The video of Pink singing Dear Mr President live in New York City is on YouTube, and you can access it via this link.
It’s only a mildly interesting video, but worth a watch so you know what all the fuss is about. It’s certainly better than the official video release, which is naîve in the extreme.
The main problem is that the song is not very good. Pink’s sincerity is not in question, though if she wants to be taken completely seriously she would have to stop advertising Pepsi.
And although the song isn’t interesting, the fall-out from its release, certainly is. We see, once again, that any criticism of the American government’s policies, brings forth an immediate, violent and personal attack from Bush supporters, quite out-of-proportion to the sentiment expressed.
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May 2nd, 2006 at 4:57 pm
Wow, that would be a long list of musicians if we had to disregard everyone who hawked some product. Or, is it only Pepsi you have a problem with?
May 2nd, 2006 at 6:35 pm
Thanks for the comment, Russ. Yes, of course I have a problem with Pepsi. Doesn’t everyone? A company that manufactures, promotes and sells, slow, teeth-rotting, poison to kids; and all for the sake of making money? I want a better world than that.
But I also have a problem with the hawkers. As far as advertising and marketing are concerned I’m with the late Bill Hicks.
What the industry excels in is the hiring of any kind of celebrity and paying them enormous sums of cash to tell us, and our children, lies on television while we’re in the comfort of our own homes.
Many people admire, identify with, and trust these people, and are, therefore, easily persuaded to part with their money when a celebrity, like Pink (or anyone else on the long list you refer to) gives the nod to a product made up almost entirely of hype.
May 4th, 2006 at 10:37 pm
The sad thing for me is how blunt it is. Not blunt in a crassly witty way, but…artless. It’s hardly a side-swipe. It’s hardly satire. It seems like a grown-up equivalent of “you smell” flung across the playground.
Political commentary shouldn’t ever be twee.
May 4th, 2006 at 11:02 pm
Well I agree with the blogger on this one.
When an artists only lasting imprint on my mind is an advertisment then I know that I can disregard them and the product they endorse;)