![]() ![]() So the answer is yes, it was bittersweet. I still can't believe how far behind we are in the evolution of human rights in terms of gay people. ![]() But Prop 8 was a huge disappointment, a huge setback. I watched the inaugural in Cambodia, on the other side of the world and crying tears of joy. First and foremost I was so thankful about Obama. On the other, a pretty devastating blow to gay marriage in California. It must have been a bittersweet election season - on one hand, a great victory with Obama. To say it shouldn't be an artist's platform is ridiculous, because they are citizens first. It's just because artists are in the public eye and have an advantage, but there are all different people doing different kinds of jobs, who are active. I think that comes from a strange place, maybe some guilt for not being active yourself or some sort of psychological dysfunction. Whether it's from politics or just the world around you, music should be an escape.") Music is where you go to get away from all the BS. ![]() I would never want anybody to vote for anything or anybody just because I told them to. (This year Carrie Underwood famously said, "I lose all respect for celebrities when they back a candidate. The funny thing is that you might not pass judgment for a lack of participation - but many pass judgment on the fact that some people don't just shut up and sing. I wouldn't judge someone who wasn't involved though, since I think it needs to come from a certain type of motivation. Artists and celebrities are citizens, and as such you have a responsibility to keep fighting for justice because there are monolithic power structures and systemic oppression out there. But it's hard for me to understand why people wouldn't want to be involved just as citizens. I don't think it should be mandatory, because if you are going to be politically active it has to come from a pure place. How important do you think it is for celebrities or artists to harness their political power? Maybe even more than important - sometimes almost close to mandatory, like in this election? I don't underestimate the value of what musicians and entertainers contributed to Obama's campaign. People are believing, and that's always a good thing. Whenever anybody gets involved in politics its always exciting for me because we take for granted our freedoms and our abilities to affect change through political activism. I think anytime any young artists get involved in politics it's a very good sign - it's a sign that they are inspired, and I think that so many young people got involved with the Obama campaign because they had hope after having despair for so long. How does it feel to see so many young artists finally become invested in a political movement? Or at least having others finally feel the weight and impact of their activism. We spoke about the highs of this past year (Obama), the lows (Prop 8) and the yet to come.ĭuring this election, I knew and interviewed a lot of musicians who were finally becoming involved politically, especially a lot of younger people. When I chat with Saliers, she is at home in Georgia, gearing up for a tour that will take her and Ray across the country in support of their just-released album, Poseidon and the Bitter Bug. As open lesbians, gay rights have been one of their major platforms - along with a slew of other issues that have plummeted them into the roster of artists who feel that politicking (or activism, anyway) goes part and parcel with the power of song. Felt the same.Įmily Saliers and Amy Ray, who comprise the Indigo Girls, have been fighting this battle towards a sort of universal understanding over the span of their 10-something-year career. When I learned that the lyrics were probably written for a woman, by another woman, I also remember it being the first time understanding that in love, life, or anything else for that matter, we were all the same. I had just survived what felt like an overly traumatic dissolution of a crush on a boy named Joey, and for whatever reason, the song Ghost made everything feel a little bit better - that, maybe, we all feel this way sometimes. The first time I heard an Indigo Girls song, or remember hearing one anyway, I was about 11 years old.
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