For several years, I was a regular reader of a country music news and reviews website that I won’t name here.
I won’t name it, because it’s infamous for its combative creator and its abusive, rage-filled comments section.
Honestly—-and you’ll just have to trust me on this!—I didn’t read for the venomous takedowns or snarling back-and-forths in the comments. I read it because I love independent country music, and the website (sadly) is one of few prominent outlets that cover this musical niche.
But yes, occasionally I would read the comments.
Regardless of topic, there was almost always some nasty exchange—typically a liberal vs. conservative throw-down in country music disguise—to scan through in the comments. It helped for entertainment’s sake that the site creator would weigh in, attempting, often fruitlessly, to make some sort of peace.
It was in this comments section that I first came across the conservative talking point, most often lobbed at singer-songwriter Jason Isbell (who regularly weighs in on political topics on his social media accounts):
Shut up and play.
To flesh out the argument: We value you for your music, not for your political views. Your job is to play music, not play at politics. Leave your viewpoint out of it.
This confuses me.
It especially confuses me with regard to Isbell, whose music reflects its creator so directly—the music takes a critical look at issues like race and income inequality.
Embedded in this argument—Shut up and play—is the premise that artists shouldn’t touch political topics with a ten-foot stick.
So…who exactly should touch politics?
Only politicians?
And where do those come from?
Taylor Coe 