Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand here’s where I get cancelled.
I’m not going to have a political discussion here, so if you’re looking for a monologue that you can use as fodder for your deepfake video, you’re not gonna get it. (Nyah, nyah)
However, I should probably state my own personal opinion, so you at least have a basis for the what comes next. (Begin cancellation in 10…9…)
If I lose readers, I lose readers. Although, I don’t have any readers, so this shouldn’t worry me too much.
I am a proud ally for the LGBTQ+ community. I believe:
Love is love.
Black Lives Matter.
Science is real.
Feminism is for everyone.
No human is illegal.
Kindness is everything.
There you go. It’s not everything, but it’s enough to make you understand where I’m coming from.
Ahh, I can almost hear those website-closing-clicks now…
This past weekend, 7 million people who agree with me took to the streets in a protest against authoritarian rule. I could not attend because 1) I’m allergic to big crowds of people, 2) My kids had stuff to do and I’m their chauffeur, and 3) It was my birthday so shut up.
Okay, the real reason I don’t go to protest marches is because I don’t believe they do anything. (Sorry, HERE’S where I get cancelled)
It’s not that I’m against protests or believe that the act of protesting should be illegal. Far from it. I just don’t understand what practical benefits a protest can bring. I mean, it seems to me like people gather together, walk some distance, and then leave. What gets accomplished besides everyone getting exercise?
I’ve felt this way for years. I’m a practical guy-I believe the “how” something gets done is far more important than the “why” something gets done. (Don’t even get me started on philosophy…)
On Saturday, I began to understand the purpose of protest marching. Honestly, seeing that many people protest actually gave me hope for the future. It told me I wasn’t alone (which I felt like I was) and that my fears are not unwarranted. (which I thought they were)
I swear I’m getting to a cappella music…
But the practical side of me doesn’t see any change happening. I believe that if you want to change something, you do something about it or you vote. Protests, I thought, did not accomplish either of those things. (Nope, HERE’S where I get cancelled)
Here’s my point (this is where the a cappella comes in). If you want the change to happen, if you feel helpless in the face of uncertainty, you have the power to do something about it.
Music has been at the center of every major protest since the 60’s. (That’s a guess, I’m sure it’s earlier than that) A good earworm stays in the brain much longer than a famous quote. Music stirs the soul much more than a good speech.
We are living in a divided, hostile, somewhat precarious time and many people feel powerless to do anything about it. They hide their head in the sand like an ostrich and wait for everything to blow over.
But…staying silent is letting them win.
Are you telling me your group can’t sing a protest song in the staircase of your college building?
Are you telling me your group can’t record a single and release it on Spotify?
Are you telling me your group has NOTHING to say about our current climate?
I get it. Believe me I get it. You don’t want to ruffle any feathers, you don’t want to piss anyone off, you don’t want to be targeted by someone who disagrees with you.
Release the song anonymously. It’s better than doing nothing.
I stayed politically neutral for years. I felt like if I stay out of the discussion, then everyone can enjoy my music and I could grow my fanbase from anywhere.
But it’s been 8 years and I don’t have any fans. I guess I have nothing to lose.
And if you’re reading this blog (all 10 of you), I’m guessing you’re not a member of Pentatonix, so it’s probably safe to say that your fanbase is about as big as mine. That means you have nothing to lose.
Music can change the world. We sing music. Ergo, we can change the world.
Am I cancelled yet?
Marc Silverberg
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