Doug Van Pelt

Doug's Political Rant

Fact #1: Lots and lots (not sure about the title "most") celebrities (artists, musicians, actors) lean towards the left politically.

Fact #2: Criticism of "propaganda" kinda goes out the window when it (art/music) lines up with said agenda. Take for instance the following press release:

BIG HEAD TODD & THE MONSTERS’ SONG PLAYED AS SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON TAKES STAGE AT DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION

Members of BIG HEAD TODD & THE MONSTERS were on hand last night (8/26) when Sen. Hillary Clinton made her historic speech at the Democratic National Convention—and walked on (and off) stage to the group’s song “Blue Sky.” The group (songwriter/guitarist/singer TODD PARK MOHR, drummer BRIAN NEVIN, bassist ROB SQUIRES and keyboardist JEREMY LAWTON) was invited by Senator Clinton’s camp, who have used the song (from the platinum-selling group’s latest album All The Love You Need) throughout her campaign.

TODD PARK MOHR says, “It’s an honor just to be a part of it. I had no idea to what extent they were going to play the song. I thought it sounded great, but more importantly we’re proud of Hillary and thought her speech was truly historic. Her campaign was a big part of the Democrats’ success this year. More than anything, it really was an honor.”

Check out Sen. Clinton’s speech here: poo-poo.

“Blue Sky” lyrics are below:

BIG HEAD TODD & THE MONSTERS: “Blue Sky”
We’ve waited long for this day to come
For all the midnight lights we’ve burnt into the morning sun
I can’t wait to see your sweet mysteries
The moon, the stars, the sun, the universe, the galaxies

Fly home on your silver wings
With your new song for the world to sing
Light this candle, make it right

Yes, you can change the world
True love discovers and she stands
And she won’t back down

Oh yes, you can change the world
There is no other one
Believe and you will find blue sky

Gonna chase the dream, we gonna set it free
Gonna make it real, gonna make it shine, gonna keep it grooving on
One small stepping stone, baby we’re not alone
Gonna take you further, higher, faster then you're out of sight

You’ve got my flame in your fire, baby
You’ve got my twinkle in your eye
Reaching for the distant light

Yes, you can change the world
True love discovers and she stands
And she won’t back down

Oh yes, you can change the world
There is no other one
Believe and you will find blue sky

Don’t you change too late, hey, yeah, yeah
Or fade away, yeah, oh
My stars won’t wait

Yes, you can change the world
True love discovers and she stands
And she won’t back down

Oh yes, you can change the world
There is no other one
Believe and you will find blue sky

Yes, you can change the world
True love discovers and she stands
And she won’t back down

Oh yes, you can change the world
There is no other one
Believe and you will find blue sky
© PARK MOHR PUBLISHING COMPANY

So, here's a rock band fawning all over Hillary Clinton. This press release will get reprinted word for word in various places (I'll guess Rolling Stone will gladly run this, maybe mtv.com, Spin, and many more). See if a conservative artist will stick its head out and stand behind their music for the RNC...

Call me sensitive, but I feel the heat for "Christian rock" being labeled propaganda, as well as any artist that attaches themselves to a corporate entity or cause being seen as "suspect." I actually think it's great that Big Head Todd & the Monsters are standing behind their political effort. They're not pretending to be too cool for their art to be co-opted by another organization. They're "honored" to be associated with Hillary. Good for them. At least they're honest.

Posted by Doug Van Pelt at August 27, 2008 03:04 PM