I don't know if the commenter was trying to be funny.

But somewhere in the weekend's back and forth about Neil Young's politics making their way into his performance, someone wrote "Shut up and sing!"

Reminded me of an exchange I had several years ago with someone angry that James Taylor holds left-of-center views. (Taylor had shared some of those opinions during a show at the Arena.)

I don't remember exactly what I said to this man, but I did suggest that Taylor's views were not exactly a secret.

Anyway, I was wondering. Do right-wing performers also get political during concerts?

I'm not talking about Ted Nugent. I'm thinking of performers with at least some musical relevance.

My sampling of country concerts is small, so I'm asking. (That Dixie Chicks flap from a  few years ago would seem to be the exception that proves the rule about country music's comfort with right-wing politics. Still, I suspect those leanings are trumped by controversy-avoiding commercial concerns.)

So what have you witnessed? Do liberal singers have conservative counterparts?

My guess is that, on the right, it is more about performance patriotism than actual critiques of public policy positions. But I can't honestly say.

I suppose when celebrities appear with political candidates, that is an example. But I'm really more interested in what performers say in the context of their concerts.

What have you heard singers say on stage?

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