Favorite Liberal Musician

[ripken08]

Just wondering what the liberal musical taste is of DU

Mine is def Bruce Springsteen

With honorable mention for John Fogerty and REM.

What is yours?

[htuttle]

1. Michael Franti or Steve Earle

Too hard to choose between them.

[Forkboy]

4. Franti is awesome

And ironically it was my choice of Jello Biafra that introduced me to Franti when he did a cover of California Uber Alles.

[booksenkatz]

2. I miss Harry Chapin. nt

[greyghost]

3. The legend himself...

Neil Young:patriot:

[Forkboy]

7. Hey greyghost....welcome to DU!

:hi:

[greyghost]

8. Thanks

:hi:

[Forkboy]

5. Jello Biafra

In case my nickname wasn't the first clue.

[Eric J in MN]

6. Pete Seeger

Bring Them Home:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZK1g69iHu1Q

[OneBlueSky]

45. agreed . . . Pete Seeger, because he's been doing it for s-o-o-o-o many years . . . n/t

.

[mondo joe]

9. Michael Franti and REM - but I respect Springsteen too.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

10. The Dixie Chicks

:loveya:

REM, U2, Midnight Oil all get H.M. from me, but the Chicks made the world listen to what these people are all about.

[Hissyspit]

21. Me, too, but I'm watching "Shut Up and Sing" right now.

Normally I would say Bruce Springsteen.

[PhilipShore]

11. The Beatles

[Neecy]

12. Rickie Lee Jones

[Wilms]

13. Congressman John Hall

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/webreturn/?url=http://johnhall.house.gov

http://www.johnhallforcongress.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hall_(New_York)

[mahina]

14. Jackson Browne- vid from the peace protest last week

http://youtube.com/watch?v=lZALe5VOGpo

[jobycom]

23. Good choice. The Poetry Man himself. nt

[ripken08]

15. Why?

I guess that is the second logical question. Why are they your favorite? Is it the music, the message, or a mixture of the two? For me with Bruce, I have always been a massive fan, but I love him even more for taking a stand and actually coming out and saying what he believes in. For the longest time, though he made political songs such as "Born in the USA" (Which idiots still think is a pro-American good old song about how much he loves America), he never really said anything about politics. I love him stepping up, and could only wish I was able to get tix for the Vote for change tour, especially the DC show. I also wish I had gone to the University of Wisconsin a year earlier and could see him campaign with Kerry in front of 80,000 people. That would have been awesome.

What about the rest of you?

[Cabcere]

16. Oooh...good question!

So many to choose from, but I think I'm going to go with one nobody has mentioned so far (at least, not at the time I'm posting this, lol) and say Flogging Molly. One of my friends (who is actually fairly conservative - his brother drove one of the cars in Bush's motorcade a few years ago) introduced me to FM freshman year, and I got hooked. :)

[Tom Joad]

17. Gotta say Woody Guthrie, cuz he sung about us....

[Forkboy]

18. So far everything mentioned does that too.

Just in different ways :)

[Tom Joad]

22. Course, love Bruce too, so people nowadays know my story.

[rwenos]

19. Ludwig van Beethoven

Prominent progressive, Freemason, anti-Napoleon (after he figured Napoleon was a totalitarian).

Also, Beethoven was clearly a rock star. Consider the hair.

[no_hypocrisy]

58. Yes!! Beethoven was practically a political revolutionary in his day.

READ the words to the chorale of the Ninth Symphony ("Ode to Joy"):

Oh friends, no more of these sad tones!
Let us rather raise our voices together
In more pleasant and joyful tones.
Joy!

Joy, thou shining spark of God,
Daughter of Elysium,
With fiery rapture, goddess,
We approach thy shrine.
Your magic reunites
That which stern custom has parted;
All humans will become brothers
(Schiller's original:
What custom's sword has parted;
Beggars become princes' brothers Emphasis mine)
Under your protective wing.

Let the man who has had the fortune
To be a helper to his friend,
And the man who has won a noble woman,
Join in our chorus of jubilation!
Yes, even if he holds but one soul
As his own in all the world!
But let the man who knows nothing of this
Steal away alone and in sorrow.

All the world's creatures drink
From the breasts of nature;
Both the good and the evil
Follow her trail of roses.
She gave us kisses and wine
And a friend loyal unto death;
She gave the joy of life to the lowliest,
And to the angels who dwell with God.

