Q+A #28 - Should you keep politics out of music?

[@David-rj1ru]

politics and music should be seperate. stop just saying your opinions adam.

[@AdamNeely]

i'll stop saying my opinions i'm sorry

[@JustinBA007]

David McDonald Nah, politics are great. Listen to grindcore.

[@brobiwankenobi4961]

Adam Neely Got a good chuckle from this one

[@ettuaslumiere]

Damn it Adam I don't come here to watch your videos where you talk about your opinions to hear your opinions

[@maksimilijan5029]

i dont want my politicians singing and i dont want my singers politizing. nah just kidding whatever floats yer note.

[@Jestokost]

“All media is ideological. If you don’t perceive it as such, that just means it agrees with the beliefs you already hold.” - Slavoj Zizek (paraphrased)

[@Zwangsworkaholic]

what? Next you're gonna tell me guernica by Picasso is ideological! /s But yeah, i'm always dumbfounded by people saying that artists (be that music, literature, visual arts etc.) should not be political, or should keep their opinions to themselves. The act of creating art is (to me at least) inherently a means to show feelings and opinion.

[@ozanmrcan]

wtf

[@maldivirdragonwitch]

Your comment agrees with the beliefs that I already hold, that means it's objectively great!!

[@ojberrettaberretta5314]

i dont care what communist has to say,their ideology caused the death of 150million ppl if not more..... why would anyone care what ppl with such a idology have to say s beyond me

[@violet-beck]

@@ojberrettaberretta5314 you know what the capitalist UK has done right? all government systems have histories of genocide and brutality

[@JakeFace0]

1:50 I love Steven Colbert's take on this: "Who could forget NWA's hit single 'No Opinion on the Police'?"

[@ratofthecity6351]

"I have no strong feelings one way or another regarding authority figures in society" was definitely my favorite track

[@lonelyfloat2582]

@@ratofthecity6351 went so hard

[@frzferdinand72]

That Bill Wurtz impression was spot on.

[@ThisNameIsVeryClever]

"Musicians should really just play music and entertain, that's really what their job is." Fuck that. Fuck all of that.

[@TroggacomCactus]

"Lord knows I disagree with Wagner's politics" Got a chuckle out of me there.

[@K1llerTunes]

That "JUST DO IT" scared the shit out of me.

[@denogowli]

Liam-Ron of Zena I literally jumped!

[@composerdorianbell]

Liam-Ron of Zena Same. So loud and uncalled for when just listening to the video.

[@Im0nJupiter]

Glad I read the comments

[@clementealfredoobrador4822]

regarding politics and music. Argentina is an excellent example for this. take Charlie Garcia. during the dictatorship he rose to popularity due to his anti government music (which was censored). he found sneaky ways to bypass censorship, endangering his life for the purpose of free expression. also, during this time, most types of entertainment were censored/ strictly controlled and monitored by the government. this lead to the boom of amazing rock and roll music typical from Argentina

[@vvblues]

Adam's opinion is correct and everyone else's opinion is incorrect.

[@andrewomuri4939]

Shut up

[@pongugy9828]

its a paradox

[@megatronsroyalemissary382]

Adamthony Neeltano here.

[@runrig97]

But if I agree with Adam, will the paradox cause one of us to disappear in a puff of smoke?

[@TachyBunker]

Wait but this means you're wrong?

[@sunsetworms]

When you binge watch a channel because you just like the guy even if 50% of the time you don’t get what he says

[@RhapsodyAfternoon]

i appreciate this channel a ton - way beyond the music - because you have a consistently great attitude (e.g. not begrudging or talking pretentiously about successful pop musicians) and genuinely thoughtful / aware takes on issues like politics in music.

[@ShamanMirror]

I thoroughly appreciate your response to the politics in music question and agree 100% with what you said. Interestingly, those that agressively oppose politics in music may be the most unwittingly political in their low grade semi-fascist views. It certainly reflects a smallness and limitation of mind.

[@brianworden7022]

Well they yell keep politics out of a lot of stuff... I laugh when people want politics to be keep out of comics.

[@davekent6023]

People just get tired of echo-chambers. That doesn't make their views "semi-fascist" or whatever else self-centered, historically oblivious Americans like calling authoritarian tendencies. One can agree that while artists should be allowed to express their political views as loudly and obsessively as they want, art itself would be better off with less of that. When you hear a huge group of people saying the same things and sounding exactly the same as is the case nowadays with a majority of mainstream musicians and actors, doesn't their individualism come into question? Is art not a celebration of the individual? In an environment where art made by people with the wrong opinions gets pushed to the side because of politics, is the majority not what you call "semi-fascist"? And would the minority not be better off keeping their artistic endeavours separated from politics, regardless of the fact that politics can fuel art?

