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The Republicans and consequently many long-time or very long-time fans did not take it well when Willie Nelson decided for the first time to participate in a strictly political initiative, declaring his support and actively participating in the electoral campaign for Beto O'Rourke, the progressive Democratic candidate for the Senate for the state of Texas, who in November will challenge Republican Senator Ted Cruz.
It must be said that old Willie has always been clearly an idol among Republicans, as how could it be otherwise for the living legend of country music, a popular artist in the true sense of the term, but who has always had distinctly liberal positions: he is known for having always supported the legalization of soft drugs, as well as his commitment to the environment and animal protection. He is historically a friend of the Clinton and Obama families and has opposed the war in Iraq and supported gay rights, political and ideological positions that, after all, do not necessarily contradict Republican ideology. Willie Nelson is a great musician, a legend, an icon, but also what every American would define as a good patriot. His political choice in this sense can only be understood if we consider the particular situation of the United States of America, which is not much different from the rest of the Western world, and which sees as president a figure that is anti-democratic and against every value that even every Republican would share. Just think of the series of pathetic statements on the occasion of McCain's death and those related to September 11th.
In short, it seems that some of his fans are abandoning him, but honestly, I don't think Willie cares much about this, nor do I think this concerns his longtime fans, who, after all, are not solely from the Republican electorate, and then Texas itself, often considered by many as a rough place inhabited by cowboys, has many faces, and in the end, it is also one of the richest places for the most progressive counterculture. Thus, at a time when America is divided in two, much like Europe, on matters that at this point are basic, Willie comes out with yet another new album entitled "My Way," in which he reprises 11 pieces from the repertoire of his old friend Frank Sinatra.
Yes, exactly Frank Sinatra and yes, you are right: the idea is not original. It is the same path taken by another pillar of American music and not only, that is the greatest songwriter of all time, Bob Dylan. Coincidence? Yes and no. Evidently, both musicians, with different paths and a different cultural and ideological root, after a long journey have decided to return to the origins, to the heart of American culture of the first half of the century. A desire that is partly due to the beauty of the songs and those sounds, an exercise also in style (the album is clearly arranged and played in a delightful manner), but above all, ideally at this point an additional bridge, a glue between all the pieces of the more historical component of the United States. It is clear that ideally, after all, Willie Nelson and even more Frank Sinatra, do not necessarily appeal to the African-American population firstly, or to immigrants from Mexico and Central and Latin America, but the choice evidently nonetheless has ideological connotations.
Willie Nelson, with this album produced by the usual Buddy Cannon with Matt Rollings (featuring Norah Jones, who duets in "What Is This Thing Called Love") sends a message to that middle class, trying to call them to order and abandon that drift of "white supremacy" which, even in a country certainly full of contradictions, should be considered surpassed by all sides. It probably won't be enough, because when people don't want to see, they don't see and when they don't want to listen, they don't listen, but Willie remains a great example in any case in a world where it's said that democratic forces have abdicated, he proves this is not true: certain contingent situations exist and are dominant, even overwhelming, but the renunciation is all within your head.
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