Musicians use their talent to further the cause

Most of us have grappled with the task of figuring out song lyrics. Recently I attempted to decipher out what Johnny Rotten was saying in an old Sex Pistols song called “Revolution in the Classroom.” The only lyrics I could make out with any certainly were the words, “revolution in the classroom.” The rest of it sounds like a man with a lisp experiencing convulsions after a two-week drinking binge.

Artists in the music business have a long history of social commentary, even if they don’t always vocalize their views with pinpoint clarity. Sometimes you can be listening to a song about saving the whales and mistakenly believe it’s about global warming. As important as the message may be, it’s even more essential that it be heard.

These days, stars of the music world are not only getting the word out, they’re jeopardizing their careers to do so. Fans may still struggle to sort out the words, but the message is perfectly clear.

Whatever side of the political civil war you happen to be on, it’s hard to deny that the present climate has served as a call to arms among pop musicians. Celebrities like Sean Penn, Dennis Miller, Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Natalie Portman, James Woods, Melanie Griffith, Ron Silver and others speak out occasionally on behalf of their respective sides, and contribute money often, but quickly fade out of the spotlight.

Jim Ruymen / Reuters file Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam have never shied away from mixing politics with music.

Meanwhile, musicians are sticking their necks out and keeping them there.

Bruce Springsteen heads a legion of rockers on the Vote for Change Tour, which will visit 28 cities in nine presidential election battleground states beginning October 1. Ani DiFranco is heading up the Vote Dammit tour, which is fairly self-explanatory. An organization called Music for America, featuring acts like Sonic Youth, Death Cab for Cutie and Modest Mouse, also launched a get-out-the-vote tour this year, as did musicians affiliated with punkvoter.com. There was also a rave-oriented United Beats for Peace tour that made a special stop in Washington, D.C. And hip-hop entrepreneur Sean “P. Diddy” Combs formed an organization called Citizen Change — which includes Grammy winners Mary J. Blige and Mariah Carey among its supporters — to light a fire under young voters.

Letting their bias show
The Vote for Change Tour, with a firm anti-Bush stance, has received the most publicity, primarily because of Springsteen’s presence. He has warbled for years about social causes, but rarely does he set a toe into politics. But because the 2004 presidential election has evolved into one of the most contentious events in American history, The Boss has apparently decided that if he only sang his beliefs onto CDs, those unable to translate his raspy bellows might miss what he has to say.

Springsteen will be joined by such heavy hitters as the Dave Matthews Band, R.E.M., John Fogerty, the Dixie Chicks, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Pearl Jam, John Mellencamp, Babyface and Death Cab for Cutie.

Folks who align themselves with these artists applaud their courage. Those who disagree bemoan their intrusion onto the political stage, as both Pearl Jam and Linda Ronstadt found out during recent performances in which they bashed Bush.

But will it make a difference? Excellent question.

Country singer Sara Evans performed at the Republican National Convention and considered forming a tour in support of President Bush. But she was convinced not to by others in the GOP, who felt a series of concerts might not sway many voters and could backfire.

Indeed, the Vote for Change Tour might provide gathering spots for the like-minded, but it’s doubtful it will convince undecided voters to select John Kerry or to vote against George W. Bush. The vast majority of fans who buy tickets to these concerts will do so because they already agree with Springsteen & Company’s stump speech, and are willing to fork over their hard-earned green to support the cause. It’s the “Fahrenheit 9/11” Syndrome — the congregation is already devout.

Beware the backlash
And there is a risk of a backlash. Just as many undecided voters could bolt toward the Bush camp as could embrace Kerry, turned off by their musical heroes’ partisan slant. Judging by recent polling, the undecided pool is relatively small, but the race is tight. Any major effort touting the celebrity factor might be dicey.

Yet the old saw still applies — “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.” The artists who emerge from the cushy cocoons and dare to tackle a cause deserve kudos, on either side. They should concern themselves with the practical effects of their actions, to be sure, and whether they will make any difference. But they should not flinch when trashed by rabble rousers who condemn celebrities for setting foot outside of their bailiwicks and getting involved in the process. This is America, and when you get ticked off in America, you get to spew, no matter what your station in life.

Back in the day, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young sang about the Kent State shootings in “Ohio,” and protest songs were common. Today protest songs may actually be more prevalent than ever, but until recent months the artists doing the protesting have kept out of the limelight, perhaps worried that voters might swing toward buying somebody else’s records.

But now they seem to be backing up their words, and making a concerted effort to make sure listeners understand them.

Michael Ventre lives in Los Angeles and is a regular contributor to MSNBC.com.

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