Music and Activism – do they still go together?

By Doc Jazz – This article appeared at an earlier edition of the Musical Intifada in 2005, and has been adapted to the reality of today.

Throughout history, music has been a part of human culture, playing a pivotal role in creating cohesion within societies, by being at the center of festivities such as weddings, cultural and national holidays, and other social gatherings.

In earlier times, before the advent of mass media and before the invention of devices that made music transportable, people depended on the actual presence of musicians in order to be able to enjoy their art. Therefore, whenever the traveling musicians of older times, often referred to as troubadours in the European cultural tradition, arrived at a community, their arrival would attract the attention of practically all the villagers. Because of this mechanism, the troubadours played an important role not only as mouthpieces for popular dissent about social inequities, but also as news media, since their songs were often narrative in nature, and informed people about happenings in other parts of the country.

Even the armies of more ancient times reserved an important role for music, using drums of war to cast fear in the hearts of the enemy, and to lift the spirits of their own fighters. The use of melodies and rhythms even constituted a part of the army’s way to be able to issue commands to the troops in the battlefield.

Nowadays, the continuous availability of music has also changed its role in society, in the same way as it has also affected the role of the musician. Today, the focus of music has shifted largely to being part of a vast entertainment industry, which can be clearly seen in the enormous numbers of mp3’s that find their way into the portable mp3 players of the population. Music has also become an advertising tool for commercial exploitation, while its role as an outlet for popular grievances has become obscured by the sheer quantity of musical recordings that deal with less elevated motives such as mating, psychotropic stimulants and macho behavior.

Even the powerful and poetic rap music of black Americans has shifted its focus from being an important sound of protest, to becoming a means to popularize materialism in all of its forms.

It would go too far to say that meaningful music has disappeared as a form of art, but one cannot deny that songs that have a social or political significance nowadays rarely manage to compete with the more popular songs, that mainly seem to encourage youths to embrace a careless attitude towards the heavier subjects in life.

One might say that today’s youths are less involved, and less interested in art as an expression of social and human realities, and that the atmosphere of protest that prevailed in the 60’s and 70’s is simply not present anymore. Just think of the enormous celebrity status of John Lennon, and how he used that position to express his ideals of non-violence, and ask yourself which major celebrity is doing such things today. Apparently, something significant has changed. However, it remains important to see where the responsibility lies for this change of attitude, and it might well be that the now slightly older segment of the population has failed to transfer it to present day youngsters.

It is no coincidence that the Dylans, Bono’s and Sting’s of today are largely seen as icons of a previous generation, and even though they manage to still gain an audience for their events, it does not look like they have left behind any successors among today’s generation that enjoy as wide a popularity as they used to. It’s not entirely gone though; in recent times, for instance, Michael Franti, the poetic and highly talented soul of the American group Spearhead, was walking on this path, and conquered his place in the mainstream of musical media. It seems that nowadays he has softened up a little, but you never know if he may return to hard-hitting political lyrics. Nonetheless, activist music seems to be too great a responsibility to rest solely on the shoulders of a small group of musicians. And as far as I can see, the group still remains small.

A talented folk musician and poet like David Rovics, who carries his guitar to all corners of the world, is widely recognized in activist circles, while his music could actually serve as a powerful eye-opener to mainstream audiences considering the issues he sings about. If only the masses regained the habit of accepting songs that have deeper meanings, artists like him would have the ability to inspire a new generation into working for social change.

Is there no solution? Has music become an icon of emptiness, a tool for advocating superficial and primitive urges, and commercial exploitation?

I believe that organizations who have proved themselves able to mobilize even younger generations towards activism, in the form of attending lectures and demonstrations, have the ability to give music back its historical role, by having musicians play a more significant role in the manifestations they organize. For some reason, these organizations seem to be relatively unaware of how protest music can fortify their aims, especially in these modern times when recorded music has become so transportable and exchangeable. Most activist organizations on the web make far too little use of the available protest music that is available on the internet, and would certainly be making a positive step if they decided to push it forward.

There are glimmers of hope on the horizon, like the amazing energy of Lupe Fiasco, that seems to be stirring the crowds and opening their eyes. New vibrations are moving society in the wake of the economic crisis of the first decade of the 21st century. Still, it seems that a lot more is possible, and this is not only up to the artists, but also to the receptiveness of the audiences. as I have tried to illustrate above.

I doubt that you will read this article more than once, since articles have a habit of disappearing into closets or file cabinets. In terms of modern social media, it moves down your timeline never to be seen again. But I am confident that even you would include your favorite song on your mp3 player, and are willing to listen to it over and over again, even until you have memorized its words. I am only hoping that the words you are listening to will encourage you to work for positive changes in society, instead of only encouraging you to indulge in drugs and partying, or following your primitive urges.