Joyous, as His suns speed
Through the glorious order of Heaven,
Hasten, brothers, on your way,
Joyful as a hero to victory.

Be embraced, all ye millions!
With a kiss for all the world!
Brothers, beyond the stars
Surely dwells a loving Father.
Do you kneel before Him, oh millions?
Do you sense the Creator's presence?
Seek Him beyond the stars!
He must dwell beyond the stars.

[leftofthedial]

20. Jackson Browne

with an emphasis is on "liberal"

[jobycom]

24. Don Henley needs some love here.

In addition to his environmental work, "The End of the Innocence" helped some of us survive the Reagan Era. Or Reagan Error.

Not to mention he was the only part of the Eagles I liked, aside from Joe Walsh.

[Treclo]

25. Just One???

It's too hard to choose just one!

:loveya: JOHN PRINE :loveya:
all the riot grrls
Ani Difranco, (extra props w/Utah Phillips)
Willie Nelson
Henry Rollins :loveya:
Rage Against the Machine
Bruce Cockburn
U2
Jello Biafra
Uncle Tupelo
Neil Young
Tom Waits (well, sometimes)...there are so many who inspire and challenge you to think, while entertaining you, too.

[TomInTib]

26. Here's one of mine...

I originally wrote this for TomYossarianJoad, but I think it holds a little water considering the current conditions. I wrote it in waltz time.

The gentle winds of change, I hear the sound
It stirs the quiet desert sand
I ride the rails of joy and sorrow down
Into the canyons of this Land

Thru my windshield I see Fear and Faith
Rich and Poor from town to town
One owns a Bible and one owns a safe
But neither walk on common ground

Tonight I'm driving across America
Mister, can I talk to you?
Tonight I'm driving across America
Oh, say, can't you see what I've been through?


I see a Black Man with his hands held high
I see a fatherless son
I see a policeman who wonders why
He keeps his tears locked in his gun

And I see a White Man with his eyes blood red
'cause he's been told what he should feel
And I see too many women cut to shreds
And taking half their lives to heal

Tonight I'm driving across America
Mister, can I talk to you?
Tonight I'm driving across America
Oh, say, can you see what I see, too?


We rise and fall from Sea to Shining Sea
Balancing Freedom and Change
Waiting for a Purple Mountain Majesty
To be our Saviour when it rains

Tonight I'm driving across America
Mister, can I talk to you?
Tonight I'm driving across America
Oh, say, can you see what I see through?

[silverlib]

27. Today is is Mary Chapin Carpenter - her new CD is

Awesome.

One song about the Dixie Chicks - "On With The Song" - another about Katrina - "Houston" and a song about all of us - "Why Shouldn't We"

Every song on this CD is amazing. This just came out on 03/07.

Edited to thank La Coliniere - his post about this CD is on the Greatest Page.

[Forkboy]

29. I really don't like that kind of music but everyone should read the lyrics on that one.

It's great stuff.

[silverlib]

30. Most days - Phil Ochs (n/t)

[Bonobo]

28. Neil Young, Rage Against The Machine, Chuck D, Frank Zappa,

[htuttle]

33. Shout out for Chuck D!

I was just telling my daughter a few months ago that he was one of the great poets of the turn of the century (the 21st century, of course).

[Colobo]

31. Willie Colón, King of Hardcore, New York-style Salsa

And an active member of the Democratic Party of New York.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

32. I wish I could come up with someone

Was Bill Evans a Liberal? Unfortunately, he died young and can't be asked. I have no idea whether Lenny Breau was Liberal either and he was murdered several years ago. Wes Montgomery? Jimi Hendrix? John Coltrane? Oscar Peterson? I don't know.

I guess the only musicians I dig were apolitical and all dead. Oscar Peterson might still be alive, but he's Canadian and I don't think he's been very much involved in U.S. politics.

[MilesColtrane]

54. I think most of these artists were liberals.

Perhaps not in the sense of being placard carrying protesters.
I think most of them were looking at political problems as having a more spiritual solution.
They were Transcendentalists of a sort.

The only interview I've ever heard with Coltrane in which he is asked about politics was conducted by Frank Kofsky in 1966.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kofsky: The first thing I want to ask about is a story that somebody told me. The first night I came here, the people I was staying with have a friend, a young lady, and she was downtown at one of Malcom X's speeches-and lo and behold, who should pop in on the seat next to her, but John Coltrane. Right away, that whetted my curiosity, and I wanted to know how many times you have seen him, what you thought of him, and so forth.

