Booing Bushleaguer

CJMST3K

clydefro wrote:

At the NJ show tonight, Ed commented on the last time they were in the area that there was some unhappiness in the crowd when they played Bushleaguer (referencing the Uniondale '03 show). He then said they were not going to play that song tonight, but asked how many people would boo if they did. To my surprise, there were a very large number of boos. I don't understand how, after everything that has gone on in this country, people still feel a need to boo a song critical of GWB.

I was a little disgusted and uncomfortable at the crowd's reaction. I would have loved to tell the band that I'm sure plenty of people would welcome Bushleaguer and any other songs critical of this administration. The funny thing is that at the Nashville '03 show, people had no problem at all with the song and TN is a much more conservative state than NJ or NY. Anyway, I'm just a little stunned at the crowd's reaction tonight and confused.

Ed asked an honest question. The crowd gave an honest answer. It was probably less than half, but who knows...

I think it was really cool of Ed to ask.

julesnj

Yeah I was there listening to the "boos" - I was pissed - I thought we had Freedom of Speech here in the good old USA - but I guess not - some jerk in behind me was even rude enough to scream "shut up & sing" what a friggin asshole he was - hope hes not there Sat night & I hope they play it - its a great song - and I wanted to hear it - but I have a small voice was in section 4 & no way anyone would of heard me give my vote.

pghas

CJMST3K wrote:

Ed asked an honest question. The crowd gave an honest answer. It was probably less than half, but who knows...

I think it was really cool of Ed to ask.

But I do believe they had absolutely no intention of playing it. I think Ed wanted to see how offensive the song seemed to people in the here and now, and truthfully, I think that even though few still like Bush, most dont care to have their PJ concery turn so overtly political as I discussed above.

High Fidelity 2000

I am surprised at that too. People are idiots, that's why they would boo. If people actually paid attention to what was going on in the world, ONE, they wouldn't have elected Bush (although it was probably stolen anyway), and TWO, they would be embarrassed as all hell like the rest of us are at this point. It pisses me off to see people that still have Bush Cheney bumper stickers on their cars at this point in history...I wanna scream at them ARE YOU REALLY PROUD TO ADMIT THAT YOU SUPPORTED HIM, AFTER EVERYTHING THAT'S GONE ON?!!! or DO YOU REALLY WANNA ADMIT BEING PART OF THE DUMBEST 29% OF THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW?! Something like that.

We should all be embarrassed. And I admit, Bushleaguer is not the best song, so there are lots of other songs I'd rather hear than it. But those people that STILL support Bush, after everything, just need to wake up and admit they're wrong. It's not so hard to do.

High Fidelity 2000

julesnj wrote:

some jerk in behind me was even rude enough to scream "shut up & sing" what a friggin asshole he was - hope hes not there Sat night & I hope they play it - .

Oh hey, it's the same assholes from '03! I have the boot and I hate the guy screaming "Play some rock and roll!" Good to see they didn't let a little thing like putting down the president stop them from coming back to see their favorite band. Ha ha ha.

ramblings6

All last night, I was just hoping that the crowd misunderstood and that people were actually booing Bush and not the song. I know this is wishful thinking. I guess I'm just confused about how people can listen to an album like Riot Act or the Avocado (or even Binaural to some extent) when they do not agree with what is being said. I know there are people on these boards who don't agree politically with Pearl Jam, and I would like to understand how they can continue listening to a band that is so political when they don't agree with the message. I'm not trying to be disrespectful, I'm just trying to understand.

sampler

ramblings6 wrote:

All last night, I was just hoping that the crowd misunderstood and that people were actually booing Bush and not the song. I know this is wishful thinking. I guess I'm just confused about how people can listen to an album like Riot Act or the Avocado (or even Binaural to some extent) when they do not agree with what is being said. I know there are people on these boards who don't agree politically with Pearl Jam, and I would like to understand how they can continue listening to a band that is so political when they don't agree with the message. I'm not trying to be disrespectful, I'm just trying to understand.

i totally agree. to love pearl jam and be conservative is to be a fan that doesn't give a shit what the lyrics say.

Johnapj

Dont ya think the reason he did this was to open a debate kike he said. People have hiden agendas. And the crowd was confused I was on the floor. HE said wer not going to play it adn people booed and then when people were boing he said but if we were. He didnt make it clear cut. It ended with chears when he did finally make it clear cut. And rember outside of ny evry one who elected bush was because of his morals not his poliics check the records. it was plastere alll over cnn,fox, nbc,cbs...the reson because he loves jesus and he dont ant gays to marry. Got a rember if you dont live in the city or near one. You have a closed of view. Damn look at Ohio worst recession they ever had,no jobs. They still voted for Bush because...."HE loves jesus".

pjl44

ramblings6 wrote:

All last night, I was just hoping that the crowd misunderstood and that people were actually booing Bush and not the song. I know this is wishful thinking. I guess I'm just confused about how people can listen to an album like Riot Act or the Avocado (or even Binaural to some extent) when they do not agree with what is being said. I know there are people on these boards who don't agree politically with Pearl Jam, and I would like to understand how they can continue listening to a band that is so political when they don't agree with the message. I'm not trying to be disrespectful, I'm just trying to understand.

I think it means that some people are willing to respect others' viewpoints even when they disagree. A notion that is on life support in our current political climate...