[@augustaseptemberova5664]

@@davekent6023 "Murder is bad." .. I estimate that 95+% of the world's population, including pretty much all artists, would agree with me. Does that call my or their individualism into question? I don't think so. It's just _one_ thing we agree upon. Sometimes a large group of people can actually agree not just on one but on a number of things - it happens. Building majority consensus is kinda the foundation of a functioning democracy, not a threat to individualism. Communicating one's opinions meaningfully and respectfully is key to building majority consensus. In turn, opposition (or silence) solely for the sake of protecting "individualism", would be pointless and moronic imo. I don't see why "art itself would be better off" because of it - democracy would be worse off because of it. Also, public figures stating their opinions publicly is *the antidote (!) to echo chambers* . For one, by speaking out publicly, these figures are exposed to all kinds of opinions and criticism. Speaking like that in private circles or already agreeable circles - *that* would be staying in an echo chamber. More importantly, these public figures expose their audiences to their opinion *and* whatever criticism may follow. Discussions and arguments ensue. This may actually be a point where ppl get a glimpse of the world outside their respective echo chambers. How is that a bad thing? Getting this kind of exposure via artists may even be the most effective, as severely echo-chambered ppl may not be open to listening to political figures from unfamiliar or opposing factions of the political spectrum. And as for "wrong opinions gets pushed to the side because of politics" - oof. First, the right to freedom of speech/expression is just that. It grants access to voicing one's opinions in public spaces, *not* in private spaces owned by other people. Someone can choose any public space, or build a platform etc. to propagate their opinions. But if they do so on my property/platform, it is my right to send them away, and they can continue to preach somewhere else. That is not censorship, and not "semi-fascist" as you claim. On the contrary, it'd be fascist to force me to endure ppl I don't want in my private space. Second, what you call a "wrong" opinion is de facto an unpopular opinion. "Unpopular" doesn't automatically mean "wrong", but it _can_ mean "wrong". It definitely means a lot of work: either convince people (make the unpopular popular), or find a compromise between opposing views, or possibly realize that one's opinion indeed is misinformed or fallacious. Either way, exploring *why* an idea is unpopular is the first step, and I assure you "politics" is not the reason. Because third: politics (in a democracy) is the consequence of public/popular opinion and not the other way around. And fourth, blaming something external, something as vague as "politics", is a convenient way of absolving oneself from any responsibility/accountability for one's opinion(s) and actions and the consequences thereof. Someone may find consolation in insubstantial externalized blame, but effectively that'll only prevent that person from finding and facilitating an actual solution to their problem. Also, mb look up what "fascist" and "authoritarian" actually means. While you're at it, mb also check out "narcissistic defence sequences" and try figure out, why I think they might be relevant here.

[@RJCHOICE]

@@augustaseptemberova5664 Bravo Augusta.

[@LivingUnlabeled]

You're watching Adam Neely, I'm your host, Question and Answer Time #28, I'm here to answer all you're basses and music in general about questions.

[@stewartwerner3338]

NyoomBot That induced a stroke

[@vincentledger1616]

Not clapping between movements is meant to retain the "whole" picture of a classical piece. Clapping between movements is similar to just putting in a random scene of people whaling and cheering betweens scenes of a film. It would destroy the emotion intended to be delivered by the artist (composer/director). Sometimes pieces of classical music deliver a journey or range of emotion, whose picture as a whole would be destroyed through clapping and cheering. I guess this argument only holds up if you believe that a piece of music belongs to the composer rather than the audience or the interpreter. I would be interested in your stance on the question who really decides the true meaning of a piece of music. Is it what the composer wants it to be? Is it what the audience wants it to be? Is it what the interpreter/performer makes it? Or a mixture of all of this?

[@danbbrandon]

Except that this was not always the case-- at some points in classical music history, clapping between movements was expected or even encouraged, and symphonies/sonatas/etc. were not always composed as single cohesive works. They are right _now_, or at least were for most of the 19th and 20th centuries, but that's not an absolute. See for example www.classicfm.com/discover-music/why-dont-we-clap-between-movements/ or apnews.com/article/9cc22bdea9214ca68e233c956139e0ae

[@HmHmKlonck]

The fact that more and more people are almost offended by political statements and ideas in art and entertainment, is kinda freaking the shit out of me. Maybe its just a internet thing, but that's bad enough really.

[@user-zb8tq5pr4x]

Not offended, and I can't speak for anyone else, but in my mind, the experience of music and experience of thinking about politics are completely separate and different. Frankly, one is frustrating and one is relaxing. So I can understand people wanting to keep these 2 categories separate, although I also think artists can do whatever they want.

[@inset09]

In Brazil some kind of anti politics movement is growing and I see more people stating that music shouldn't get into politics and people want to separate these things like they were separate entities. Everything is political and I see something in this growing movement that reminds me of fascism. Yeah, my country is passing through dark days and hopefully society will see we are going to a song direction.

[@andreluizgollo9083]

@@inset09 OBRIGADO PELA SENSATEZ

[@augustaseptemberova5664]

@@user-zb8tq5pr4x I see what you mean, but I'd still strongly and vocally disagree with people wanting to keep things separate. Simple explanation: Remove politics from the picture. Let's say I hate death metal because it doesn't fulfill any of my expectations of "good" music/entertainment - whatever that means to me. I still wouldn't campaign to have death metal shut down or separated from what *I* consider to be music. Cuz for one I'm aware that it's about my _personal_ preferencesa. For two, I know that no one's forcing me to listen to what I don't like, and I'm aware of the plethora of other genres that suit my tastes. There's a world's difference between saying "I don't like it" and demanding it be changed/removed. One is expressing one's opinion, the other blatant entitlement, or worse: a fascistoid mindset, if we bring politics back into the picture. If ppl don't like music+politics, there's tons of songs and pieces they can listen to that are free of politics. There is literally no reason to demand politics be removed from music/entertainment altogether.

