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Music as protest
Music as protest
The impact of the Vietnam War on American society
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The Vietnam War remains one of the most controversial battles of the twentieth century. America’s involvement in Vietnam was solely to prevent the spread of communism from North Vietnam into South Vietnam. America underestimated the power of the Vietcong and with increased losses and casualties; many citizens began to question the nation’s purposes and actions, and whether the war could be won at all (Candaele). Many of these concerns were expressed upon in popular music of the 1960s. Musicians began to voice their anger and opposition through anti-war and protest songs. Many people were drawn to these anti-war musicians due to their ability to capture the essence of protest in a poetic, psychedelic way. In order to capture the attention …show more content…
One of the most iconic displays of Vietnam’s physical destruction is Jimi Hendrix’s adaptation of “The Star- Spangled Banner”, preformed at Woodstock in 1969 (Hopkins). Hendrix morphed the traditional American classic, into the painstaking, ear pricing, sound of destruction and devastation. The performance “pushed the reality of the Vietnam War into the public’s face and ears, mimicking the screams and cries of fallen soldiers “(Candaele). Hendrix’s form of protest embodied what the physical destruction the Vietnam War was causing, from bombs to screams, nothing held the artist back, as he created one of the most iconic anti- war protest, from one of the most patriotic anthems. Legendary musician Bob Dylan also questioned the physical destruction of the Vietnam War during the early 1960s. Dylan’s poetic folk style allured audiences, due to his ability to relate and contradict America. Out of the many hits Bob Dylan has made, two songs in particular raise attention of the idea that war is physically destructive. Songs like “Blowin in the Wind” and “Masters of War” discuss the particular faults and deaths the Vietnam War. The song “Masters of War” opens up with a powerful invasive
The Vietnam War is one of the most controversial issues in American history. It is no secret that the American public was not in favor of this war, which is why the government’s decision to keep the US involved for over ten years created such a disconnect between America’s people and their government. In the third verse the Temptations sing, “People all over the world are shouting 'End the war.'” The Temptations bravely attack the government, addressing their continuation of a war no one wants. Although The Temptations avoid explicitly naming the war, or the government as the guilty party, it is evident that this is a criticism, or at least an acknowledgement of a predicament America found itself in.
Hopkins, Alexander E. "Protest and Rock n' Roll During the Vietnam War." Student Pulse 4.11 (2012). http://www.studentpulse.com/a?id=713
Take a moment, and imagine over 58,000 dead American soldiers, mangled, and bloody, covering the war torn ground of Vietnam. It’s a terrible sight that stinks of rotting bodies, and the twisted face of lifeless young men staring at the sky in horror. However, it doesn’t have to be that way, and Creedence Clearwater Revival knew that. They wrote plenty of songs, but one truly spoke out against the war in Vietnam, titled Fortunate Son. It touches on subjects like the, how the privileged were not drafted, the split between the rich, and working class, and how the government will war support as black mail against it’s own citizens. Although, how did the United States end up in Vietnam in the first place?
Throughout time, music has been an influential part of society. As a form of entertainment and expression, its impact has always been felt both economically and emotionally. During the Vietnam war, music evolved into more a form of expression rather than pure entertainment. Emotionally charged songs became a method to oppose the war, and vent frustrations. While many songs opposed the war, numerous others focused on peace and happiness. They provided a positive perspective in an otherwise depressing time. Along with incorporating passion into music, cultural diversity increased in music greatly. Black artists became progressively more popular and accepted in the musical scene. This respect carried over to society slowly but surely. During the Vietnam war, music played a crucial role in the societal evolution into a state where emotions fueled actions, more emphasis was put on equality, all opinions counted.
Throughout history, music has been influenced by the events and politics during a specific era, for instance, the Vietnam War. One of the most notorious wars the United States has been involved in was the Vietnam War, which spanned from the early 1960s to around 1973. However, the United States started to deploy U.S regular combat units beginning in 1965, in which was can say the “official start date” of the war began for the United States and their citizens. During American involvement in the Vietnam War, a large portion of the population was opposed to U.S. involvement in South Vietnam. The American public turned against the war in 1967 and by 1970, two-thirds of Americans believed that the government had made the wrong decision by sending
Hey young world, today we are gonna focus on the top five most iconic legends of the twentieth and twenty-first century. Lets start with the king of pop himself, Michael Jackson. “Hee Hee!” Michael had his own sound that was introduced to the world in the 1970’s. With his electric voice, big Afro, and undeniably smooth dance moves he became a star. At the time no one could move like Michael Jackson, but everyone wanted to. From the crotch grabbing to the moonwalk, his dance moves launched him into stardom. First off his album, “thriller” is still, since 1982, the number one selling album in the world. It sold 20 million copies internationally. Now I know what you’re thinking, “okay he sold a lot off music so what?” Well have you heard his music?
James A. Baldwin once said, “The most dangerous creation of any society is the man who has nothing to lose” (BrainyQuote.com). In the 1960s, “the man” was youth across the country. The Vietnam war was in full force, and students across the country were in an outrage. Society needed an excuse to rebel against the boring and safe way of life they were used to; Vietnam gave them the excuse they needed. Teenagers from different universities came together and formed various organizations that protested the Vietnam war for many reasons. These reasons included protesting weapons and different tactics used in the war, and the reason the U.S. entered the war in the first place. These get-togethers had such a monumental impact on their way of life that it was famously named the Anti-War Movement. When the Vietnam War ended, The United States did not have a real concrete reason why; there were a bunch of theories about why the war ended. Through negative media attention and rebellious youth culture, the Anti-War Movement made a monumental impact in the ending of the Vietnam War.
