The performance of an iconic Vietnam War-era anthem at a Veterans Day concert spawned a considerable reaction, so it’s only fitting to actually get a response from the guy who wrote the song.
In a statement to Rolling Stone magazine on Thursday, Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman John Fogerty said he’s “proud” that “Fortunate Son” still strikes a chord with audiences today, but the song often gets appropriated by “various factions wishing to make their own case.”
Bruce Springsteen and a group of other popular musicians performed the song on Tuesday at the “Concert for Valor,” a musical event organized by HBO to honor veterans.
The performance struck many conservatives as inappropriate for the setting, but Fogerty seemed to push back against the notion that the song is disrespectful to the troops.
“Years ago, an ultraconservative administration tried to paint anyone who questioned its policies as ‘un-American,'” Forgerty, who was drafted for the Vietnam War, said in the statement. “That same administration shamefully ignored and mistreated the soldiers returning from Vietnam. As a man who was drafted and served his country during those times, I have ultimate respect for the men and women who protect us today and demand that they receive the respect that they deserve.”
