Jack White v. Kele (Bloc Party): It's On!
Apparently Kele is not a fan of Jack White's 'politics' and basically thinks he's a money-hungry asshole.I don't know why in the world he'd think such a thing!
Oh yes, wait, I do.
This just in from Kele, via NME: "It was amazing when Jack White said it wasn't his job to be critical about foreign policy because he was being paid to be an entertainer.
I thought that was treacherous because it's complicit with the capitalist society. Selling more records is the only thing that's important to him, not provoking debate."
Sorry, Laura, but The Music Slut's on Team Kele, for sure.
MP3: Bloc Party - This Modern Love
Labels: bloc party, jack white, social cause
posted by m | 7:26 AM
18 Comments:
Listen, Jack White has a right not to care about politics, and if he does, he has a right not to tell people how he feels. Personally I think Kele is retarded and just wants to pick a fight; He's just mad that he and everyone else knows that The Raconteurs are 100x better than Bloc Party.
hahahaha here we go again!
Yeah sure Jack cares SO MUCH about money that's why he makes music that is completely different from the kind of music that always makes it to the top of the charts. Surrre. So do you agree that Jack should be more vocal politically or do you just agree with this guy for saying all Jack cares about is money? Seriously, name me at least 5 songs on Get Behind Me Satan that were guaranteed hitmaking chart toppers. You can't do it can you? I'll go ahead list some for you; Blue Orchid, Denial Twist, My Doorbell, Forever For Her. Wow FOUR SONGS with hit potential on a 13 song album. Yeah a guy who cares SOOO MUCH about making money doesn't write songs like The Nurse. Did you ever think maybe the Stripes are asking for so much for their next record deal because they want to see who exactly would be willing enough to do things their way? You know maybe they are testing the waters. See who wants them bad enough. The only reason you're still pissed at Jack is because of the Coke ad, which aired ONCE and probably won't be aired EVER again.
hardcore jack white fans scare me.
Why? Just because I think Jack creates his music honestly without thinking of how well it will sell? I think that is a statement of fact.
Ok maybe not fact, but I do think it is something that can be inferred judging by the kind of music he makes.
These people are obviously more intelligent than you Music Slut.
http://www.stereogum.com/archives/004472.html#comments
You only agree with Kele cuz Jack wrote a song for a Coke ad.
First off, even if I agreed with Jack White's disregard for the social atrocities committed by Coke, I still would not think The Raconteurs were a better band than Bloc Party.
Second, so what if we agree with Kele because of Jack White and the Coke thing? And SO WHAT if his commercial only aired once? The point was not how many times it aired but that it was done in the first place. Liking "the green stuff" over what is socially and morally right does make someone an asshole, I'm sorry.
I don't think Jack White is an inherently bad person but I do think that everyone, no matter how famous or rich they are, has a responsibility to at least try and do what is right and good for their fellow man. Jack White doesn't have to give a rat's ass about politics but if we are not going to hold our idols responsible for their actions, or challenge them on their choices, then we aren't doing our part either. We are the generation that has put in more volunteer hours and spent more time and money on political issues than any other. Be proud of that and don't say "it is just rock and roll" because it was never just "rock and roll," it was always about challenging authority and making a change.
Did you ever stop to think for one second that Jack did not know about the shit the Coke company has caused and when he found out it was already too late? Super Furry Animals came extremely close to doing a Coke commercial, in fact they were going to do it until they heard about Coke's bad record. Did you ever think maybe Jack wasn't told or found out about it? Jack has been a Coke lover for years and maybe he naively believed them to be a good company. You can tell Jack is naive in many interviews and that is probably a big reason he doesn't discuss politics because he isn't that well-informed. Furthermore, Jack is on record as saying he wanted to work for Coke as far back as 2002...
http://s36.photobucket.com/albums/e41/ShayleeC/Videos/?action=view¤t=NVEExport.flv
I think Jack just made an ignorant decision based on how much he loves the brand. I do believe he has a good heart and maybe the reason the Coke ad has never aired is because he had second thoughts and told them not to show it.
PS
I agree that the Raconteurs suck, but are you still a White Stripes fan, JK?
Since you put a link up top to the article about the new record deal as proof that Jack is a money-grubbing asshole, then it's obvious you don't understand what exactly that deal entails. It means that the label will have to work harder for the band, which will give the White Stripes the upperhand as opposed to the traditional label/artist relationship. It's great business savvy and gives Jack more power than most. Most artists would kill for a one album deal. Who would want to be tied down to the same label for a 5 album span if the label isn't doing anything for them? Obviously V2 wasn't doing enough for the band and that is why they are using this tactic to make sure the next label they sign to works harder for them.
