Should politics return to Prog music?

http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=38167 3rd Degree "The Long Division"

Evolver wrote: http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=38167 3rd Degree "The Long Division"   Excellent political prog, relevant to the last US Presidential election. Spears both left and right for rampant hypocrisy.

Yours is no Disgrace is the best political song---Don't Kill the Whale---sort of okay.

I don't like the idea of a concerted effort to change, and especially not a fan-driven shove, to coerce bands into saying things they didn't already want to say.
Prog is basically about natural progression, yeah?

Coincidentally, if some are not finding their needs met by the music they hear, maybe they should fill that void on their own. Much like the reason many politicians give when asked why they're running for a particular office.


Edited by *frinspar* - June 20 2014 at 02:33

ExittheLemming wrote: Anyone who thinks that Prog musicians have remained faithful to their political allegiances while operating from within the music industry is surely credulous enough to believe that an antelope would vote for a lion.

Iain, it could be argued that a "cult based" artist like Zappa did not worry about record sales or at least what his record company thought. Isn't much of modern prog music "cult based"? For one example, they release recordings and downloads on their own private labels now.


Edited by SteveG - June 20 2014 at 09:18

I would prefer music about politics over music about sex, drugs, alcohol, and women (or men). Still, lyrics don't usually ruin a song for me. Someone mentioned 'The Great Debate' from Dream Theater. Prime example. Whatever message they seemed to try to convey there fell flat, but I do like the song. On the other hand, their religion-themed songs turned out much better. Blind Faith, In the Name of God, Sacrificed Sons (though a bit bland lyrically) are definitely some of my favorites from them.

twosteves wrote: Yours is no Disgrace is the best political song---Don't Kill the Whale---sort of okay.

I've yet to work out the political significance of a purple wolfhound.

chopper wrote: twosteves wrote: Yours is no Disgrace is the best political song---Don't Kill the Whale---sort of okay. I've yet to work out the political significance of a purple wolfhound.

It's very similiar to a Yellow Matter Custard. Trust me.

Unlike folk music prog doesn't really have an illustrious history of engaging with actual politics in a mature and serious way (c.f. punk which knows it stands for something but isn't quite sure what it is). Peart, like many libertarians, seems to write in an abstract universe safe from the buffeting of real events. Zappa's ever-regressing sense of humour undercut his satirical edge. The British bands of the 70s basically avoided political engagement so as not to get slammed for their perceived poshness, and the hints of engagement they offered don't really stand up to scrutiny.

As serious political prog goes - Art Bears' 'The World As It Is Today' is a substantial piece of intelligent communist savagery underneath Fred Frith's multi-instrumental reign of terror. Roy Harper's expansive work in the prog folk arena, such as McGoohan's Blues, The Lord's Prayer or the much later Burn The World and Rushing Camelot illustrate his rather peculiar blend of spirituality and politics. I think Genesis' Selling England and the rather visionary Get 'Em Out By Friday have that political tint but it's abstract/sci-fi rather than direct engagement. Roger Waters' real foray into politics comes with (in my view rather touching) The Final Cut sort of after Pink Floyd's real supremacy as a prog band fizzles out and it becomes more of a singer-songwriter affair.

akamaisondufromage wrote: As Daevid Allen says 'Rock n' Roll is - Opium for the People'

 

Edited by moshkito - June 20 2014 at 13:49