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Impact of protest music
Impact of protest music
Studies on bob marley and reggae music
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These songs made their way throughout history. People listened to these songs during protests and rallies when they wanted to feel a sense of prosperity. For example, during 2011, protesters on Occupy Wall St. scattered around the world “challenging social and economic inequality, as well as corporate greed and its influence upon government policy. The uncompromising sentiments expressed on Bob Marley's “Get Up Stand Up”, lyrics that are repeatedly chanted at these demonstrations, seem to have directly inspired the protesters’ dissenting stance: “Some people think a great God will come down from the sky, take away everything and make everybody feel high/but if you know what life is worth, you will look for yours on earth and now we see the light, we’re gonna stand up for our rights!””
As reggae music became more popular, their messages steadily began to penetrate the minds of Bob Marley's fellow audience. Bob Marley and the Wailers had another album that was more confrontational but seemed to get the point across to religious and political officials. This album was titled “Confron...
Women had to fight for their rights to vote and hold public office. In many countries women are looked at as objects and still don’t have equal rights and this song brings light to this topic.
Robert Nesta Marley, musically known as Bob Marley is Reggae’s most iconic and transcendent figure, “Get up, Stand up,” is a song that demonstrates elements of transcendentalism. The song explains about how people should not live their lives expecting to go to heaven after dying. Rather, they should have a purpose in their lives. The song also talks about how people should stand up for their morals and follow what they believe rather than believing others. Bob Marley chose to encourage people to depend on their beliefs and not let others to negatively interfere with their lives. The song also criticizes religious hypocrisy and instructs listeners to make their own choices.
Black anthems have a long standing history that can be traced through their African roots to modern day songs. Political groups have used these anthems to both lead and thrown into crisis their aims and objectives of their political messages. Not only have anthems been used in political areas they have also been used to showcase the culture at the time of their prominence. These anthems have many benefits such as uniting people together for certain causes, however, some of the anthems drawbacks are that they have been nearly forgotten as their respective political groups have faded away into history. The book Anthem: Social Movements and the Sound of Solidarity in the African Diaspora by Shana L. Redmond proves that anthems have been used
Although there is a variety of music that could be examined to trace its evolution through time, there is one genre in particular that is quite interesting to examine. Though it differs from other types of music, it will be looked at in conjunction with Reggae music as they have similar ties. Reggae music is quite prominent today in the United States, parts of Africa, and of course Jamaica. Reggae is notoriously known for its most influential artist Bob Marley, and it is not unusual for one to have heard a few, if not many of his songs. Reggae’s popularity is steadily increasing and is doing so through both expansions of the music as well as increasing knowledge on the genre.
Artists write about what they know; they pull feelings from their heart and their songs relay what the artists’ emotions, whether it be of their hometown, their high school crush, or their experiences. Many artists that came to fame during the twentieth century have a fair share of experiences they share with us in the form of their songs. The twentieth century is comprised of the institution of slavery and its effects, war, gender norms, discrimination based on nationality, sex, race, etc., and countless events that sparked protests and uproars in the United States. Music at this time was a phenomenon, and artists could use it to their advantage. Artists used their music to spread awareness about their cause, influence their listeners, and
Rock N Roll played a huge part in the 1960s. The music of this time revolutionized the many different aspects of that era. It was a part of the culture and therefore contributed to many causes concerning the society and its problems. During this time there were thousands and thousands of songs written about the society and how there¡¦s a need to change many things in it. However, I will only be covering the three of my favorites. The first song that I have chosen is Blowin¡¦ in the Wind1 by Bob Dylan. Bob Dylan was one of the most influential singers of the time when it came to being a true fighter of the social injustices. He was a sort of a hero to many of the underprivileged members of the society. Now as for this song, Dylan wrote it at a time when all Americans were experiencing racial inequality. In Blowin¡¦ in the Wind, Dylan asks, ¡§How many roads must a man walk down, before you call him a man?¡¨ This shows how he asks the whites of that era that take part in all the racial segregation to put a stop to all of this. Especially, coming from a white person, this song meant a lot for that era. If it was a white person supporting the racial equality cause over a person of color then it had a much greater impact on the whole society.
A major situation in which the music was used was massive protests on public property called sit-ins. Sit-ins were protesting strategies by African Americans during the Civil Rights Era where they would sit in on diners, bathrooms and “public” locations that they weren’t allowed and wouldn’t leave until they were given equality or service. During these protests, African Americans would sing songs of freedom and good times ahead and would adapt these songs from past songs of slavery and inequality were revived and reused from before (Stewart). Many white Americans would discriminate those doing this to try to diminish their morale on the right, but as a response the African Americans would continue to sit and sing s...
