The Rage Against The Machine

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

“You’ve got to listen to the heavens, you got to try to understand. The greatness of their movement is just as small as it is grand.” Most young adults of my generation do not know who The Grateful Dead are, but they unknowingly dawn the apparels and slang created in the counterculture of the bands following the Deadheads. The band, The Grateful Dead, became popular in the 60s and carried out wide spread recognition and fame into the 80s. Their calming, peace-promoting music became popular because it ‘transported’ people, it took them away from whatever they were going through in their life and set them on a new path. Fans of the band

Music has been a long standing form of expression for hundreds of years. More recently however, it has become a way for artists to make social commentaries on the society they live in. During the 1970s, Punk bands and Ska bands emerged in England and rose to become a major source of social commentary through their upbeat music. Specifically looking at music from The Stranglers, The Specials, and The Clash, it is clear that lyrics clouded with anger and passion can be best communicated through upbeat sounds and melodies. Each of these groups communicates a need for radical change in society; but each one goes about this in a different way. Through the songs, “I feel like a Wog,” by The Stranglers, “A Message to you Rudy,” by The Specials, and “White Riot,” by The Clash, these bands point out that there is a common enemy in Society. They are forcing the mainstream to realize unpleasant truths about the culture that they inhabit. The future of England was unknown, and these songs were written during a time where people were worried about their place in the world. Faith in the system was dying and these bands gave way to a future generation to improve upon society that will present a more positive and equal multicultural Britain. Through the music it is clear that multicultural Britain was complicated; there were tumultuous times that these bands were commenting on, which pitted races against each other but also brought them together in fighting back against suppressive societal

“Hell You Talmbout”, a new protest song from Janelle Monáe’s Wondaland collective, is striking in its simplicity. Monáe (along with fellow Wondaland member Jidenna) made headlines yesterday for marching in Philadelphia against police brutality, and this song sounds like an extension of that march. Drums dominate the scene; they are at once tribal but organized, like a powerfully primal marching band. The lyrics are simple as well, but there’s nothing more to say - “Walter Scott - say his name! Jerame Reid - say his name! Philip White - say his name!” Three men who died at the hands of police, all in the last year; all three are widely considered to have been unfairly killed. These are not the only three, either. Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin, Sean Bell, Freddie Gray, Aiyana Jones, Sandra Bland, Kimani Grey, John Crawford, Michael Brown, Miriam Carey, Sharonda Singleton, Emmett Till, Tommy Yancy, Jordan Baker, and Amadou Diallo make up the rest of the verses. Their deaths range from days gone by, where racism

Jimi Hendrix summed up the meaning of life with his quote, “Music is my religion.” With this, every person can recognize the experience that music gives them. Music is a sense of entertainment that brings feelings that listeners know to the table. Each aspect of the listener’s favorite song brings emotions that they can relate to and know. Over the generations, music has evolved into what we wanted it to be. Now, society has conformed to the effects of different types of music and how it has transformed the world of entertainment. Yet, the beauty of metal music can appeal to traditional music listeners by the creation of both sounds, by the sense of feeling that both types of music arise, and by having the same similarity of influence that

In Jonathan Epstein’s novel, he suggests that the band’s following viewed the group as a hierarchy, separated socially and personally. Similarly, Charles Manson’s group, known as The Family, were willing to live and die for him, all for his ideologies. Unlike Manson, the band people never explicitly asked for people to follow them, but it is not secret that people in the entertainment industry always look for an audience. Not only artists, but the people who are in charge of our government as well, seek out for those who agree and are willing to support their message. It is unlikely that one would not have strong opinions on the mechanisms of our society, and it appears that now more than ever people are becoming more aware and an advocate

Everyone belongs to a subculture and every subculture has their niche in society. To the untrained eye, mosh pits look like unruly fighting rings. The purpose of mosh pits, however, is not to hurt people, but rather to “release frustrations and celebrate music” (Clark par. 1). Mosh pits offer a place for people to express themselves in an appropriate manner and setting, which otherwise would not be considered fitting outside of the pit. In my course of studying the subculture of mosh pits, I grew to better understand their purpose and the emotions they give off.

For generations, music and pop-culture have been important and strategic venues for political causes. From U-2’s “Sunday Bloody Sunday” to Tupac’s “Changes”, musical artists have taken to their stages to draw attention, and urge action upon whatever cause they support. One band however, has taken this process to the next level. Rise Against has become known as a politically motivated band who’s fans are inspired by their liberal “Stand up and take action!” attitude. Almost every song they record promotes awareness for one cause or another, and their song “Ballad of Hollis Brown” is no exception. The unique aspect of this song is that the issue being addressed has been going on for at least the last 50 years and has remained overlooked all this time, even in today’s culture of mass internet activism. The song addresses the plight of the independent local farmer whose livelihood and existence is being destroyed by large scale industrial farms. It’s true that industrial farms can produce at much higher rates and keep consumer costs low, but does that justify destroying independent farmers? Bob Dylan didn’t think so when he originally wrote “Ballad of Hollis Brown” and Rise Against has renewed Dylan’s contempt for industrial farming with their new take on his classic song. With “Ballad of Hollis Brown”, Rise Against combines an old school blues song with new school post-punk audio and video elements

