, but form and context.

3. Whereas all music is political, we should take it seriously as a field of struggle. This doesn't necessarily mean "political content", since "revolutionary" phrase-mongering is a tried-and-true scheme for niche marketing. Rather, we should be concerned seriously, with the production and reproduction of music, in establishing whether it is worth our time or not.

4. Wolves In The Throne Room are fucking tools. They left a bunch of shit at my jam space though, which we were happy to not send back to them. Free strings for a year!

[bcbm]

i'll just stick to listening to music because it sounds good to my ears, i think.

[Red Flag Waver]

we should be concerned seriously, with the production and reproduction of music, in establishing whether it is worth our time or not.
Could you expand upon this?

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

Could you expand upon this?

I'm just trying to start shit. ;)

Seriously though, I think we need to look at music produced within communities (and, obviously, particularly working class communities) and for communities, and see how it relates to broader systems of the production and distribution of music.

There's obviously no "pure" music: I don't want to posit a music that is "outside the system". That said, most of us can pick out the difference between grass(roots) and astroturf, between something like Occupy and the Obama campaign, etc. Obviously there are moments when this is more complicated, times when either dogmatism or opportunism is the greater risk, etc. I just wish people would approach music this way.

[Lacrimi de Chiciură]

I only listen to Zearle.

[Creative Destruction]

4. Wolves In The Throne Room are fucking tools. They left a bunch of shit at my jam space though, which we were happy to not send back to them. Free strings for a year!

is that the only reason they're tools?

[Red_Banner]

I listen to both political and non political stuff.

I like the traditional revolutionary leftwing anthems and marches but there are other stuff I listen to.


I'm big into pop and elctro/techno/disco etc. music.
Like with electro, I listen to Giorio Moroder, Harold Faltermyer, Jean Michael Jarre, Daft Punk, Benny Benassi.

With pop, my favourite artists are Alizee, Mylene Farmer, Laurent Boutonnant, and Tanja Zagar.

Laurent Boutonnat and Mylene Farmer wrote Alizee's first 2 albums, but Alizee's stuff is mostly apolitical.

Laurent writes most of the insturmental music for Mylene Farmer, their stuff is sometimes political.

Like here is a Russian Revolution themed Snow White:
http://youtu.be/aKBajmI6snM

Then this involves an escape of some sort of concentration camp or Gulag:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XazOkXRTyR4

Then Laurent also made the Che Guevara themed Hasta Siempre:
http://youtu.be/SSRVtlTwFs8

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

is that the only reason they're tools?

As per above, I'm just trying to start shit. ;)

But, actually, they were just gross "professional" - they treated my buddies' house venue (which, to be fair, is an old church, but still) like it was a club with professional promoters, etc., and not just a bunch of dedicated punk kids (kids in the punk sense, including people in their thirties).
It's like, if you want the credibility of playing cool underground venues, don't have your manager arrange online ticket sales, make a shit-tonne of demands (guarantees, deposits, etc.), and act like high-and-mighty saviors of music. There are tonnes of shitty bars for that shit.

[Kalinych]

I certainly do. I don't expect everyone to care though and I certainly wouldn't hold it against someone if they didn't. I just can't listen to songs with lyrics that are sexist, racist, homophobic or that are really reactionary in any way. I just prefer to listen to songs with leftist lyrics. I mostly listen to Punk Rock, especially bands in my local scene because I have a lot of friends in bands around here.

[sixdollarchampagne]

In response to the original question, I absolutely do not care about the politics of the music I listen to. I am a big fan of Baroque music, and I was just listening to the Vivaldi Gloria, part of a musical setting for the Mass, and, therefore, a theistic composition, if ever there was one. Now my indifference to the politics of music cuts both ways: if atheists had composed music of stunning beauty, I would listen to that, as well. (AFAIK, there is no explicitly atheistic music.)

[bcbm]

I'm just trying to start shit. ;)

Seriously though, I think we need to look at music produced within communities (and, obviously, particularly working class communities) and for communities, and see how it relates to broader systems of the production and distribution of music.

There's obviously no "pure" music: I don't want to posit a music that is "outside the system". That said, most of us can pick out the difference between grass(roots) and astroturf, between something like Occupy and the Obama campaign, etc. Obviously there are moments when this is more complicated, times when either dogmatism or opportunism is the greater risk, etc. I just wish people would approach music this way.

what would this look like in practice?

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

what would this look like in practice?

I don't think I can provide an authoritative answer for that, only what my own attempts have looked like. I will say that it should be guided by the principles of autonomy and class independence: we should take it as part of a broader communist project. Obviously, people are going to have different ideas about what that looks like, and I don't want to say that everyone else is doing it wrong, since obviously it would be premature to draw conclusions.

So, for a starting point, what I'm saying isn't that "This is how music should be done by communists," so much as, "We should approach music as part of a communist project, instead of dismissing outside the scope."

For me, this has meant approaching music with similar criteria to which I'd approach any other political project: Does it expand the capacity of organizers (e.g. provides R&R, brings in money, provides new contacts)? Does it provide relevant skills to new organizers (teaching outreach, space booking, security, harm reduction, etc.)? Does it draw new connections between people with common interests in struggle (do your neighbours come to the show, or only members of your clique?)? Does it compliment work on existing projects (people leave with new information, the money goes to something, etc.)?

Just some thoughts. I'm going to go sit by the canal and read The Dialectic of Sex.

[Tenka]

It's all right so long as I don't know.

[bcbm]

I don't think I can provide an authoritative answer for that, only what my own attempts have looked like. I will say that it should be guided by the principles of autonomy and class independence: we should take it as part of a broader communist project. Obviously, people are going to have different ideas about what that looks like, and I don't want to say that everyone else is doing it wrong, since obviously it would be premature to draw conclusions.

So, for a starting point, what I'm saying isn't that "This is how music should be done by communists," so much as, "We should approach music as part of a communist project, instead of dismissing outside the scope."

For me, this has meant approaching music with similar criteria to which I'd approach any other political project: Does it expand the capacity of organizers (e.g. provides R&R, brings in money, provides new contacts)? Does it provide relevant skills to new organizers (teaching outreach, space booking, security, harm reduction, etc.)? Does it draw new connections between people with common interests in struggle (do your neighbours come to the show, or only members of your clique?)? Does it compliment work on existing projects (people leave with new information, the money goes to something, etc.)?

Just some thoughts. I'm going to go sit by the canal and read The Dialectic of Sex.

i think this makes sense for say booking shows or setting up a venue or whatever, which i am part of here and tbh is a much more successful endeavor than most political organizing i have done and certainly has formed a more interesting/radical space then a lot of 'radical spaces' i have been part of.

but for just listening to music i don't think any of this needs that much consideration.

[Red_Banner]

bcbm, being that you have Giorgio Moroder as your pic, seems like you have some good taste in music.

:)

[bcbm]

yes, you are correct