guess i should start out with a big ol' thank you to all y'all for dealing with my absolute fucking retardedness. drinking and anything, including blogging, just don't mix. i hope y'all have learned the lesson...and if you haven't, i'm sure i'll be violating the awesome covenant of "don't drink and blog" again...'cause i always do...even though i hardly ever drink lately...
hmmm. perhaps i should recommence that.
anyway, i was having a rather interesting conversation with my friend d last night. in fact, it lasted about five hours longer than it was supposed to and instead of coming home from dinner at eight i came home at two in the fucking morning, which i'm guessing isn't going to correlate to me having good results on the tax accounting test i had monday night. oops.
anyway, we were talking about politics, and somehow the topic of celebrities came up. i'm of the opinion that if you're in a position where people, for god knows what fucking purpose, listen to you and feel you have any clout in the matter...you should at least have the decency to watch what you say.
if you're green day, whatever kids are enamored with you are going to take everything you say--whether right or wrong--to heart. they'll have no idea why, or how, and they'll have no factual backing for their "opinion," but they'll go around hating the current presidential administration and government.
i'm not saying people should speak their opinions, and by no means am i saying that the first amendment right to speak freely should be revoked in all situations involving the government...i may be russian, but i really don't think big brother should be lurking and censoring everything. what i am saying is that there's a sort of responsibility that comes with being an entertainer, and that responsibility is inherent with being a position where people, for some fucked up reason, think you're important--you keep your mouth shut when it concerns shit that isn't black and white.
i'm happy they have thoughts, if not shocked that there is more than a hollow nothing in between their ears, but it seems as of late they are forgetting what they get paid for. they are paid to dance like little monkeys to amuse us...and you know what? they get paid way more than i think they should, and way more than someone who actually contributes something to the world...like the dude who's working tirelessly in cancer research etc. they aren't getting paid a shitload of money to have ideas...let alone to disseminate those ideas. in fact, if you're in a position where your career and earning potential are not affected by the state of affairs anywhere in the world...which would mean you're an actor or a musician...then you should keep your fucking thoughts to yourself.
if you're a musician, why not use the creativity your record company fooled you with when they signed you simply because you're marketable, and write your thoughts in a song.
when i go to a concert, i'm paying [way more than i probably should] to hear your music and be entertained, not to hear your thoughts on the current state of affairs within the world, and why you are completely appalled with the supreme court justice selection. when i'm watching the oscars...okay, that's a lie, i've never even watched the oscars, but lets pretend....right, so when i watch the oscars and it's red carpet time, i don't want to hear you spout off all the things you hate about the president...i want to hear what designer you're wearing, what you think of your competition, what the role entailed, and whatever other banality comes along with your job.
so yea..that's my take on it...his was borderline in accordance, borderline disagreement. what's your opinion?
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37 comments:
Thats why I fucking cant stand U2. Not because the music sucks, because Bono is a huge bag of douche. However, some musicains, and or actors/ famous people have no intentions of being a role model. It just so happens that the media we have blows everything out of proportion and decides what to print or air to our wonderful society.
ryan do you have any factual backing for that expressed opinion?... you need to be more responable before you make everyone hate Bono..
and if your green day... should you still be singing with a fake english accent?
So, I completely fucking disagree with you here.
Since when does what you get PAID for define you in total as a human being? Do you define yourself as a bartender? Will you in the future define yourself solely as 'lawyer'?
Tim Robbins gets paid to act, but that's not the only thing he does. He also plays guitar. He also, by the way, happens to feel strongly about social justice, politics etc. Him making his opinions known - and this extends to his choice of acting work, too, remember - is totally ok by me.
I think it's pretty much bullshit that someone can say "YOU can't say that because you're just an actor" as if that actor isn't also a citizen.
And I know the counterargument to that is "But they have influence!" to which I would say two things. One, if you can't form opinions for yourself and in fact base your opinions on those of a 'celebrity', then that's the least of your problems; Two, GOOD. If I was in a position of influence, I would use that as much as I could.
You also make some pretty contradictory statements. You go off at Greenday for speaking out against the government, and then suggest that musicians SHOULD write songs that express their points of view. That's exactly what Greenday do!
So this amounts to you saying that it's fine if Greenday sings "Don't vote for Bush" in a line of a song, but can't SAY the same thing to their audience? What about if they say it, but while the drummer and bass player are just grooving, but not playing an actual song? Does that count? See where this gets stupid?
And here's the thing: why is it stupid that actors and musicians speak out about politics etc. but when a religious figure says something nobody bats an eyelid? It's this bullshit prejudice against the Arts that says that an artist is only there to be a dancing monkey, as you said. As if entertainment can't be thought provoking as well as enjoyable.
