[Glice]

Depends on where you look. I'm of the impression that it's very difficult to absolve yourself of a political relationship with the world, or better, with where you fit in a politcal schema. Elton John isn't without of politics, but the politics he's part of isn't really the same gestural politics that Billy Bragg or the DKs take part in.

Having said that, there's a good point to be made that just saying 'everything's political' or appealing to the notion (inherited from second-wave feminism) that 'the personal is political' doesn't make whatever gesture, or art, you're making gratifying within its existence as a political monad [excuse the wankery].

I've always hated the idea of some punk band singing to a crowd of white liberals about how racism is bad. In many senses, that egalitarianism, the 'everyone's here for a good time' social politics of the devoutly apolitical rave scene seems more appealing than a load of right-on people playing music that is essentially white music. There's nothing wrong with music being white. But there's no virtue to it either.

And regarding music being apolitical now - I often wonder if people look at what people sing about in different territories in its political context. If you're coming from a world where Crass and the DKs are common knowledge, the Dixie Chicks are not radical enough; there was, nonetheless, a massive shitstorm over some of what they said. Likewise, from my perspective, I'm always fascinated to hear how dancehall appropriates gender politics and gun culture, but I wonder if the people from the Dancehall societies just sing about what they sing about, with no consideration. Obviously, this isn't true of Capleton or Buju or Sizzla [etc] but do you think Dr Evil considers what he's saying as in any way 'political'?

Closer to home - Coldplay manifest perfectly a certain concessionary politics that is common to the UK, where nothing gets said ever and everyone waits at the back of the queue nicely.

Herr Rail: are you talking about people being explicitly political or what? Because I think a lot of Brits found that a bit hokey around the time of Red Wedge.