Coltrane: That was the only time.

Kofsky: Were you impressed by him?

Coltrane: Definitely. That was the only time. I thought I had to see the man, you know. I was living downtown, I was in the hotel, I saw the posters, and I realized that he was going to be over there so I said, well, I'm going over there and see this cat, because I had never seen him. I was quite impressed.

Kofsky: That was one of his last speeches, wasn't it?

Coltrane: Well, it was toward the end of his career.

Kofsky: Some musicians have said that there's a relationship between some of Malcolm's ideas and the music, especially the new music. Do you think there's anything to that?

Coltrane: Well, I think that music, being and expression of the human heart, or of the being itself, does express just what <i>is</i> happening. I feel it expresses the whole thing-the whole of human experience at the particular time that it is being expressed.

-snip-

Kofsky: In particular, some of the people have said that jazz is opposed to poverty, to suffering, and to oppression; and therefore, that jazz is opposed to what the United States is doing in Vietnam. Do you have any comments on that subject?

Coltrane: In my opinion I would say yes, because jazz-if you want to call it that; we'll talk about that later- to me, it is an expression of music; and this music is an expression of higher ideals, to me. So therefore, brotherhood is there; and I believe with brothehood, there would be no poverty. And also, with brotherhood there would be no war.

-snip-

Kofsky: Most of the musicians I have talked to are very concerned about changing society and they do see their music as an instrument by which society can be changed.

Coltrane: Well, I think so. I think music is an instrument. It can create the initial thought patterns that can change the thinking of the people.

-snip-

Coltrane: ...I have tried to make a conscious attempt to change what I've found, in music...This is what I feel that we feel in any situation that we find in our lives, when there's something we think could be better, we must make an effort to try and make it better. So it's the same socially, musically, politically, and in any department of our lives.

-snip-

Coltrane: ....there are things which as far as spirituality is concerned, which is very important to me at this time, I've got to grow through certain phases of this to other understanding and more consciousness and awareness of just what it is that I'm supposed to understand about it; and I'm sure others will be part of the music. To me, you know, I feel I want to be a force for good.

Kofsky: And the music too?

Coltrane: Everywhere. You know, I want to be a force for real good. In other words, I know that there are bad forces, forces put here that bring suffering to others and misery to the world, but I want to be the force which is truly for good.

[whoneedstickets]

34. Billy Bragg

His blue collar British folk-songs remind me that the class struggle is something universal that transcends and unites nationalities.

[gollygee]

57. Yeah, I love Billy Bragg

he's got a great sense of humor too. He can sing about politics and still be fun.

[Ron Green]

35. C'mon, Folks, there's one best answer to this...

Charlie Haden and the Liberation Music Orchestra. Look him up; you'll be convinced.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

36. David Rovics, Aaron Copland, Bob Dylan, Beethoven, Joan Baez.

To name a few.

[earth mom]

37. Dan Fogelberg.

:loveya:

[DubiousLee]

38. Ted Nugent...

j/k. :)

[dae]

39. I like many already named but feel Joan Baez must be

included. What a voice and activist!

[Alexander]

40. Joe Strummer

What, no love for him?

[ripken08]

41. now there is.

[Swamp Rat]

42. me

HA! :D

[liberal hypnotist]

43. Pink Wins!

[ellisonz]

44. Greg Graffin

[cgrindley]

46. Ted Nugent

ha ha ha gotcha

[bklyncowgirl]

47. So many good ones. I'll pick the guy on Tricky Dick's enemies list, John Lennon.

"All We are saying is give peace a chance."

Kudos also too:

Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie and the Weavers--who got blacklisted for the political views but brought traditional American music to the masses.

Paul Robeson, Great singer, actor and a fighter for civil rights and the rights of workers. Listen to his version of "Old Man River" and you get chills down your spine.

Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Peter Paul and Mary and the rest of the 60s folkies.

Crosby Stills Nash and Young. "Tin soldiers and Nixon coming..."

John Fogerty, Curtis Mayfield and others who gave our anger over Vietnam words and a beat. "War, wohoohoohoo, what is it good for. Absolutely nothing! Say it again."

Jackson Browne, The Eagles, Bonnie Rait and the other California rockers who sang for Central America and the antinuclear movements of the 70s.

John Mellencamp and Willie Nelson for their efforts to help farmers.

Bono & U2 I know many of us get disgusted at his willingness to deal with the devil from various African dictators to George Bush but Bono has made himself an expert on Africa and goes about his work in a practical and realistic manner. "Sunday Bloody Sunday" is a great antiwar song.