[@user-zb8tq5pr4x]

@@augustaseptemberova5664 I never campained for them to be seperate

[@dougthemoleman]

I love that you read "ppl" as "pipple". A man after my own heart.

[@Christopherjazzcat]

Hi Adam, at TAFE (Kind of a musical trade school style version of university) we had a class called movement for musicians in which we did yoga, theatre sports, and worked out small skits to go with songs. It was a lot of fun and great for stage presence.

[@whyum]

Heya Adam, What's your opinion on self-taught musicians, or people who play "by ear"? Coming from a Mexican background, a lot of my family friends and relatives enjoy playing various instruments - guitar, bass, piano, trumpet, percussion, etc. (I myself, though I played percussion in junior high, play piano by ear), but a vast majority don't have any understanding of music theory in the academic sense; the knowledge comes from the music "sounding right". Watching videos such as yours which discuss music theory, as well as watching you elaborate on your academic background, in a way makes me think negatively regarding playing "by ear", though I'm sure it's not your intent.

[@aprilkurtz1589]

+Apoline I agree with you. Playing by ear is NOT a negative. If you're playing by ear, you're training your ear. And if your ear is well trained, you can play damn near anything and you won't need one of those iPad things to be able to know what to play where. I can't do math. I flunked fundamentals of Algebra. Music theory is too "mathy" for me. So I play by ear.

[@michaeljconway5983]

Many if not most of the 'great' early jazz musicians played by ear. All this theory came along later to explain what was in these players heads.

[@johndiraimo1444]

Theory allows you to understand what is available to you as musician. It opens doors to the possibilities of better expressing oneself instead of what they have heard only by ear. Think of it as learning a language. Wouldn't you like to be able to have choices for building sentences and paragraphs? This way you have choices. It opens doors ... it doesn't close them.

[@littleone.]

Theory is more of a tool to understand music in a way that categorizes it into terms and feelings. Really, playing by ear is still a great skill. Sheet music is used mostly to write things down, or to read music when you don’t have a recording. It’s a writing and reading of music. So if you want to write music, it is beneficial to physically write it down. However, it does not mean you cannot create new original music without writing sheet music for it.

[@dplj4428]

Learning theory is helpful. But, having or developing an ear is always a plus. Imagine if you knew only theory but could not find the note on your instrument.

[@lividphysics1237]

Ah yes, my favorite jazz musician: *Question and Answer Time Number 28*

[@jafmusicmix7656]

I appreciate your referencing the emotional roller-coaster that is performing. Understanding that journey is a big step toward dealing with it. Thanks.

[@chriswarren5236]

When I was in my college's wind symphony, we performed one concert with a Portuguese fado singer. One of our pieces was a multi-movement set of Portuguese folk songs. This was in Providence, so everyone in the audience who wasn't a student was middle-aged and Azorean. They ignored all concert etiquette and applauded uproariously after each movement, and even clapped in time to the final movement. That was the best show we ever played.

[@dirtbagdeluxe]

Stage presence, for me, is a celebration of being well rehearsed. It's a physical appeal you make to reinforce how you are emoting through your instrument. People look to performers for emotional guidance. Take me on a journey of feelings through harmony, and show me how my movements in dancing along should be paced. I always think about James Brown doing his hardest working man in showbiz routine, he wants to show you how he dances to the music and he wants you to know he is so worked up he's giving it all he's got. But just because you're aware of the impact of your posture doesn't justify posturing, playing the song well is the priority here. I never could dance until I grew comfortable moving with my guitar for some years. I'm sure there are theories about rhythm and dance, but I started out imagining that my gestures were what was creating the movement and sound, even if my instrument wasn't. I imagine myself a representative of the music making organism, and how the dynamic of the sound could better be represented through my human engagement. Tap your toes, and love it proudly as much as possibly sincere.

[@300Lutz]

Hi Adam, I am not a bass player, but it's such a pleasure to listen to your thought processes. Just telling.

[@Stratocaster42]

Loved what you had to say about politics in music. Always appreciate your articulate responses to all of these complex questions (including mine this week! That was really cool!).

[@enricomagnoni7398]

Best answer ever to the question "should music be political?"! Love your work and videos! Keep it up!

[@charlag]

Adam, I just wanted to say that you keep earning my deepest respect the more videos I watch. It's like that moment with manufacturer sponsors in the end of the video where you did it only nominally - many people been worried about you getting more sponsorships (me included) but the more I think about it the more I realize how bold it is. And this video, looking at the title I opened it with dread but I was so relieved to hear what you said. So many things are deeply political and so many privileged jerks would like to hide from it. "Politics is when I disagree". I think you are one of the best vloggers out there with radical honesty and self-awareness. Please keep doing what you are doing and I wish you to get as much support for this as possible.

[@xzzx4664]

About clapping between the movements. I study classical piano and I have a different opinion on this topic. I dont think that clapping at the wrong time is necessarily bad(by the way it is happening to me almost every time). When someone is clapping between movements or at the wrong time (when I play) I feel kinda out of focus and I lose my feeling. When I listen to some pianists I am so excited that I just want to scream and applause and go up there on the stage and hug him or her. But I don't do that out of respect for them, because I want to hear more of what they got, and to ruin his or her focus will be a catastrophe. That s why I dont clap until the pianist leaves the stage.

