The question I want you all to ask yourselves when answering this post is: what is music's role in American politics?
For your post: Choose a song, explain your take on the meaning, look at some of the history behind the song, and the era in which it was sung and written (was the person who wrote the song different from the person who sang it? If so, list both people/groups in the creation of the song). Why was the song written (what was its purpose?)? Then analyze whether or not you believe this song created any political change (or success for a candidate). Why or why not? Did it create change later (was it covered by other artists?)?
The following are suggestions of artists and songs to explore, but you can choose something from your favorite genre of music, so long as it has a political message of some kind (even if its just a commentary on a war, on government power, etc.).
Francis Hopkinson, Seven Songs Dedicated to George Washington
James Hewitt, The Battle of Trenton
George Root, The Battle Cry of Freedom (and other Civil War songs)
Marc Blitzstein, The Cradle Will Rock
Virgil Thomson, The Mother of Us All
Woody Guthrie, This Land Is Your Land
Duke Ellington, Black, Brown, Beige
Irving Berlin, Mr. President
Billie Holiday, Strange Fruit
Aaron Copland, A Lincoln Portrait
Charles Mingus, Fables of Faubus
Various artists, We Shall Overcome
John Cage, Songbooks
Phil Ochs, I Ain't Marching Anymore
Nina Simone, Why? The King of Love is Dead
Anthony Davis, X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X
The Dead Kennedys, Holiday in Cambodia
Prince, Ronnie Talk to Russia
John Adams, Nixon in China; The Death of Klinghoffer
Various artists: No Nukes; Live Aid; Farm Aid
Carla Bley, Looking for America
Laurie Anderson, United States I-IV
Various by Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, etc.
Gil-Scott Heron, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
Ani DiFranco and Utah Philips, various
Steve Earle, Christmas in Washington
A popular sub-genre of political music is the Protest Song. Many of the above are such. Bob Dylan is somewhat famous for these. Green Day released American Idiot in 2004. You could also look at Springsteen and Rage Against the Machine. Again, these are just suggestions, but try to stick to Americans speaking out for or against American politics. Many foreign bands/singers/song writers (Lennon, Morrissey, Bowie) have sung about on our politics, but the causes behind those songs are probably different than the causes behind a native group of people commenting on their own government (and by native, I mean someone who grew up in the United States). Please provide a link to your song, either on youtube or another free site where a classmate could listen to the song. Also, provide links to any sources you used. If you feel confident in your MLA skills, you can include works cited rather than links.
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DeleteIn the song Empty Walls by Serj Tankian, formerly of System of a Down, the song speaks of the horrors of war. It attempts to better humanize soldiers, a group that feels remarkably unhuman when spoken of in the media or many other sources. It draws them as individuals, instead of just the troops.
ReplyDeleteI picked this song because it's so easy to forget that these are human beings we're sending to war and fighting. They have families, lives, wants, needs. That seems to be lost in translation somewhere. Even in Colorado Springs, a town that's full of people who have some connection to some branch of the military, it's easy to forget sometimes.
The song invokes a deep sadness in me every time I listen to it. It only grows in power with the music video. Even if you don't agree with the message, it's a rather interesting song if you're into the Metal/Rock genre, and if you really want to continue, I suggest listening to The Unthinking Majority as well.
Serj Tankian - Empty Walls. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CxKA1uETxE
I liked the song you picked and even though like you said you don't have to like the genre to get the message in the song. I kind of feel like the disconnect we have with war these days is two part, and that's why I wanted to respond since you mentioned that. I think with the advent of new technology it takes the killing away from the whole aspect of it also coupled with the war being so far away. I was wondering if you had any other thoughts as to why we have become so disconnected from killing and war?
DeleteI chose the song "American Solider" by Toby Keith and Chuck Cannon. It talks about the mind set of a soldier. They don't get all the freedoms that civilians do but that isn't the reason they became a soldier. I grew up in a military family so I have a very close connection to this song. I have always held the belief that you are a soldier because of a sense of honor and duty. Fighting for your country isn't a fun and easy task and then song hits that right on the head. It emphasizes the give and take of a soldier not just the hero mentality. True soldiers don't put themselves out as heroes because that isn't why the joined the military.
ReplyDeleteToby Keith has spent a lot of time visiting the soldiers over seas and has seen first hand what they go through and the sacrifice it entails. This song helps people who are not associated with the military get a better understanding of military life straight through a soldiers eyes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWrMeBR8W-c
Excellent choice, and I enjoyed your description of the song's meaning. I remember my drill sargents playing this song quite alot when I was nearing the end of basic training back in 2006. The funny thing is we all thought we had some idea of what it really means to be a soldier because we were getting ready to graduate basic. I personally did not realize the true meaning of serving my country until my boots hit the sand in Iraq for the first time. You lean alot about yourself and your fellow soldiers serving with you, you learn how far you can stretch your mental and physical limits, and in the process become friends/brothers with some amazing people. This song wraps all of that into one, everytime I hear it I find myself with a tight jaw at the end of the song, and wanting to stap those boots on for one more deployment.I agree that any soldier who labels himself a hero, probably is the exact opposite. In a real soldier's mind, there are no heros or sacrafices when your at war, there is only men and women getiing a job done that they signed up to do, and the only thing that matters is the well being of the soldiers to your left and right. This song is one of my top five favorites of all time, nice choice.
