Music with a message: the influence of politically charged music

The casual conversation of 21,000 people roars through the Manchester Arena in London.

Suddenly, the lights go down.

Cheers erupt from the crowd as The 1975 steps on stage and starts to play their first song, “Love Me.”

As the show goes on, lead singer Matty Healy spoke in between songs. During one transition, he began talking about the political climates in the United States and Europe.

“I’m not here to talk about politics, but it is worth mentioning,” Healy said onstage in Manchester in December 2016. “The fact of the matter that it is sad to see so many kind of young voices of progression be drowned out by progressive ideals. It is sad, but the fact of the matter is that it’s not simple. It’s not just about race, it’s not just about gender, it’s not just about age. And the thing is, if we are young and we are pissed off, and we are compassionate and we are progressive, then it’s our responsibility, right? To be compassionate, not to be patronizing, and make sure that the people know how we feel and we know how other people feel.”

Music has the power to inspire listeners and invoke change.

Maddy Kasey, graduate student at Edge Hill University in London studying marketing and communications branding, attended the show in Manchester. She has seen The 1975 eight times, and feels a sense of community at each show.

“I definitely remember the speech and I’ve always admired him [Healy] for using his platform to promote understanding and compassion,” Kasey said. “I also appreciate how he’s willing to discuss these issues, regardless of how people will react.”

Music can have influence over any situation. In the wake of tragedy, artists will come together and produce music geared for profit to benefit a cause.

In a radical political climate, music can be an influence to challenge the ideals of the government.  Artists often draw inspiration from experience. People who are oppressed often turn to music as a beacon of hope and identify anthems with a relatable message.

The 1975 recently released a song entitled, “Love It If We Made It.” This song recalls major headlines and injustices from 2016 to 2018. Songwriter and lead singer of The 1975 Matty Healy wrote this song as a sign of the times, as it encompasses major political events within the last few years.

Below are some lyrics and their explanations:

Selling melanin and then suffocate the black men

Eric Garner, an unarmed black man, was choked by police after selling untaxed cigarettes. After 11 frantic pleas stating, “I can’t breathe,” Garner was ultimately killed by the actions of the NYPD. The chokehold had been banned by the New York Police Department in 1993.

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that are hardening positions based on miscommunication

People often get their information from social media, without any further research. According the Pew Research Center, 67 percent of Americans get some type of news from social media. In the current political climate, social media was a tool manipulated by outside sources to persuade the 2016 presidential election. Facebook users were influenced by Russia-linked ads and posts to prompt Americans to vote for Donald Trump. These messages prompted outrage, spreading misinformation and

Write it on a piece of stone

A beach of drowning three-year-olds

The Syrian Refugee Crisis has displaced over 12 million people, according to Mercy Corps. In an effort to leave their war-torn home country, families will do anything in their power to leave. Families often hire smugglers to get them across borders and into safe countries. In 2105, body of three-year-old Aylan Kurdi was found dead, washed up on the shore in Turkey. This photo swept the world, creating a visual example of the dangers of the crisis.

Rest in peace Lil Peep

The poetry is in the streets

Over 72,000 died in 2017 due to overdose, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. American rapper known as Lil Peep died in November 2017, caused by a an overdose of generic xanax and fentanyl.

Kneeling on a pitch

Colin Kaepernick, former quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, sparked outrage across the country after kneeling during the national anthem before a game in 2016. Kaepernick’s protest was prompted by police brutality and the oppression of African American people in today’s society. Many players across the NFL knelt in solidarity with Kaepernick, despite criticism from the country and the President. While Kaepernick ultimately lost his job for his actions, he started a movement rooted in social change. This raises the question, what form of protest is acceptable?

“I moved on her like a b****”

Excited to be indicted

In 2016, a tape was released of a conversation between Donald Trump and Billy Bush. The conversation, which took place in 2005, reveals Trump talking about his attraction to a married woman and justifying his grabbing women by the genitals due to his social status. This conversation was portrayed as “locker room talk,” a conversation among men. This tape was released about a month before the 2016 presidential election.

Unrequited house with seven pools

“Thank you Kanye, very cool”

Kanye West met with President Donald Trump in October to discuss issues including violence in Chicago and prison reform. West wore a “Make America Great Again” hat, and explained to the press that the hat gave him “power.” President Trump embraced West’s visit, as he has had West’s support since early 2018.

 

The war has been incited and guess what?

You’re all invited

A nuclear war almost started in Twitter. President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had a dialogue on Twitter, posing the rhetoric that a nuclear button could be pushed on a whim. Due to this exchange happening on a public platform like Twitter, it was like Trump was inviting everyone to be a part of this potential war.

And I’d love it if we made it

The most simplistic, yet most cryptic lyric of the song. Lyricist Matty Healy explained that love will get us through. Loving each others and doing something about these injustices will impact the future.

Politically charged music is not a new concept. Music takes all forms, and can have a similar message.

“I don’t think that the tone of politically-charged music has changed over time,” Dr. Courtney Smith, associate professor of history and political science, said. “A person’s reaction to politically-charged music largely depends upon their personal political views.”

In 1963, Pete Seeger, American folk artist, adapted the song, “We Shall Overcome.” This song was popularized during the Civil Rights Movement, but was published in 1901 as an African American hymn. Over the years, the song was adapted to become a politically charged anthem, declaring the message, “Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe. We shall overcome, someday.”

The message spread to the counterculture in the 1960s and 1970s spreading the mantra, “sex, drugs and rock and roll.” Their ideals strayed from those in the mainstream. One of the most popular songs during this movement was “Imagine,” by John Lennon. This song prompts listened to imagine life without borders and differences that divide people. “Imagine all the people living life in peace,” the song proclaims.

The genre of hip-hop has often been a hotbed for political content. Public Enemy released “Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos” in 1988. This song targets issues including the government, military and prison system.

Punk rock had become a popular genre of the anti-establishment movement. “American Idiot” by Green Day was released in 2004. The song proclaims not wanting to fall for the media pushed propaganda, and becoming an “American idiot.”

While the messages of politically charged music have similar themes, the rapid development of technology has changed the target of music.

“I think that the Internet and the information available has made political music much more specific, much more informed, and in some cases a lot more inflammatory or caustic. Whereas before music was probably along the lines of using more literary devices, being broader, political messages in music now are targeted at a person, or a movement, or a certain political act,” Eugene Ahn, adjunct instructor of the Engagement of the Common Good class, “Race and identity in pop culture,” said.