I think it's obvious that this Bloc Party guy is just picking a fight for the publicity, cause I haven't thought of the band until I read this. Just another indie band, right. A lot of people seem to agree that it's ridiculous. What type of person calls someone out for minding their own business? Sounds like a nice guy, really.
Anonymous, have you even read the interview? that statement is a tiny fragment of the interview, and i believe Kele was not 'picking a fight'. i think he was making a pretty reasonable statement. the whole concept of their lastest album is about tackling poltical and other contemporary issues. it's also a personal record to Kele. the fact that you haven't heard of them means the square route of fuck all! and the Coke add that jack white did, wasn't even mentioned, neither was money.
jack white has only ever wrote one, barely listenable album in his entire musical career. he's been over-hyped, in my opinion.
Ok, first off, dissing Kele, one of the few people in the music business who you can trust truly believes in the music he's writing, and to go to lengths to call him retarted is an automatic cop-out from the uneducated listner.
Both bands are good and have accomplished much, and Kele was merely making a comment. I don't think he dislikes Jack White, Jack just prooves to be a medium through which Kele can call out some of the sell outs of America.
Sorry for the double post but I had to get this off my chest.
I can't believe the nerve and the blind hate some 'Anonymous's' have for Bloc Party. Do any of these people have any idea what Kele accompished and continues to push through. Like I said...
ONE OF THE FEW BANDS OUT THERE TODAY WRITING MUSIC FOR MUSIC'S SAKE, BACK OFF. Let Jack fight his battle, I really don't think he cares that much anyway.
The ignorant listner is at it again blindly attacking music, this time at Kele.
kele was wrong to say this about jack white. jack white says he doesnt write about politics because he doesnt know enough about politics to be able to comment about it. does kele think that every band in the world should write about politics?
jack white's lyrics are still meaningful, they are about personal relationships between people.
kele okereke's are deep, meaningful and rather dark - and about politics (well, in the new album). Thats great no questioning that. Bloc Party are one of my favourite bands, but he is just picking a silly fight, as he tends to do, hes a very disinchanted individual who doesnt know where he belongs.
jack white certainly isnt in it for the money, the white stripes are so raw and passionate and (particualy in the earlier albums) lo-fi and have not been over-produced. jack isnt intrested in getting a top ten hit, or provoking political debate.
he wants to make people happy and passionate about his music, which a great deal of people are.
i love jack and kele, but kele is wrong to say this.
Dear Planeteyes:
the fact that you haven't heard of them means the square route of fuck all!
That is probably my favourite comment ever. Thank you!
I know this discussion is long over but just wanted to say art is art and politics is politics and some artists choose to recognize that. Art can transcend politics in the spiritual way. That's what I especially love about Jack and that's unique about him. He takes you away into his own unique perspective on things. I love his world. I enjoy it much more than my own. I hope he always just tries to get himself off and takes me along.
"White Americans, what?/Nothing better to do?/Why don't you get kick yourself out?/You're an immigrant too?"-Icky Thump, The White Stripes
Kele, Bloc Party, is a talented, toe-tapping pop act. He'll have his run and then vanish, then likely return a bit though relegated to the realm of nostalgia. Jack White is an obtuse eccentric -- a nerd, an introvert, a geek, pick your term -- with a guitar. His work will survive as classic turn-of-the-century rock. Perhaps carefully selecting the "political" issues to which he devotes hours pondering has allowed him far more time to develop his musical talent. On top of which, White has a track record of honestly answering when asked what he thinks about topics from politics to contemporary technology; his answers are often complex but indeed quite moderate and thoughtful, yet they are interpreted as damnation of all elements of modern society, and he is then maligned for his opinions and at the same time held to an impossible luddite standard.
And foreign policy? By foreign policy we must certainly mean war, and one war in particular. Stupid, silly wars fought for every reason and no reason come and go now, then and forever. Welcome to the human race. If there's any one subject worth withholding an opinion upon, it's war. Unless of course White has a solution to this issue of large-scale human aggression. Considering no one else has ever had a solution, I doubt he does, either. So what, really, can he offer besides wasted time on pithy comments, or lyrics, ultimately to no purpose?
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