I'll stop here.
You are nuts on here E.
Dammit Bruce Springsteen, shut up and sing!
I'm just going to say that I agreee with you on this one....they should shut up
After reading Daniel's comments, I feel a need to jump in and defend E's POV.
In a nutshell, when I go to a concert, I want to hear music. I don't want or need to hear about what a bad job our President is doing or how bad the war in Iraq is going. I want to be entertained, period. I have enough stress and aggrevation on a daily basis that I don't need to pay $75 for someone to add to it. It's the addition of the negativity that I can do without.
As for other entertainers that want to spew their political agendas on us, I'd prefer that they just had a big 'ol glass of shut the hell up, but they have a right to their opinion. I don't waste my money on their films or albums or concerts, so I don't really care. I love Bruce Springsteen's music, but I won't buy another album or concert ticket.
But E does make a good point when she says how kids are enamored by a band like Green Day and just assume their political beliefs rather than formulating their own. Kids are impressionable and for some reason they think that if you can make decent music, then you must know what you are talking about. They are the same people who get all of their news from John Stewart.
Why bother thinking for yourself when someone else can do it for you?
Hmmmm... I just wonder if gas will stay this cheap come November 8th?
Entertainers shouldn't spout political retoric simply because they can get the TV face time. Being celebrity doesn't mean we want to hear about their opinions on politics, stocks or...well...anything. Stand there...look pretty, that's what you're paid for. Next, these celebs will start getting involved in religions involving aliens and believing that they can heal people and are Gods themselves...wait..DAMN YOU TOM CRUISE!!!!
You guys are right. Celebrities shouldn't even HAVE personalities. They should just, like, shut up and do their job. Whatever THAT is. Woo! Spring break y'all.
Et cetera.
fuck green day!
Ryan: amen to that. it's hard to listen to U2 now when i just sit there and feel guilty for not having aids or living in africa.
Johnny: don't make me snap.
Hedge: the difference between flat out saying it, and putting it on an album and doing it through your music is the element of choice. when i pay to see them play, i'm paying to see them play. when i pay for their album, i'm paying for their album, and if it's a political group then i know what i'm getting into. i mean i love punk music and that's primarily based on anti-government rhetoric, but it lacks the specificity towards specific "regimes" that a lot of the newer stuff now does. or at least that's my opinion.
Flounder: i'm always crazy..c'mon now
Atl: is it supposed to be cheaper?
Chris: vive la sciontology [that statement was said because any derrogatory statements about that fucked up nonsensical money scham of a relegion seems to get a lot of shit]
Hedge: you can have a personality and not be political. i think i do that rather well :)
Vlad: you can read my comment to Hedge. having a message is fine...but there should be an ounce of discretion used in there, i think
Shane: do you have a man crush on them too?!
If a band is putting their political views in their songs, then you know what you are getting when buy a CD or you get to a concert. If you don't agree with their opinions, then just stay away from their music altogether.
It's the ones that sing songs that have no political statements in them, then ambush you in a concert.
Case in point: The Dixie Chicks.
Their song Long Time Gone is about how country radio doesn't play traditional country music anymore. Their sound is old school country. That would lead listener to think that they are lock-step in line with the country culture, and that they probably share the similar morals and opinions. But that's not the case at all. They are frauds and put up the front to make money.
Much like Neil Diamond and Barbara Streisand are for releasing Christmas albums when they are both Jewish.
But I digress.
That's why I like Jimmy Buffett so much. His songs have no political agenda whatsoever. I have seen him in concert nearly 20 times and have never heard him make a political statement. I know he is a liberal only because his cell phone was lost and the guy who found it called Clinton!
Like I said, shut up and sing!
No no no.
Not nuts, nuts on. As in, you hit it right in the nuts.
Geez.
don't even get me started on the streisand. she's such a fucking idiot....seriously.
oh, nuts on is the equivalent of "right on"
who knew?!!
Alice Cooper once said something to the effect that people who listen to the views of rock musicians were dumber than the rock musicians themselves. It makes sense, they're entertainers, not activists. Of course, this doesn't mean they can't do both, but I'm fairly certain they don't teach sociopolitical global welfare in acting school...
Political songs are a good thing, they have fueled revolution, patriotism, political change... all kinds of stuff.
What I have a problem with is when artists start to think they have a voice BEYOND their music. Same shit with actors. Just shut the fuck up already Susan Serandon.
