Music Serves as a Societal Role - Exploring Music that Impact Society and Inspires Change in Politics

Thesis

Music inspires change and influences political stance in a variety of different ways.

Exploring Music

"This Land is your Land" By Woody Guthrie (1944)

This song is very world renowned song that most populations know this song or has heard of this song. It's considered to be an American Folk Song. It was written by Woody Guthrie as a stance on The United States regarding onwership on land and questions the notion of owning property. This song was originally called "God Blessed America for me" and would end with that verse instead of "This Land is Made for You and Me".

The song has a very strong impact with people who have a strong political stance for America and some just know the song as a catchy tune. People sing it at campfires or during Fourth of July Events since it is a strong political song about America. This song is originally played with a guitar and has a catchy tune through the song. The Melody to it is not super fast but enough to hear the lyric of the song. The Structure of the song has a catchy rhyme scheme that easily flows with the song that makes it easier to remember. 

 "Mississippi Goddam" By Nina Simone (1964)

This song was a big hit and it also destroyed the artist career. This song was a protest song from all the people that died from segregation and civil rights protest. Nina Simone wrote this song for them and specifically addressed it. The Artist decided to write and perform this song since she wasn't a physical fighter she was an Artist. This was written"in the wake of the murder of Emmett Till, Medgar Evers and the 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing Birmingham, Alabama." This song influenced and showed to a lot of people that even musical Artist would take a stance on the civil rights protest even if it was a risky thing to do at the time. Nina Simone was blackballed after this but continued to make music protesting against segregation.

The Structure of the song is not meant to fully flow with each word, it's made to tell a story of how anger she is. This song does has a fast tempo but I think it was done for the instruments to sound very beautiful like it's a pretty song but the lyrics show the true story of the music. The Dynamic of the song is soft and then loud when she goes back to the verse 'Mississippi Goddam' brings the attention and shows the emotion she is feeling towards that state more than the others. 

 

'Fortunate Son' by Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969)

This song is also a political song that was fighting against the Draft that happen in the 60s for the Vietnam war. The song was written by Creedence Clearwater Revivals and performed by them, it is a very well known song. The reason for the title was because former President Nixon daughter was getting married to Former President Eisenhower son. The 'son' of Eisenhower was fortunate enough not have to go to War and was called upon but every man that was called for the war had to go. The band itself was very angry about this, and when they found out about this, it took Fogerty (member of the band) 20 minutes to write his anger out into this most infamous song.

This Lyrics of this song does express how the men that get drafted into war are not the fortunate ones like the son of Former President Eisenhower. The song genre is rock so it does sound very good and has a chaotic message to it but also a clear audience as well. Many Military folks do listen to the song and remember this moment in history that many people were not exempt from going to war and did end up dying in war.

The Tempo is not super fast but it has a catchy tune with it. It also has really cool melody that does repeat itself throughout the song as it goes into the guitar solo. I think this song was very bold and expressive very well the anger in the song and the emotional impact it has. 

'This is America" by Donald Glover (AKA Childish Gambino)

This song was released on May 6, 2018. This song is not really known to be a protest song but is known to send a message of how America really is. This video portrays many meanings, in the beginning of the music video Donald Glover shoots a man in the back of the head. It depicts the Jim Crow Caricature. The lyrics states, 'Don't catch you slippin up' which would sends a reminder of the dangers that Black American face daily in the Modern Era. There are so much more in this video then meats the eyes and it really does great with symbolical meanings. The video is very raw and can be a lot for the audience but that is the message, it's not trying to glamor the ugliness that happens daily.

The Elements in this song starts with the Dynamics, of how much this song changes its rhythm by either gunfire shot or by the pause in music from the musical video. The pause in music emphasizes the video more and the lyrics each time there is a pause in change of emotions. 

The Societal Role

When people think about Political Stance on music it's really a variety of different things. There are music about Politics and also about wanting change or taking a stance on music. There are songs written about Black power, and about the women suffrage, or about the Wars that happened in history. There are other songs about how America is amazing and the freedom that comes with it. There are many different stands against or with Politics and many people get inspired by this. Many people listen to the music that tells a story that can be super empowering and to their target audience to have people motivated on what their political stance is.

My Experience in the Class

I never had a class like this before with utilizing blogging. I think this tool really helped with getting into blogging and being able to share different ideas and public for everyone to see. I do think I learned a lot with music and the variety of music there is out there. I feel my music taste has widen and I got into many different types of genres that I was not expecting to enjoy. I also believe this was a great way to bring the class together to see how different each and everyone is with their taste in music. 

References

Team, uDiscover. (2023, May 1). Best protest songs in history: 20 timeless political anthems. uDiscover Music. https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/best-protest-songs-history/

Fields, L. (2023, June 30). The story behind Nina Simone’s protest song, “mississippi goddam.” PBS. https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/the-story-behind-nina-simones-protest-song-mississippi-goddam/16651/

Subscribe to the Financial Times. (n.d.). https://ig.ft.com/life-of-a-song/fortunate-son.html

Wikimedia Foundation. (2024, March 16). This is America (song). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Is_America_(song)

This is America: A deep dive into childish Gambino’s political anthem. Neon Music - Digital Music Discovery & Showcase Platform. (n.d.). https://neonmusic.co.uk/this-is-america-a-deep-dive-into-childish-gambinos-political-anthem/

 

Music and the Fictive Dream - The Film Anastasia, Song 'Once Upon a December'

The Film Anastasia

This film was released on November 14th 1997. It was distributed by 20th Century Fox.

