Does most music have a political message?

[Led Zeppelin]

Rage Against The Machine comes close but no other bands come to mind.

Liking a band for their politics is lame anyway, the music is the most important thing, and yes Refused had some good moments, but overall they're not that good.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Liking a band for their politics is lame anyway, the music is the most important thing

That's ridiculous. Of course the music should be appealing, but the message is important.

"Imagine" wouldn't have been as good were the lyrics about a car.

[Led Zeppelin]

Originally posted by Compañ[email protected] 20, 2007 08:23 am

Liking a band for their politics is lame anyway, the music is the most important thing

That's ridiculous. Of course the music should be appealing, but the message is important.

"Imagine" wouldn't have been as good were the lyrics about a car.
The message is important but if the song sucks it's not really about the music anymore; just the message.

Of course a blend of the two creates the best outcome, but that hardly ever happens, and that's why the vast majority of music is non-political.

But as I said the message is also important. That reminds me of some Neil Young songs; Ohio, Keep on Rocking in the Free World and Southern Man are pretty good.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

the vast majority of music is non-political.

Really? What is that assertion based on?


Keep on Rocking in the Free World

Good song (as are the others). It's funny how some rightists try to use that song as some sort of anthem, completely ignoring the lyrical content.

[Led Zeppelin]

Originally posted by Compañ[email protected] 20, 2007 08:42 am

the vast majority of music is non-political.

Really? What is that assertion based on?
Eh, fact? How many rock bands that are political do you know of? And what percentage is that of the total?

Same goes for Rap and other genres of music, I'm pretty sure.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Eh, fact? How many rock bands that are political do you know of? And what percentage is that of the total?

Same goes for Rap and other genres of music, I'm pretty sure.

I'm not sure where your "facts" are coming from. I know of literally hundreds of songs, of all genres, with political content. There are thousands upon thousands in existence.

[Led Zeppelin]

Originally posted by Compañ[email protected] 20, 2007 10:23 pm

Eh, fact? How many rock bands that are political do you know of? And what percentage is that of the total?

Same goes for Rap and other genres of music, I'm pretty sure.

I'm not sure where your "facts" are coming from. I know of literally hundreds of songs, of all genres, with political content. There are thousands upon thousands in existence.
That's still a small percentage of the total.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Those are just songs I know of. Obviously I don't know every song made, nor do you.

[Led Zeppelin]

Originally posted by Compañ[email protected] 20, 2007 10:33 pm
Those are just songs I know of. Obviously I don't know every song made, nor do you.
Right, but it's pretty common knowledge that the vast majority of songs/bands aren't political in nature.

I can't really prove this since there are no statistics for it, but you can't prove unicorns don't exist either.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Originally posted by Led [email protected] 20, 2007 11:10 pm
Right, but it's pretty common knowledge that the vast majority of songs/bands aren't political in nature.

It is? I don't think so. And even if most people thought it was the case, it wouldn't necessarily be true right? Most people in the U.S. believe in angels.

I'm not saying that most songs are like "Imagine," with specific political intent; but there is political content in many, if not most songs.


I can't really prove this since there are no statistics for it, but you can't prove unicorns don't exist either.

That's not a valid argument... at least not from your side of this.

You made the assertion that "the vast majority of music is non-political." It's up to you to prove that true, not to me, or anyone else, to prove that it's not.

You're right, you can't prove unicorns don't exist. So if you asserted they did, it would be up to you to prove that.

[Led Zeppelin]

No, actually you made the assertion that most songs have political content in them, so you asserted something which you have to prove as well.


Originally posted by CDL
I'm not saying that most songs are like "Imagine," with specific political intent; but there is political content in many, if not most songs.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

No, actually you made the assertion that most songs have political content in them, so you asserted something which you have to prove as well.

I guess you don't know how this works.

You make an assertion. I challenge it. It's up to you to prove your assertion.

If you said God exists, and I said no he doesn't, it would be up to you to prove that it does.

