Not often do you see a U.S. Senator and a lo-fi indie singer in the same place, but it happened last weekend. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, joined by Representative Maxwell Frost of Florida, paid a visit to Indio, California to give the crowd encouragement in relation to the political state of the country.
Sanders, who has just come from a rally in Los Angeles, presentented to the crowd and encouraged them to stand up for their country. He declared that “we need you to stand up and fight for women’s rights!… We need you to help us to create an economy that works well for everybody, not just the 1%… We need you to stand up to the insurance companies, and the drug companies, and understand that healthcare is a human right,” according to The Nation. Sanders has never shied away from stating his political views, however, this was still a surprise to many festival-goers.
Straying from just the U.S., Sanders also acknowledged the war in the Middle East. When mentioning Clairo’s political activism, he states that she’s helping “to try and end the terrible, brutal war in Gaza where thousands… of children and women are being killed.” Furthermore, Sanders explained his support for racial, social, and economic justice in the U.S. and is connecting with the current generation to fight for their future, according to The Nation.
Using a platform, whether political or musical, to showcase a political standpoint has become an important thing for rising stars and artists. While some decide to shy away from the light, artists such as Clairo come forwards to raise awareness or just express opinions on important issues all over the world. According to Betches, many other artists recently transitioned into speaking out about politics including Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, and Beyoncé.
In contrast, new artists such as Chappel Roan have done the opposite, as stated in Betches. In an interview on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, she stated that it was “impossible to be f**king so politically educated.” She then asked her fans, “Why the f**k are you looking to me for some political answer?” Her aggressive demeanor is not unusual for her brand, however, after speaking about political issues before, this was a shock for her audience. She received a lot of backlash due to this, contrasting all the support she got when she went viral.
While in the past it was advised to stay out of politics when in the public eye, the current state of politics demands an opinion from people. Whether it is an influence, singer, or artist, the impact of words and support for a cause can easily influence people to stand up for their opinions with their idols. When you switch up on the audience and constantly ask them for more, it is less likely the influence will travel as far or deep.
