"Music Can't Change World": Comment of the Moment

Here's a Comment of the Moment on Neil Young's recent observation that "Music Can't Change World" by Antony:

" Music, like books has never been able to change the world alone. A mass reaction and the unity of that in the celebration of music can and did.

At a time when the masses are for many reasons at their most politically indifferent, it is hard to disagree with Neil's comments.

There are few protest songs or politically motivated artists in these times. Why? My take is the absolute consumerism that consumes us as a force.

The majority of people are so wrapped up in their own desires to really care about others. That sounds like a very general statement to make, but only such thoughts provoke.

In terms of artists, the irony is that in an age when the distribution of ideology and music is at its most open; it is not being used for political or spiritual communication in the main.

This is in my belief proof that apathy and selfishness and greed and ego have replaced the desire to create art as a political statement.

In the consumerist and uber-capitalist world we now live in, the corporate machine governs, and the successive generations have fallen for it, hook line and sinker.

Musically, most new bands or artists I see today are a reflection of that society; one that desires fame, riches and worst of all 'celebrity' before artistic satisfaction.

The decline of the independent labels that Punk spawned has left us in a musical vacuum. As an internet pioneer, I have always believed that a new wave of music would spread the world, and once more music with a message would inspire people for change.

I still believe that, and have not lost hope that people via music, will create new communities with political agendas that will drive change.

Watch this space. Apathy is our worst enemy.

Love and Peace
Tony Meehan

More on the reaction to Neil's comment that "Music Can't Change World".