Political pop that could actually change the world

[imomus]

Eminem Mosh. He says 'Fuck Bush'. He says 'No more blood for oil'. He says 'Kerry on, give me hope'. He says 'Vote on November 2nd'. And the imagery in the video says a lot more. A message like this, from a star as big as Eminem, could actually change the outcome of the US election. Who says pop music is all neutered, spayed and tame? Who says that nothing anyone says makes a blind bit of difference? As brilliantly political as anything Bob Dylan did at the height of the 60s protest boom. Positively Brechtian.

Comments

Re: ITS viewers to vote!

[typefiend.livejournal.com]

Considering many of Eminem's core audience is Republican, this is a welcome shakeup.

I think almost all of us who believe in the ideals of a participatory democracy hope every citizen votes educated and aware about the representatives and policies they choose to support. But the reality is, until this election year, there was a steady decline in interest and voting, especially amongst the youth demographic. If it takes celebs to get people motivated to even consider voting, its a good thing, since in reality that initial participation leads to the possibility of awareness (instead of the ideal situation of the other way around).

Unfortunately, the landscape is so partisan now, this has become an ideological, high-stakes war, not an election.

Re: ITS viewers to vote!

[johnnyshades.livejournal.com]

i think i missed a poll somewhere. eminem's listeners are primarily republican? pardon my skepticism.

Re: ITS viewers to vote!

[typefiend.livejournal.com]

I shall pardon your skepticism. One just needs to realize his albums sell well and in large numbers in the midwest, amongst suburban white youth...he has mass appeal amongst the Walmart set. I would definitely think many of these kids have conservative values and beliefs despite their preference in music.

Re: ITS viewers to vote!

[theophile.livejournal.com]

just for the record, this is certainly not Eminem's first strong anti-Bush rap. "Square Dance" was certainly a more explicit track with better-reasoned politics, and "Rap Game" (the one obliquely referenced in the "Mosh" video by means of a newspaper cutout) had a tighter flow and a more satisfying invective (I'm a' pipe down when the White House just wiped out / when I see that little (Cheney) dike get sniped out / lights out, bitch adios, goodnight, blow)-- I don't think any of his fans will be surprised to learn that he's backing Kerry. I'm deeply impressed with Em for coordinating a video release so consciously timed to work with the election season, though-- I'd considered him pretty thoroughly declawed at this point in his career.

Re: ITS viewers to vote!

[(Anonymous)]

Surely Eminem's core audience would be too young to vote?

Re: ITS viewers to vote!

[seanthesean.livejournal.com]

i don't know how partisan any of those kids are really... unfortunately they haven't had any cultural infrastructure outside of cable tv and chain stores to help guide and direct them, but i don't think they're inherently republicans. the walmart set isn't neccessarily conservative either, just hard up, cheap and trashy.

Re: ITS viewers to vote!

[johnnyshades.livejournal.com]

and not to take the easy way out, but the reason there's going to be a higher voter turnout this election year isn't because puff daddy said there should be, it's because some of the real problems have actually come to the surface. well, not just some. the bulk of them. it's a shame this race is so close-cut, there's no reason it should be, but the only time i'll ever dare to use the word "unamerican" is when i let a celebrity point me towards the right check mark on the right ballot.

Re: ITS viewers to vote!

[typefiend.livejournal.com]

I agree with you that voter turnout isn't primarily dictated or influenced by P. Diddy or anyother celebs for that matter. Churches, school teachers, parents, and other social organizations are a great mobilizing force in this year's election, alongside the obvious spector of fear hovering over this nation's psyche.

But I guess I just disagree with you about celebs making an effort to endorse candidates and motivate others to participate in government. I think if anything, its very American, since its a public call for action. Nobody forces you to checkmark that ballot when it comes down to it.

Well, unless you live in Florida.

Re: ITS viewers to vote!

[hotbeatz.livejournal.com]

B-b-but what could be more American than celebrity politics?

Re: ITS viewers to vote!

[typefiend.livejournal.com]

I could be completely wrong, but I think celebrity endorsed politics, although very "American" is ineffective at mobilizing change thus so far. I'm speaking of traditional celebrities in music, movies and television. The real powerbrokers now are the shouting heads on FOX News, Rush Limbaugh, and even quasi-journalist/comedian John Stewart.

Eminem's single is a good first step. I'd become a bigger fan if he continued becoming more political overall with his rhymes, as cynics might point out he's cashing in on controversy (and I agree with others that a more pop, radio-friendly tune would possibly be more effective in effecting more youth...a subversive and subliminal commercial jingle no selling Moet and Escalades, but the idea of political awareness and participation).

Re: ITS viewers to vote!

[gillen.livejournal.com]

I'll make a prediction. If Kerry wins, then the subsequent election will have the lowest voter turnout of all time, as the youth vote (and everyone else) will have finally had it definitively proven that Pepsi and Coke are parity products, that choosing between them is a meaningless waste of time, and that no possible "third" option exists in the present political structure. Four years after that and whoever is inaugurated president might well have to make it from Capitol Hill to the White House via underground tunnel rather than the surface streets.