Other People by Michelle Shocked

Michelle Shocked (born Dallas, Texas, February, 1962) is the stage name of … Read Full Bio ↴Michelle Shocked (born Dallas, Texas, February, 1962) is the stage name of Michelle Karen Johnston, an American singer-songwriter.

As a young feminist, she left Texas to travel, Kerouac-style, and was caught up in Reagan-era grassroots politics. Her musical career was ignited by a bootleg recording made around a Kerrville Folk Festival campfire on a Sony walkman. Released in England as ‘The Texas Campfire Tapes’ without Shocked’s authority, its success abroad enticed Mercury Records to offer the newcomer a recording contract.

Her break into U.S. national renown came with the release of her 1988 album Short Sharp Shocked on college radio rotations around the country, which was met with strong acclaim from listeners. On the crest of this independent momentum, her 1989 album Captain Swing on Mercury Records was released.

In 1995, she contributed an original song to the soundtrack for the film Dead Man Walking called "Quality of Mercy". In 1996, she released a studio version of an underground release Kind Hearted Woman (black cover) on the short-lived Private Music label.

Starting in 2002 with the release of Deep Natural, Shocked established her own label, Mighty Sound. She reissued expanded versions of her entire catalog, made possible by having retained complete ownership of her work when she signed with Mercury in 1987.

An acoustic version of her song "How You Play the Game" was featured as the opening and credits soundtrack in the DVD of the 2004 documentary film Bush's Brain.

Shocked continues to make music as an independent artist. In June 2005 she released a trilogy of albums called Threesome (Don't Ask Don't Tell, Mexican Standoff and Got No Strings). In September 2007 she released album ToHeavenURide.

On 12 May 2009 her new album, Soul of My Soul, was released on Mighty Sound (distributed by Megaforce/MRI through RED Distribution).

TRACKS

No Related Genres

More Genres

No Artists Found

More Artists Load All

No Albums Found

No Tracks Found

PT3M42S

04Ballad Of The Battle Of The Ballot And The Bullet Part I: Ugly Americans4:42

Genre not found

Artist not found

Album not found

Search results not found

Song not found

Comments from YouTube:

@lukeguldan4906

3y↑6

I am more 'shocked' by how comfortable the fat guy is in his judgment than anything Michelle Shocked said or how it was interrupted. This panel seems 'anchored down' in their interruption of anything Michelle did or didn't say!!

@skipperiffic

3y↑5

I don't know what she said about homosexuality but she is an interesting person and I wish the panel actually would listen to her music. She is an accomplished singer Songwriter. Great musical artist.

@1anearthling1

11y↑5

It doesn't matter if it feels good . If a person is too involved in sexual or other pleasure they could be drawn towards situations that they might later on wish they avoided . And the things we adults do can strongly influence a person's life or future well being . Sex of any kind , should really be a private , personal experience anyway , so maybe the main thing is to not have undue problems from exsessive desire that controls one's life . In anything we do we just need to watch where we go .

@MilitantPeaceist

11y↑1

Often irrational fear is exhibited as hate.

@jugganaut26

3y↑2

Is there a recording of what Shocked actually said? Does it matter that she was being sarcastic, since she is herself gay? Is it fair that she has been basically disappeared since this happened?

@Einaje

11y↑2

Is their video or audio of this rant? With so many Tweeting about it from the show, I would like to know what she actually said.

@chancoblavez

11y↑2

When he was talking about "Porn stash" i thought he meant facial hair. Id regret shaving a boss stash too

@TomYaz

11y↑13

Michelle is brilliant and is an underrated artist.

@rachaelsdean

6y↑2

I saw her live in Brisbane maybe 6 years ago and she was talking a lot about her partner and using female pronouns about the partner.
This woman was an artist and had done portraits of Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn that were on display behind Michelle Shocked as she performed. She only sung one song that the audience knew, Anchorage, and had forgotten several lines as apparently it had been so long since she had sung it. Most of her songs seemed to be in response to the art of her partner. So I’m not sure what’s happened since then.
I genuinely thought she was a publicly out lesbian.

@sindymace5228

1y↑1

Ahh, I met one of her husband's and her around 2007 and she rocked and was so so cool. I àm the lesbian not her lol

@Theenemy38

11y↑1

when I first saw the picture i though it was john mayer lol

@Cathianne1

11y↑1

As a Grandmom, who is girl-cotting so many things, Walmart, Apple, Chic-fila, ect ect, I will also avoid her and ask my kids/grandchildren about her and let them know we as a family DO NOT HATE. As an atheist, and a moral person, I treat all as I would want to be treated. Shame on her for those words, I wish her peace and understanding and compassion for others.

