90 Replies to “The World Still Has Too Many Reporters”

  1. Arcade Fire don’t have an obligation not to alienate any of their audience – it’s *their* audience, that they’ve been building, since they first started selling out venues six years ago.
    That’s exactly what the Dixie Chicks thought.

  2. Bardem@12:25 – No, you’re correct, it doesn’t bardem from having an opinion but it just shows how trendy and unsurprising that opinion turns out to be. Not exactly a man bites dog moment. One decent CD and two stinkers doesn’t exactly make them experts on politics, economics or much else besides self promotion. Good for them but please. Rock stars! What don’t they know?

  3. I listened to them on YouTube when they won some award or other. Lasted about 2 minutes I thought they sucked.

  4. Oz said:
    “That’s exactly what the Dixie Chicks thought.”
    Perfect!
    And to Bardem, I noticed you didn’t argue the leftist point.

  6. I believe that celebrities are no different than non-celebrities when it comes to having a political opinion, their higher pedestals just makes the fall harder. Dixie Chicks are the good example.
    Ted Nugent and Ronald Reagan would be two of the celebrities I would align with.

  7. Are they a Canadian band? I thought the leader and singer was an American…seems I read that somewhere, not that it matters much, except he’s a foreigner commenting on a Canadian election, of which we’re no stranger to. We’ve had millions of dollars directed our way to promote the lefties. All together now, I love George Soros.

  8. Like all of today’s Artsy Fartsies, without our taxdollars they would starve. They would be following a Raven’s Ass for their next meal…

  9. RFB @ 1:20pm
    Every time I’m backing up my computer onto CD’s, I’m reminded of the subsidy the Canadian artists get.

  10. having a blast!!!
    just saw the CBCpravda headline. Iggy “BLASTS” HOLE in tory budget , so thinking I had read that before , used the CBCpravda website and found that the propaganda arm of the lieberal party had used the term in over 3000 stories.

  11. >>Before I vote, I want to know what Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears think.
    Has anyone interviewed that Gaga person yet to get her opinion?
    Actually, I a waiting with bated breath to hear what those experts on Canadian politic, Rinaldo and Pinky and other one-name celebrities have to say before I decide how to vote.

  12. Have no idea who these jerkoffs are and could care less about their political opinions.

  13. @RFB – Again, they’re millionaires. Characterising them as welfare rockers is both unfair and inaccurate. They not only survive without your tax dollars, they pay quite a few of their own.
    @Thomas_L – Arcade Fire have always been a political band, going way back, it’s not a bandwagon they’ve jumped on. Purely a matter of people noticing what they say more now that they have a higher profile. I don’t argue that their view is right, or more worth noting just because they’re famous, but they’re not exactly cramming it down anybody’s throat. Frankly, I’d rather disagree with a band’s stance than have them always bite their tongue for fear of damaging their “brand”. They’re supposed to be musicians rather than jingle writers, no?
    @patsplace Win Butler and his brother grew up in the US, but he’s a dual citizen, and he’s lived in Montréal for over a decade. There are another eight Canadians in that band, from all over Canada, and it was one of them, Richard Parry from Ontario, who made the post in question.
    @Frank Q – I stumbled across this blogpost by accident, I have no stake in this election either way. I just thought the conversation could do with some factual clarifications, and I object to the implication that a musician is automatically less entitled to make their opinions known than a mechanic or a bartender.

  14. EBD @ 12:04: Funny how we’re all talking about Arcade Fire, and not about the fact that Canadian “reporters” are telling us that Arcade Fire’s voting preferences are news.
    I thought that’s what my post @ 9:06 did!!! :-0 ‘Either too subtle or too dense … 😉

  16. How is this any different than the MSM blitz in the US when reporters put down any negative comment about Dubya from entertainers?
    Canadian MSM monkeys see, Canadian monkeys do.

