I hope the band doesn't know about any of this, and I hope that if they do know, they don't care.
I don't hold it against artists when they express their views in a song or make a personal contribution to a particular candidate, as is their right. But I really hate it when artists publicly endorse a politician.
I've been a huge Springsteen fan for years, but when he ratcheted up his support for the president several years ago, it really ruined Bruce's music for me. I actually agree with some of Bruce's political and social views, and I respect his views, even when I don't agree. He has a unique ability, through characters, to tell striking stories about poverty and other social issues in his music. But I resent artists and celebrities presenting their views as "facts," and that's usually what happens when they begin making appearances on behalf of politicians.
I'll never forget the Springsteen show in Houston that I attended in 2008. He was about to play one of his newer songs, "Livin' in the Future," which was clearly written about the nation's political situation at that time. Yet, Bruce felt he had to explain this during a long monolog introducing the song. My feeling is---if you have to explain what the song is about, then you didn't do your job very well. Let the music do the talking. Lots of people in the crowd actually booed him.
I am neither a republican nor a democrat [and this really isn't the place to describe why], so for me, it's not a party thing. I guess it's mostly the impression that the artist feels compelled to inform his or her fans about the issues. As if we're simply not intelligent enough to figure things out on our own...?
And FM isn't innocent in this area. I appreciate the fact that the Clinton thing helped lead to the reunion, but I still wish that FM hadn't participated in such a high-profile political event.
So, please, FM---stay out of politics.
matt
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