September 6, 2012
Music has long had the power to ignite primal instinct in humans. Rhythm is ingrained in our veins. It taps into our emotions. It can make us joyful, depressed or passionate. There’s something about music that gives it the power to control us. The notes and rhythms reel us in, and the lyrics attach meaning to the beat.
Across America, political movements have historically harnessed the power of music to channel emotions towards a specific cause. Political messages still often ring throughout music, but now they are much more divided in their goals and ideas and therefore do not help to promote any specific political change.
Some of the most important political movements of the past century centered around music. Take the African American Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s. Powerful gospel songs rallied members of black churches in the South towards their ultimate goal of political equality. Charles Tindley’s “We Shall Overcome” was a song that captured many African American sentiments at the time and became the anthem for the movement. Others like “This Little Light of Mine” and “A Change is Gonna Come” were also influential and are still remembered today for the way that they encapsulated many sentiments in few words, added a tune and took over crowds.
Around the same time, Anti-Vietnam War protests also used music as a major rallying point. Across college campuses and the rest of the country, hundreds of songs were sung about the shortcomings of the war. Most famously, “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die Rag” by Joe MacDonald and “War” by Edwin Starr captured anti-war positions and reinforced them. Songs like these reinforced feelings of fear and anger and united Americans against the war.
The power of music was later seen in the 80s when concerts such as Live Aid and Farm Aid gave proceeds to Ethiopian Famine and American Farmers. Michael Jackson’s single “We Are the World” has brought in almost $63 million to date towards humanitarian causes. The success of this venture was due to the music’s ability to tap deep into the listeners’ heartstrings and evoke sympathy for suffering Ethiopians. Clearly, music has been used as a major rallying point for political causes in America throughout the mid and late 20th century.
However, this trend did not continue into the new millennium. Even though recent concerts such as the Live 8 series in 2005 have garnered significant interest, there has not been a sustained political effort fueled by music since the days of the Vietnam War.
Ironically, America is currently in a political situation that is somewhat analogous to that of the 1950s and 1960s with both a war and call for social change.
Opposition to the War on Iraq has, of course, inspired popular songs. John Mayer’s “Waiting on the World to Change” and the Black Eyed Peas’ “Where is the Love” have been played countless times on radio stations. However, the fervor around songs that was present during the Vietnam War is just not there.
During the 60s, the war and music were one. Music found its way into peoples’ hearts and minds and possessed them to rally for change.
Now, music acts as merely commentary to events that are happening. A Google search on songs supporting the current Gay Rights Movement yields almost no results. The scales of the current opposition to the war and movement for Gay Rights don’t hold a candle to what was going on mid-20th century. Perhaps a lack of use of music to gather supporters could be one of the main reasons for this decline.
Music is something that everyone can relate to. Songs simplify issues and provide ideal messages. Imagine how music could reenergize today’s political issues.
It could take over a campus like ours and many others. A powerful and catchy tune attached to an issue could be sung up and down Martin’s Way, permeating our minds in a matter of days. Music was paramount to the success of past political crusades and needs to be considered again if there is to be future success for change.