Shut Up and Sing! American political issues and music.

         For many years, the role of music in politics has been vital. The subliminal messages sent to people by the songs they listen to influence the opinions they hold and the choices they make, whether or not the people are aware of it. In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, the role popular music played was no different than before. Music, especially Country, was at the forefront of the most recent political issue: the War on Terror.

         The Dixie Chicks were the American sweethearts of Country. In a genre that represents the iconic image of “America”, these girls were center-stage. Unfortunately for Natalie Maines, the freedom of speech nearly cost her and her fellow band mates their careers. At the time of their concert in London, American’s were debating whether or not they should fight the war on terror. While Country music was a supporter of the war, Natalie was not. In between songs she even said on a whim, “Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas." She was right legally in every way to say what she said; however, several days later the response of the nation would become overwhelmingly vehement against the three young women. While Natalie used her freedom of speech to express her opinion of President Bush, many other Americans and Country singers, such as Toby Keith, used their freedoms to express their opinions against what she said.

         In the ensuing years the most appalling outcome of one sentence would possibly be the fact that Country music abandoned the Dixie Chicks and never looked back. Radio stations were boycotting their music; they failed to be nominated for any Country music awards, regardless of their eminent progress with five Grammy’s and the top-selling album of the year. The backlash of their fans was harsh. The way the media took hold of the story and manipulated it further and further, never allowing it to come to an end, was cruel. Yet, they persevered and continued making albums the way they wanted them without the expectations of their fans. The Dixie Chicks were used as an example to prevent further outbursts against the general opinion of the country. Even if someone’s opinion was different, it was best not to voice it. Artists would release songs that would encourage Americans to believe things that the artists themselves did not out of fear of losing their careers. The publicity the Dixie Chicks received, however, boosted their fan base; they traded one group of fans for another.

Artists that were not afraid of losing their fan base were able to make music stating their beliefs without any public backlash. Artists, such as Michael Franti & Spearhead, released songs, such as “Light Up Ya Lighter” in 2006, with confrontational lyrics that clearly describe the conflicts and truths behind the war that is really being fought. With the lyrics, “The war for oil is a war for the beast/The war on terror is a war on peace,” “Tell me President tell me if you will/How many people does a smart bomb kill?/How many of 'em do you think we got?/The General says, we never miss a shot,” music from the entire Yell Fire! Album was inspired by Franti’s trip to the Middle East in an effort to express the human cost of war. Franti even produced the movie I Know I’m Not Alone in an effort to communicate to several generations the cost of war to humans from the point of view of the people who were most affected, rather than through the media from the politicians sitting at a desk. At the same time as the War on Terror, the southern states were in shambles from Hurricane Katrina. In a televised event, an angry and outspoken Kanye West stated, “President Bush doesn’t like black people.” The uproar against the Dixie Chicks started from one sentence in a low-key concert in London, while to this day the majority of the public has yet no knowledge that Kanye declared the President a racist on national television.

The media behaves in a manipulative manner to sway the opinions of its audience. It uses artists as example to keep the ideals of people where they want them, as well as letting the people know only the information they want them to know. Music helps develop and change opinions with little consent from the mind that is being altered. The aftermath of September 11 did not change the way music related to political events; it merely voiced a connection that had long been ignored.