This sums it up pretty well:

"Outside a legal context, "burden of proof" means that someone suggesting a new theory or stating a claim must provide evidence to support it: it is not sufficient to say "you can't disprove this." Specifically, when anyone is making a bold claim, it is not someone else's responsibility to disprove the claim, but is rather the responsibility of the person who is making the bold claim to prove it. In short, X is not proven simply because "not X" cannot be proven."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burden_of_proof

[Led Zeppelin]

Originally posted by CompañeroDeLibertad+November 21, 2007 08:29 am--> (CompañeroDeLibertad @ November 21, 2007 08:29 am)
No, actually you made the assertion that most songs have political content in them, so you asserted something which you have to prove as well.

I guess you don't know how this works.
[/b]
I know how it works pretty well, you made an assertion here:


you making an assertion
I'm not saying that most songs are like "Imagine," with specific political intent; but there is political content in many, if not most songs.

I have to prove my own assertion as much as you have to prove yours. The difference between my assertion and yours is that mine is shared by most people and is regarded to be common knowledge.

[black magick hustla]

Originally posted by CompañeroDeLibertad+November 21, 2007 02:58 am--> (CompañeroDeLibertad @ November 21, 2007 02:58 am)
Led [email protected] 20, 2007 11:10 pm
Right, but it's pretty common knowledge that the vast majority of songs/bands aren't political in nature.

It is? I don't think so. And even if most people thought it was the case, it wouldn't necessarily be true right? Most people in the U.S. believe in angels.

I'm not saying that most songs are like "Imagine," with specific political intent; but there is political content in many, if not most songs.


I can't really prove this since there are no statistics for it, but you can't prove unicorns don't exist either.

That's not a valid argument... at least not from your side of this.

You made the assertion that "the vast majority of music is non-political." It's up to you to prove that true, not to me, or anyone else, to prove that it's not.

You're right, you can't prove unicorns don't exist. So if you asserted they did, it would be up to you to prove that. [/b]
dude most music is non political.

Well yeah, music is part of the superstructutre and is made on certain context. so you can make the argument that most music is "political".

but it is certainly not intended to be like that!

[Organic Revolution]

Originally posted by Marmot+November 21, 2007 02:37 am--> (Marmot @ November 21, 2007 02:37 am)
Originally posted by Compañ[email protected] 21, 2007 02:58 am

Led [email protected] 20, 2007 11:10 pm
Right, but it's pretty common knowledge that the vast majority of songs/bands aren't political in nature.

It is? I don't think so. And even if most people thought it was the case, it wouldn't necessarily be true right? Most people in the U.S. believe in angels.

I'm not saying that most songs are like "Imagine," with specific political intent; but there is political content in many, if not most songs.


I can't really prove this since there are no statistics for it, but you can't prove unicorns don't exist either.

That's not a valid argument... at least not from your side of this.

You made the assertion that "the vast majority of music is non-political." It's up to you to prove that true, not to me, or anyone else, to prove that it's not.

You're right, you can't prove unicorns don't exist. So if you asserted they did, it would be up to you to prove that.
dude most music is non political.

Well yeah, music is part of the superstructutre and is made on certain context. so you can make the argument that most music is "political".

but it is certainly not intended to be like that! [/b]
most hip-hop and rap is political, conscious or not.

[Led Zeppelin]

I was talking about music in general, not just hip-hop and rap.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

I know how it works pretty well, you made an assertion here:

No, that was a challenge to your assertion.

Let's try again..

You: There is a God. [assertion]
Me: No there isn't. [challenge]


I have to prove my own assertion as much as you have to prove yours.

No. That's not how it works.

You: There is a God. [assertion]
Me: No there isn't. [challenge]
You: Prove there isn't. [fallacy]


my assertion and yours is that mine is shared by most people and is regarded to be common knowledge.

"The assertion that something is 'common knowledge' is sometimes associated with the fallacy argumentum ad populum (Latin: "appeal to the people"). The fallacy essentially warns against assuming that just because everyone believes something is true does not make it so."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_knowledge

"An argumentum ad populum (Latin: 'appeal to the people'), in logic, is a fallacious argument that concludes a proposition to be true because many or all people believe it; it alleges that 'If many believe so, it is so.'"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argumentum_ad_populum

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

dude most music is non political.

