Pack It Up, You Hippies: Neil Young Announces Music Can No Longer Change The World
Even though Neil refused to sing "pretty songs" and insisted on only those dealing with "war and politics and the human condition" during the tour that's the subject of his CSNY Deja Vu film, he's beyond expecting it'll actually have any effect: "I think that the time when music could change the world is past," he told reporters in Berlin. "I think it would be very naive to think that in this day and age. I think the world today is a different place." It's just as well, really. Of his pastimes, we always figured he'd have more luck carving a path to peace via model railroad construction anyway.
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Posted at 5:21 PM
Comments (14) latest by john
I love neil young, but just because HIS music can't change the world, doesn't mean music can't. Case in point, as much as I'd hate to admit it: the Dixie Chicks! It's gonna take typically red state american songwriters standing up against their fans to start getting reactions and making changes. Not old hippies.
Posted by: Kevo at February 8, 2008 5:41 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Commercial music of today is carefully vetted to weed out any content that might be relevant. It may be "controversial," but it's never actually controversial. So even if Mr. Young was mistaken (and I don't think he is), any music today that really challenged the status quo would never be heard by most people.
How you gonna write a song criticizing Wal-Mart when that's the only place that's gonna sell your album?
Posted by: flamingbanjo at February 8, 2008 8:03 PM | ReplyScore = 0
I think he's making a valid point. Perhaps film and internet-based projects can do more to change the world than music. Anyway Henry Rollins kinda said the same thing a few years back. He said if music could change the world then Woody Guthrie or Bob Marley or Black Flag would have done it. At least music inspires people and maybe "rallys the troops" for change.
Posted by: steffi at February 8, 2008 9:06 PM | ReplyScore = 0
*Sniff*
Even uncle Neil knows that music is going through a rough patch at the moment. He's right though... none of the bands walking the planet today can do anything about what's gone wrong. Here's hoping someone out there is in the midst of bringing things back around to the right way of thinking about and doing things.
Posted by: Mo at February 8, 2008 11:17 PM | ReplyScore = 0
The people in positions of power aren't generally that interested in music.
Posted by: dr.randy at February 9, 2008 12:54 AM | ReplyScore = 0
the notion that music can "change the world" has always been untrue - and probably for the best.
All we can hope for from art is the restoration, redemption, and enhancement of individual lives. And, that's alot, by the way.
Posted by: Roos at February 9, 2008 3:04 AM | ReplyScore = 0
...good for you Roos! Couldn't have said it better, myself.....my world would be different if it wasn't for Guthrie, Marley, or BF!
Posted by: motilityman at February 9, 2008 9:09 AM | ReplyScore = 0
Sounds like Neil being his typical self. I saw CSNY at the infamous Atlanta show on that very tour and he did a beautiful version of "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" with Crosby and Nash backing him up. You could hear a pin drop. Farthest thing imaginable from refusing to play pretty songs.
As for whether music still has the power to change the world, I'd argue that it has no more and no less power than it did in the sixties. The only difference is that, with the arrival of the Beatles, several different social movements coalesced around the central point of music. Music wasn't necessarily what changed the world so much as a medium for what the world was going through.
Posted by: Marty at February 9, 2008 10:26 AM | ReplyScore = 0
"I love neil young, but just because HIS music can't change the world, doesn't mean music can't. Case in point, as much as I'd hate to admit it: the Dixie Chicks!"
What exactly did the Dixie Chicks change?
Posted by: Bender Bending Rodriguez at February 9, 2008 11:41 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Ah, well. I guess that's that then!
Posted by: Liz at February 10, 2008 1:56 AM | ReplyScore = 0
Music could never save the world, only shape popular culture.
I like it though.
Posted by: Jacob at February 10, 2008 4:03 AM | ReplyScore = 0
It's ok Neil, I still love you and I never expected you to change anything just to make music that make us feel something
Posted by: martin at February 10, 2008 2:45 PM | ReplyScore = 0
the Dixie chicks spoke publically against a fraudulent administration before it was 'okay' that's heavy. They risked their careers to make a declaration that has become the consensus before it was socially acceptable. I dont care for the music but I can appreciate the significance of the public debate their dissenting voices ignited. The engineering of consent defied by the Dixie chicks, its the world we live in
Posted by: Jason at February 10, 2008 11:13 PM | ReplyScore = 0
i can't think of any peice of music that has ever not changed the world
Posted by: john at February 11, 2008 12:40 AM | ReplyScore = 0