The Michigan Daily discovered in November 2004 that several articles written by arts editor Alex Wolsky did not meet the newspaper's standard of ethical journalism. Parts of these stories had been plagiarized from other news sources. Although the article below has not been found to contain plagiarism, the Daily no longer stands by its content. The co-author had no knowledge of the plagiarism. For details, see the Daily's editorial.

DETROIT — It’s an extraordinary message: Vote for Change. It’s a nearly unprecedented event: the Vote for Change tour hit Michigan last night as the Dave Matthews Band, R.E.M, Bruce Springsteen and 13 other artists played to six sold-out crowds simultaneously throughout the state in an effort to mobilize voters for the upcoming election.

All of the artists involved with Vote for Change hope will be a catalyst for positive change throughout the United States. Adult-rock icon Matthews, who played at the Palace of Auburn Hills, has stated on MoveOn.org’s website that “a vote for change is a vote for a stronger, safer, healthier America. A vote for Bush is a vote for a divided, unstable, paranoid America. It is our duty to this beautiful land to let our voices be heard.”

The concerts themselves weren’t as politically charged as they could have been. There were no banners declaring support for Kerry hung in the either the Palace of Cobo arena, and despite people registering voters outside the two halls, no billed artists made direct endorsements of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, despite making direct attacks at President Bush.

“For me, when you mislead the country and put our sons and daughters at risk,” said Springsteen, who played with R.E.M. and folk-rocker John Fogerty at Cobo, “you lose your job.”

Springsteen appealed to the Michigan crowd by spouting politically charged facts about the soldiers from Michigan fighting the war in Iraq, and said Bush needed to get those troops home safely and as soon as possible.

He talked about how Michigan is important in the election and urged everyone to get out and do their civic duty in the upcoming election.

The artists were not playing their standard sets, either. Instead, their play lists were infused with more political songs and messages. Jurassic 5 infused several of their songs with ill words toward the president but failed to make any bold or angry declarations. Springsteen opened his set with a solo rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner,” before segueing into his politically charged “Born in the U.S.A.”

Folk-rocker John Fogerty was also politically charged, with his iconic anti-war ballad “Fortunate Son” and a new song “D