  17. So..msm too busy touting some lame opinions from ‘rockers’………….yet don’t tell us poor Justine Trudeau just stepped in it big-time re the coalition! Article is in french,but where the hell is the lame-stream media on this??
    http://t.co/sk68Xej

  18. Bardem said, “I just thought the conversation could do with some factual clarifications, and I object to the implication that a musician is automatically less entitled to make their opinions known than a mechanic or a bartender.”
    Point made. They are intitled. Problem is that I’m still waiting for the interview, by the Globe and Mail, with the mechanic or the bartender or anyone in fact, who is saying that they are not voting Liberal or NDP or Green or Bloc.

  19. Bardem…
    @Frank Q – I stumbled across this blogpost by accident, I have no stake in this election either way. I just thought the conversation could do with some factual clarifications, and I object to the implication that a musician is automatically less entitled to make their opinions known than a mechanic or a bartender.
    You only support the argument made by many here. When did a barbers or a mechanics opinion make headlines at CBC and what makes their opinion any more relevent or accurate. The sole intent by CBC was to use the so called celebrity status of this band to shrill for the Liberal party. To insinuate that Stephen Harper is out of touch with Canadians is not only an opinion its not factually accurate…check out the polls. Furthermore, if you have no stake in this election you must be from another country and in that case nobody cares what you think either.

  20. coach at 12:07 PM: “My son listened to them when he was a teenager. I’d say the majority of their fans are too young to vote.”
    ====================
    Precisely the demographic the Libs and Dips are after. Get ’em cause they’re young and naive.

  21. What I find laughable is that many of these musicians perceive of themselves as “avante garde”, rebels, “cutting edge”, anti-establishment, revolutionaries, etc., when in fact there is nothing more status quo today than the entertainment industry. Being a “rebel” today is a brand — nothing like the ’60’s counterculture they pretend to imitate. And it’s not only Arcade Fire. Down With Webster, which opened for the Junos, had its entire brass section dressed in Islamic jihad-style balaclavas. “Look at us people — we’re Ché Guevara-type rebellious suicide bombers!”
    Practically the entire music industry is nothing but status quo, intrinsically dependent on the mainstream entertainment industry in general, and the fashion industry, big corporate advertising, big sports, government/tax-payer handouts, the big-name charity monopolies, establishment Left political support, and in some cases even support from foreign tyrants (e.g. Moammar Ghadaffi before he suddenly “fell from grace”).
    Anti-establishment? Give me a break! Even Neil Young and Daniel Lavois snickered about the “Human Rights Award” that Neil was presented by Daniel at the Junos. Neil nailed it when he stated something to the effect: “Musicians are about music — not human rights. The Junos are about music — musicians aren’t human rights workers.” But being the gracious guy that Neil Young is he took the award in good spirit, but not without the caveat.
    Do today’s “rebel musicians” think they can fool we who are from the ’60’s into thinking they are actually anti-establishment?

  22. Another idiot entity I will not waste my money on,last time it was Avril Lavigne,anybody else not want my money?

  23. Batb (2:22), I wasn’t referring to your 9:22 post, or to a couple of other people’s posts.
    My “we” was a bit too broad…

  24. I tend not to keep a close eye or high value on the political opinions of musicians, and neither do I particularly value the musical opinions of politicians.
    It’s weird how individuals in the public eye are given credence because of artistic success.

  25. I’m not going to read all the comments, but did someone else note that two members of the band are Americans?
    How would they they feel if I went to Vermont and campaigned against Obie?

  26. @Patsplace: “seems I read that somewhere, not that it matters much, except he’s a foreigner commenting on a Canadian election, of which we’re no stranger to.”
    You must be referring to Harper trotting out Bollywood star Akshay Kumar in Brampton to urge “ethnic voters” to vote for Harper.
    That so many of you either ironically, sarcastically, or actually questioned who Arcade Fire was is just so telling. You folk should get out once in a while.
    Just to clear things up for you all. Arcade Fire are the Nickelback of intelligent Canadians. They are a lot like Nickelback except that along with immense commercial success, Arcade Fire are internationally critically acclaimed, the members of the band are articulate and well educated, and they don’t wear wife beaters and drink cheap beer.

