The relevance of music in advocating for social change is evident in the development of music from the 1960s to 2010. People are instantly connected through music that addresses similar issues among them. Artists such as Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield were pioneers in the music industry by using their music and personal experiences to share the struggles of their people. In the modern world, people look towards music for inspiration and motivation. Music is a powerful weapon that speaks to people in ways that normal words can’t. Analyzing various songs between the 1960s and 2010 can clearly describe the effect of music on social movements.
1960s: Curtis Mayfield’s “People Get Ready”
The civil rights movement pioneered the condemnation of the pattern of racial segregation in public facilities. Black and white activists took their stand in protesting the segregated bus terminals in the south and “whites-only” restrooms. Curtis Mayfield used his music to highlight the plight of his fellow black men and encourage them to persist with the struggle for equality (Curtis Mayfield Estate, n.d.). Through his lyrics, he indicated that faith was the key towards a free nation. The song was regarded as the movement’s unofficial anthem to symbolize the uprising of the black man (Curtis Mayfield Estate, n.d.). It influenced the listener’s reaction by invoking teachings that Martin Luther had delivered to the movement.
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1970s: Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On ”
The 1960s were filled with numerous promises for change in America but few were ever fulfilled. At the time, President Johnson had just added the number of troops that would be sent to Vietnam. The media and people were against continued war in Vietnam that was killing more citizens with no significant benefits (HISTORY, 2019). President Nixon was elected in 1969 and having been against the war, people expected that he would end it in the onset of the 1970s. However, the war continued up until 1974 when the troops were recalled. Through the song “What’s Going On” Marvin Gaye mourned the death of his cousin and emphasized to the people on the detrimental effects of war (HISTORY, 2019). He indicates that there must be another solution other than continuously waging war to solve problems.
1980s: Boogie Down Production’s “Self Destruction”
As the Vietnam war ended in the 1970s, America begun experiencing increased prevalence of internal violence. Songs during the 1980s mainly referenced the violence that was affecting minority communities (Christenson et al., 2019). Technological advancements had led to the development of rap music. After the Run DMC and Dope Jam concerts in 1988, mainstream media blamed rap music for inciting violence and crimes (Jones, 2017). “Stop The Violence” movement was against the direct attacks on rap music and protested the increased police brutality within the black community (Jones, 2017). The song “self-destruction” was released on what would have been Martin Luther’s 60 th birthday and highlighted the discrimination and poverty the black community was facing. D-Nice indicates, “It really isn’t the rap audience that's bugging” to show that the problem goes beyond the claims that rap music incited violence (Jones, 2017).
1990s: Ani DiFranco’s “Lost Woman Song”
Unlike past decades, the 1990s saw a decrease in protest music and begun focus on other contemporary issues such as women’s rights. The third wave feminism movement gained popularity in the 1990s advocating for individualism and diversity for feminism. In the song “lost woman song” Ani highlights the negative judgment that women endured for having abortions (Garrett, 2009). In the song she says, “I passed their handheld signs” which shows the judgment women who went to abortion clinics were subjected to (Garrett, 2009). She asserts that a woman has the right to make choices involving her own body.
2000-2010: Neil Young’s “Living with War”
The first decade of the new millennium saw an increase in production of protest music due to war in Iraq and the 9/11 attacks. Young accused the current president, George Bush, for waging a war without reason and disrespect of American ideals (Pareles, 2006). The song was produced in an album with the same title and was free through Neil’s website. One verse in the song indicates, “impeach the president” to show dissatisfaction with his leadership. The 2000-2010 eras was marked by technological advancements where music could be ported into much smaller formats in CDs and DVDs (Pareles, 2006). People could also download albums onto their computers. Neil was angered by the fact that people had stood by as thousands of troops were sent to their deaths in Afghanistan.
Summary
Themes and references in music matter because the artists deliver them with a concealed message for listeners. Lyrics in songs often relate with what is affecting people at the time and issues that are on the minds of those affected (Christenson et al., 2019). The history of music shows a direct connection with events in distinct eras. For example, music in the 1960s and 1970s was connected through the promises that the American government had given to the people. In the first half of the 20 th century, black people suffered the low-paying service jobs, segregated services and poor living conditions (Jones, 2017). Black musicians used their songs to encourage the civil rights movement between the 1940s and 1960s. The 1970s were affected by the Vietnam War, which in part held racist ideologies. The Vietnam War marked the first time that African-Americans were fully conscripted into the war in high ratios compared to whites. Marvin Gaye raised such concerns through his music after his cousin had died in the war. Music inspiration in movements often takes a stand for the oppressed. In the 1980s, it advocated for reduction of police brutality in the black community and in the 1990s, it advocated for feminist ideologies. Songs sang in every decade are anthems for each decade but also serve as reminders for people in the current era of the evils that have occurred in the past. They lay the foundation for movements that are formed in ensuing decades.
Conclusion
Music is an intangible weapon that can speak powerful messages to the souls of listeners. It brings more power to the weak and speaks for the oppressed. Music was effectively used between the 1990s and 2010 to highlight issues facing various groups such as women, the black community and soldiers conscripted into war. The current generation has to look back the music produced in the past to understand how it separated itself from corporate and individualized manner of delivering its message. By doing so, today’s musicians can learn how to use music to empower people.
References
Christenson, P., Haan-Rietdijk, S. d., Roberts, D., & Bogt, T. (2019). What has America been singing about? Trends in themes in the U.S. top-40 songs: 1960–2010. Psychology of Music , 47(2), 194-212. https://doi.org/10.1177/0305735617748205
Curtis Mayfield Estate. ( n.d. ). Civil Rights: The Man Who Moved The Movement . https://www.curtismayfield.com/civil-rights.html
Garrett, C. H. (2009). The Musical Tactics of Ani DiFranco. American Music , 26(3), 378-397. https://doi.org/10.2307/40071712
HISTORY. (2019, September 9). Marvin Gaye's hit single "What's Going On?" released . https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/marvin-gaye-whats-going-on-released
Jones, R. (2017). Self-Destruction: A Case Study Of Violence And Hip Hop . Civil Rights Museum. https://www.civilrightsmuseum.org/news/posts/self-destruction-a-case-study-of-violence-and-hip-hop
Pareles, J. (2006, April 28). Neil Young's 'Living With War' Shows He Doesn't Like It. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/28/arts/music/28youn.html
