Popular music has been used throughout human history to inspire political change. The very first folk songs were usually designed to spread the word of governmental wrong doings and the need to protest and fight for a better life. In more recent times there have been many instances of politically motivated popular music. Fela Kuti in Nigeria constantly wrote music which was advocating change, so much so that he won the support of many followers and decided to run for president of Nigeria. Clearly this was a political threat to the government as they proceeded to have him put into a coma. This is a clear example of music causing much political threat if not true change. Yet if music could not cause genuine change why would it be seen as a threat? 'Ohio' sung by Neil Young was banned for a while as have been many other political songs. It is hard to conculsively say whether music by itself has ever managed to achieve political change however if it is such a threat, it must have some power.
A good post with interesting examples.
ReplyDelete