Talking the talk

In the last couple of years since the green movement has started gaining mainstream acceptance, we've had all kinds of musical artists climbing up on the soapbox to extol the virtues of greener living. Whether it's Bono giving his latest speech about saving the planet, or Sheryl Crow advocating more responsible toilet paper use, we've gotten used to hearing from celebrities and musicians about this kind of stuff. Some artists have even started implementing greener touring methods, such as using alternative fuels in their buses. But, if there's anything that I've learned from watching celebrities preach about causes, it's this: People don't like it. For many, a rich actor or rock star going on and on about world issues comes off as condescending. Even many political candidates are rejecting endorsements from celebrities because the attention they receive is often negative.

All that being said, why don't more bands and artists just sing about these issues instead? A nice catchy pop song or fist-pumping rock anthem about the planet would certainly be an easier pill for fans to swallow than another sermon given at a press conference. If you look at the kinds of bands that do things like play Live Earth or are the most vocal about conservation, it's hard to find any of them that actually write songs about the problems that they want to address. U2? Nope. Coldplay? Not really.

Sure, you might say that it would sound a little weird for bands to sing about how much they love trees and the outdoors, but if some bands can write appealing and insightful songs about politics, surely they can do the same about the environment. Maybe the key is to do it in unorthodox and creative ways. Take the song "Forest King" by the thrash metal band 3 Inches of Blood. The lyrics are about creatures of the forest that come to life and fight back against men who try to destroy their habitat. Sure, the idea may be a little silly, but can you think of a better way to send an Earth-friendly message to a bunch of surly metalheads? Some artists take a more straight-forward approach, like folk-rock artist Chuck Ragan, formerly of the now-reunited punk rock legends Hot Water Music. His song "It's What You Will" from the album Feast or Famine has the line "Mind the world that's dying, it isn't yours to kill." It's a nice sentiment about being kind to the Earth without beating the listener over the head with slogans and preaching.

So, before rock bands plan their next hyped up benefit concert or pet cause, maybe they should reconsider and figure out a way to get their message out in a more palatable way. After all, they are songwriters first and foremost, so what better way to get the word out?