Can Music Contribute to Anything Worth?

Music is “most sovereign” because it illustrates the differences between right and wrong; it is a powerful instrument for teaching good morals, and promotes decent character.

Protest music was an effective tool used as a weapon in peaceful protest in America during their involvement in the Vietnam War. Singers and songwriters would express their views through the lyrics of their songs, effectively spreading awareness and informing people about the changes that need to take place, and the ideas of peace over war. Protest music was a major contributor in the escalating support for the peace movements, as well as many other movements, against the horrors of the Vietnam War and increasing acts of sexism, racism and the lack of equality in America in the 1950s and 1960s. Many famous artists took the initiative to write protest songs to spread awareness about the cause, generating a broader impact and having different

During the 1960’s protest songs were a big way for musical artists to put forth their opinions and stances, on controversial events happening in the US, into the American public. Songs by these artists in the 60’s, were able to connect to many of the feelings of American citizens on controversial issues that many were afraid to speak out against, through their messages and lyrics. One song that spoke to several people, on the topic of Civil Rights in America, was “A Change Is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke because of the songs ability to connect greatly with the black community. It was able to tap into the anger and frustration that many felt because of the racism and prejudice. It also was able to tap into the many hopeful thoughts that individuals were having in this time too. This song was able to connect to not only to the

Music, and particularly cultural, social, and political songs, has remained an essential facet of the longstanding tradition of uprisings and struggle for change in American culture. It is difficult to fathom the passions and purposefulness of pop culture music in the civil rights movement of the 1960s; thanks to the freedom songs, whose endeavor was to mobilize and reinforce collective participation in the civil rights campaigns, demonstrations, and protests (Stefani, 2015). The three songs from this period that exemplify popular music’s role in calling for positive change regarding civil rights included “We Shall Overcome” by Southern African American tobacco workers, “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ‘Round” by Freedom Singers, and “People Get Ready” by Curtis Mayfield.

The protest song selected for this report was "We Shall Overcome" (Various Artists, 1945) written by various artists, with lyrics originating from an older activist 's hymn. This report will cover the history, purpose, lasting effects, and the value of "We Shall Overcome" and its predecessor "I 'll Overcome Someday".

Over the period, “We Shall Overcome” by Pete Seeger quickly developed into one of the most popular songs of the civil rights movement. Released in 1959, this song remained an important civil justice song not only within the movement, but also across the globe. As mentioned earlier, the act of singing together is a powerful tool to unite individuals and to create a sense of community. This song evoked vitality and strong emotions across the south were most of the blacks lived as well as rejuvenating courage, and confidence in the search for freedom in their struggles. The complex process of the song, We Shall Overcome “reveals much about the improvisational and hybrid nature of not just African American musical culture, but also the movement

The civil rights movement that took place from the mid-1950’s to the late 1960’s was a time of drastic change for the United States as a country. The oppressed and their supporters were joining together and trying to peacefully protest for equal rights. A large number of the original civil rights activists had started out as singers in churches and schools, and found a way to incorporate the power of music and lyrics into their protests; similar to the way that slaves would sing about their struggles and their want for freedom during the nineteenth century. Music played a large role in conveying what activists were fighting for without them actually having to physically fight back. Freedom songs, the name placed on the famous songs of the civil rights movement, were all adapted from American folk music and were written with the same ideals in mind.

After the actions of Freedom Riders, people realized that violence wasn’t a necessary way to announce a statement, therefore protest became the main way to compete with the violence in the Civil Rights movement. People are irrational; they always prefer a sense of empathy or touch rather than pure reasoning. Compares to speech or another form of protesting, music is the most appealing one. The rhythm of the song can manipulate the feeling of the listener easily, letting people emotionally easier to accept the point that being made in the song. The first man who realized this was the folk singer Bob Dylan, who later became one of the symbols of the US Civil Rights movement. After Dylan’s first protest song ‘The Death of Emmett Till’ was introduced to the public in 1962, which talks about a young black man who was killed by members of the Ku Klux Klan in 1955 while visiting his family in the South, the song got extremely positive feedback. Since then, more and more musicians began to write songs about the Civil Rights movement, the fashion of music was led to political field eventually. The same things happened in Australia too in the 80s. Mandawuy Yunupingu is an Australian indigenous singer and civil rights activist who utilized music to transcend cultural borders and promote peace between indigenous and nonindigenous Australians. This global phenomenon proves the power of music and

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).

When people think of a protest song, they often think about artist such as Tupac, N.W.A, and even Dar Williams. People remember these artist specifically because they leave a lasting impression on them in one form or another. The first question that comes to mind is what really is a protest song composed of? Many people do not realize that a protest song does not just draw attention to a certain social, emotional, and political issue. A protest song strives beyond the idea of these cliché criteria. It is important to know all these criteria for the reason that society thrives on the arts to advance a cause or problem towards success. For many years, artist have utilized art to aid them in advancing these causes in a positive manner. The song called “Revolution” by the infamous Beetles illuminates an issue about war. Written in 1968, it has withstood much criticism from various different social groups even today. This song enlightens the listener on John Lennon’s opinion over the Vietnam War and the effect violence can have on society as a whole. The song is to be considered a protest song because it draws attention to the issue about involving the U.S in combat with Vietnam, it expresses the artist’s opinion in the lyrical aspect of it, and in some form, depending on personal opinion, offers a solution such as isolation to fix the issue at hand.

Listening to the mariachi music at the concert I attended at San Antonio College helped me realize that the human mind can create different emotions with music. The different types of musical instruments that can be used, can help determine how an emotion can be altered. The emotions that come from listening to music also comes from the customs that the

Music has always been a fundamental part of my life. It sends me on a beautiful journey, full-to-bursting with emotions held within. It is here, within my own thoughts, that I can truly be myself. What music does so masterfully, is its unyielding capability of captivation and wonder. The listener is made to feel so many things at once, that it is all too easy to become lost within a euphoric trance. As one of my greatest passions, I turn to its pleasures time and time again. Whether it be while writing a work of fiction, jogging onward at the brink of dawn, or perhaps in the still night before bed. My love for music in its entirety has only soared as I have grown older and thus, my first symphony experience, is a wonderful memory I will forever hold dear.

Any social or political movement in the United States is guaranteed have protest songs that follow. Protest music and protest songs are traditions that have existed for hundreds of years in many parts of the world. We can connect some of the first protest songs to the psalms of Protestant revival movements. In America specifically, protest music can be discerned as far back as the colonial era starting with Yankee Doodle. In the pre-World War II period, commercial folk artists such as Woody Guthrie, Leadbelly, and Pete Seeger championed protest music at this time. In the early 1960s, protest songs flourished with the anti-war and civil rights movements. In the early 1970s however, the state of the protest song was slowly declining. Bob Dylan,

Music, a vocal or instrumental sound (sometimes both) combined in a way that produces beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion or some might say the art or skills of creating or performing a piece. A favorite song is probably your favorite because it is associated with an emotional event in your life (Music).

PANPACIFIC UNIVERSITY NORTH PHILIPPINES Tayug, Pangasinan Term Paper In Communication Skills II Second Semester S.Y 2009-2010 The Role of Music in Learning PREFACE This term paper explains the relevance and role of music in learning.