Music and Politics
Music, Politics 08/04/2004 |Just for amusement sake, after reading an article about the upcoming Vote for Change concert tour (which doesn’t seem to be coming to Washington — aren’t we supposed to be a “swing state” too?), here’s a short and probably very incomplete list of musical artists who have supported one presidential candidate or the other. Most of this list is culled from the article, I may update it as days go by as I run across more names. Submissions will be welcome, of course.
It’s a rather silly way to look at things, sure, but if for some reason you’re having problems making up your mind which way you want to vote, maybe your musical tastes can make a difference. 
| Supporting Kerry (or at least vocally anti-Bush) |
Supporting Bush |
|---|---|
| Alkaline Trio Anti-Flag The Ataris Authority Zero Bad Religion Jello Biafra Billy Bragg Bright Eyes Jackson Browne The Dave Matthews Band Death Cab for Cutie Denali The Dixie Chicks Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds The Epoxies John Fogerty Jurassic 5 Less Than Jake John Mellencamp Ministry Keb’ Mo’ My Morning Jacket N.O.F.X. None More Black The Offspring Pearl Jam Bonnie Raitt R.E.M. Linda Rondstadt Social Distortion The Soviettes Bruce Springsteen James Taylor World/Inferno Friendshop Society |
Kid Rock Ted Nugent Jessica Simpson Britney Spears Lee Ann Womack |
Update: Additions from a NYT article (thanks Len) and Rock Against Bush Vol. 1 (thanks Ryan — the page for RABv2 didn’t have artist listings, otherwise there’d be more additions, I’m sure).
iTunes: “Music and Politics” by Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, The from the album Hypocrisy is the Greatest Luxury (1992, 4:01).
[See also: Hagar the Horrible | Top GOP pollster says Bush is in trouble | I’m such a music whore | Bush’s hometown paper endorses Kerry | The Seattle Times: Kerry for President ]
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4 Responses to “Music and Politics”
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Bryan
Michael Hanscom
Prairie
Ryan Waddell
August 4th, 2004 at 2:09 pm
Here in Melbourne, there are just as many bands supporting one side of politics over the other, but there are also quite a few bands which protest the whole Two-Party Preferred Political System.
I suppose the most famous Labor Supporting band would have to be The Whitlams, who are named after former Labor Leader, Gough Whitlam, but 1200 Techniques, The Crazy Baldheads, Paul Kelly, to name a few.
Boom Crash Opera also considered Legal Action when the Liberal Party abused on of their songs during an advertisement.
Historically, Painters and Dockers, Mental as Anything and Midnight OIl have always had a political Slant. In fact, Peter Garrett (of Midnight Oil) is currently running with the Labor Party.
August 4th, 2004 at 2:17 pm
And who can forget when Johnny Saffron’s Music Jamboree helped the Winners of the PopStars TV Shows form the Popstars and Miscellaneous Union so they could campaign to write and perform their own Songs, rather than rely on (and Pay Exorbitant Royalties to) the Company Song-Writers.
August 6th, 2004 at 6:09 am
For some more artists to add to your list, check out the 2 Rock Against Bush albums, Rock Against Bush 1 and Rock Against Bush 2
August 11th, 2004 at 3:26 pm
Hi,
On the site of VRTnieuws (news site of the public TV station here in Belgium) there is report that Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott and Eve have joined the fight against Bush, and as I don’t see them on the list I thought I would give you a heads up. (since we want a LONG list).
There is also talk of them doing a new version of “Wake up everybody” that would be released on an album with the profits going to “Coming Together” an action group for a new president…
You probably get more news on this then we do, but since it hasn’t popped up…
Anyway this is the source… but since it’s in Dutch and a VERY bad site it might not be of much use