@Butterflybabexoxo

11y↑1

Why can't I find the actual rant?

@bestvalue

11y↑10

She was being sarcastic when she said to tweet about it. She was commenting on how it would get spun. And she was right because that's exactly what happened thanks to the liberal media.

@shan5963

LMAO, you're an idiot for believing her. Let me guess, you're a God fearing, conservative, people loving CHRISTIAN too?
Christianity is POISON.
You morons honestly believe that crock of BS??? It was all white washed thousands of years ago. You're all just reading the Bible and making it fit YOUR agenda. You're cherry picking the ONLY parts that suit YOUR lifestyle and you honestly believe that's the ONLY lifestyle EVERYONE should live.
F*ck you and f*ck her.

@AngelinaParker

11y

I'm gonna use that for when the time is right. Thank you.

@JMB___n

2y↑2

I love the music Ms Shocked made;
what does this have to do with
her music? If Art is judged by
an artist's politics it isn't art.

@BottleConcreteBlond

11y

It's not what's in your name. It's what's in your heart.

@pchtermino1

11y

When I first read your post I thought you were out of your friggin mind so I googled it. Holy shit!!!! I had no idea. You learn something new everyday.

@TheVoodoobassplayer

11y

I'm not a bird..I'm a duck! And God Hates Birds

@zenbuddah420

6y↑7

They are just confusing ppl by terrible reporting. She is an awesome person.

@AfterAlchemy

11y↑1

I am so very glad that my childhood next door neighbor was gay. He is also intelligent, considerate and generous. None of my siblings could reconcile the bald-faced lies of our fundamentalist church with the reality of Brian. I will always judge my neighbors with him as the yardstick, very few match that man. I wish every kid had that opportunity, excellent remedy for brainwashing.

@Bob-zx7io

11y↑1

I think "two consenting adults and it's none of your business what they do in private" is a pretty rational argument to his objections.

@bengritten189

4y↑1

I'm shocked! Also, I have never seen such bad subtitles in my whole life! They are hilarious!! I feel really sorry for those who have to depend on them.

@dobbylives8365

I met her in the late nineties after a concert where she allowed me to get on the stage and sing with her….
Our conversation was 95% about her performance that night
I found it odd, how much reassurance she appeared to need🤔

@MrBassoProfundo

11y

Where's the footage of her saying the so-called "quote"?

@tobortine

11y↑16

Shame you don't know who she is and it's also a shame that she's been highlighted for this event because her music is beautiful.

@throwindembows

11y↑1

Can't remember the last time folk rock got so much attention. Well played Michelle, well played...

@BalooDumptruck

11y

ah, will look into it. thank you

@b14blah

11y

"The quality of mercy is not strained." -from the song 'Quality of Mercy' by Michelle Shocked -on the Dead Man Walking soundtrack -as spoken by Portia in Shakespeare's 'The Merchant of Venice'

@sindymace5228

1y↑1

Worst part is all her music is gone from YouTube now

@wellthenif

11y

As a gay man traumatized by 2 fundy siblings for decades, it is extremely refreshing to hear how insightful so many straight people are these days. It's exemplified so well in this segment(& others)! The inevitable religious reactive distortions are laughable because, oh yeah, the almighty is speakin' directly to each one of 'em, so what they're sayin' ain't really human.

@EclipseClemens

11y

I fear god the same amount that I fear Santa's disapproval for not staying up late. Both of them are imaginary friends.

@snowstrobe

10y↑1

Those incorrect subtitles are so annoying.

@MrRazorblade999

"Famous singer shell shocked" lol

@hermanncain4297

11y

I feel strong about right and wrong. And I don't take trouble for very long I got something deep inside of me, and courage is the thing that keeps us free. I am a real American.

@imyyz4u

11y

You... Normal... hahahaha A perfect example of an oximoron

@1anearthling1

11y

Getting cards on the table is not about judging anyone or getting into people's personal lives . It is how do we people on this planet share it safely and peacefully and where do we compromise with eachother or understand eachother when our own ideals are challenged . Who is right ? Who is not ? What is right ? What is not ? The human race is still learning to be civilized .

@stevenofford495

5y↑1

Mad as a box of frogs! Talented artist. Is this the first time those 2 things have gone together?

@adrenaline112

11y

Thanks for not showing the actual video

@mcjon77

11y

I thought I was the only one who destroyed his porn stash as a kid, then IMEDIATELY regretted it.

@duchess88888

11y↑1

She was looking for a way to get noticed, she succeded.

