Analysis Of Green Day By George W. Bush

In a broader context, protest musicians composed songs about student protests in which they firmly sided with the protesters, supporting their actions and condemning those trying to stop the protests. (OnlyEverArabella, n.d.). The ideas were expressed in music as it served as a form of publicity and promotion for the counterculture community during this era. The government continuously tried to prevent media coverage about these movements but their music simply spoke the

More often than naught protest music is often associated with war and politics and a little less with the social norms of the current society and culture. The most iconic artist that did challenge and changed the social norms was Elvis, even though at the time he was not aware of doing so.

Since the Constitution of the United States was written, Americans have practiced their right to freedom of speech as a way to express their point of view on issues facing the country. Over time, voicing one’s opinion went from outspoken newspaper articles to large rallies, and during the Vietnam War, music was a prevalent tool in aiding the protests. Allowing political messages to be shared nationally, the music had touched the lives of the younger generation. Author Jerome L. Rodnitzky explains in his journal, “The Sixties between the Microgrooves: Using Folk and Protest Music to Understand American History, 1963-1973”, how music was “trying to be all things

Politicians started rejecting music from them on radios and records due to the loss of respect towards the president. “As war with Iraq becomes imminent, more and more of the useful idiot legalist weasel ‘Antiwar’ protest are poppin out.” (Kiesser 298) The band started several ‘anti war’ groups people around the world wanted war to end and everything be peaceful. Also the Dixie Chicks started to get death threats and losing fans due to the lack of respect toward country singers and the president's supporters “Country music stations fanned the flames; and within a few weeks the Dixie Chicks newest record “home” which had been No. 1 on both country and pop charts, was being boycotted across the country. (Lewis 295)

Through songs many people express their feelings of the world threw the words they have wrote. Many songs talk about civil rights of the people and how change should be an option. In the world we live in today we have social issues that people have to face such as: police brutality, racial profiling, discrimination etc. Through Kendrick Lamar, Public Enemy, The Game, Bebe Winans, and N.W.A they will use their voice as a weapon for change among all people. Music with a message thrives in a live setting, for obvious reasons, and many politically conscious musicians aim to channel the heightened emotions

(70) He pointed out several examples of this. The band claimed to be apolitical in early 1968, but by 1969 when their album, Volunteers released, it was clear they had a political stance. (67-68). However, it was unclear as to what that stance was. Burke argued that their albums promoted a revolutionary stance while their public statements seemed to just rant against authority. (70) He stated that Jefferson Airplane’s album, Volunteers¸ contained songs that “addressed political and social issues with varying degrees of precision” and “suggested that the current generation of youth represented the revolutionary vanguard.” (68) Then later, Burke discussed the band’s public statements. The band’s onstage outbursts seemed to be nothing more than “petulant explosions of annoyance and contempt.” (70) The reason he gave for Jefferson Airplane’s confusing political stance was that music was something that could evoke “multiple, sometimes conflicting messages” and that it was not “merely a vessel for unambiguous political messages.” (65) Burke also stated that Jefferson Airplane’s music was not simply “a vehicle for political slogans, but rather invites unpredictable, slippery interpretations that exceed the literal meanings of its text.”

For this reason. some protest art reaches a larger audience, but not all, it depends on how large the issue is. does reach a large enough audience to be effective. Such as, in the recent events in society; Black Lives Matter, I have noticed a lot of art depicting both sides. With this in mind, protest art is part of an American citizen's First amendment right, freedom of speech.