Rage is a fruitfully destructive emotion that Tkacik intends her audience of resentful Generation X individuals to experience. Mired in a plethora of tragic events, Generation X is characterized by its intense angst and revolutionary fervor. Marginalized and misunderstood, they became accustomed to being associated with the zealous wails of grunge bands and the aggressive anti-establishment

Formed in the sixties, The Rolling Stones consisted of Brian Jones, Ian Stewart, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Bill Wyman, and Charlie Watts. Referring to themselves as the World’s Greatest Rock and Roll band, the song “Rollin’ Stones” written by Muddy Waters is what stemmed into the band 's name. The Stones recorded and sold what is estimated to be more than a quarter million albums until the early 1980s when Jagger and Richard had a fight over musical direction and the group grew apart from each other and did not record any music for years. Soon after The Rolling Stones were accepted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame in 1989, the band got back together and begin making more music. In 1994 the Rolling Stones won their first Grammy with the song “Voodoo Lounge”. After this success, the Stones embarked on a major tour raising a gross income of almost three million dollars. Throughout the 2000s, the band released albums and performed on tours pleasing the music world still to this day with the oldest member, Charlie Watts being 75 years old.

Heavy metal music is often criticized for being a negative influence due to the lyrical content and aesthetics of the genre. For those unfamiliar with heavy metal, it is easy to make this correlation because of the darker and often taboo subject matter present throughout the music. With a little more analysis, however, it can be discovered that these same aspects thought to be negative actually bring forth positive results among metal listeners. What is found in heavy metal music is actually a display of emotions and energy that often have a purging effect which helps listeners of metal cope with the constantly changing world around them. Heavy metal is used as a tool for expressing emotion in a nonviolent way, rather than through physical destruction sought by some other genres.

Pepper into school work I find myself scrolling through my music library looking for something to listen to. Before I know it I’m on Itunes and there it is in the new music section, Avenged Sevenfold’s newest release is right in front of my eyes and it’s only $9.99. A few taps of my finger and a password are all that separate me from crashing drums, deep guitar riffs and in-your-face vocals. But a few taps of my finger and a password later that isn’t what’s pumping through my earbuds. Instead the tapping of my keyboard is complimented by the melancholy tune of “Bigmouth Strikes Again” off of The Queen is Dead by The Smiths. 45 minutes later I’m through the entire album and once again find myself in searching my music library. I scroll back and forth, looking, searching, yearning for something to listen to. I pass old standbys like Alice in Chains, LINKIN PARK, Metallica, and even my onetime favorite, Rage Against the Machine. As good as these bands are none of them strike me as what I want to listen to. Even the promise of a momentary escape from AP Government notes fueled by music that is louder than it has any right to be doesn’t win me

For example when parents listen to metal for the first time they say “Why is there so much hate in the lyrics?” The easiest way to explain it to them is that it is their way of getting their own point across to their fans and the politicians. Back when metal was created, the artists made the music to get their audience to listen to the truth about what the government was doing to the people and society. As an example of a controversial topic that was put in a song was by Marilyn Manson and it is titled “Get your Gunn.” This song was about how easy it was for trouble minded teenagers to get a gun and also how once he or she had that gun, he or she would go and shoot people.

People voiced their reactions to this comment by voicing their hate for the Dixie Chicks and insisted that the Dixie Chicks’ music be banned from being played on radio stations. The violence goes even further when it became physical, with people smashing and burning their CDs, and this violence escalated all the way to death threats being sent to the Dixie Chicks. Aside from how music can cause violence, these documentaries touch on how popular music and violence are more directly connected. In Shut Up and Sing!, it is clear that people do not expect, or want, to hear the political opinions of famous musicians, and the listeners feel they have the right to respond in whatever way they want to, no matter how violent. In addition, in the documentary Soundtrack to War, the most popular music is often the most violent music. This is because this violent music is the music most soldiers need to get into the right mindset for going off to war and to commit the acts of violence needed in the war environment. Moreover, it is not just the music, but the musicians themselves that interact with the

Musical artists of the modern age have had a great affect upon the generation that the writers of the paper are a part of. Not only have the songs they produced brought us enjoyment and heightened our emotional states, they have also informed us of their opinions. One of the issues drawing the strongest opinions as of late is the American government, particularly the Bush administration. Some of the most popular bands and artists have made it a point to express their views on such matters through their music and concerts, rallying to fight or support a matter relating to the U.S. government. The following bands have influenced at least one of us as their listeners, and the message we