Music In Protest

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Recommended: Music as a tool of protest and social change

Music has an influence on the world far beyond entertaining drivers on their morning commute. Though commonly thought of as simply an art form, music has been a powerful tool throughout history. In some ways, it has changed the course of history in monumental ways. Music has been used to end the regimes of dictators, spark the fires of civil rights movements, and bring aid to disaster ridden countries.

Music and Politics
Throughout history the use of music in protest has been seen. From 2010 to 2012 the Arab world protested at what was called “The Arab spring”. More specifically in Egypt, citizens protested in the streets, singing music written by Ramy Essam calling for the end of the regime led by Hosni Mubarak. After 18 days of protest the dictator resigned and was sentenced to life in prison.
A more famous example of music being used to bring down a dictator can be seen in the detainment of Manuel Noriega by The United States. Noriega was wanted for drug trafficking in the US. On Christmas Day in 1989, they surrounded the Vatican Embassy where he was hiding and proceeded to blast heavy metal music around the clock. After five days of psychological torture, Noriega surrendered himself to the US.
Music and Civil Rights …show more content…

His music was used as an anthem across the country that inspired people to voice their need for change. Another musician who became the voice for a movement was Bob Marley, he created numerous songs calling for the rising of African American protest for equality. Marley was so passionate that he played a show two days after being shot in an assassination attempt. When asked why he still played the show, Marley (1976) was quoted as saying, “The people who are trying to make this world worse aren't taking a day off. How can I?” cited Haltiwagner

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