I am watching a PBS documentary series about Bob Dylan, directed by Martin Scorsese. I am actually worried that there is no one willing to stand up against the atrocities. The hypocrisies, the nuclear bombings (Korea), the drought (Africa), insufficient healthcare (u.s) , the starvation (everywhere), the current holocaust (Darfur).
It's not that he sang songs necessarily about "folksy" reform but - Like a Rolling Stone, Mr. Tamborine Man. These are the songs that shaped my parents, shaped my thoughts of a less selfish world. I wasn't alive when written, or performed live, or written about in music magazines, but I read novels based on these songs, sang them by fireside, and was sung to sleep by them. "The American Masters" on PBS is a fantastic exploration of what shaped our songs, our lives.
Ok, so I'm concerned that Jack Johnson and Coldplay might just not hope. As I don't.
No voice can hope to hum the ocean wild.. the seaweed's woven strands, they crash in waves like cymbals, against the rocks and the sand... lay down your weary.. lay down the song the song you strum and rest yourself in strength of strings, no voice can hope to hum...I gaze down in the river's mirror... and what I saw... like a hawk it hung.... lay down your weary... lay down the song...
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When I watched this film, I just kept thinking that Dylan was a master at figuring out what to say. I'm not entirely sure he ever had convictions to back it up, but everyone talked about his incredible ability to read people and situations and he had an unshakable determination to "own the room."
But, yeah, Coldplay really isn't the same. (Does that need to be said aloud?) I think Dylans are out there, but not to be found in mass pop media. There are lots of great songs and songwriters—but we are all too media diverse. In that sense, Dylan was maybe more a product of his (media) time.
They say Bright Eyes is Dylanesque but I don't think so. And the bands that are really political seem like they're trying too hard.
Who are some contenders? U2? Ani? The White Stripes? (OK WS is not political but they're my favorite band.)
It's true. His mastery wasn't what he said but how he refused to answer questions. The mystery is what made him an icon. With our vast diversity now, ipod, internet, radio, television, documentary, it is absolutely difficult to remain mysterious.
I think there are some great singer/songwriters out there, but not very many are _truly_ political. U2 used to be, then they got rich. Bono still is, but I don't think the band/music is.
Sadly the only thing I'm coming up with is The Dixie Chicks. And Neil Young. Both have new, political albums out. and Paul Simon. But what about our generation?
I think Catie Curtis is, but you won't hear her on FM radio.
I think Eliot Smith had potential in this area. But look what happened to him.
Billy Bragg. But he's British.
I think corporate radio is the death of political songs.
After seeing the film I came to the conclusion that Dylan really wasn't in it for the protest in the first place: other than a sort of Beat protest against the establishment. He certainly wasn't involved in the war protest as say, Baez was. I find it interesting when they interviewed Baez and she basically said he was more about his own music than he was about the protest.
I agree that we cannot look for Bob on the pop list like Coldplay and Jack Johnson. There are some great protest songs of late...
Neil Young has an entire album deadicated to living with war... Called living with war and you can download it at that website.
Steve Earle Condi Condi,& Devil's right hand. Promised Land by Ani Difranco, The Gorillaz, kids with guns, Many anti-bush by Black-Eyed Peas, Green Day, etc.
My hopes were for Bruce Springsteen to be our man, but instead he did the Seeger cover album...
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