Music as a Mirror: Reflecting and Shaping Society
Music has always been used as a language that could express strong feelings in spite of nationality and fanbases. Throughout music history performers have used their talent to express society evils and provoke transformation. Two great examples of this are Bob Dylan’s Blowin’ in the Wind, released in 1963, and Killing in the Name by Rage against the Machine in 1992 in which music was used to hold up a mirror and therefore force change.
Perhaps that is why Blowin’ in the Wind is one of the most famous protest songs of all time – while being a protest song it is fundamentally about understanding the very foundations of being alive. First of all, Bob Dylan is amazing at lyrics which make people think about important social problems and ask a number of questions. Second, because the lyrics are simple and set to catchy tunes, they can be readily sung and recalled helping to create a rallying hymn for everyone who needs a voice to be heard. Also, the rhythmic gulps and intonations of Dylan provide a new humanistic message to the periods of the song, which make the listeners to focus personally on the messages of injustice plus yearning for transformation. All in all, the combinations of those aspects in the composition of the work leave contemporary viewers with the searching sights of goal and hope to change in spirit of the present days’ fights.
Killing in the Name has Rage Against the Machine being political using rebellion as their theme. First of all, the song is different from other songs in terms of the passionately performed vocals which increase the rebellious idea the whole song possesses. Second, the lyrics can be liberated as containing politically charge statements regarding such topics as police brutality or systematic racism frustration at the core of injustice. Last of all the catchy and aggressive music and specifically the screaming guitar lines and its other parts so that it would inspire listeners to fight against the system and hence symbolizes generations of activists and musicians, thus sealing its place in the fight for social justice.
Hence, it is correct to include in the consideration of the fight for music with the addition of protest movements shook songs as Blowin’ in the Wind by Bob Dylan and Killing in the Name by Rage Against the Machine. These songs provoke positive social change among the adolescent by provoking them to stand up against social injustice as well as unfairness due to that encouraging feelings through their thought-provoking lyrics and enticing tunes that the said songs move the soul. Whereas Dylan stepped into the role of a preacher, a philosopher who provides wishing and mutual consolation to lonely lonely souls, Rage Against the Machine became a commercial, inspiring people to act against oppression. Together, they focus on the versatility of music in protest for justice consequently making people aware that such problems exist across time, in society today.
Sources
Benitez-Eves, Tina. “Behind the Meaning of Rage against the Machine’s 1992 Hit ‘Killing in the Name.’” American Songwriter, 11 May 2022, americansongwriter.com/behind-the-meaning-of-rage-against-the-machines-1992-hit-killing-in-the-name/.
Whatley, Jack. “The Story behind the Song: ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’ the Bob Dylan Classic Written in 10 Minutes.” Far Out, 9 July 2020, faroutmagazine.co.uk/bob-dylan-blowin-in-the-wind-story-behind-the-song/.
My Journey
Prior to taking this course, music was enjoyable for me when listening to it as well as entertaining when writing it. But I had never thought of its social relevance before that. By dissecting and critically evaluating information I value the significance of music in the development of the world even more. I now realize that is not something you simply absorb but rather something that happens to you and even acts upon you.
No comments:
Post a Comment