I still have my Fishbone cassette with Party At Ground Zero. I finally saw them at Warped Tour. I’m grateful Springsteen is using his platform. We saw the band Rise Against recently and the singer gave a fiery speech about us using our voices now. I’m at the point where I don’t want to give my money to artists that don’t have something to say right now. Even if I don’t fully agree with everything, they at least should speak out against hate. As an author myself, I try to always use my words for good. Thanks for this post!
I also thought of the Dixie Chicks when Bruce did that. Because they both did the same thing - spoke out against the POTUS while in a foreign country. The Chicks were pretty hot at the time, & they really got slammed. Bruce is getting it too; but besides being a white guy, he has the advantage that a lot of foreign countries (& a lot of the US) agree with him. The Chicks didnt get nearly that much support. Proto-MAGA was evolving.
And speaking of bravery, you were pretty brave to post that 2002 picture. For a minnit I thought I was looking at Bobby McFerrin. LOL!!
Bruce Springsteen is also a legacy act so he isn’t still relying on having new hot songs the way the Chicks still were at that point in their career. He has cultural capital he can spend and lose.
You’re an exceptional writer…thank you for being authentic! We got here because of the 3W’s…”why, who and what we voted for”! Some folks are woke, many others are awakened and others are still patting the snooze button!” When folks stopped voting or simply paying attention, or thinking the adults in da’ other room would handle it…you get what we’re getting. That’s a fact. The real lesson is, stopping yelling fire when the house is burning. Rather, read, listen, learn and participate…then VOTE…every single time!! There’s a simple reason why those in power try to restrict voting rights……cause that’s the ONLY time in America, when we’re ALL EQUAL!
Accept the compliment. We’re here not just because you’re clever. You use your platform of being known and using humor, all written so well (typos like “dongs” exceptionally good!) to great advantage. Being a great writer is a skill few possess. You are a role model to many, even this cis-gender, hetero old white woman.
You have a special gift and a voice. Keep being great…but don’t let people think complaining “after the fact” will change things. Rather, you actually need to do something (ie. It’s okay to talk, but it’s the walking that gets you somewhere)!
EDITED: Now I know and listened. Yes. Now a new fan at an old age. Thanks for introducing me.
Following is what I wrote first:
It’s those with fame who give courage to those without to speak up. If it’s “just” quoting Springsteen and saying you agree to a family of MAGAts, it takes courage. For me, old, a fan of Bobby Short, Ella, Basie, Joe Williams, Ellington, bc my parents played them and not knowing Fishbone (do not all yell at me), I’ve been shunned in my professional life for speaking up. After seeing the film “Being There” I realized I was a bit like “Chauncey Gardner”, the Peter Sellers character: in a sense I never knew telling the truth could be trouble. If all those who stayed at home on Election Day had voted for Kamala, for Sherrod, for good people, our voices would still ring out. Keep giving courage to all who don’t know how to speak truth to cruel, harmful people in power.
Look at 23 years ago you likening yourself to Jimi Hendrix! Love this. Thanks for sharing it & all your poignant thoughts, per usual. Looking forward to rubbing elbows at OMCA tonight. Can’t think of a better place to be on the day of the Tulsa Race Massacre 🖤
I’ve been so excited to hear Fishbones new album. We need artists speaking their minds. I wonder like an old person where are the young political musicians right now? Probably I’m just too middle aged
I still have my Fishbone cassette with Party At Ground Zero. I finally saw them at Warped Tour. I’m grateful Springsteen is using his platform. We saw the band Rise Against recently and the singer gave a fiery speech about us using our voices now. I’m at the point where I don’t want to give my money to artists that don’t have something to say right now. Even if I don’t fully agree with everything, they at least should speak out against hate. As an author myself, I try to always use my words for good. Thanks for this post!
Thank YOU!