Some see all art as political.

Example: http://www.art-for-a-change.com/content/essays/political.htm

[Led Zeppelin]

Originally posted by CompañeroDeLibertad+November 21, 2007 10:10 am--> (CompañeroDeLibertad @ November 21, 2007 10:10 am)
I know how it works pretty well, you made an assertion here:

No, that was a challenge to your assertion.

Let's try again..

You: There is a God. [assertion]
Me: No there isn't. [challenge]


I have to prove my own assertion as much as you have to prove yours.

No. That's not how it works.

You: There is a God. [assertion]
Me: No there isn't. [challenge]
You: Prove there isn't. [fallacy] [/b]
Wrong analogy, it takes the issue out of context. This is a better one:

Me: Rock music is based on the instrument of the guitar and drums. [assertion]
You: No it isn't. [challenge still?]
Me: Uh...what the fuck?

Basically I said this:


Originally posted by [email protected]
The vast majority of music is non-political.

And you said:


you
There is political content in many, if not most songs.

So according to your logic, I have to prove my assertion because I stated it before you stated yours, even though we both held those assertions. So, then, if you get into another discussion with another person, and you are the first to assert: "There is political content in many, if not most songs.", and then he replies saying: "No, The vast majority of music is non-political." Would the burden of proof be on you or him?

According to the logic you presented in your post it should be on you, because you were the first to assert it.

I'm sorry but that's a bit ridiculous isn't it?


"The assertion that something is 'common knowledge' is sometimes associated with the fallacy argumentum ad populum (Latin: "appeal to the people"). The fallacy essentially warns against assuming that just because everyone believes something is true does not make it so."

No, but because it is so and most people believe it is true make it so.

I seriously have never heard anyone ever say that most music has a political message. Considering that most music is about emotions (love, hate, depression etc.).

But anyway, I can't conclusively "prove" my claim because I don't have the statistics to do so, since I cannot find a list anywhere containing the percentage of songs having a certain message, and you can't prove yours either for the same reason.

So I guess you can continue to believe you're right, and the rest of us can continue to disagree with you.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

So according to your logic, I have to prove my assertion because I stated it before you stated yours, even though we both held those assertions. So, then, if you get into another discussion with another person, and you are the first to assert: "There is political content in many, if not most songs.", and then he replies saying: "No, The vast majority of music is non-political." Would the burden of proof be on you or him?

According to the logic you presented in your post it should be on you, because you were the first to assert it.

I'm sorry but that's a bit ridiculous isn't it?

No, that's how it works.

The original assertion is what has to be proved. Challenges to it, even if they come in similar forms, have to be refuted.


I seriously have never heard anyone ever say that most music has a political message.

My cousin had never heard that god didn't exist until I said it to him. Does that mean god exists?


No, but because it is so

Prove it.


and most people believe it is true make it so.

If you say it is true you need to prove that. Repeating a appeal-to-the-people fallacy over and over again doesn't do that. And anyway, if it were true, and you could prove it, you wouldn't need to appeal to "common knowledge."


So I guess you can continue to believe you're right, and the rest of us can continue to disagree with you.

Why can't you just admit that you're unable to prove that you're correct instead of falling into another fallacy?

I have sometimes mistakenly fallen into using the argumentum ad populum fallacy for the sake of expedience. But it's not a valid argument.

[Led Zeppelin]

Since you didn't respond to my question I'll repeat it:

"So, then, if you get into another discussion with another person, and you are the first to assert: "There is political content in many, if not most songs.", and then he replies saying: "No, The vast majority of music is non-political." Would the burden of proof be on you or him?"

If the burden of proof would then be on you (which according to your logic would be so), this whole discussion is pointless and I have no idea why you dragged it on for so long.

What would be interesting though is how you would prove your assertion if you were the first to make it. You believe you are correct for a reason, I wonder what that reason is.

Also:


Why can't you just admit that you're unable to prove that you're correct instead of falling into another fallacy?

You can't prove you're correct either, and the only reason you believe you have the "upper hand" in this discussion is because I made my assertion before you made yours.