[@Scratch_Gobo]

dude i fucking lost it at the bill wurtz parody

[@dragan176]

Hey about the "classical etiquette", the reason why you don't clap in-between movements is that in a sonata for example, is seen as an entire piece, and you don't clap in the middle of a song (only in jazz lol). Also, some of these pieces really work well when played fully. I mean, just a piece like the moonlight sonata by Beethoven is amazing when heard in its entirety.

[@mihail9988]

Well, one of the most important function of music or any other human art forms are to encourage collective dialectical processes regarding various issues between individuals through creative, emotional and cultural expressions. So it should not really bother you that some lyrics are political , unless they follow irrational or harmful ideologies. For me, politically charged lyrics from Gang Starr is more interesting than bland and hyper-sexual pop music.

[@doogdoogdoogdoogdoogdoog]

Hahaha, the Bill Wurtz impression was so damn good, I'm having trouble keeping my shit together at work

[@azbillbrandon]

Your subscription base is getting crazy high! Congrats Adam!!!

[@StephenTack]

Another fine video, Adam. I noticed when you said "rhythm" at 18:43, the color temperature got much warmer. I have to say, it looks MUCH better to me...you look way more healthy. ;-) Cheers!

[@_noirja]

I've been watching for a few months but I just want to voice my appreciation for this channel.. so, yeah well done! :D

[@Livingeidolon]

You're not stifling your emotions during the empty part between movements, that empty space is a large part of the entire piece. It's so what you just heard can sink in, and to "cleanse the pallet" for the next movement.

[@metalheadnick555]

Just to add to your theories on politics and music, I highly recommend Robert Greenberg's Great Courses lecture "Music as a Mirror of History," which goes in depth as to the politics of classical music (although he refutes that "Threnody" is a political piece). In my opinion, the most powerful piece of political music is Gorecki's "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs." Great channel! I wish you were around when I studied music!

[@thecourierNCR]

The end of Summer Soft is also a good example of the modulation thing. So good

[@MrJavielfo2]

Thank you very much for stating this: NO, politics and music/films/videogames/books CANNOT be separated, since every bit of of human artistic production expresses inherent political views. That's what makes it human, we are not art-creating machines. Most people saying "we should keep politics out of X" actually mean "I don't like the politics expressed in X". And that is perfectly right! of course you are welcome to freely contest, debate, and dislike political ideas expressed in any art form. It's actually good for the medium and healthy to have a free debate about them. But that doesn't mean you can keep politics out of music, or any other art form for that matter. I rarely write youtube comments, but I recently discovered your channel and Im loving every bit of it. Yo make great, informed, and funny work. Congrats for the awesome videos!

[@DisRespectoids]

Hey Adam, Slava! by Bernstein is also a "political 'overture'," and also demonstrated compositional technique by using tapes from political speeches in a mid-section, although a friend of mine told me it sounded like a lonney tunes cartoon

[@jamesfulbright4568]

I've been playing guitar for about 8 years now and I'm fairly proficient at doing what I do, which is playing metal. However, as a result of how I learned to play guitar, which was just looking up tabs for metal songs and never taking lessons or receiving instruction, I'm incredibly limited in my comprehension of musical theory and how to play basically anything but metal riffs. I always talk to other musicians and I feel as though the fast/technical music I can play fools them in to thinking I'm "good" then I feel embarrassed when I talk to them and I have no dang idea what key I'm playing in or what chord progression is happening. What are some good resources to jump out of my wheelhouse and start learning some basic applied theory or otherwise abilities outside of my current box?

[@SaberToothPortilla]

James Fulbright Depends on how best you learn. If you're really wordy, you can always look into text books. Any book that they'd use for your typical college intro music theory course is fine. As long as you can read music first. If you need to learn to read music, pick up a really simple beginners book for your instrument of choice, and learn to play the notated examples. If you're more auditory or like the human connection. You can find music theory videos on, say, KZbin over more introductory concepts. It becomes for natural as you go. Good luck!

[@rondicarlo6433]

ocw.mit.edu/courses/music-and-theater-arts/ all free course in music and theory

[@NateThunder]

James Fulbright Well.. get off youtube and go read a book.

[@hadriewyn]

Hi! I was/am basically on the same situation that you are (except for the proficient part, I'm just not bad, but that's it) and the way I started to change all that was to: 1-Look for music channels on youtube that explain the theory 2-I started taking piano lessons Now, the piano lessons just made everything easier to understand, but you can still learn A WHOLE LOT just by going to youtube channels like this. Try with the simplest most stupid stuff you can think, like a video explaining the major scale, and altough you are going to be bored playing that because you play far more complex stuff, once you understand how that works, you can understand another like the minor scale and so on... For me it's been like playing a videogame where you go unlocking different stuff and it's amazing. Ah, and also, try to analize your favourite songs and try to understand WHY you like them so much, that works well too.

[@jongarcia7186]

You used "love on top" and that made me sooo happy!!!

[@SmellsLikeBrass]

Wow, I'm really looking forward to your thoughts about classical etiquette! :-D Your video about how classical musicians feel rhythm (with which I agree about 95%) evoked quite emotional responses, so to speak. But it is now over a year and it is time for that shit to hit the fan again. ;-) But seriously: premature applause can ruin the whole experience. I would love to write a long-drawn-out comment about this topic, but I will keep my thoughts until you address it more elaborately.

