While Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour merchandise is emblazoned with empowering slogans and messages of unity, Ice and Rock have taken a different approach. Their concert merch features phrases like “Woke is a Joke” and “Make Music Fun Again,” with a decidedly tongue-in-cheek approach to political correctness. And fans can’t seem to get enough of it.
The irony of two musicians who made their names with rebellious, sometimes controversial music leading an anti-woke charge isn’t lost on anyone. But for their fans, that’s exactly the point. Kid Rock and Vanilla Ice have always been about pushing boundaries, and now they’ve taken that ethos to the next level.
“We’ve always been the outcasts, and now we’re the anti-woke warriors,” Vanilla Ice said. “We’re not here to hurt anyone’s feelings, but we’re also not here to baby anyone. If you want to get offended, go somewhere else. We’re here to have fun.”
With Ice and Rock’s tour continuing to sell out across the country, Taylor Swift is left at a crossroads. Her once-unbreakable reign as pop’s top star has shown cracks, and even though she still has millions of loyal fans, the shift in public mood is impossible to ignore. Swift has already made moves to recapture some of the magic by offering meet-and-greets and exclusive content to boost ticket sales, but it may not be enough to win back the disillusioned.
Her political involvement, while resonating with her core base, may be driving casual fans toward the more carefree atmosphere of the “Woke is Whack” tour. Whether Swift chooses to double down on her activism or retreat to her pop roots remains to be seen, but she is clearly facing the toughest challenge of her career.
Meanwhile, Vanilla Ice and Kid Rock are basking in the glow of their unexpected success. Rumors of an extended tour and even a collaborative album are circulating, as the duo continues to make headlines for their irreverent approach to modern culture.