That is ridiculous, as I mentioned before.

[Invader Zim]

Really? What is that assertion based on?

Well one can do a basic test by simply creating a random playlist and guaging how many of the songs are political. of course there are some glaring problems with such a test; a high risk of false positives, depends on the music collection being randomised, etc, but it give is a basic outline.

Biffy Clyro - Folding Stars (apolitical)
Belle and Sebastian - Boy With the Arab Strap (apolitical)
Dredg - Catch Without Arms (apoltical)
Röyksopp - Alpha Male (apolitical - no lyrics)
Wire - I am the Fly (apolitical)
Moby - Porcelain (apolitical)
Radiohead - High and Dry (apolitical)
Manic Street Preachers - Masses Against the Classes (political)
Massive Attack - Teardrop (apolitical)
Easyworld - Try not to think (apolitical)

Leveller - Battle of Beanfield (political)
The Smiths - Suffer Little Children (Unsure, it is about the Moors Murders).
Chumbawamba - One By One (political)
Billy Bragg - Nicaragua Nicaraguita (political)
My Vitriol - Tongue Tied (apolitical, no lyrics)
Tool - the Patient (Unsure)
Pulp - Underwear - (apolitical)
Oasis - Live Forever (semi-political, as in it is about working class youth)
Aphex Twin - Bucephalus Bouncing Ball (apolitical, no lyrics)
Engineers - One in Seven (unsure)

10CC - Silly Love (apolitical)
Iron maiden - Wasting Love (apolitical)
Texas - I dont want a lover (apolitical)
Babyshambles - New Love Grows on trees (apolitical)
David Bowie - Underground (apolitical)
Iced earth - Reaping the stone (unsure)
Alice in Chains - Brother (apolitical)
Steve Vai - Aching Hunger (apolitical)
The Beatles - All my Loving (apolitical)
Blur - Fade Away (apolitical)

Sonata Artica - Mary Lou (political)
Porcupine Tree - Collapse the Light Into Earth (apolitical)
Joy Division - Autosuggestion (apolitical)
Coldplay - Fix You (apolitical)
Nirvana - Very Ape (political, to a degree)
Placebo - Second Sight (apolitical)
Dream Theatre - Pull Me Under (apolitical, its about Hamlet)
Arctic monkeys - Mardy Bum (apolitical)
System of a Down - Toxicity (political)
Goldfrapp - Number 1 (apolitical)

26 - apolitical = 52%
12 - political = 24%
6 - Unsure - 12%
4 - no lyrics - 8%
2 - possibly political - 4%

Of course this is from my own collection, and it is largely a mix between electronical, metal and indie. So perhaps some of the more political genres haven't been included. Indeed, had it included say a sage francis song, then the percentage of political music would increase. It is possible I could repeat the test and come up all political, but by the same token it could come up 100% apolitical. But as a simple test, it certainly makes the point. Most songs are not political.

EDIT - I have increased the size of the survey, as a bigger survey is a more accurate one.

[Marsella]

I think it depends on what you view as 'political message.'

Bands like RATM clearly have a political message.

But artists like Madonna still have a political message.

Musical content is always affected by the circumstances that music is made in.

In that sense, music is always political. As for having a political message, that is another story...

[Invader Zim]

"Some girls, they like candy, and others, they like to grind,
I'll settle for the back of your hand somewhere on my behind"

That has a concious political message?

[Marsella]

Originally posted by Invader [email protected] 21, 2007 10:39 pm
"Some girls, they like candy, and others, they like to grind,
I'll settle for the back of your hand somewhere on my behind"

That has a concious political message?
:lol:

Who sings that? Madonna?

What I am saying is that musicians sing about things which concern them - rappers rap about crime, drugs, hood life. Popstars sing about love, cheating men blah blah blah.

There is a key difference between a conscious political message and music being made in social circumstances. Those probably aren't the best words, but I'm tired. :P

Edit:

And what about Blues!

That whole genre is born out of slavery.

[lvleph]

Originally posted by Invader [email protected] 21, 2007 07:08 am


Really? What is that assertion based on?

