Star power
Armand Auger
Thank you so much for your fantastic article featuring 42 artists and their thoughts and feelings regarding the Federal Marriage Amendment [“Stars Speak Out,” April 27]. It is one of the best articles I’ve seen in the media on this important subject. It sure paints a very sad picture of George W. R shows how desperate he is to cling to his conservative base for votes for reelection. This man is truly sick and pathetic. I urge everyone to vote this man out of office.
Armand Auger, via the Internet
For all of the 42 music stars who voiced their opinions against the Federal Marriage Amendment, I am very grateful. What surprised me was that so many classical musicians joined this illustrious group of pop artists. These classical “heroes” all have one thing in common: They studied the greatest music ever written in the past 400 years. These ‘artists represent the only living link with those great composers and surely, while “rubbing shoulders” with them, soaked up hundreds of their ideas to channel their wisdom, experience, beauty, and love to spellbound audiences worldwide.
For sure it will be a long journey till “all people become brothers, but maybe a record of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony and other musical treasures could switch on a light to usher President Bush into the 21st century. (Just don’t challenge him with Tchaikovsky!)
Peter Clauss, Laguna Woods, Calif.
I am certain you contacted stars in all genres for “Stars Speak Out,” as there was a diversity of respondents in print. For obvious reasons, there were no letters from Christian-gospel artists, and none were expected. However, the gap that concerns me is in the arena of country-western and bluegrass–the music of the “American heartland.”
Has the backlash against the Dixie Chicks for Natalie Maines’s anti-Bush comments made the entire Nashville community fearful of taking a stance in favor of gay marriage? Aren’t any of today’s crooning cowboys brave enough to embrace their growing gay fan base? Their marketing machines have well-crafted campaigns to lure dollars from gay fans with sexy lyrics, videos, and wardrobes, along with shrewd publicists to spin the teasing without jeopardizing the loyalties of heterosexual fans. Where’s the integrity in that?
And while contributions were solicited from heterosexual artists, I can’t even think of a gay country performer these days.
Steven Talbert, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
In your coverage of the marriage issue, it is puzzling to me that you spend twice as many pages on the opinions of music “stars” as you do on those of congressional leaders. Whatever one thinks of Sen. Orrin Hatch and of Lou Reed, the stand taken by the former carries much more weight, even if, granted, I would very much rather spend an evening with the latter.
Marco Janssen, Los Angeles, Calif.
Your April 27 Music Issue cover, featuring Pink, gets my vote for the worst Advocate cover I’ve seen since becoming a subscriber two years ago. The only other person who would present a scarier cover shot would be Yoko Ono.
Bill Nalevanko, Olyphant, Pa.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Liberation Publications, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group
