Chris Rock does a bit in one of his comedy routines about the Michael Jackson and Prince rivalry. He goes on to state the obvious that Prince has in fact won, all things considering with Michael Jackson being an insane child molester and all.
I was in high school during the eighties, but besides the fact that I owned a cassette copy of Prince's Purple Rain -- that is right I admit it, like I said I was a teen aged guy during the eighties and since Darling Nikki was the equivalent of modern day internet porn I do not apologize -- I had no interest in that debate as I was not a fan of either.
My quarrel was with Cash. Not in the sense that I grew up dirt poor on skid row eating sugar n butter sandwiches, but rather with Johnny Cash. See I was a Merle Haggard fan, but truth be told have come to appreciate both Johnny Cash, and Prince for that matter. But that is neither here nor there.
At that place and at that time in my life there were two camps and there was no in between.... Cash or Haggard (which was then further subdivided by the Molly Hatchet/Lynyrd Skynyrd feud to be discussed another day) Maybe its because I turned twenty one in prison or my lifelong hate of hippies, but Merle was my guy. However......
It is time for me to concede...
... Johnny Cash won.
See, it has come to my attention that Merle recently penned a song for Hillary Clinton. Suffice to say that I will immediately commence removing any and all quotes references (this post notwithstanding) lyrics and tributes to the Okie that shall forever remain nameless on this blog. I do not disagree with the sentiment of the song that maybe it is time to give a broad a shot at The White House, but not her Merle, not her.
I understand that sometimes with celebrity combined with great wealth comes a detachment from reality that fries and liberalizes a mans brain, heck they even got to Clint, and I am fine with that, I do not like it, but I understand. Actually I am not fine with it, and would give him a straight shot to the jowls given the chance.
This is no sudden turn of events for Merle, but I was even able to overlook his defense of The Dixie Chicks, as once again, it was certainly their right to say what they did. But, this love song to Hillary has crossed the line. Mermaid or merman you are dead to me Merle, as dead to me as your dead mother.
I have said my peace, and that is that.
EE-Aw!!!
2 comments:
this is an on-going controversy: the intersection of art and morality and ethics.
there are many great classical artists, musicans and composers who had strong ties to the nazi's. richard wagner is a prime example. many people feel that pure art transcends ethics and morality so therefore remain devoted to his work, but disdain what he did in his personal life.
question is do appreciate merle haggard's music (art) and are you able to rise above the political and appreciate his work irrespective ... clearly not.
now the dixie chicks, they are marginal as artists (in my opinion) ... so who really cares (also in my opinion).
i'm not be judgemental here ... just playing ... devil's advocate. i think you touched on a complex issue here.
not just a donkstonian one,
first, i think cash won a long, long time ago; there really isn't a comparison between cash and haggard--both are legendary country artists, but cash had an indelible influence over the course popular music took in the late 1950s that can still be seen in today's music, from country to rock to hip-hop.
but the point you bring up is interesting, and as anita points out, quite complex.
lots of artists are despicable people and lots more are pretty naive when it comes to politics.
but artists are people and we should not expect them to be any more ethically consistent or morally righteous than ourselves.
it's a personal decision whether or not one supports artists whose politics or behavior one disagrees with, and where one draws that line.
i find it's way too difficult to limit myself to artists (be they visual, musical, etc.) who i like on a personal and political level
i bought the last beck CD even though he's a scientologist. and even though he hasn't produced anything as groundbreaking since he became one.
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