[@ideitbawx]

I can tell you another advantage of picking a well-known school versus, say, a community college: your program might not be well-structured. The "music" program I went to in college (a community college in Kingston, Ontario) had a music theory class & a music history class, but the rest of the course was shooting videos and taking photos, and there was no focus -- *none* -- on recording & producing music! By the time 2nd year started, half of the students dropped out. It made me think i should have used my student loan money to apply to the university theory course instead, or apply earlier to one of several colleges that do offer production.

[@netenemy]

This was a good one, Adam. Thank you!

[@kurth6595]

I'd love to see a video on music/classical music etiquette. I think I remember reading that it wasn't always considered taboo to clap between movements or even during them, but I'd have to do some digging to back that up with sources

[@Meganopteryx]

Re: Pride about performance, vs attachment to artifact: I can definitely relate to that, having gone through Architecture school. We would make prototype models of buildings that we envisioned, only to have the professor literally rip them apart to add or remove components. There was nothing bad about this, it was the creative process. Some students were too attached to their models without realizing that they were basically 3D "sketches" of a concept, and I had heard stories of students even being reduced to tears at having their models that they put so much hard work into torn to pieces. I never really got that, but then my craftsmanship wasn't exactly flawless so I didn't mind so much. I guess I've never been that attached to my artwork, I feel like it's the creative process that's much more valuable, and if I need to make it again, I'll do it better and faster the next time. I guess it helped that I knew he was going to rip apart our models before we started making them.

[@pinkgeek63]

Hey Adam, are you ever gonna do any more of your​ 10 minutes of Sibelius composition videos or anything similar? I really enjoy those and feel like I learn a lot from them even after rewatching the old ones several times!

[@denismarcorin9879]

All culture is a reflection and a product of its times. That being said, ALL music is political. There is no such thing as apolitical or neutral. Ideology is the lens we use to interpret the world. Even when we think that something is neutral or apolitical, there is ideology in it (in such cases the dominant ideology, i.e.: capitalism, consummerism). If such lenses are in conformity with our objective reality, we mostly ignore them. Like using a red pair of glasses in a room where everything is red. Like, people complain that Roger Waters' music is too political, but he's only throwing a blue object in said red room. That's not me saying, it's Zizek. Also, if you're in such a room, changing to a pair of blue lensed glasses will change your perception of it. People who say they don't like politics in music should try envisioning the context in wich they're inserted. What are the messages behind the music you like? Who benefits from this kind of message? Why do you like this music? What was your upbringing like? What are the material conditions you live in? How do these conditions affect your aesthetic sense? That's not me saying, it's Marx. Excelent video, Adam.

[@TasX]

Well, Karl Marx is wrong about a lot of thing. Just look at how his communist society worked out Edit: actually, I still agree with Marx on that quote. A person is made mostly of his/her surroundings

[@carnivorousjazz827]

I mean his communist society was never actually made since no "communist" country has ever come close to what he described.

[@tonyhakston536]

+Rtkts But all music is written by someone with a a worldview.

[@sicko_the_ew]

Kanyeshna Nyet. (See my counterexample somewhere up there.) "Everything is political" only in the minds of those who think that if only they were given enough power to force all the wrong people to be right, everything would be right. (Since if one doesn't need power to *force* compliance, what does one need it for?) I suppose if one is trained to model reality this way (by someone with the power to make the wrong people at some institution right) it isn't really necessary to have the Faith my statement suggests. Could just be the usual taking the easiest way out. Lots of people "think" like this because it turns out to be easy in the places where we are taught what to think.

[@Alejandrakoxxx]

Karl Marx was an ideological mole implanted by the dominant class

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

People with anti-freedom leanings have always struggled to find art that has any heart or soul, but that doesn't express anything with heart and soul.

[@kevinwingfield2007]

You're a good guy, Adam, keep the faith!

[@philen]

Politics and music is hand in hand. Everything is politics so of course it belongs in music. And what about national anthems? What about Frank Zappa, Bob Dylan, Rage against the machine, bob marley, niel young, madonna, lady gaga, johnny cash, beatles, crosby still nash & young, primus, nina simone, john coltrane, charles mingus, rolling stones, creedence, eagles, billie holiday, all punk bands, all stoner/psych/garage/progg bands? What about mozart, igor stravinsky? Music is art and its very foundation is to make people move either it is dancing or political or whatever...

[@sicko_the_ew]

I think that goes a bit too far. Politics in music is fine, and sometimes perhaps essential, but "*everything* is politics"? I think the easiest is just to offer you a musical counterexample: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hIfNhKyZea-UqsU There's even the possibility that this particular musical wonder is some kind of outright rejection of the call to march in some political army? One could call such resistance "political", I suppose, but one might look a bit one-eyed if one did. Yes, I mean march-march-march, since if you stretch out any obsession with power-power-power to its full extent, at the final end of that road is some army or horde or other such band of robbers - all doing something like marching -- probably singing their songs of predation, too. Project this absolutism of politicalistness according to the absolutist way that it is proposed as a model for the world, and it projects to its very ends. Has to, surely? That's what, "Everything is political" means. And the end of the road is Power by Force. But some people say "NO". (Politics is just *something*). And then their own kind of "YES". (Enlightened Lunacy is Something Else).

[@Rman4ful]

yeil noung forever

[@Cluless02]

Precisely!

