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Slyngstad | Bluesky

TranscriptA three-panel political comic by Slyngstad highlighting the long history of political activism in music. In the foreground of all three panels, two audience members are seen talking in profile.

Panel 1:

On Stage: A modern musician holding a microphone calls out, “FREE PALESTINE!”

Foreground: One audience member complains, “UGH, WHEN DID MUSICIANS START TO BE SO POLITICAL?”

Panel 2:

On Stage: Freddie Mercury performing at the 1985 Live Aid benefit concert, with the “Live Aid” global logo in the background.

Foreground: The second audience member replies, “START?”

Panel 3:

On Stage: Folk singer Woody Guthrie playing an acoustic guitar with his iconic slogan written across it: “THIS MACHINE KILLS FASCISTS”.

Foreground: The second audience member continues, “MAYBE YOU JUST WEREN’T LISTENING.”

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[-] orca@orcas.enjoying.yachts 10 points 1 week ago

Here’s an example of a band being political for the likes, but not living it: Rise Against. I used to have more respect for them, but they’ve been painfully fucking silent on Palestine and the US oligarchy, AI, etc.

[-] Krauerking@lemy.lol 9 points 1 week ago

I saw someone say this about another band I like.

Do we require every band we like to make a song about every injustice in this world? Or can we celebrate that they stood up against some of them?

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[-] Valorie12@lemmy.world 7 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Ehhh, I think Rise Against gets a pass in this situation. They just haven't been quite as active lately. They released a new album which has songs generically about rebelling against flails arms but they were so so so active during the bush era and during Trump's first term.

Besides, I think the song Nod is a "nod" to the Palestine genocide but I agree it's a little disappointing that there is not more. I just think that saying they're not "living it" isn't really fair when they are known as political legends.

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[-] tiny_hedgehog@piefed.social 10 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Who’s the guy on the right?

Edit: the guy with the acoustic guitar in the last panel I mean.

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[-] manuallybreathing@lemmy.ml 9 points 1 week ago

Queen played in apartheid south africa, chumbawumba referenced in a song called Slag Aid

[-] Glytch@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago

Someone else who knows Chumbawamba music beyond Tubthumping!?

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[-] Mulligrubs@lemmy.world 8 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Who thinks this? Even The Beatles were political.

Not that I've ever changed a political position because of a musician; I'd rather they not do so, as I don't go to concerts for politics, but musicians don't follow my preferences for some reason.

I'd also rather that they'd not "fade" the end of their song, but they won't listen to me.

[-] qarbone@lemmy.world 6 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Not looking to start a debate. But genuinely what would you have them make songs about, if not something they believe in?

Edit: I guess you could listen to only acoustic tracks.

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[-] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 7 points 1 week ago
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[-] TankovayaDiviziya@lemmy.world 6 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

It's like in schools. People either don't remember or pay attention at all to what the teachers says or what the lessons are. Or if they do remember the lessons, they never apply it.

[-] Slashme@lemmy.world 4 points 1 week ago

I know a lot of people who have danced along to "Beds are burning" and have no idea what the song is about, even though it's not exactly subtle.

[-] RampantParanoia2365@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago

No one who's ever heard music before asks this in good faith. It's a physical impossibility.

[-] Tollana1234567@lemmy.today 5 points 1 week ago

some are only political, because it gets them more audience/customers, otherwise they dont really care, or some of them are the opposite politics of thier audience. aka, taylor swift.

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[-] saimen@feddit.org 5 points 1 week ago

I blame the 90s. I guess because of the sudden end of the cold war everything was more or less euphoric and apolitical for a while and people got used to it.

[-] bitjunkie@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago

Yes very apolitical decade 🤤

[-] Holytimes@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 week ago

Compared to the like 200 years before it and two decades since

It was basically the single most apolitical point in history. It was a MASSIVE calm before the storm.

That's not to say it didn't have its politics but geeze

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this post was submitted on 18 Sep 2026
1193 points (98.1% liked)

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