Reggae music is a meaningful channel for social change. Reggae music portrays resistance to oppression, it is a symbolic action, part of a nonviolent revolution. It is a type of rhetoric; a method of communication designed to influence and persuade. It is a message with a purpose, it represents a crystallization of fundamental issues. Reggae music asks the listener to reconsider our daily lives and to hear the cry of the sufferer, because so many people are suffering. The lyrics and music of Robert Nesta Marley gave reggae music international recognition. Bob was a charismatic performer who truly stands out as a prophet. There is clearly a prophetic overtone to his lyrics yet he was only given the prophetic status after he died. His lyrics operate on a deep level, yet they typically relate to everyday occurrences. Bob's music was and is a powerful force to ease the pain of life in the ghetto. He embodied a feeling of empowerment, and encourages all listeners to 'chant down Babylon'.
Despite the traumatizing effects of inequality, African Americans were able to rise as a community within their workplace and spread the hope they found in their songs, their folktales, and in their artwork. Music in African culture played a significant role in the struggle to resist slavery. Slave songs, called spirituals, were sung to express emotions and experiences. The slaves sang about their everyday lives, and their hopes, fears, dreams, and complaints. The desire for freedom was evident in songs such as “Run to Jesus, Shun the Danger” and “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” which encouraged escape, while others encouraged sabotage.
Music has been around for thousands of years. Music has progressed since that time and has slowly become what it is today. Though music has been around for such a long time, protest music just started to develop in the Vietnam Era, the year 1954. The war started the era of protest which, in turn, created a new form of music which incorporated a specific type of lyric that was a way of expressing protest through the song. Since music in this era was already a big thing, artists thought it would be a good idea to get their political viewpoints out there. They did it through something that affected everybody in that time and space. The artists view spread quickly through the country because of the catchy tune and the viewpoints that are listed. In the United States of America, it is a very common thing to conform to others in a group (Conformity…). Since conformity is such a common occurrence in a large group, all the artist has to do is find a couple of people in the group, group being an audience, who agree with the artist and the rest will unfold on its own. The artist will keep on performing while the word of him and his music will spread from person to person. Conformity will ultimately bring people together on the same viewpoint until eventually, there are thousands of people there with the artist to protest. These artists have grown over time along with the style of music that they bring along with them. Protest music still exists today and is one of the most effective forms of protest that we have.
Bob Marley connected with the music he wrote. “ “No Woman No Cry” will still wipe away the tears from a widow’s face; “Exodus” will still arouse the warrior; “Redemption Song” will still be a rallying cry for emancipation from all tyrannies, physical and spiritual; “Waiting in Vain” will still seduce; and “One Love” will be the international anthem of a coffee-colored humanity living in unity, in a world beyond borders, beyond beliefs, where everyone has learned at last to get together and feel all Bob Marley songs are so relatable to people and they have a strong connection with him. His music meant something, something more than artists today singing random lyrics in a loop with some auto-tune. And time won’t change how problems are perceived. The problems they had in 1971-1980 we still have today or something related to it.
My artist from the 1960’s was Bobby Darin, his Simple Song of Freedom lyrics can relate to the 1980’s Public Enemy Fight the Power song. They both send the message to others about Civil Rights and the importance of equality among all regardless of race, gender etc. The 1960’s generation was fighting the Vietnam War which most of the United States popular was against. The 1980’s generation was also fighting a war but it was geared toward corrupt Government Officials but most importantly being able to speak up for what you believe
Marley was born into Jamaica’s poverty and it is where he developed a strong love of reggae and became a Rastafari. Reggae, evolved from another musical style called Ska in the late 1960’s, is considered the voice of the ‘oppressed’ peoples. Many reggae lyrics are politicalised and centre on themes of freedom and fighting for it. (Cooper, 2014)
This song written by Bob Marley and The Wailer, encompasses the broader theme, which is becoming one, and ending violence. In the Bible, in the book of Revelation, it is prophesied by the apostle, John, that there will a battle between good, and evil, called the battle of Armageddon. This battle will be the last battle before sustaining goodness, and peace. Therefore, when Marley refers to “fight this Holy Armageddon”, Marley simply means that there should be an end to violence all together. The lines that follow that refer to religious context from the Bible that talk about the second coming of God, also prophesied in the book of Revelation. When Marley explains the second coming of God, and uses the wrath of God, to mock those who insinuate
King, Stephen; Jensen, Richard,(1995) Bob Marley's "Redemption Song": The rhetoric of reggae and Rastafari Journal of Popular Culture 29.3