Well one can do a basic test by simply creating a random playlist and guaging how many of the songs are political. of course there are some glaring problems with such a test; a high risk of false positives, depends on the music collection being randomised, etc, but it give is a basic outline.

Biffy Clyro - Folding Stars (apolitical)
Belle and Sebastian - Boy With the Arab Strap (apolitical)
Dredg - Catch Without Arms (apoltical)
Röyksopp - Alpha Male (apolitical - no lyrics)
Wire - I am the Fly (apolitical)
Moby - Porcelain (apolitical)
Radiohead - High and Dry (apolitical)
Manic Street Preachers - Masses Against the Classes (political)
Massive Attack - Teardrop (apolitical)
Easyworld - Try not to think (apolitical)

Leveller - Battle of Beanfield (political)
The Smiths - Suffer Little Children (Unsure, it is about the Moors Murders).
Chumbawamba - One By One (political)
Billy Bragg - Nicaragua Nicaraguita (political)
My Vitriol - Tongue Tied (apolitical, no lyrics)
Tool - the Patient (Unsure)
Pulp - Underwear - (apolitical)
Oasis - Live Forever (semi-political, as in it is about working class youth)
Aphex Twin - Bucephalus Bouncing Ball (apolitical, no lyrics)
Engineers - One in Seven (unsure)

10CC - Silly Love (apolitical)
Iron maiden - Wasting Love (apolitical)
Texas - I dont want a lover (apolitical)
Babyshambles - New Love Grows on trees (apolitical)
David Bowie - Underground (apolitical)
Iced earth - Reaping the stone (unsure)
Alice in Chains - Brother (apolitical)
Steve Vai - Aching Hunger (apolitical)
The Beatles - All my Loving (apolitical)
Blur - Fade Away (apolitical)

Sonata Artica - Mary Lou (political)
Porcupine Tree - Collapse the Light Into Earth (apolitical)
Joy Division - Autosuggestion (apolitical)
Coldplay - Fix You (apolitical)
Nirvana - Very Ape (political, to a degree)
Placebo - Second Sight (apolitical)
Dream Theatre - Pull Me Under (apolitical, its about Hamlet)
Arctic monkeys - Mardy Bum (apolitical)
System of a Down - Toxicity (political)
Goldfrapp - Number 1 (apolitical)

26 - apolitical = 52%
12 - political = 24%
6 - Unsure - 12%
4 - no lyrics - 8%
2 - possibly political - 4%

Of course this is from my own collection, and it is largely a mix between electronical, metal and indie. So perhaps some of the more political genres haven't been included. Indeed, had it included say a sage francis song, then the percentage of political music would increase. It is possible I could repeat the test and come up all political, but by the same token it could come up 100% apolitical. But as a simple test, it certainly makes the point. Most songs are not political.

EDIT - I have increased the size of the survey, as a bigger survey is a more accurate one.
A lot of my music is political.

I listen to a lot of Reggae and Punk, so maybe that is why.

[Led Zeppelin]

There are some genres which have a higher ratio of political bands/songs in them, such as Hip-Hop, Rap, Punk, Reggae etc.

I personally don't listen to a lot of those genres, so I'll keep it limited to Rock music, and in that genre I've heard a lot of bands/songs. The ratio of the political to the non-political is about 90 to 10.

Of course that is still subjective. If some other person who likes Rock music a lot and listens mostly to such bands as RATM, Manics, Refused, Against Me! etc. then to them the ratio would be 90 to 10 on the other side.

But that is beside the point. I am talking about the genre in general. Out of all the Rock bands and songs, what ratio of them have a political message? No one knows this for a fact because no one ever bothered to research this, but I personally believe the majority of songs in that genre do not have a political message, out of personal experience of hearing a shitload of them.

Here's another interesting chart, a random 100 Greatest Guitar Solos chart (http://guitar.about.com/library/bl100greatest.htm) which I found through a quick google search, of which the first 10 songs I will mention, are as follows:

1. Song: Stairway to Heaven [Not political]
2. Song: Eruption [Not political]
3. Song: Freebird [Not political]
4. Song: Comfortably Numb [Not political]
5. Song: All Along the Watchtower [Political]
6. Song: November Rain [Not political]
7. Song: One [Unsure?]
8. Song: Hotel California [Not political]
9. Song: Crazy Train [Political]
10. Song: Crossroads [Unsure?]

