August 31, 2004
MTV Video Music Awards
Politics were in heavy rotation at the MTV Video Music Awards this year. There were more exhortations to get out and vote than there were bad jokes or uncomfortable pairings of announcers, which is quite an accomplishment. Most of the speakers did a minimally believable job of pretending to be non-partisan. The least convincing, of course, were the daughters of Bush and Kerry. Their appearance was awkward and the faux camaraderie was painful. Everyone involved seemed relieved when that little segment was done. I did think it was nice that the Kerry girls said they would not appear unless the Bush girls could as well. They also declined the gift baskets that all speakers receive.
Particularly interesting was the heavy emphasis on voting from the rap artists. I didn't notice any of the rock or pop artists making any political statements during their speeches or presentations. Sean Combs, Usher, the Beastie Boys, and Jay-Z all called for people to get out and vote. Kanye West launched into his performance by stating that "We at war with terrorism, racism and we at war with ourselves.", an ostensibly political observations, and Outkast's performance revolved around voting booths, red white and blue balloons, and "VOTE!" signs (the 'candidate' signs were all for Outkast, of course).
It was clear that the majority favored the Democrats, but the Kerry girls got a decidedly hostile reaction from the crowd while the Bush girls were not hassled as much. Overall it was an interesting thing to see such encouragement to participation in a venue that is normally the penultimate display of vacuousness
Posted by rev_matt_y at August 31, 2004 09:50 AMI think Alice Cooper said it best in referring to the rock stars currently touring for Kerry:
“To me, that’s treason. I call it treason against rock ‘n’ roll because rock is the antithesis of politics. Rock should never be in bed with politics,” says the 56-year-old Cooper, who begins a 15-city Canadian tour on Aug. 20 in Thunder Bay, Ont. “If you’re listening to a rock star in order to get your information on who to vote for, you’re a bigger moron than they are. Why are we rock stars? Because we’re morons. We sleep all day, we play music at night and very rarely do we sit around reading the Washington Journal.”
Amen.
Posted by: NOTOTH at August 31, 2004 10:06 AMWell, that’s not entirely true. What he means is it’s treason for LIBERAL rock stars to be political. Cooper has been out and about promoting Bush, and he stumped for Reagan in the 80’s. He is also actively attacking only the musicians who support Kerry, and is noticeably silent on the ones who support Bush. Hypocrisy at it’s finest.
Posted by: rev_matt at August 31, 2004 10:18 AMI forget the exact date, but when Brad Pitt was ask about political issues by a reporter a few yrs. ago, he responded; “Who gives a s*** what I think…I’m a f***ing actor.”
Some in hollyweird should heed that advice.
Bye, Bye, Miss American Pie. Has Bush and the republican party finally killed rock & roll. Something the Vietnam Conflict, Communism, and Civil Rights War failed to do. In less than four years. The republicans have managed to drive a wedge between the liberals and conservatives, rich and poor, and now rocker and roller. Unless we all want to set around here four years from now listening to Pat Boone tunes I strongly suggest that the real Americans stand up and take back are government.
Posted by: Henry Schlatman at August 31, 2004 12:22 PMWhat I find most disturbing about this is that a lot of people see no problem with saying “Group X should not express their opinions on issues that affect them because they’re too dumb to know anything.” I am unaware of any clause in the First Amendmendt restricting the Free Speech of any particular group of people. Replace ‘Group X’ with any race, religious group, immigrant group, or political ideology and you might realize how anti-American this sentiment really is.
Posted by: rev_matt at August 31, 2004 12:30 PMrev & henry:
Alice Cooper calling rock musicians “morons” was, I believe, his way of saying that they’re not necessarily whizkids in any field other than rock. Don’t bother accusing me of knowing what’s on old Alice’s mind, but I think that’s a reasonable interpretation. You might also note that he didn’t exclude himself from that monicker.
I never suggested that entertainers don’t have the right to be heard, only that in considering what they have to say, we need to also consider the source. Playing guitar and screaming into a microphone may be worth a lot of money to some, but it doesn’t necessarily make them experts in politics or anything else. Joe Sixpack in Des Moines is probably as well qualified, but just doesn’t have the inclination or resources to try and tell the rest of the country what it should think.
Posted by: NOTOTH at August 31, 2004 03:41 PMNOTOTH, thats why I opened with a title of the song. Has American politics gotten so bad that we are ready to give up our music just because the person or group does not believe in the same things. If that is true than we have already lost the Soul of America.
Posted by: Henry Schlatman at August 31, 2004 05:55 PMHas American politics gotten so bad that we are ready to give up our music just because the person or group does not believe in the same things. If that is true than we have already lost the Soul of America.
Oh my, I had no idea we were in such Dire Straits.
Posted by: NOTOTH at August 31, 2004 09:15 PMDid I see that correctly? Did the Kerry girls get boo’d on the stage at the music awards? I would have thought it to be a pretty liberal crowd?
Posted by: Beau Wade at August 31, 2004 09:40 PMrev_matt,
Thanks for unearthing such an intriguing observation from the most unlikely of venues. But first, to Alice Cooper.
I once picked up Alice Cooper from the airport, and took him to his hotel. I was startled to find this rock legend had a set of golf clubs, a subject he went on about most of the drive back. I think he lives in Phoenix, owns a restaurant and has a son playing minor league ball. A comfortable, easy life, no doubt unaffected by Bush’s failures.
The election and voter registration has become the cause celeb in the hip-hop community, however mainstream groups such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dave Matthews, Blink 182, etc, are involved in other aspects of the anti-Bush movement.
I think there are two explanations for your stark observance of the VMAs’. Hip-hop and Rap are the dominate force currently in mainstream music culture, radio and video channels.
Many may be rich, but unlike Alice Cooper, I’d bet they’ve got friends, family, relatives or acquaintances, who have been affected by Bush’s mistakes.
Posted by: Bert M. Caradine at September 1, 2004 12:14 AMJust what I would expect from you guys. The Kerry daughters get booed and it is entirely ignored by all of you. What is wrong with the picture you ask? Well, you would have me believe that the Kerry movement is huge and that all young people vote democrat. Too bad then when his daughters were booed offstage. (or did you miss that??)
Posted by: jim at September 2, 2004 12:34 AMJim, It’s not that Kerry’s daughters got booed or even cheered. It is the fact that the educated among us hace become so intrenched in the BS that is being slung by both sides that even the one thing that has brought our civilization together for thousands of years is being used as a weapon.
The problem with the Dems and Reps is that even with over 8,000 years of education among Congress, somewhere around 30,000 years of experience, and 238 years of history/wisdom these “Establishment” can not sovle the same economic and social problems that this country has faced since they, the “Burn Baby Brun” generation were the youth of are nation.
I can only hope that the Children of the 70’s and beyond use their God given opportunity better than those of this anti-establishment generation.
Posted by: Henry Schlatman at September 2, 2004 05:53 AM