  28. Bill Stewart, I do understand what you’re saying. However, I think something that’s interesting over the last 10 plus internet years is that in the past, one would hear of major cultural figures regardless of what media one paid attention to.
    I view myself as a person who tries to pay attention to the world, but I honestly don’t know anything about the Khardashians or Jessica Simpson (other than I see them on the covers of magazines so they must be famous for something). The explosion of information sources, combined with pull technologies as opposed to push, means that it’s quite possible to remain isolated from cultural figures important to other segments of the population, in this case perhaps on a generational basis. Hope I am writing clearly! Cheers.

  29. @Erik:
    I was just having a bit of fun. That people around here don’t know who Arcade Fire doesn’t really bother me -I’m a little surprised considering the band’s level of popularity and respect worldwide, and that the band is Canadian.
    Although the “foreigner” stuff does bother me. Why? Firstly, it’s totally hypocritical. When Harper trotted out a Bollywood star to woo the Indian community in Brampton, I didn’t hear a peep about foreigners meddling with our elections. Moreover, in the case of Arcade Fire, he’s married to a Canadian, studied in Montreal, and now makes his home there.
    Secondly, the whole Conservative attack on Ignatieff questioning his loyalty and Canadianness is pure disingenuous bs. Fortunately for the Conservatives, as government they’re able not only to get a head start framing election issues, but they were also pretty adept at using tax payer money to fund their propaganda. Anyone who’s objective sees right through this. The ads are meant simply to act like spurs in the side of xenophobic hateful Conservatives.
    You can’t possible question Ignatieff’s motives for running nor his attachment to Canada. And I say this as one of his detractors. I despise Ignatieff, but for ideological reasons -he’s a neocon who supported the US invasion of Iraq, who defends American exceptionalism on the world stage, who defends torture by American patriots.
    That Conservatives don’t know who Arcade Fire is, and that they have a problem with their lead singer being born outside Canada wouldn’t be a problem if it weren’t part of a larger symptom of Conservatives surrounding themselves in a bubble of ignorance and misinformation that leads to a major disconnect with a larger world that is increasing globalized.
    To wit, because of the Tea Party and irresponsible media like Fox, over 50% of Republicans in the US are birthers. This would be funny if it weren’t so serious. Conservative Americans have isolated themselves so much and locked themselves inside a right wing information bubble, that they actually believe Obama is ineligible for the presidency because he is not a natural born citizen (the corollary of course, is that it’s even worse, Obama’s really a Muslim).
    btw the same goes for climate change

  30. Bill Stewart just said that climate change is a birther. He also said this: “You can’t possible question Ignatieff’s motives for running nor his attachment to Canada”.
    Now stop trying to be hip.

  31. Bill Stewart – the Conservative ads about Ignatieff are absolutely juvenile and make me embarrassed. It’s like they are produced by eighth graders, (no insult to eighth graders).
    The nice thing about being a Conservative is that you stand on principles, as opposed to Liberals that blow in the wind. I do take your point about foreigners, etc, because if a foreign hip rocker then comes out in favour of Harper, it would be hypocritical to say – great! (a Hipster for Harper? I can dream, can’t I??)
    Both right and left live in their own bubbles. I’ve spent time on the HuffPost, and man, my face melts when I read some of the opinions expressed there.

  32. “Just to clear things up for you all. Arcade Fire are the Nickelback of intelligent Canadians.”
    You’re right. They’re pretentious and boring.

  33. “I object to the implication that a musician is automatically less entitled to make their opinions known than a mechanic or a bartender.”
    Find me a mechanic with nearly 3000 news stories devoted to his voting preference and we’re on.