60% Non-political.
20% Unsure.
20% Political.

Those numbers are pretty much the same as the ones Invader Zim posted, actually the Non-political one is exactly the same percentage, if he would add the songs with no lyrics to the 52% of the apolitical figure.

[Marsella]

5. Song: All Along the Watchtower [Unsure?]

Definitely political mate!

Edit:

And I don't think you can determine the 'politicalness' of music just by referring to songs on an individual basis.

Remember, rock and roll was all about rebelling against the man! So in its context it was quite a political statement, of youth and rebellion. It still has some of that vibrancy.

And of the bands on that list (I don't know them all), Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Hendrix, Eagles (I think), Cream all had political messages in some of their songs.

[Led Zeppelin]

You're right I just reread the lyrics, the first verse is pretty political, I've edited the chart.

[Coffee Mug]

I wouldn't doubt that the issue of Music v. Message could be argued for one hell of a while.

The only type of music that even seems to bring up this argument is the modern Crossover between Punk and Metal.

It all comes down to if you have more respect for a 2 Minute Solo; or a strong political (or any type of) idealogical message.


_______________________________
Dead Kennedys; Chickenshit Conformist
Verse 3
_______________________________

That farty old rock and roll attitude's back
"It's competition, man, we wanna break big."
Who needs friends when the money's good
That's right, the '70s are back.
Cock-rock metal's like a bad laxative
It just don't move me, ya know?
The music's OK when there's more ideas than solos
Do we rally need the attitude too?
Shedding thin skin too quickly
As a fan it disappoints me
Same old stupid sexist lyrics
Or is Satan all you can think of?
Crossover is just another word
For lack of ideas
Maybe what we need
Are more trolls under the bridge
Will the metalheads finally learn something-
Or will the punks throw away their education?
No one's ever the best
Once they believe their own press
"Maturing" don't mean rehashing
Mistakes of the past
___________________________

[Juliasunday]

Most music has nothing to do with politics. Many styles of music can't have a political message (classical instrumentals) but there ain't no bad in it.
But if artists make political music, let it be good political music or it may have negative influence. This music won't be very popular but it won't be dumb either.

[Don't Change Your Name]

This thread's flawed because it assumes you can, for example, identify a "political" song and that you can actually separate the "political" from the "non-political" in music. Is Dylan's "Maggie's Farm" political or not? Think about that for a second.


Originally posted by Invader Zim
"Some girls, they like candy, and others, they like to grind,
I'll settle for the back of your hand somewhere on my behind"

That has a concious political message?

It depends on the context. More than 50 years ago in the US that would have surely caused quite a controversy, nowadays, if sung by some Britney Spears-wannabe in MTV, it actually wouldn't.

[Dr Mindbender]

As someone mentioned, entire musical genres come from politics, like the blues. Another good example is irish rebel music.

[Synaptic-Plasticity]

Right, but it's pretty common knowledge that the vast majority of songs/bands aren't political in nature

Politics influence almost all popular music, as most artists tend to write lyrics based on society or lyrics that reflect their own experiences in a capitalist society where the proleteriate is oppressed by things they can do nothing about.

[Synaptic-Plasticity]

Another good example is irish rebel music

The best kind ;)

[Politix]

A lot of music is created as a result of oppression. This is why African-Americans have pioneered many modern musical genres such as rap.

People who are under oppression and choose to ease the pain with expression are very political.

[synthesis]

All music is political. Music that is not overtly political reinforces political apathy, which is political in and of itself.

Music is the opiate of the people. Unless it's revolutionary music, in which case it's more like PCP.

[Ander]

Originally posted by Invader [email protected] 21, 2007 09:08 am


Really? What is that assertion based on?

Well one can do a basic test by simply creating a random playlist and guaging how many of the songs are political. of course there are some glaring problems with such a test; a high risk of false positives, depends on the music collection being randomised, etc, but it give is a basic outline.

