Political Idiots: Music Without Politics

People seem to be reaching nostalgic views earlier, looking back fondly on memories of things that happened merely a few years ago. This may be another view created to shame millennials for simply being millennials. It may be due to the constant threat of nuclear attack, and/or irreversible destruction of the environment that is leaving people longing for a time before existential crisis was their only state of being. There is no denying that these are weighing heavy on the mind of the current political climate. However, facing the political standings, mainstream media has seemed to completely disbar music as a tool for political action.

Popular and underground music has always been a tool to aid the public view of the candidates being presented to them as their political processors. Artists like Lou Reed, and David Bowie carried strong political messages throughout their entire careers. They never shied from using their platform as a key to present political ideologies. Using music as a vantage point to explain current goings-on in the political realm has proved to help and sway its audience. Many people are not political science majors and do not understand politics. Many people say they "try to keep politics out of it" when they are having discussions or making decisions. These are the people who take the strongest influence from mainstream media and radio.

The ideology of using music as a political platform predominates in the 70s, with legendary musicians like Jimmy Hendrix and other Woodstock performers spreading political messages through their tunes. The political vantage point stems from the artists reprimanding their government and businessmen. "Sticking it to the man" has been a part of music, since it became a major corporation. Now where has it gone?

Media influencers such as Michael Jackson created movements with their music and star power. "We Are the World" raised over $63 million since its release in 1985. This song is an example of a political uprising with a positive connotation. However, the current example of a song using its star power to try and raise money for a political standing in a positive context is "Earth" by Lil Dicky. This song is star studded with a message about saving the environment. The proceeds of this song go to the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation. The amount that this song raised is unavailable.

Many of us have been influenced by strong anti-political messages in songs. Green Day's "American Idiot"(2004) influenced a generation. Lou Reed's "New York" (1989) dug through the dirt to reveal a raw interpretation of the political state of New York City. These songs have power, energy and anger behind them. The kind of anger that builds from the misuse of political power and prowess. So what happened to this kind of mainstream musical hatred?

The mainstream media has changed. Many people are more influenced by events happening on Twitter or Instagram, than by the radio. The way the public processes data and information is now in short intervals and through memes. Recently, an event regarding storming Area 51 has gone viral with many people pledging to storm the military base. Although, this is rooted in a joke, the original post has reached over one million pledges. and has awakened the idea of a government uprising in many citizens. Which raises the question, Is this how mainstream media is now spreading its political message?

Popular music is currently regarding riding horses and girls being too pretty to become educated. In a climate where political standings are rising, mainstream media is attempting to shift the public eye away. Therefore, the public is waiting for a musical political uprising, regarding the choices made for them, by the people who were not placed in power by them.