[@spyrospets5813]

Amen to that.

[@js72634]

Yay to response re: politics and music! Well done. reminds me of something I heard a musicologist say about Bob Dylan years ago - many people think that he wrote about politics, but really he wrote about Justice. the anecdotes and conflicts were a vehicle for exploring that subject - eternal, universal, and absolutely an appropriate topic.

[@d.lawrencemiller5755]

I missed the previous video where you talked about pride and detachment. What you said about art *objects* being less important than the art *process* reminds me of some wise words I've heard. I first heard them from ViHart, who read them from Ted Carpenter. "The artist talks to himself out loud. If what he has to say is significant, others hear and are affected. The trouble with knowing what to say and saying it clearly and fully, is that clear speaking is generally obsolete thinking. Clear statement is like an art object: it is the afterlife of the process which called it into being. The process itself is the significant step and, especially at the beginning, is often incomplete and uncertain." Adam if you read this, I recommend you get ahold of They Became What They Beheld and/or watch ViHart's video of that title. You're great. Thanks for making these videos.

[@n7275]

Your lighting is getting better.

[@thefakedeal]

"JUST DO IT" That really spooked me out.

[@jobiy1999]

no politics in music!? but then I wouldn't have Rage against the machine

[@averagejohnson3985]

rage against the machine is owned by Sony (the machine)

[@tomasschuman6576]

@@averagejohnson3985 lmao glad someone beat me to it

[@Mr0rusnjos]

@@averagejohnson3985 Yeah but they're mad about it

[@MB-rc8ie]

Yeah, it would be great

[@bt3743]

@@averagejohnson3985 just wait until you find out that all buisness whether big or small are capitalist machines

[@jovi_al]

Haven't watched this video yet but I'm gonna express my opinion on the title. Simple answer, music is about self expression and about making your voice heard. If the thing you need to share and get out there is political, go for it, nothing stopping you. No topic should be offlimits, if its honest and needs to be said.

[@EarToTheGroundMusic]

Long time viewer, first time commenter. I just wanted to say great job with the politics in music question. As a professional cultural historian by day and semi-professional music blogger by night, I have to say that you handled that with grace and class. For us to understand any type of music devoid of political or cultural context is to totally miss the point. Even artists who are not ostensibly addressing macro political issues are still making political statements in their songs - singing about joblessness, technology, or the rapid pace of society - for example - would all be cultural context for today that is heavily political. I would actually love to hear of an example of any moderately popular music that doesn't have any "political" angle at all. It would either have to be so abstract that it doesn't make sense or so specific as to ONLY be about one person's life. Anyways, props on that and thanks for what you do.

[@R0b1zzle137]

that answer to political music was spot on dude!!!

[@user-zb8tq5pr4x]

Don't really agree, just because people have been doing it for a long time doesn't mean it's good. Ultimately, I believe musicians can do whatever they want, but nothing will convince me to enjoy political messages in music.

[@andrew7taylor]

@@user-zb8tq5pr4x Good for you. Sounds fun!

[@Pierrot110194]

@@user-zb8tq5pr4x but nothing will convince me to enjoy political messages in music. Well, as Adam said, you can absolutely listen to artists whose political views you don't agree with and still like their music. But art in general is a form of personal expression and pretty much everyone has a political opinion that is, to a varying extent, part of their identity. Who are you to tell people they should not express ideas that agree or disagree with certain political movements just because you want to be entertained?

[@user-zb8tq5pr4x]

@@Pierrot110194 " Who are you to tell people they should not express ideas that agree or disagree with certain political movements just because you want to be entertained?" When did I ever tell anyone to not do or do anything? All I said is that I don't enjoy it. I don't give a fuck about what you do.

[@Fr4gg3r2]

0:41 damn I enjoyed that more than I probably should've. Sounds awesome.

[@o0BlackHole0o]

Man, everytime I ear you outro song, I feel the need to listen to your band's work again haha

[@HOOTwheelz]

Have you heard Dolores Catherino's work in microtonal music using the Tonal Plexus? I have a feeling you have, but if not i STRONGLY recommend checking her work out. This is also something that is made fairly possible on the Tribass, if you assign the x axis to pitch on all four divisions of the screen and assign those divisions to four synths that are a few cents below or above each other.

[@athenayang302]

Hey Adam I love watching your videos. They have helped me a lot with my knowledge of music in general. I mainly play the piano but also the flute in eighth grade and I am playing a Broadway score of "Annie" in the pit and I am wondering if you can give me some tips in playing big chords very quickly (I have small hands) Keep up the good work!

[@Acitty200]

That was Ryan Connors! Looks like a sweet project. Definitely want to check that out

[@Nolliewoodasdf]

adam, i know your musical interests are more geared towards classical/ jazz/ rock genres however i want to hear your thoughts on rap. I studied music my whole life and have noticed most popular rappers (primarily soundcloud, NOT chance/ kanye) have little to no eduation on music in general and are mostly self made. As an expample, Migos have recently blown up for their "crazy flow" which is realistically a triplet pattern, and it blows my mind that this is the first time anyone has done that as a rapper. Since the rap genre audience also generally doesnt know much about music either, AND they are intrigued by a simple triplet pattern, do you think if someone were to be well taught in music that they could take good sounding motifs from classical compositions and put them into a rap song and impress people? because i think you mentioned in a video that genres repeat themselves and come and go, since rap is so early on, do you think someone might come to this same realization soon? thanks

[@MrSimondaniel3]

1. i dont think people are impressed by the simple pattern. More-so being able to put words to it at speed. & this has been done before. 2. Kanye is no different, i dont believe he knows anything technical about music. 3. its unlikely that someone well trained in classical music would also have the street feel to be a good rapper. Not impossible, just unlikely. 4. hip hop is early on compared to classical + rock, but its 40 years old at least + the roots older. my basic opinion is, people are impressed with rappers' vocal dexterity, creativity, & swagger. Any cool rhythm should work, but the person's overall vibe is most important.

