Popular artists have a unique opportunity to speak truth to power. I'll stop short of saying they have a responsibility to to do that, because the choice really is up to them. But it IS their choice. Their celebrity status can reward them with privileges beyond what most of us can even imagine, and some folks will insist the trade-off for such wealth and fame should require stars to keep their mouths shut about politics. Sing your song, say your lines, smile and waive, and keep your damned opinions to yourself.
Well. As I'm fond of saying: That notion is a big ol' pile of piggy poop.
Granted, we don't have to care one way or another if we don't want to care one way or another. We can listen to the artists' views if we're so inclined, or we can choose to separate the artists from their statements. Or we can judge their words and actions and conclude that we can't reconcile their POV with ours, and we're therefore no longer interested in being their fans. That's our right.
Me? I'm delighted that Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift have opted to use their unique celebrity platforms to speak out against injustice. I happen to agree with them, so that's easy. Artists who speak out have to accept the risk of alienating fans (or soon-to-be former fans) who disagree. Both sides have that right.
But anyone surprised that Springsteen or Swift are taking these positions has not been paying attention to who these artists are, who these artists have always been.
On this radio show, we play Bruce Springsteen a little, and Taylor Swift a little less (though I think we may have played her more recently than we've played the Boss). We play 'em both this week. Truth to power. This is what rock 'n' roll radio sounded like on another Sunday night inn Syracuse this week.
This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl airs Sunday nights from 9 to Midnight Eastern, on the air in Syracuse at SPARK! WSPJ 103.3 and 93.7 FM, streaming at SPARK stream, and on the Radio Garden app as WESTCOTT RADIO.
You can read all about this show's long and weird history here: Boppin' The Whole Friggin' Planet (The History Of THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO). You can follow Carl's daily blog at Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do).
TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS are always welcome.
Carl's latest book The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1) is now available, and you can order an autographed copy here. You can still get Carl's previous book Gabba Gabba Hey! A Conversation With The Ramones from publisher Rare Bird Books, OR an autographed copy here. If you like the books, please consider leaving a rating and/or review at the usual online resources.
The many fine This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio compilation albums are still available, each full of that rockin' pop sound you crave. A portion of all sales benefit our perpetually cash-strapped community radio project:
TIRnRR # 1287: 5/25/2025
TIRnRR FRESH SPINS! Tracks we think we ain't played before are listed in bold
THE BUNCH: When Will I Be Loved (A & M, SANDY DENNY: No More Sad Refrains)
WHIRL WIND: Teenage Cutie (Chiswick, VA: Good Clean Fun: A Chiswick Sampler)
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: Hurry Up Sundown (Columbia, American Beauty)
GARY U.S. BONDS [featuring BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN and SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY]: Can't Teach An Old Dog New Tricks (M.C., Back In 20)
--
TAYLOR SWIFT: The Last Great American Dynasty [Long Pond Studio Session] (Republic, Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions)
GENE VINCENT: Born To Be A Rolling Stone [re-recorded] (Newsound 2000, Rock 'n' Roll Fugitive)
BLONDIE: In The Sun [original Private Stock single version] (Chrysalis, Blondie)
--
SPIRAL STARECASE: Proud Mary (Taragon, More Today Than Yesterday: The Complete Columbia Recordings)
THE MONKEES: Mary, Mary (Rhino, More Of The Monkees)
BOB DYLAN: I Want You [Take 4] (Columbia, The Bootleg Series Vol. 12: The Cutting Edge 1965-1966)
JILL SOBULE: Someone's Gonna Break Your Heart (Beyond, Pink Pearl)
CARLENE CARTER: Madness (Demon, Musical Shapes/Blue Nun)
--
MOTÖRHEAD: Train Kept A-Rollin' (Chiswick, VA: Good Clean Fun: A Chiswick Sampler)
THE CRAMPS: The Crusher (IRS, Psychedelic Jungle/Gravest Hits)
--
THE STRAY CATS: I'll Be Looking Out For You (Surfdog, 40)
MICHAEL SHELLEY: Ride Between The Cars (Sound Asleep, VA: Hit The Hay Vol. 9)
THE DESERT ROSE BAND: She Don't Love Nobody (Curb, The Best Of Desert Rose Band)
--
JOE JACKSON: On Your Radio (A & M, Steppin' Out: The Very Best Of Joe Jackson)
CHICAGO: Free (Rhino, The Very Best Of Chicago: Only The Beginning)
--
The Greatest Record Ever Made!
KISS: Calling Dr. Love (Mercury, Rock And Roll Over)
TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS: Accused Of Love (Reprise, An American Treasure)
BO DONALDSON AND THE HEYWOODS: Keep On Believin' In Love (Varese Sarabande, The Best Of Bo Donaldson And The Heywoods)
PILOT: Just A Smile (Renaissance, Anthology)
--
BIG STAR: Come On Now (Rhino, Keep An Eye On The Sky)
GRAHAM PARKER AND THE FIGGS: Take Everything (Razor & Tie, The Last Rock 'n' Roll Tour)
--
PLASTIC BERTRAND: Ca Plane Pour Moi (Sire, single)
SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE: Stand! (Epic, Greatest Hits)
THE PRETENDERS: Don't Get Me Wrong (Sire, The Singles)
ADAM FAITH AND THE ROULETTES: It's Alright (Rhino, VA: The British Invasion: The History Of British Rock Vol. 1)
THE PRIMITIVES: Out Of Reach (RCA, Bombshell)
THE RAMONES: Rockaway Beach (King Biscuit Flower Hour, NYC 1978)
THE BEATLES: No Reply (Apple, Beatles For Sale)
--
DAVIE ALLAN AND THE ARROWS: Blues' Theme (Rhino, VA: Nuggets)
No comments:
Post a Comment