Challenge Power Mediums

Music has a dynamic ability of influencing emotions, from mood regulation to rumination and self-expression. The presence of political and social messages in popular music is frequently seen across cultures, in particular focusing on social issues and racism (Back, 2000, 127). This paper attempted to explore the political and social messages in popular music, more specifically it investigated the relationship between Soul music and civil rights movements in the United States.

Millions of people in the world listen to music for all different reasons. Most people all over the world listen to different genres of music in order to relax, but not too many people pay attention to the actual lyrics of a song. If you listen to the lyrics of a song you will realize that many songs have important messages or themes to them. An example of this is the lyrics of the song “Changes” by Tupac Shakur. If you listen to this song, you will realize that Tupac raps about not only the problems that African Americans face from society, but also the struggles that poor people in society have to endure and overcome. Many

Music is an art form and source of power. Many forms of music reflect culture and society, as well as, containing political content and social message. Music as social change has been highlighted throughout the 20th century. In the 1960s the United States saw political and socially oriented folk music discussing the Vietnam War and other social issues. In Jamaica during the 1970s and 1980s reggae developed out of the Ghetto’s of Trench town and expressed the social unrest of the poor and the need to over-through the oppressors. The 1980’s brought the newest development in social and political music, the emergence of hip-hop and rap. This urban musical art form that was developed in New

Popular music is often one of the best lenses we have through which to view our own cultural orientation. Many of the artistic and experimental shifts in popular music have mirrored changes in our own society. For instance, the emergence of Elvis Presley as a public figure would signal the start of a sexual revolution and the growth in visibility of a rebellious youth culture. Similarly, the folk and psychedelic music of the 1960s was closely entangled with the Civil Rights, anti-war and social protest movements. In this regard, we can view popular music as an artifact through which to better understand the time and place in which it is produced. In light of this, the state of popular music today may suggest troubling things about our society.

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

When people think of popular music they think of party beats created for pure entertainment and nothing more. People do not see this genre of music as capable of anything else. The stigma of popular music only being a form of amusement for the mass consumer is challenged when artists use music to attract attention to social issues. This paper intends to show how music like Raï challenge the thought that popular music is only for entertainment.

In cultures all over the world, music can be seen encompassing many aspects of life for many individuals. It is a form of mass communication that"speaks directly to society as a cultural form", and often reflects a collection and pattern of personal experiences (King 19). Music is so influential because it communicates on three different levels: the physical, emotional, and cognitive. Not only does it operate in a nondiscursive way, by affecting the physiological mode of the body, causing one to move and dance, but it also encourages one to think. This paper will explore music as a form of protest; showing how a political message, in general form, is presented through music.

Different songs can have different intentions on what message they are trying to send to the listener. As the listener, they are the only ones who interpret what they think about the song or if they like it or not. To me certain songs have lyrics that tell stories and teach life lessons and other songs I don’t even have to listen to the lyrics to like the song. Songs can reflect different sides to a person and may also relate to people’s lives. Through my three songs “Logic – The Come Up” and “Yung Dash – Momma I Made It” they represent the saying of “You will get knocked down but it’s your choice whether to get back up or not” as well as not letting anyone who doubts you get in your way with whatever you are working for.

All the pop, hip-hop, country, and most other genres are focused on making money from entertainment. They don’t try to convey an important message. The artists just try to make the songs catchy and fun to listen to, but the songs have now lessons to teach and they don’t try to tell the people what is going on and how they feel about it. Whereas back then they used music like Fortunate Sons by Creedence Clearwater Revival that talked about how their band didn’t like the Vietnam War and that it wasn’t the rich or the politicians’ sons going to war, but the common people going to war instead. Alabama by Coltrane was a Civil Rights movement protest song that talked about the oppression, violence, and injustice done to African Americans and was song while they were protesting.

In the early sixties the union of the civil rights movements and folk music on campuses lead to the rise of folk songs called “message songs” (Szatmary 1996). Songs like “Blowin in the wind” by Bob Dylan began opening up the minds of the youth to the social problems facing America such as the civil rights movement. The Rascals “People Everywhere Just want to be Free”, Joan Baez’s “We shall overcome”, and Dylan’s “The times they are a changin’” were message songs that helped start the firestorm of politically charged music that fueled a revolution and a generation (Baggelar, Milton 1976).

To what extent can music provide a means of resistance for challenging the power relations of racism, class and gender?

Throughout the history of music, lyrics have been used to express different feelings, such as pain, heartache, joy, and love. Songwriters often use their lyrics to show a deeper meaning and message. Oftentimes, people just hear the music, and never actually listen to it. They hear the beat of it, and possibly get a catchy tune stuck in their heads, but never listen to the words, and the point that the songwriter is actually trying to get across. Most of the time, song lyrics are written to spill one’s heart and all of it’s emotions and/or feelings.

Do you ever wonder what is the meaning behind what you so proudly sing whenever you hear it? Music is an art form of culture which organizes sound with times It first came around in prehistoric times, however, as times passes, music is drastically changing. As a result, in the last decades music has experienced drastic changes in the themes they are talking about. These changes are due to the generations and what they are living, political and social actions of the time. For example, the decade of the 80s was the rise of hip-hop and rap music from a local phenomenon to a worldwide known genre of music. Previously, a crack cocaine epidemic had stroke major cities in the USA and it coincided with the rise of hip-hop in black communities as these

Music is a way to express feelings and ideas that have the power to influence people. Songs can have important messages that the artist wants to share with listeners, such as living in the moment, having fun... Songs allow people to accept things they had not before and to some people, this can be a powerful thing. Being aware of how powerful a song can be can not only enhance one’s understanding but how it could affect one’s life.

This world portrays one of order as well as freedom. Today, however, audiences are more concerned about listening to the lyrics of a song than listening to the music itself. Music is more than a voice; therefore, these listeners fail to enter