  34. “I object to the implication that a musician is automatically less entitled to make their opinions known than a mechanic or a bartender.”
    Find me a mechanic with nearly 3000 news stories devoted to his voting preference and we’re on.- Kate
    Oh, so people should be penalized for their success now? You don’t sound very Rand-ian.
    Arcade Fire made themselves multi-millionaires through doing their own thing their own way. Now, because they voice an opinion you don’t like, they shouldn’t speak out on issues that concern them.
    Of course, if their opinion went the opposite direction, you wouldn’t have any problem with them voicing it. Because you’re a tiresome partisan hack.
    Instead of whining that they shouldn’t voice their opinion because they get more attention than your local car mechanic, why not simply counter with another innovative indie band that’s managed to make millions of dollars and win a Grammy while not compromising their vision, who endorses Harper?
    Good luck findin’ that one, sis! (and I wonder why…?)
    😉

  35. Yes, Black Mamba I actually said climate change is a Muslim terrorist posing as a Black Christian natural born American citizen.
    I was referring to the fact that many conservatives live in such an isolationist information/ideological bubble that they actually believe either that climate change is a complete hoax, or that the two sides are on equally valid and supported. The evidence and science around climate change should be subjected to ongoing scrutiny, but to think that climate change denial is as equally defensible and supportable position is to be completely misinformed and out of touch.
    And yes Mamba, I think it’s grossly unfair to question Ignatieff’s sincerity and in running for PM. I know many politicians of all stripes, and the one thing I never question is their sincerity in running. Elected office generally represents a pronounced salary cut for the politician, and a marked increase in work, mostly thankless grinding work. And having seen what it takes to get elected, I tip my hat to all politicians for the tireless work they put in. Now I’m not naive enough to ignore that there’s some narcissism and a want of power that also drives politicians. But I would never question their hard work and commitment.
    There are so many other reason to despise Harper and Ignatieff, I don’t need to resort to questioning their motives for running for office. It is enough that they are.
    @Erik:”(a Hipster for Harper? I can dream, can’t I??)”
    Harper did one better, he publicly trotted out a Bollywood Punjabi foreigner (the Justin Bieber of the Indo-Canadian community in Bramptom), got everyone to squeal like smitten little girls and then told them to vote for Stephen Harper. Apparently Akshay doesn’t quite get the FPTP electoral system in which we actually vote for local candidates.
    btw, Erik the principles stuff is so lame. Surely any principled conservative (I actually believe there once was such a thing -we used to call them Red Tories before they became extinct) of today would abandon Stephen Harper (he has completely abandoned both his fiscal and social conservatism).

  36. No one said that Arcade Fire shouldn’t voice their opinion or vote for the party of their choice.
    ‘Only problem is, why should/would the Canadian media make such a big deal out of their anti-Harper views? Wait a minute! Is it it because the media don’t like him, either? We know that if Arcade Fire weren’t fans of Ignatieff or Layton, their views would never surface.
    That’s the issue here: free media shilling and advertising for the LPC and equally free media slagging of and target practice on PM Harper and his party.
    The CBC (Conservative Bashing Corporation) at its best.

  38. If you were Arcade Fire, why wouldn’t you Hate Harper?..especially when you are part of a scene that relies on the largess of the Canadian populace to exist? A scene that is so incestuous and filled with leftists that it becomes nothing more than a large tax payer funded circle jerk?
    Self made Millionaires?
    Only after the boat was lifted from dry dock and sent down the river.

  39. batb at 9:59 AM: “Prime Minister Stephen Harper hated by Press Gallery”
    ======================
    And if the feeling is mutual, Harper is just like the rest of us.

  40. Yeah, Louise, the feeling is mutual, ‘only difference being that I can’t damage the PPG and they can’t damage me, but they sure can — and have — done a number on our PM.
    The word used in French was “detestent,” which means the same thing in English, detest, hate, revile, etc. I only wish that we had a professional journalist class in Canada instead of a bunch of biased, partisan, left-lib scumbags whose assignment seems to be to scuttle the CPC and our PM and bring the Liberal$ back to power.
    You’d think we were living in a totalitarian regime — something, astonishingly way-over-the-top, the PPG thinks we are under PM Harper’s government. I’d invite them to live in a genuine totalitarian country to find out what the difference is. They don’t seem to be able to figure it out for themselves.
    No wonder viewer and readerships are way down. I hardly watch TV and seldom pick up a newspaper or magazine. These guys are going to be the authors of their own demise — and they’ll be scratching their heads wondering what went wrong?
    Wake up and smell the coffee, idiots!

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