The 1960’s was one of the most controversial decades in American history because of not only the Vietnam War, but there was an outbreak of protests involving civil and social conditions all across college campuses. These protests have been taken to the extent where people either have died or have been seriously injured. However, during the 1960’s, America saw a popular form of art known as protest music, which responded to the social turmoil of that era, from the civil rights movement to the war in Vietnam. A veritable pantheon of musicians, such as Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Phil Ochs, Joan Baez, and Bob Dylan sang their songs to encourage union organizers to protest the inequities of their time, creating a diverse variety of popular

Throughout all the anti-war protests and marches during the Vietnam War, it is interesting to note the changes in the music of that time. From the beginning of the war, where support and loyalty from Americans was present in songs, to the end of the war, where anger and distrust was evident in musical lyrics, American’s opinion changed about the war. This change in opinion was easily recognized by the altering of musical lyrics about the war when Americans grew tired of the constant sending of U.S. troops to Vietnam. The growing dissatisfaction with the Vietnam War led to increasing levels of anger and hostility in the popular music of the time.

Throughout history, protests have been proven to be the more effective methods of getting a message across, whether it’s to express disdain for the misdeeds of police officers, or to protest the U.S.’s involvement in war. This was seen especially during the Vietnam War, one of the more recent wars this country has been involved in. Many people around the country expressed their opinions about the idea of war, in several forms, including riots, protests, and draft dodging. Along with this form of expression and practicing of free speech, several music artists, including Creedence Clearwater Revival, Marvin Gaye, and Edwin Starr, joined in the anti-war movement by conveying their own two cents about the matter through the lyrics of catchy, impassioned songs. In the song “War” by Edwin Starr, Starr attempts to portray his negative view on war, through the use of pathos to create a more intimate bond with his listeners, a very aggressive, yet passionate tone, and the song’s close resemblance of a protest, in auditory form.

Music is one of the most popular ways of expression and has been for generations. It makes us want to dance, inspires, soothes, relaxes, and sometimes tells us a story. Music is something the whole world shares and has brought together different kinds of people. However, there has been a question on whether some music has affected society negatively and crossed the line with some of its lyrics, content, and the persona of the artists. Certain music has been boycotted and even banned in the U.S. Pro-censorship supporters say that music is something that can deeply affect our society especially children who should not have to be subjected to things like violence, sex, drugs, or hate. However, being that music is a form of expression,

Just as it was a crucial time for America in terms of politics and social issues, it was just as big for the music industry. People expressed their social opinions and political beliefs in a way that was the most true to them. Music was, and still is, a worldwide phenomenon for it has been able to take the shape of justice and to mold the minds of it’s listeners. Artists at the time had extreme social and political influence and used their defined stances on cultural issues to influence their music as well as their

Rock Music has traditionally, among political authorities, been viewed as a medium that has the potential to bring about unrest and revolution among listeners. Even in its early stages, rock music has been seen as a threat to the stability of society. In a 1968 Time magazine article, Robert Sam Ansons declared rock music to be "one long symphony of protest…the proclamation of a new set of values…the anthem of revolution" (qtd. in Wicke 103). While the comment acknowledges the influential potential that rock and roll has, it views it negatively. Similarly, politicians have been out-spoken against rock and pop musicians, declaring they have a negative effect on society. In the mid 1990's, during presidential election campaigns, Bob Dole and Bill Clinton both declared that rock and roll plays a part in the corruption of American youth (Christenson 2). Historically, many politicians have seen rock and roll as being in opposition to positive political change.

Among these accusations was the fact that Green Day was a supposedly punk rock band with a major record label, an ironic twist on the anarchy and independence that so many punk rock bands represent. Billy Joe Armstrong actually commented on the group’s status as a punk rock band by saying “…we’re this big band now. We’ve made a lot of money. We’re not punk rock anymore… You can take us out of a punk rock environment, but you can’t take the punk rock out of us”. Although some avid punk rockers may argue that Green Day is not a true punk rock band, it is indisputable that Green Day created popular music that received high ratings.

Green Day considered itself to be punk. Infact, many people consider them to be one of the greatest punk rock bands of all time, along with Blink 182 and Sum 41. Founding members Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt grew up closely associated with the punk scene near Berkeley, and for the first 15 years of its existence the boys pumped out top-40 three-minute hits about masturbating, smoking marijuana, and being pissed off. However, in 2004, Green Day showed it had matured immensely and changed style significantly with its release of the concept album “American Idiot.” A concept album is an album that tells a story throughout. This