[@brodftw]

The fact you're talking about SoundCloud guys kind of answers your question. The late 1950s onwards have been one long explosion of 'pop' or associated music that's been accessible to the average person; there has ALWAYS been trash, there's always been people with a singular talent e.g. a great voice who don't have much musical knowledge beyond that and/or "an ear for a melody". The late 80s were dominated by Rick Astley soundalikes if you look at actual top 40 charts from the average week & not just the highlights everyone remembers from the era.

[@tylerwilliams8773]

Hey Adam, long time subscriber, first time commenter! I love your videos and you have inspired me to both challenge myself as a musician, and given me practical tools I need to improve my day to day playing. OK, enough flattery. I really like when you talk about the intersections of cognitive science and music. I was hoping you could talk about musical tension. I know you already demonstrate it in a few videos about harmonization and jazz, but could you talk a little more about what's happening in the human brain when we experience musical tension as listeners?

[@paramike97]

I think politics in music is okay as long as it’s more about positive things rather than mudslinging at the opposing side. For example I like the message of same love by macklemore because its a very uplifting song and communicates a message of love instead of just demonizing the other side and shaming people.

[@justawatchin2]

YAY you're doing rhythm. Thanks!

[@cecelilyklaine]

Hey Adam, I've been playing bassoon for about six years now. Before that I played around with percussion, clarinet, piano, and I sing. I've been playing bassoon for the longest out of all of those, and I'm kind of getting bored. The novelty of playing a difficult instrument has worn off and now I feel like I've plateaued. I've also achieved everything I wanted to do with it; this semester I played Scheherazade with a semi-professional orchestra, and now I'm in a chamber ensemble. I've been using school instruments all this time and I don't see myself owning a $30,000 any time soon, and I know I'm not going to be a professional musician, I just do it for funsies. I guess my question is: whats next? Should I keep playing a challenging instrument I had the fortune to learn in high school? Or quit my very expensive hobby and focus on other musical interests like singing or music theory that I know I will continue with after college?

[@jesusguzman8611]

What about conducting a band? I'm the main composer of a rock band and also the bass player. Sometimes I just lose my patience because I have to tell every man in the band what to do and how it sounds in my head, and also the singer and the drummer doesn't know shit about music theory so I have to talk like a 5 years old to them. Any tips about how to show them how something should sound ? Big fan of your channel

[@jan_Masewin]

- sheet music is safe to drop, ipads are not - you can’t forget to charge your sheet music - sheet music is much more visible in bright sunlight - sheet music can give you a 2-page spread Ipads are fantastic, you just have to know their limits

[@saintJ695]

hey Adam, you look so happy on this video. great to see happy face

[@adancein]

Totally agree with the clapping part. You are there to watch a performance and show that you like it. Clap when you like it, that's what you're there for.

[@Mameyaro]

This makes me want an actual collab between Adam Neely and Bill Wurtz.

[@rashotcake6945]

So much good music is greatly enhanced by the fact that it’s political (folk, outlaw country, blues, punk, 60s protest rock, conscious hip hop, 50s rock n roll, reggae, soul, first wave jazz, etc.)

[@burritoman2957]

Hi Adam, Thanks for sharing all the knowledge and wisdom that you have with us! I was wondering if you would ever make a video about harmonics? I was looking through your videos and I didn't see any that focused on that topic (unless I just missed it). Jaco Pastorius is a big influence for me in terms of using harmonics, and I was just wondering what your ideas were about them.

[@kurth6595]

It may not be proper etiquette to clap during classical music, but it is VERY proper to clear your throat continually

[@mathias5618]

Hey Adam, how about a video on the music theory of genres that "break the rules" such as free jazz and krautrock? EDIT: mictrotonal stuff would also be cool

[@JohnHorneGuitar]

Really good answer to the political question. Well done.

[@carolinepannen6869]

Can you show us your basses in the next video? (sorry if you already did that) Love your videos!

[@Lemwell7]

I recently saw Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet score performed at the SF Symphony by St. Petersburg symphony (I probably messed up a lot of terms there). While I love listening to classical music, this was my first time in years seeing an orchestra perform live. While it was fantastic, the Bowing/clapping/not clapping/encore-ing/standing ovationing felt weird and unnatural. The weirdest was when a featured violinist finished, the number of times she and the conductor walked off the stage and back on was absurd. Is that what you were talking about?

[@RyanHannaMusic]

those session bands...yes, id love that gig!

[@GrahamMurphy525]

14:23 I agree for the most part with this sentiment. I've also played with a dance troop, and had audience after audience clap along out of time with a piece and throw off the dancers. I think there are times for the audience to be a passive participant.

