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Here's your question and answer of the week from the Punknews Formspring:

Q: What do you think about teenagers trying to write political songs? (i mean since when does a kid have a clue anyway?)

A: Well, you have to start somewhere. I'm all for it. Basically, the best way to learn anything is to just start doing it (including brains surgery). The political songs of young people might be silly sometimes, but you sort of have to work through that before you can form more complex ideas. There are some artists that start making amazing art right off the bat, but a much greater percentage have to work through the junk first.

Also, in general, younger people have fewer influences simply because they haven't been exposed to as much music. Often, lack of outside influence results in some of the most interesting engaging art.

Every so often, I'm blown away about how articulate some young people are. Jesse Michaels wrote "Knowledge" when he was 17 or 18, and really, that song speaks to fundamental truths.

Ice Cube wrote "Fuck the Police" when he was 18 (or at least his verse and the refrain). Not only did that song express something that hadn't been as directly expressed before, but it's a great song with super clever lyrics.

Ian Mackaye wrote "Straight Edge" when he was about 18. That also gives rise to the interesting point that hundreds of thousands (maybe millions) of people base their life off the words from an 18 year old.

Heck, even though Dog Party isn't strictly a political band, they are making amazing music at 15 and 17.

By contrast, this song was written by a 29-year-old.

So maybe older people have more political knowledge, but I think the effect of age on the skill and profundity of songs is minimal.

-John G

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