MAG2NYC Wrote:This made me start thinking about the politics of music, and the discussion about Lana Del Rey, who Music Head (I think) classified as "the only woman of substance" in music (I think Lorde is one as well). No matter how much I like a song, I just can't get on board with it if the politics of the artist or the message of the song runs counter to what I value (and I ran into this big time a few years ago when Godsmack released "Cryin' Like a Bitch." I loved the song, but the message was so incredibly offensive and reinforced everything I work to educated against, that I just couldn't (wouldn't?) listen to the song).

Does anyone else struggle with this - or do I just have too much time on my hands? *laughs*

Cheers!
Mary

jazzboCR Wrote:You are most definitely NOT alone in this. It's a major reason most modern pop leaves me cold and why I leave it aone--I'm unwilling to wade through the rivers of swill to find good songs that don't brown my berries. This site is valuable in sorting out but with so much older stuff undiscovered, why not let time sort these out to be discovered tomorrow and tomorrow and...? Admittedly, this is a partial function of age but then mores have changed too and I'm unwilling to follow.
To answer a private question publicly, I got interested in jazz in the early 60's as a reaction to the pop swill then being purveyed--put that on hold the first time I heard a Beatles song and the Isley Brothers ...and came back to it in the mid-'90's in similar revulsion.

Music Head Wrote:all the time
many artists out there I don't like because of their politics or lifestyle (no, I don't mean gay)
try and not let it influence my opinion of their music but I'm sure it does

Music Head Wrote:[‎QUOTE=MAG2NYC;95373]Does it ever influence you the other way, Music Head? A song that you might like becomes unlikable when you learn about the artist's views?

jazzboCR Wrote:You are most definitely NOT alone in this. It's a major reason most modern pop leaves me cold and why I leave it aone--I'm unwilling to wade through the rivers of swill to find good songs that don't brown my berries. This site is valuable in sorting out but with so much older stuff undiscovered, why not let time sort these out to be discovered tomorrow and tomorrow and...? Admittedly, this is a partial function of age but then mores have changed too and I'm unwilling to follow.
To answer a private question publicly, I got interested in jazz in the early 60's as a reaction to the pop swill then being purveyed--put that on hold the first time I heard a Beatles song and the Isley Brothers ...and came back to it in the mid-'90's in similar revulsion.