Open Thread #3: Politics in Southern Gospel
A recent thread on the Dove Brothers got sidetracked by a political discussion. This topic deserves its own thread.
What role should politics play in Southern Gospel?
Do the political inclinations of a musician influence your view of his music?
Comment by Dean Adkins (October 22, 2007, 12:36 pm)
I do not go to a concert (church or auditorium) to hear some singer’s political agenda (makes no difference if it’s Democrat or Republican). I am turned off when an artist makes disparaging remarks about candidates or elected officials. That includes their clumsy attempts at comedy at the expense of candidate or someone in office.
Comment by Ben Harris (October 22, 2007, 1:23 pm)
Amen
Comment by Inquirer (October 22, 2007, 1:51 pm)
The political views of anyone I know, musician or otherwise, have absolutely NO bearing on my opinion of them.
I have friends of all views and persuasions, and they are my friends based on my perception of their characters, not on how much like me they are.
Why, then, would I care what the politics of a virtual stranger to me has?
I evaluate musicians solely on what I feel about their music, and whether or not they have the same opinions as I do has nothing to do with their musical abilities.
Those musicians I’m fortunate to have as personal friends are evaluated on the standards I outlined in my first sentence.
Comment by ABK (October 24, 2007, 9:25 am)
I’d prefer that all facets of politics (liberal, conservative, green party, brown party, whatever…) be left off of the southern gospel stage, because no matter what is said or done politically on stage, somebody will always be hurt or offended by your political stand. Also, the fans don’t come to a concert to hear politics, if anything, they usually come to forget about such. At the same time, the artist is doing his or herself a favor by not doing such. Some artists have killed their popularity at the expense of venting their political beliefs onstage and I think it’s better off if everybody would just entertain the folks. Leave the singing to the singers and the politicking to the politicians.
Comment by GospelMusicFan (October 24, 2007, 10:38 am)
Discussing politics in the south would put you closer to the edge but it would put way over the cliff in many parts of the north.
Southerners, be thankful for the extra freedom you have in singing God’s music in public places like the main streets or closing down a town square.
Try something like that in the north and our friends would be making appointments for us in unfriendly surroundings.
Maybe you might want to do your feel good political thing by going the extra mile but I wonder if that is the Christian love and compassion the Jesus shown while here on Earth