Bruce Springsteen. A guy who's lent his star power to just about any good cause you can imagine and put himself into the political fray in 2004 when he felt he could no longer be silent, despite a real distaste for electoral politics.

[rucky]

48. Tom Morello n/t

[H2O Man]

49. John Lennon

Jimi Hendrix
James Douglas Morrison
George Harrison

[hiaasenrocks]

50. Hard choice, but this is one of my favorite songs about the current political situation:

"Let's Get Free" - Sheryl Crow

I went searching
For something I could believe
So I turned on the TV
I was fed hypocrisy
Leading me towards the sea
Of confusion

I heard a voice
Ringing like music in the air
Breaking hearts most everywhere
All the people in despair
Cry out for justice to be fair
To every people

(Chorus)
Saying let’s get free, let’s get free
Don’t just believe in what you hear
Don’t just believe in what you see
Let’s get free, let’s get free
You gotta open up your mind
‘Cause truth is what ya need, oh truth is what you need

Our love
Can prop you up and make you stand
Some are sinking in the sand
With all that silver in their hand
Take a message to that man
That wisdom is power

And tell me now
You have Allah on your side
Or is it Jesus or your pride
Will it get you through the night
Every man has to have something to believe in

(Chorus)
Let’s get free, let’s get free
You gotta believe in what you feel
And feel what you believe
Let’s get free, let’s get free

oh love is all you need

Before the dawn
Comes the darkest hour of night
Either walk into the light
Or you turn and close your eyes
And fade into a dreamless sleep and hide

Every human
Is gonna laugh and sometimes cry
Every tear that fills your eyes
Falls with the weight of sacrifice
Forgiveness hears the pain of disappointment

(Chorus)
Let’s get free, let’s get free
Don’t just believe in what you hear
Don’t just believe in what you see
Let’s get free, oh let’s get free
Everything’s as it should be
So faith is all you need, oh peace is all you need, oh truth is all you need

yeah oh

What the world needs now is love love love
What the world needs now is love love love
What the world needs now is love love love

[dddem]

51. Sweet Baby James.

and my daughters love Pink (I can't hear'Dear Mr. President' enough)

[hellbound-liberal]

52. Wow! So many to choose from! Here's my top 5, and why:

Bruce Springsteen- For organizing the Vote for Change tour in 2004
John Fogerty- For staying true to his liberal roots since day 1
Dixie Chicks- For showing what it means to be a true American
Neil Young- For the strongest anti-war message, Living with War, in recent years
Steve Earle- Anti-war, anti-death penalty and pro-union.

I also have to mention Anti-Flag for their recent CD For Blood and Empire where they lay out a very strong anti-corporate, anti-globalism message.

[no_to_war_economy]

53. Ted Leo , what ? you never heard of him

I suggest you start with his latest album that just came out last Tuesday the 20th

http://www.tedleo.com/

[Annces]

55. Otis Taylor is a good one

ftp://telmedia.telarc.com/telarc/83659/83659-2-m.mp3



http://www.otistaylor.com/indexA.html

[mitchum]

56. Wayne Kramer, Patti Smith, rem, Springsteen, Steve Earle, Dixie Chicks

[Vexatious Ape]

59. Rage Against the Machine

[Booster]

60. My choice is Joan Baez, for obvious reasons. I also hope people

listen to and buy Mary Chapin Carpenter's latest CD "The Calling". And, of course, I love me some Chicks.

[Coventina]

61. MADONNA!!!

Who campaigned for AIDS research way before it was "cool"? Madonna
Who defended Michael Moore when the righties were crying for his blood? Madonna
Who confronted the so-called "Christians" in this country about their neglect of the starving orphans in Africa? Madonna
Who has consistently, for 25 years now, got the fundies panties all wadded up in dismay? Madonna

:loveya:

I luvs me my Madonna

Honorable mentions:

1. Mike Ness (of Social Distortion): I'm against war because war is big business
2. Bono: Does the man ever sleep?
3. Moby: Vegan, Liberal, Christian (in the truest sense), not afraid to call out the fundies of his religion and debate them on national tv
4. Willie Nelson: A national treasure.
5. B-52's: I'll never forget Kate Pierson saying on national tv: Bush! Stay out of mine!! (on reproductive rights) Another act that was way out in front of the AIDS epidemic, for good reason. RIP Ricky.....

on edit: clarifying information