Biffy Clyro - Folding Stars (apolitical)
Belle and Sebastian - Boy With the Arab Strap (apolitical)
Dredg - Catch Without Arms (apoltical)
Röyksopp - Alpha Male (apolitical - no lyrics)
Wire - I am the Fly (apolitical)
Moby - Porcelain (apolitical)
Radiohead - High and Dry (apolitical)
Manic Street Preachers - Masses Against the Classes (political)
Massive Attack - Teardrop (apolitical)
Easyworld - Try not to think (apolitical)

Leveller - Battle of Beanfield (political)
The Smiths - Suffer Little Children (Unsure, it is about the Moors Murders).
Chumbawamba - One By One (political)
Billy Bragg - Nicaragua Nicaraguita (political)
My Vitriol - Tongue Tied (apolitical, no lyrics)
Tool - the Patient (Unsure)
Pulp - Underwear - (apolitical)
Oasis - Live Forever (semi-political, as in it is about working class youth)
Aphex Twin - Bucephalus Bouncing Ball (apolitical, no lyrics)
Engineers - One in Seven (unsure)

10CC - Silly Love (apolitical)
Iron maiden - Wasting Love (apolitical)
Texas - I dont want a lover (apolitical)
Babyshambles - New Love Grows on trees (apolitical)
David Bowie - Underground (apolitical)
Iced earth - Reaping the stone (unsure)
Alice in Chains - Brother (apolitical)
Steve Vai - Aching Hunger (apolitical)
The Beatles - All my Loving (apolitical)
Blur - Fade Away (apolitical)

Sonata Artica - Mary Lou (political)
Porcupine Tree - Collapse the Light Into Earth (apolitical)
Joy Division - Autosuggestion (apolitical)
Coldplay - Fix You (apolitical)
Nirvana - Very Ape (political, to a degree)
Placebo - Second Sight (apolitical)
Dream Theatre - Pull Me Under (apolitical, its about Hamlet)
Arctic monkeys - Mardy Bum (apolitical)
System of a Down - Toxicity (political)
Goldfrapp - Number 1 (apolitical)

26 - apolitical = 52%
12 - political = 24%
6 - Unsure - 12%
4 - no lyrics - 8%
2 - possibly political - 4%

Of course this is from my own collection, and it is largely a mix between electronical, metal and indie. So perhaps some of the more political genres haven't been included. Indeed, had it included say a sage francis song, then the percentage of political music would increase. It is possible I could repeat the test and come up all political, but by the same token it could come up 100% apolitical. But as a simple test, it certainly makes the point. Most songs are not political.

EDIT - I have increased the size of the survey, as a bigger survey is a more accurate one.
Even though I'm terrible at math, this sounds like plain bullshit to me. This is really terrible evidence.

In order to do this correctly you would have to have a music collection that included every single song ever created.

Besides, it's difficult to decide whether a song is political or not.

[Osama McDonald]

I would say most mainstream music has no political message.
you might have one litle line in a song thay setms political......but the song isn't

I think even more than that whether or not there are a lot of political songs or not....most musicians are not political musicians. No matter how crappy a band is they can still have a song or two in their musical library that is political....but they aren't a political band.

I think punk and reggae may be the only two forms of music that were more about politics than the actual music or sound. A lot of these bands were almost more like people who were trying to spread a message and just happened to do it musically.
Unfortunately, very few bands these days are like that even if the bands rhemselves are great

RATM.......whines about corporations and greed yet they signed to a corporate label.........so too did Anti-Flag making silly comments about people didn't want them to do so so they could remain unknown and some how more cool. How ridiculous. I know there where bands in the 80's who did it but it is seemingly now more inevitable. What happened to punk in the 80's with new wave is partly why people don't like too much change. These days it has led to bands like Green Day and Blink 182 who have been thought of as punk/respectable good bands. Also, when a a band like RATM becomes too mainstream......then they become less about the message and more about the sound I know so many people who have the exact opposite political beliefs and still like RATM. That's like someone listening to white power music and saying they don't like the message....but the music sounds cool.