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Let's Get Political, Political

Greetings from The Music Bowl! I'm The Wonderfish!

Congratulations on reading this far - I was scared to mention politics in the title due to our current political situations.

This week, The Killers released a music video for their song, Land of the Free. They went old school, calling it a short film just like Michael Jackson used to. Did I mention Spike Lee directed it? I find it quite difficult to argue against the lyrics or the portrayal of the situation in the film, however, I'd rather you take a look and a listen and see for yourself.



More importantly, I'd like to raise a point about politics in music as this is a topic that I think about often, and I've been thinking about it for at least 20 years. I find that I can usually group listeners into two general categories: those that hate it when artists get political and those that discuss the politics presented by the artist when it holds enough of their interest.

The people that hate it, really hate it.

In my own experience as a songwriter, I can't imagine writing songs that don't ever comment on what's happening in our world. I don't know if it's possible to be an artist without presenting work that is political in some way at some point.

There are those that think music should just be entertainment, and I have no plans of arguing with them because everyone has their own musical preferences. It is unrealistic, though, to think that music shouldn't get political. It's an art form that can unite and divide, which is precisely why we need art; it helps us think, it helps us reflect, and it helps us see perspectives beyond our own.

Music helps us understand who we are. Whether you like political music or not becomes irrelevant. It's whether or not you take the time to try and understand yourself that's critical. I have to ask, how did the collaboration between The Killers and Spike Lee make you feel about yourself?

Below are a few more of my favorite song examples if you feel like getting political. Shark's in the water! See you next time!

Stevie Wonder - Living For The City

P!nk - What About Us



U2 - Sunday Bloody Sunday


Radiohead - All I Need




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