I also thought of the Dixie Chicks when Bruce did that. Because they both did the same thing - spoke out against the POTUS while in a foreign country. The Chicks were pretty hot at the time, & they really got slammed. Bruce is getting it too; but besides being a white guy, he has the advantage that a lot of foreign countries (& a lot of the US) agree with him. The Chicks didnt get nearly that much support. Proto-MAGA was evolving.
And speaking of bravery, you were pretty brave to post that 2002 picture. For a minnit I thought I was looking at Bobby McFerrin. LOL!!
I’LL TAKE THE BOBBY MCFERRIN COMPARISON! 🤣
Bruce Springsteen is also a legacy act so he isn’t still relying on having new hot songs the way the Chicks still were at that point in their career. He has cultural capital he can spend and lose.
This is bzar - your reply came to me in the email notification as "Bruce is also a legacy act so he isn’t still relying on new hot dongs" :0
Err...I dunno what's going on here with Substack, but I'm not sure how many hot dongs Bruce ever relied on...LMAO
Yikes! I was typing and got interrupted and came back and saw that and was like EDITTTTTTTT!😬
I figured something like that happened. But WTF, Substack???
Well it made me laugh which I badly needed!
You’re an exceptional writer…thank you for being authentic! We got here because of the 3W’s…”why, who and what we voted for”! Some folks are woke, many others are awakened and others are still patting the snooze button!” When folks stopped voting or simply paying attention, or thinking the adults in da’ other room would handle it…you get what we’re getting. That’s a fact. The real lesson is, stopping yelling fire when the house is burning. Rather, read, listen, learn and participate…then VOTE…every single time!! There’s a simple reason why those in power try to restrict voting rights……cause that’s the ONLY time in America, when we’re ALL EQUAL!
Thank you for saying that about my writing. You are very kind.
Accept the compliment. We’re here not just because you’re clever. You use your platform of being known and using humor, all written so well (typos like “dongs” exceptionally good!) to great advantage. Being a great writer is a skill few possess. You are a role model to many, even this cis-gender, hetero old white woman.
You have a special gift and a voice. Keep being great…but don’t let people think complaining “after the fact” will change things. Rather, you actually need to do something (ie. It’s okay to talk, but it’s the walking that gets you somewhere)!
Aaaaaaaaahhhh!!! You got me to subscribe for reals with this one… Fishbone & Kamau on the same stage. Keep on keepin’ on!
Signed,
~The Chicago Girl in the Fishbone Shirt who gave you the CTU hat 🍎
So appreciate you, your truths and standing firm against fascism! See you in Portland OR soon dude! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 and Fishbone rocks
I haven’t listened to Fishbone in so long. Changing that this weekend. ✌🏼
Good move!
EDITED: Now I know and listened. Yes. Now a new fan at an old age. Thanks for introducing me.
Following is what I wrote first:
It’s those with fame who give courage to those without to speak up. If it’s “just” quoting Springsteen and saying you agree to a family of MAGAts, it takes courage. For me, old, a fan of Bobby Short, Ella, Basie, Joe Williams, Ellington, bc my parents played them and not knowing Fishbone (do not all yell at me), I’ve been shunned in my professional life for speaking up. After seeing the film “Being There” I realized I was a bit like “Chauncey Gardner”, the Peter Sellers character: in a sense I never knew telling the truth could be trouble. If all those who stayed at home on Election Day had voted for Kamala, for Sherrod, for good people, our voices would still ring out. Keep giving courage to all who don’t know how to speak truth to cruel, harmful people in power.
Look at 23 years ago you likening yourself to Jimi Hendrix! Love this. Thanks for sharing it & all your poignant thoughts, per usual. Looking forward to rubbing elbows at OMCA tonight. Can’t think of a better place to be on the day of the Tulsa Race Massacre 🖤
Thank you for that Tulsa reminder!
I’ve been so excited to hear Fishbones new album. We need artists speaking their minds. I wonder like an old person where are the young political musicians right now? Probably I’m just too middle aged
to find them lol