So..who IS allowed to have a public opinion? Politicans? Private citizens? Clergymen? I want a serious answer.
non registered voters only daniel... and fox news
i thought all jews liked streisand!?!
I talk about this in class. We call celebrities "de facto opinion leaders" And their power is a bit scary. Although they have the same exact right as any other person to have opinions and to voice them as they see fit, what has to be taken into account is that they have a platform most of us do not have; that is to say, they can reach millions just by who they are. They have access to the mass media in ways that we don't even understand. And, they have fans... and I am not talking about someone like me who thinks Depeche Mode rocks but wouldn't go vote for someone just because Mr Gahan likes him/her. I am talking about people who will follow these celebrities and imitate them just to feel closer to them. And that's scary.
On the other side, fame and fans can be fickle. Even long-established people can fall from grace if they push it too much. Look at Tom Cruise. So maybe things balance out in the end.
But I do believe that they have a responsibility to attend to given their position. Whether they ever do take that into account...who knows?
See what happens when you get me talking about something I teach?
*le sigh*
-N
To Mr. Hedger (the liberal crapist above)
1st, you defended Tim Robbins which automatically gets your opinion thrown out. Actors and Musicians shouldn't use their prestige to spout their political view point just because they can. They get the same number of votes I do (oh except for the illegal extra ones that Tim Robbins and that cunt of a wife he has pay for) so why do they get to go on TV and Radio and magazine articles and spout their political agendas when all people want to know is a little about the movie or whatever they have coming out. They are allowed their view just like I am but they shouldn't use their "star" power to force their agendas down everyone elses throats. They aren't smarter or more well informed than the rest of us. They just are given more access to the public view and not because of politics...because of acting or music. If they want to force their agendas then they should PAY for the exposure just like you or I would have to do. That would make it a little more fair. Plus, I've heard Tim Robbins and Susan "the raving loon" Sarandon talk and every time they do...I want to punch both of them in the fucking mouths. So there's the answer now shut your mouth and get back to hugging trees and fucking fluffy bunnies with the rest of the liberal hippie trash.
What the fuck...Mr. Hegder lives in Australia??? Then your opinion means diddly-fucking-squat and you can keep your 'stingray through the heart' Aussie ass out of American politics anyway.
Thanks for that rational, well-measured argument Chris. You are truly a credit to the American stereotype.
woah..children. when did this get personal?
it's all a matter of opinion.
You always were controversial, huh E?
Yep and you're a credit to the Australian one...an idiot.
Sorry, E but when people from other countries start spouting crap regarding our country when they don't live here, I tend to take it personal. They are welcome to talk about their own countries...and he would if the only thing they had left hadn't gone and died, but it pisses me off. He's more then welcome to join one of the terrorist organizations if he thinks he wants to attack America...where WE ARE STILL ALLOWED TO OWN GUNS TO PROTECT OURSELVES.
I think he was speaking in generalities, not specific to the US Chris.
Thnks, E. That's exactly what I meant.
I didn't make any comment at all about America. I took E's blog entry to be about celebrities in general, not celebrities that make comments about America. So, what I meant by a credit to the American stereotype was...he assumed it was about the US, when it wasn't. The default for me isn't the US. Am I supposed to qualify everything I say with "of course, I'm speaking generally here, for any Americans who might not understand that not every comment ever made is about them".
Cheers. I'm out.
i heart you Hedge...even if you disagree with my basic presmise....but, opinions are like proverbial assholes, and i must have at least six of those for the amount of [fucked] up opinons i have!
hmmmm, i didn't intend for this to turn into personal attacks...or an "us v. them" type of thing. [not US as in united states either, us as in plural of we)
get back to the internet loving and living in a comment induced symbiosis that makes blog land so fantastic. pwease?
i'm hormonal and may cry.
i don't care what they say, i just want them to have an INFORMED opinion rather than talking out their ass.
only then do i respect their right to have an opinion.
He brought up Tim Robbins...American...Activist...Nutjob. He supports Tim Robbins who attacks everything because he's a liberal slimeball so by association he brought up AMERICAN politics. Perhaps that wasn't the intent but anyone who thinks Tim Robbins or Susan Sarandon make sense and support their use of celebrity to cram their activist roles down the American publics throat is on my shit-list. Their forum should not be the media that everyday folks don't have access to. They are more than welcome to spout their retoric in books or in public forums where non-celebrities have the same opportunity to speak their minds as well. Not difficult to understand.
America.... fuck yeah
americaaaaa fuck yea! comin' to you to save the mother fuck day now!
it's a dream that we all share....it's the hope for tomorrowwwwwww
FUCK YEA!!
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