Before you criticize the musical artists who promote their politics during a concert, stop and think about how often YOU promote your political views to others. I realize that you’re not on a stage in front of thousands of people, but, in theory, you promote politics, too. You talk to family and friends and even people in a bar about what you believe and how you feel about President Trump and you do it hoping to change opinions. So, really, what's the difference between that and what musical acts do when they take time at a concert to express their political views or their dislike for President Trump?
When I go to a concert, I want to hear the artist perform. I don’t go to a concert to hear about their political views, but if any artist should slip into a political rant during their concert, I’m not freaking out and I’m not leaving. Think about the times an artist plays a song we don’t like. Most people don’t like every song an artist does. If they play a song you don’t like - what do you do? You just ignore it or go to the restroom or check for messages on your phone. I think too many Americans go out of their way to find something to be angry about as if being angry about something gives their life meaning.
Artists have the right to promote their political beliefs on stage, but that doesn’t mean they should. And there are different ways to express your political views.
At a concert in Tampa, Florida over the weekend, Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes shut down the crowd chanting “USA - USA.” When The Black Crowes mascot appeared on the video screen wearing an Uncle Sam outfit, some people in the audience began chanting “USA - USA!”
Robinson immediately shut down the “USA” chanting by sarcastically saying, “Thanks for the geography lesson.” He went on to say, “I don’t know what you have to be so proud of right now.” Many in the audience began booing The Black Crowes and some even left the concert.
A video of Chris Robinson shutting down the “USA” chant hit social media and there was instant backlash against The Black Crowes. In the video that circulated you could hear Robinson saying, “Some of us have real faith. For those of you F-ing booing us, some of us are not afraid. And we most assuredly are not F-ing ignorant.”
The way Chris Robinson reacted to the “USA” chant from the audience was totally inappropriate and the backlash was understandable. I have no doubt that many in the audience agreed with what Robinson was saying, but there were some who obviously disagreed. A concert in Tampa, Florida is going to draw an audience from central Florida, which is a very conservative red area of the state. In fact, it’s one of the more conservative areas in America. Certainly there were audience members who love President Trump and I’m sure some have attached American flags to their Jeeps and pick-up trucks and are among the Americans who equate displaying the American flag with Trump and patriotism. Chris Robinson should have realized the political leanings of his audience in that situation and should respect anyone who loves his music.
Social media posts included posts about leaving politics out of concerts so it's never wise to insult maybe half of your audience. But some fans did defend The Black Crowes. One fan said that rock n roll music is rebellious by nature and Chris Robinson is known to be rebellious and that he has been ranting on stage for years. Another social media post mocked those who were offended and got their feelings hurt.
Rock n roll is rebellious, but the rebellion may not always be something you agree with. We have somehow evolved into a nation where people think they have a right to never be offended. The foundation upon which this nation was established, nearly 250 years ago, is based on the freedom to say something that is offensive to someone else and no one has a right to go through life without being offended.
While I don’t think Chris Robinson handled the “USA” chant in the right way - I do agree that we have become a nation of pansies that act like complaining about being offended by something makes one a patriotic American.
