From: jeremyl@screech.owlnet.rice.edu (Jeremy Lyn Hart)
Subject: Re: Pearl Jam on SNL
Followup-To: alt.rock-n-roll
Keywords: Pearl Jam
Organization: Rice University
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 16:48:07 GMT

In article <1992Apr13.175805.10687@cbnews.cb.att.com>, ajw@cbnews.cb.att.com (andrew.j.whitman) writes:

> And just what is accomplished?  A writer of self-proclaimed "socially
> important songs" gets a national soapbox from which to spout his views.
> All this proves is that Eddie Vedder has his opinions.  So what?  So do I, 
> and so do the other two hundred and fifty million people in the country.  
> What makes you think that someone in the realm of rock music - a domain 
> hardly known for its clear thinking and intellectual acumen - should be 
> given a forum to mouth political slogans?

Music has always been a public forum, and always WILL be a public forum -
period.  Granted, not all musicians do this, but many these days do use
their music and their performances to spread political views - look at
Sinead O'Connor, U2, Sting, Queensryche...the list goes on.  How much of
an outrage is there if Sting decides he wants to support saving the rain
forests, Mr. Whitman?  Damn little that I've seen.  Eddie Vedder does have
political views - the songs, like it or not, sometimes deal with unpleasant
"real world" things.  The music is just a medium for talking about them.
And as for rock music "hardly known for its clear thinking and intellectual
acumen," where do YOU live?  Look at my little "slice" of bands above - I,
and many other people, consider at least some of these artists to be fairly
intelligent and clear-headed, and most, if not all, are *rock* musicians.
How about Rush?  Pink Floyd?  Paul Simon?  Metallica (and yes, they DO
have fairly intelligent lyrics and ideas - these guys are not imbeciles)?
We've already had the "most-intelligent-lyrics" discussion, I believe...

> And *why* would you want to give this bozo more attention than, say,
> someone running for political office who has made it his/her life's
> work to understand the issues involved?  God help us when we start taking
> our political cues from entertainers.  The next thing you know, we'll be
> electing one of them president :-( . . .  Uh, oh yeah . . . well, God
> help us anyway.

Again, look around you.  You don't think people ALREADY do a lot of things,
political and non-, because of the influence of entertainers?  Some of these
people have intelligent, thoughtful things to say - are you saying we
should ignore anyone who talks about the real world in their music?
Good luck.  Also, just because someone says something "political" doesn't
mean you have to listen, or care.  From what I remember, Vedder's "speech"
was rather short - I missed most of it because somebody called my name
from across the room - and it didn't seem too offensive.  I don't necessarily
agree with what he was saying, but it's his right.  He's a performer -
it's what he does.  He also happens, as you've said, to have opinions.
The public *nature* of entertainment demands that personal views somehow
creep in - it's inevitable.  So please, don't blast someone for speaking
their mind - you don't *HAVE* to listen.  I sure as hell don't listen to
every SNL act - we muted all of Garth Brooks and most of Color Me Badd,
but that's personal preference.  If you disagree with something said,
by anyone, politician, performer, or postal worker - speak YOUR mind.
Tell them you think they're wrong.  Most coherent people will at least
listen, though they may not agree.

> Yeah, yeah . . . it's a free country, and there's this thing called 
> free speech.  Neither of which does a thing to explain why I should 
> believe that rock musicians know fuck-all about anything other 
> than THE THREE GREATEST CHORDS OF ALL TIME.

Yes, it is a free country.  And I'm very glad we have free speech - I
wouldn't give it away for anything.  There are many mediums for free
speech, remember - music just happens to be one.

Also, you seem to have an rather harsh stereotype of "rock musicians."
Granted, some musicians know no more than 3 chords - but many are
very intelligent, innovative artists.  Try reading a guitar magazine
sometime.  *I* don't know what a Mixolydian scale is, but apparently
many "rock musicians" featured there do.  Is THAT up there with the "THREE
GREATEST CHORDS OF ALL TIME"?  I don't think so.

> Yes, there is a lot at stake, and for many causes.  And if musicians
> want to write music about those causes, more power to them.  I'll
> then judge the songs on their own merits.  There's a fine and 
> longstanding tradition of social commentary in music, and I cherish
> a lot of the songs that have come out of that tradition.  But I
> don't know too many people who wouldn't feel manipulated by political
> speechmaking and sloganeering at concerts.  I don't like to be told how 
> to think, least of all by someone whose talents are, as far as I know, 
> confined to writing four minute pop songs.  I'd suggest that Mr.
> Vedder's proper forum is the ballot box, which is where my proper
> forum is too.  And I'm thankful that, there at least, my voice is
> as loud as his.  

Again, if you don't like what someone has to say - don't listen.
Free speech is something everyone has, or should have, including Eddie
Vedder.  He just happened to be on national TV when he decided to
exercise that right.  And as for Pearl Jam writing "four minute pop
songs," have you actually HEARD anything off the album besides
"Alive"?  Take a listen, and then tell me "Release," "Jeremy," "Once,"
"Oceans," or even "Porch," for that matter (the song on SNL during
which Mr. Vedder made his "speech"), and tell me these are pop
songs.  I can't claim to be able to classify them, but I am fairly
certain pop music they are not.

Don't take this as a flame, Mr. Whitman.  Just a few subtle reminders -
it's all IMHO.

Later.
-- 
Jeremy L. Hart				jeremyl@owlnet.rice.edu
"As opaque warriors, we ride alone
 Guarding our secrets with souls of stone
 Waiting for someone who holds the key
 Do you hold it...do you hold the key to my heart..."
	- "Apache Teardrops," copyright 1991 by Bill Fillbach and Steve Estes
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