@mistergarth

11y↑1

"...anyone goes of on a homophobic tirade, that person must be a closet case..." You have an inalienable right to be offended if it makes you happy, but do you want a list of homophobes who are/were actually closet homosexuals? It'd be a long, long list. It's not unreasonable to extrapolate to the homophobes whose proclivities we don't know about.

@boboskeerotten

11y

love the psychological breakdown discussion.

@noname-bf8ge

22w↑1

That's not homophobic. I can't find any indication of fear in those statement. Facts

@daedamot

11y

She used to be a liberal activist. In fact, I remember her performing at the big Oscars 2003 Anti-Iraq war protest. What a disappointment that she's turned into a fundy Christian.

@BalooDumptruck

11y

agreed, half of the people are try to troll here can't muster enough courage to repeat the same lines in real life

@Seymour13

11y

Step 1: Poe's law. Step 2: Poe's law. Step 3: Poe's law. You can never be quite sure, so I always treat ppl as if they're serious, even when they're trolling.

@MrStevensacc

11y↑2

I AM DEVESTATED!!! Long time fan- i had Short Sharp Shocked on cassette in the 90's and played it until it literally wore out and eventually bought the cd and will never be able to listen to it again. I think she may indeed be bipolar

@SuperMerchus

Are you a religious chap?

@ScreamingPh0enix

11y

I'm not sure whether or not to continue this conversation.

@thomashyle6098

I'm not sure whether my comments post :P

@nicknick1963

16w↑1

As they continue to dissect this non-issue all comes across is that have completely missed the point.

@samhall3821

Who the hell did these subtitles?

@GreyException

11y

You hate certain types of foods, but in actuality you don't hate them, but love them. Makes sense, no?

@ScreamingPh0enix

11y

My only point is that Leviticus is extraordinarily out of date. There is also a point that says it's ok to kill your slave, and their is a point where it is encouraged to kill a man for working on a sunday!

@SuperDESTROYER71

11y

Wasn't sure if Cenk meant "Porn 'stache" , as in "Porn Mustache", or "Porn Stash".

@iambiggus

11y

11 out of 12 venues on her tour cancelled her. The only reason the 12th didn't is because the boss is out of town. If she wanted some free time on her hands, it looks like she's found it.

@Theenemy38

11y

I'm surprised that he hasn't started using his other account to respond to you.

@iambiggus

11y

I asked about homeschooling and didn't get a denial. Would make a lot of sense.

@ShinyMew151

11y

I don't mind being a catholic, but sometimes it gets on my nerves that those fundies would say the most BS things like: "God hates f*gs!" "No sexing/f***ing before you get married!". You know, I always thought that if God does exist, It wouldn't judge you on the bad in you, It would judge on the GOOD in you! This is why i don't indulge myself in too much of the Catholic stuff and take the book literally. Just church time on most Sundays. PS. Im a Catholic that believes in evolution.

@BrujaPalibruda28

11y

what is WITH the bizarre subititles on young turks vids?????

@iambiggus

11y

The sad thing is is that quite a few people make these hateful bigoted comments and are of completely sound body and mind. I'm not sure why she chose to be a born again christian, or to say what she said, but I'm glad to see intolerance is being treated appropriately.

@BalooDumptruck

11y

never got to see that episode honestly

@Lockbar

11y

She should team up with Micheal Richards/Kramer and do a double feature show.

@7Kris07

11y

3:50 That's the single biggest truth of every guy's life.

@themunchkym

11y

I thought he said pornstache. Like mustache. I thought he was regretting shaving off his porn-star mustache.

@jancar2012

11y

I'm amazed at this story. Michelle Shocked has fans? Inconceivable.

@macintosser

11y

Hahaha... I laughed my head off reading those sub-titles... who wrote them? Hello... "Illiterate"

@Zoritsa

11y

I had a boss that was so far in the closet (married,kids and into the church big time),that he was the biggest homophobe and would tell everyone who the gay guy was in the shop (I worked in his flower shop).He finally came out years later.So yeah...I agree with Jenk's theory,she's a lesbian.

@1anearthling1

11y

I did mention opposition to heterosexual anal sex ; I said a butt-hole is not a sex organ . And any pornography is a cheat to the senses and causes sexual frustration that lingers and screws up a person's attitude towards sex . We are not animals we are intelligent human beings .

@adammalik2328

11y

I am an unmolested male who has seen many relations with the opposite sex. My father raised me for 18 years and I now look after him in his old age. Why did I convert out of religion?

@MilitantPeaceist

11y

Not form their perspective. Case in point, WBC. They are not distinguishing between the 2 even though others might.

@strwbrrysos

11y

Why is it ok to bash one type of people but wrong to bash another?