Freddie Mercury(piano/vocals), Jimi Hendrix(lead guitar), Tommy Lee(drummer), John Deacon(bass),Gregg Rolie(vocals/keyboard), produced by Herbie Herbert! The best band that could exist in my opinion, only the best are a part of this band of legends. While i’m using some of my personal favorites i’ve also picked some of the best there is. Freddie Mercury was a part of the band Queen that produced the popular song “Bohemian Rhapsody” which is enjoyed to this day even by some of the younger groups showing the quality of their music. Jimi Hendrix, one of the most creative and voted the best guitarist of all time, would play the lead guitar because of his exceptional skill and versatility. Tommy Lee also one of the most loved drummers, one of his
Devastation, depression, deprivation and death were few of the many tragedies that Americans faced during World War II. “An immediate political, psychological and economic shift took place following the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941, because the United States found itself unprepared,” (Ref.1) A majority of American men were forced to enlist and fight to their death, leaving their wives and children at home. The atmosphere of America changed, and the music during this time period painted a vivid picture of the variety of emotions faced during the time of sorrow and difficulty. Music not only portrayed the emotions and current circumstances of this time, but it also provided comfort, entertainment, and hope for the families at home through the use of swing/jazz music and topical songs.
Some may see The Doors front man and offbeat poet extraordinaire Jim Morrison as the epitome of American culture, while countless others may see him as the complete antithesis. Rising to fame as American involvement in the Vietnam War reached a pinnacle, Morrison’s acclaim grew in a time of great American turmoil. The war in Vietnam was held as an issue of high controversy amongst many Americans. Many saw our involvement as utter ludicrousness and did not comprehend the need to send U.S. troops overseas to fight a war they had nothing to do with. As a result, certain Americans began both directly and indirectly rebelling against the beliefs and norms of the time, and thus, the counterculture movement was born. Jim Morrison became an icon of this rebellious revolution against a confused American government.
The 1960s was the era of rebellion. It was a time when views of many people started to change dramatically as unexpected things were happening from the Cold War to the assassinations of nation’s leaders. So within this disturbed era, many citizens started to rebel and question the authorities saying that they were ruining the country. The younger generation, especially, stood firmly in front to lead the action to change the ideas of the older generation. One of the main methods they used to speak their opinions was through music and we can see the power it had on the people through one of the main protest anthems called “Fortunate Son” by Creedence Clearwater Revival in 1969. The song speaks out to the elite controlled America and becomes one of many instances of the younger generation questioning and rebelling against the authority in the late 1960s. They send people a message that the citizens of United States do not live in a fair world and the authorities are not doing their jobs. By creating images through the comparative and descriptive lyrics such as who “waves the flag” , and “some folks are born with silver spoons in hand”, its repetition of the chorus “it ain’t me” and the instrumentation of the song which sounds like the cry of the working class to signify that the Vietnam War is a rich man’s war and a poor man’s fight, this song by the Creedence Clearwater Revival shouts to the world that the elite-controlled America is unfair as it can get; and becomes a big part of the counterculture movement. However, contrary to the message of the song, challenges to authority and privilege did not come exclusively from the working class. Rather, members of the upper class were also involved in opposition movements, for instance vi...
War has far-reaching, long-lasting, multi-faceted effects on those involved, and even those who are not. War does not discriminate, war disrupts everyone, and war is chaos. “Beat! Beat! Drums!” by Walt Whitman is a dramatic poetic response to the wide-ranging impact of war in every day life. The poem is primarily divided into three sections in which the effect of the war drums in the poem range from disturbing the “peaceful farmers” of the country to out roaring the traffic of the city, the “sleepers”, the “talkers”, the “singers” and the “lawyers”. The poem reflects the effect of the war in the din of the drums and bugles. The sound scatters the church congregations and disrupts the focus of students in schools. The poem uses meter in the rhythm of a war drum, commanding war diction and repetition that leaves a lasting impression of the magnitude of war’s disturbance in relationships, work, and happiness.
War: a terrible social and economic event where citizens’ viewpoints can be significantly altered through the simple words of a song. Throughout history, wartime propaganda music has influenced all who listen to it. Both good and bad thought provoking music has been released in the past. Tunes of all volumes and tones continue to persuade humans to think a certain way. The most recognized period for impactful music occurred during World War Two, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War.
Trauma is often associated with war. As John F. Kennedy once said, “Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind” (“War Quotes”). A close analysis of the poems “Five Day Requiem for Vietnam” by Nan Braymer and “Buttons” by Carl Sandburg captures the trauma faced by soldiers during war. At first glance, they merely seem to describe the struggles of a soldier, but a deeper analysis also reveals their effects on the civilians who support them. The reader must also realize that although these poems share the topic of war’s repercussions, their identical literary devices assert contrasting themes. Whereas both poems include devices of pathos and rhetorical questions, “Five Day Requiem for Vietnam” conveys the idea that
With the numerous considerations that war influenced profound quality, John Lennon communicates his actual contemplations on brutality through his song. When the war raged in 1969, Lennon and his wife held "Bed-Ins for Peace": One in Amsterdam and the other in Montreal. The bed-ins were a new way intended to protest the wars, but still maintained peace. John Lennon and his wife Yo...