This is an American Animated Film Musical Historical Fantasy Adventure Comedy-Drama. It's a 94 minute long movie that captures the truth of yourself, and searching for love, and purpose in life. It was Produced and Directed by Don Bluth and Gary Goldman. The Film is about the evil wizard known as Rasputin who puts a hex on the royal Ramanovs and Young Anastasia to start the Russian Revolution. The young Anastasia disappears when their palace is overrun. Years late, the Grand Duchess offers a reward for Anastasia's return. Two Russians that are known for scheming plan to pawn off a person that looks like the former princess, holding auditions to find a girl that looks like her, they find Anya. They bring Anya to Paris for the reward, not knowing she is the Real Missing Anastasia. This film has a many messages through out the movie about finding a home, searching for a purpose and learning about love and about yourself. 

Song 'Once Upon a December' 

This song was produced by Lynn Ahrens, David Newman and Stephen Flaherty. In the Film the song was sung by Liz Callaway. The song was released before the film was released on October 28, 1997. It was recorded a year prior. It is a 2 minute and 48 second song that is known to be sung as a lullaby. This song is very beautiful and it does capture the entire plot of the film very well. 

Dancing Bears
Painted Wings
Things I almost remember.
And a song someone sings
Once upon a December.

Someone holds me safe and warm.
Horses prance through a silver storm.
Figures dancing gracefully across my memory.

Someone holds me safe and warm.
Horses prance through a silver storm.
Figures dancing gracefully across my memory.

Far away,
Long ago,
Glowing dim as an ember,
Things my heart
Used to know
Things it yearns to remember
And a song someone sings

Once upon a December

Opinion

Throughout the Film Anastasia known as Anya in the movie and she is humming this song that she sang by her caretaker her Grandmother known as the Grand Duchess. The lyrics of the song explains she doesn't remember but she can recall the warmth and safety that she felt and can recall some memories of people dancing. In the Film that's all she can recall are the balls that she went to with her grandmother because it was her favorite time. I do love the song itself and the melody of it, it feels elegant and has such a soft tune that it feels like your dancing. I think the different instruments really brings the song together as well to make such a beautiful Harmony. 

References

“Anastasia (1997 Film).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 9 Apr. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anastasia_(1997_film).

“Once upon a December.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 8 Mar. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Once_Upon_a_December.

“Liz Callaway – Once upon a December.” Genius, genius.com/Liz-callaway-once-upon-a-december-lyrics. Accessed 14 Apr. 2024.

ROLE OF THE PERFORMER - LINDSEY STIRLING

 

Basic Information

• Composer: Lindsey Stirling 
• Born: Santa Ana, California
• Date of Birth: September 21, 1986

Musical Journey

                Lindsey Stirling is a violinist, dancer and composer based in Utah. Her focused genres are hip hop, electronic, classical and dubstep. She started on youtube in 2007 and then continued to blow up on her channel with millions of views. She does many cover songs of classical music and orchestra compose music as well. She went on 'America's Got Talent' in 2010, "at the age of 23, Stirling was a quarter-finalist on season five of America's Got Talent, where she was described as a hip hop violinist. She impressed the judges not only by mixing hip-hop, pop, and classical music on the violin, but by incorporating dancing with playing the violin, which she also does on her tours and official music videos." 

                    She started to go on tour from 2012-2013. She has been going on tour ever since. She has won many awards and was nominated for 'Top Dance/Electronic Album. She continues to release albums and does make really cool music videos as well. Below is her website if you would like to check out what she has on there with tickets and touring and some more information about her life.

Lindsey Stirling Website

Purpose

                   I believe the purpose of this Artist music is to provide insight on how beautiful focusing on not just performing one talent but multitude at once and be able to make classical music modern. I think Lindsey Stirling is very talented Artist that tries to shed light to other beautiful composers music that gives a modern touch with also an insight on how beautiful it sounds with a string instrument. 

Opinions

                  I learned about Lindsey Stirling when she first performed on America's Got Talent and I was so impressed on how she made classical music sound so modern and beautiful. Her talent for the violin is very expressive and I just love the music she plays to the melody, and harmony of the violin. She dances as she performs which I can't comprehend how talent she is to do that with a violin. She is able to stabilize herself with the music as well as dance and sing too. Her pitch on the music instrument is very good and her voice is also an instrument that she does well as she performs. 

                

                She is a very talented artist that I do enjoy listening to. I listen to her music when I am reading as my background music to the story. I would love to watch her perform and hopefully will. I did hear a rumor, by someone up in UAF decision board that Lindsey Stirling was suppose to be the original Artist of last year to Perform for the 2023 Spring-fest Concert that happens at the Student Recreation Center each year. I was devastated she was not the performer and I wish she was because I would have loved to have seen her perform. This could be false information but I had my hopes very high for her to perform. Disclaimer the videos I added below can be a corny music videos but the song is definitely worth listening to. I also only added music that she is performing but she does have music where she does sing and it's equally as beautiful as her performing with the violin.

Videos

                    Below I added one of my personal favorite videos of her doing the Phantom of the Opera cover. I absolutely love this video and I love her performance in it. She does capture the aesthetic in the music video very good and I think it definitely is a different type of style of music for how classical the cover is. 

                Another song that I love and I do listen to a lot on my free time is is 'Transcendence.' Her music, the song she performs takes you to another world, a world where the music dances and sounds elegant and beautiful. This is what that song does to me, takes me to a different place.

The last song that I will be adding on my blog is another one of my favorites that she performs very beautifully is 'Halleluja.' She does this cover song very well and I think it's so beautiful on the violin. 

References

                    “Lindsey Stirling.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2 Apr. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindsey_Stirling#Filmography. Accessed 06 Apr. 2024.
                   

                     “Lindsey Stirling.” Vogue, thevogue.com/artists/lindsey-stirling/. Accessed 06 Apr. 2024.