DeleteI chose the song "Renegades of Funk" by Rage Against the Machine. I believe this song is typically aimed at promoting free and individual thinking especially targeting the youth. It says to the listener that we all have different ways of seeing things and interpreting them, but we should never hide from what we truly believe and think because that is what makes us special as individuals. We could never change something or have an impact on it, if we just agree with everything only for the sake of conforming.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the political side to this song goes, it is no secret that the band members of Rage Against the Machine are well known for their leftist political views which they portray through their music.( This is probably why they appeal to me so much.) However, I don't feel that this song in particular is supporting one side or the other, it does however tell the listener that we are all who we are and everyone should have a fair chance at being listened to and respected. In a political sense, to me this song stands for getting out and being heard, whether that be through protesting something you oppose, voting for a candidate or representative, or even showing support through rallies. I think this song speaks wonders to it's audience about getting your voice out and not being afraid of your own true and honest opinions, you can not be a Renegade by simply falling into line and shuffling along with the rest of the herd.
"Don't wanna be an American Idiot. Don't want a nation under the new media." Those are the opening lyrics to the band Greenday's song, "American Idiot." This song was written by band member and lead vocalist, Billie Joe Armstrong and was written and released in 2003-2004 before the Presidential elections. the timing of the release was intentional. The song references the media and political influences in the public mainstream and how these two entities tell people what to think by using propaganda and causing paranoia. As the lyrics, "Now everybody do the propaganda. And sing along to the age of paranoia" reflect. The band expresses how the country is ruled by the media and what they want society to know, see, and think.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if this song changed politics in any way, but it did come out during a time of political clash and war between the U.S., Iraq and Afghanistan. Tensions were so high that society dove so deep into these issues, that the song represented what many were thinking and feeling. No one seemed afraid to say what was on their minds. "American Idiot" wants to tell people that it is okay to think for themselves and make their own decisions and not conform to the mainstream expectations.
I've heard this song interpreted a dozen and one different ways, but I like your interpretation. It's gentle on both the band and the listeners and can't be misconstrued as an attack on either. American Idiot was not only politically charged, but extremely catchy, rising up the charts and taking up radio waves all across the country in its hayday. Even now you'll still occasionally catch it on some station now and again, and it holds the same feeling, at least for myself, as it did when it was released almost a decade ago.
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ReplyDeleteI think music in America is more often a reflection of who we are as a people rather than a tool to shape who we are. I believe we sometimes think it is shaping us, however, the words that are spoken are the voice of America.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite songs is "Shed a Little Light," written and sung by James Taylor. James Taylor wrote this song in 1991 as a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I'm not sure if there has been a time in this country when there wasn't a huge problem with racial discrimination. James Taylor has consistently spoken up for social reform. When I hear this song, it reminds me that there is also many people in America that believe the same way James does. My favorite line in the song is "we are bound together with a desire to see the world become a place in which our children can grow free and strong." I don't think there is a parent or grandparent out there that would disagree with that.
The song reminds us that we are united an many ways. It mirrors our hopes and desires and demonstrates that we aren't alone in those hopes and desires. But really, it doesn't motivate us to become different people. Rather, it mirrors who we already are.
I could get the link to take. Check it out on youtube. Shed a Little Light by James Taylor
This land is your land by Woody Guthrie. Guthrie wrote this song in 1940. He only wrote this song because he got so tired of hearing “God Bless America” playing on the radio all the time. His original song ends with “God blessed America for you and me”. Then he changed it in 1944 to this land is for you and me. The song was never released until 1955. There was one point in time that there was talk of making this song the American Anthem, but didn’t take. Guthrie wrote this song mainly because of being tired of hearing the God bless America song, but mostly from being on the road and seeing how people were suffering from the great depression. He was astounded to find children dying of starvation right next to a farm full of food. Guthrie loved the people and the land, but he didn’t like the way the people were treated and he believed that the land was not made for just rich and powerful people or the government, but for all the people that there suffering. In the 1960s, Guthrie became a hero to most people, because of how he was voicing out the voice of the people to music like This land is your land. Over the years this song has been taught in schools and many other musicians has sung the song after Guthrie. There are still questions on if this song is American, anti-American or should it be interpreted as socialist or communist, and so on. All I know is that when I learned this song, it was taught in a religious light. Like God made this land for you and me because he loves us. the link to read more about Guthrie's song. http://www.shmoop.com/this-land-is-your-land/meaning.html
ReplyDeleteI too, remember learning this song as a religious song. We sang it in church Sunday school and again later in elementary school. To me, I agree with the sound lesson behind the fact that we are all Americans and everything that makes us unique as Americans belongs to all. That being said, it includes the positives and the negatives as in the needs of others. We can't just spend our days only in-cased in our selves and our own issues. So not only does the land belong to all so do all the problems and blessings with-in that land. Good Job!
Deletechose a song not on the list,
ReplyDeleteLupe Fiasco's "Words I Never Said" you can find it here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22l1sf5JZD0
It's hard to find politically fueled music anymore these days. With the corportization of the music industry it has almost become taboo to talk badly of the government. Lupe talks specifically in this song about how Obama, just like Bush (or any one before him), is just as corrupt as any politician. He speaks about how Obama has not spoken out against the bombing in Gaza. He also speaks about the ongoing war between Isreal and Palistine, and how it is both parties fault. I love the part when he talks about fear being such a weak emotion. I think that hits the nail on the head for describing our nation today. We are kept in a state of fear so not only do we feel like we need the government, we also feel like we can not speak out against it. We may be labeled as a "rebel" or a "radical". I think that is the main point Lupe is trying to get across in this song, we need to break from this state of fear and do something about our government. When the people feel nervous or fearful about speaking out against their government then something is wrong with the nation as a whole.
Robert,
DeleteI had to research this one. The artist and song are new to me. The artist definitely seems angry and frustrated in his lyrics which I think is a good thing. There is something wrong as a whole and although the songs we choose are different, there is a slight resemblance in the message. People not speaking what is on their minds about politics out of fear is a big problem. Freedom of speech is one of our rights and Americans should never have to fear speaking their minds about something that affects the population in such a critical way. Good choice of song.