@PenelopeBaden

11y

I would say sex that's actually "perverse" is sex that victimizes someone, like pedophilia or beastiality.

@1646Alex

11y

The blonde girl is a really great panelist. Where can I see more of her?

@hermanncain4297

11y

I fight for what's right.

@CaptVelocity

11y

1. Correlation is not causation. 2. Average is not the majority in statistics. 3. There's a thing called a nervous erection. Erections aren't always about arousal. 4. Psychology is a fairly soft science.

@bluesborn

11y

Anyway, END OF DISCUSSION. Okay dad.

@iambiggus

11y

I'm .. 1) Happily married 2) Not brainwashed by religion 3) Intelligent enough to know the difference between sex with humans and sex with animals.

@Turandot29

11y

Michelle Shocked should move to Topeka, Kansas to commune with her like-minded brethren.

@leedaomillz

11y

I'm not whining I'm making a statement.

@1anearthling1

11y

I'm not supposed to see any fun in that . It doesn't matter how good it feels . The amazing , powerful , fascinating pleasure is the problem . And this "how much fun it is" has come with many drawbacks in many people's lives .

@gpg20s

11y

Michelle Shocked makes tortillas with any Lesbian that might approach her.

@Ersa1a

11y

All hail the eight legged Sleipnir! And he protects us with Gungnir, his mighty spear, along with Mjolnir, the Hammer of his mighty son, Thor, God of Thunder!

@nirdjha2000

11y

I would love to see a link to these conclusive studies of yours - meanwhile, it IS my business when the actions of less than 1% of this country are about to dictate what I can and can't teach my own children.

@buddyreeg1

11y

I stand corrected.

@vcdaniels

11y

Ahh, you bring to light a stinging point! Imagine it. The subject seems to have not only a problem with homosexuality . . . but with OPEN homosexuality. I propose that in that same hatred you mentioned, he also harbors a hatred for homosexuals that have come out. Their ability to freely express their love for their mates without issue of self-inflicted repression or fear makes him angry over the freedom he does not have . . . or rather . . . will not ALLOW himself to have.

@BalooDumptruck

11y

Freedom to criticism = free speech

@smashbro5

11y

You're right, she has every right to hold those opinions. Unfortunately, people who share her view are preventing equality for other human beings, and that is wrong.

@ConnieIsMijnNaam

11y

I have been a Michelle Shocked fan since the 90's. I simply love her music. But she has certainly some issues. Still I still love every song she makes.

@CriticalEatsJapan

11y

Porn stache? Oh, porn stash... haha!

@CTassell20

11y

Love this guy, he is so funny yet speaks many truths. I wish tye world could be as relaxed and logical as thid man.

@Lensears1

11y

Anyone aware of the ironies or humor in song? Was Lucy really in the sky with diamonds?

@Mulatto4Metal

11y

Actually I didn't. People who see others partake in something or an activity, that they themselves can't or don't have access to, tend to develop an adamantly negative attitude towards that activity and the people who enjoy it. This is taugth in basic psychology, something you probably never bothered to learn about.

@Mulatto4Metal

11y

That was an excellent analogy. We should horde people like 890luckycharms and timm capp into the antique shops where they belong. Maybe someone might buy them at auction and take them home.

@charleshenderson3447

11y

Ah still have my porn stash....At least what wasn't stolen by my old roommates....."Mmmmm."

@tonysherwood9619

Freedom of Speech is second only to Food. This current hysteria is crushing Expression. I would rather respond to a genuine artist - with humanity than a prescribed act - for profit.

@CaptVelocity

11y

And what about people raised to be anti-gay, but later change their minds?

@FoldedArt

11y

Yes, because people who base all their 'knowledge' on one book are reasonable.

@BalooDumptruck

11y

In other news, the sky is still blue, and Anon is still disappointed in you

@ProfessionalCheater1

11y

Nicely said bro :D

@RCSVirginia

11y

It does not matter if she said it because she wanted publicity, is a screwed-up closet case or is mentally ill, it was still a horrible thing to say. One cannot blame people from boycotting her shows and her music. This panel did a pretty good job here in analyzing what may lie behind Michelle Shocked's rant. The blonde was particularly good, and Cenk was on the money with his first observations.

@hermanncain4297

11y

you gotta take a stand, it don't help to hide.

@ViolentRiC

11y

Yep, I found that fascinating. The reality is we know so little about the original teachings of Judaism or Christ that we might as well accept that we're dealing with a collection of social values of unknown origin. If we remove the "there is definitely a God and this is what he thinks" from it, there's some valuable wisdom in these holy books along with a lot of things that should be discarded.

Load More Comments...

More Comments

just now