[@davebelcherguitar]

New sub here-sorry for the somewhat necro comment but I'm catching up. Great content. A+ on your answer about whether to keep politics out of music. A follow-up: knowing you have interest in philosophy I'd love to hear thoughts on Adorno's understanding of the "culture industry." If you're not all that familiar with Adorno or the Frankfurt School, I'm just asking about the interconnection of music, culture, and capitalism-or "class" (essentially). The point in the video where you say you don't really jive well with "classical etiquette" I took to be a thoroughly political, but also economic, point and a discussion about class and the cultural contexts of our music seems...pertinent. For instance: Why is the proper dress etiquette for a classical concert the formal dress or suit and tie, but that of rock or pop jeans and a t-shirt? Separating politics (and especially economics/class) from music isn't going to help you answer that question. Interested in your thoughts here. Peace.

[@horseradish4046]

I definitely agree about politics with music, you don't have to agree with the ideology of the lyrics, just appreciate it as an art and where it's coming from that gave the artist their passion. *Btw Adam, how do you feel about Johnny Rebel?*

[@GuyNamedSean]

If music and politics were kept separate then all of my favourite punk bands would have much shorter catalogues.

[@kevinyuemusic]

Hey Adam, I am in a bit of a predicament in terms of music school. I applied only for a smaller music school 30 minutes from my house in order to stay home during school, but it's trumpet studio was rather small (5~ people including me and the two other first years this year). I find out that all the other first years are quitting. That leaves 2 trumpets plus whoever comes next year. I am feeling a bit uninspired as the one person that was pushing me to get better is now leaving, and the only other trumpeter left doesn't really even seem to want to practice. The one thing keeping me at this school is that my private teacher is fantastic and has helped me through a lot, but otherwise I am really considering switching schools to somewhere bigger where I can work with more likeminded people. What are your thoughts? I know transferring for music schools can be really weird and difficult because all their course requirements are different.

[@daneguitarist1]

thank you for so solidly explaining why musicians can be in politics...... i too kinda hate it.. but at the same point.. rage was soooo good and lots of others

[@guitarguy11695]

Hey Adam! Good stuff as always! Question for your next Q&A: I see you were talking about musical theatre and it’s music and composition. Are you familiar with musical theatre composers fluently enough to distinguish specific composers’ works by the way the songs are written, and do you have a favorite? Thanks!

[@EkittyMonte]

Hey Adam, I heard you talking about your opinion of bass solos in one of your previous Q and A's. I believe you said something along the lines that you tend not to like bass solos because they would sound better on another instrument (I.e. Guitar, piano,etc). Under that premise, how do you feel about bass solos from players such as Cliff Burton of Metallica and Justin Chancellor of Tool. Thank you so much for your time and to love your videos! Yours Truly, J

[@bagabundo152]

Hey Adam I know you are movie fan, specially movies related to music. So I will like to know your opinion about the movie "La la land". Do you like it? How about the music in general and the approach to jazz music. Thanks

[@personal61319]

what a fantastic and accurate answer regarding politics and music.

[@MB-rc8ie]

13:15 I like that he couldnt help laughing

[@RobKandell]

I still remember watching “Rattle & Hum” first run on the big screen. I remember Adam Clayton’s response to those who say politics don’t belong in music... “I think that’s bullshit.” [Breaks into “Bullet the Blue Sky”]

[@ZippyLeroux]

Hi Adam, I was wondering what your views on 'selling out' are? One of my favorite bands, Gojira, recently signed with Roadrunner records and went form heavy death metal to a more radio friendly sound with hooks and choruses and repeated ear wormy simple riffs. So I won't listen to their new stuff because it isn't what I liked about the band. However I think I get it; despite their recent fame, Gojira have been a band performing and working pro for decades now, and it makes sense to me that they are ready to change their sound and try to make more success out of their work, after all at some point won't you want to buy a house and have kids? Won't your back get sore? How do you pay for cancer as a musician? How do musicians get insurance etc? At some point is 'selling out' a matter of growing up or is it a matter of greed as hardcore fans tend to assume? Further, what responsibility do you think an artist has to their fans, to keep producing the music they love? Usually keep my comments to a simple thank you, since you almost always address my questions in your Q&A at some point, but this one is burning a hole in my soul because I'm mourning Gojira....

[@ianhamilton350]

for anyone who's interested in hearing more on the topic of political ideas in various forms of art, I suggest watching the Extra Credits' channels video 'politics in videogames'. In a nutshell, they argue that you *can't* remove politics from art.

[@milesvinson1028]

I've heard that Berklee (especially for composition, but also performance) treats music largely as a commerce, or product, while some other schools treat it primarily as an art form. Do you agree with that assertion and if so do you have a problem with that, or is that what's necessary to survive as a musician today?

[@lewis2868]

Great to hear your thoughts on music & politics - I'm always amazed how much I agree with everything you say (thanks for the echo chamber effect hehe).

[@ZippyLeroux]

Lovely. Thank you sir.

[@JJStylies]

As far as stage presence, I started controlling my visual aspects of playing marimba the same way i focus on technique. I think of every individual muscle I'm moving and why, and then build muscle memory there. Once that is natural, i move to the next part of my body and control that motion. and observing other players tells me what to do, and relating your movements to the music your playing helps a lot too. I have no idea how you would achieve this playing bass but i hope at least you can use this sort of process to do it.