Popular Music and Social Change

5 June 2013

Brian LimCollege of Foreign Languages, Fujian Normal University

• Western popular music not only entertains, but has also been used to:

(1) offer reflections on contemporary culture,(2) engage in social protest, and (3) advocate for/promote social change

• e.g. “Luka” – domestic violence, “Cat’s in the Cradle” – family relationships, “Russians” – Cold War politics, “Yes we can” – American politics and history

• Today: 3 selected songs

Song: “Fortunate Son” (1969)Creedance Clearwater Revival (USA)

1. What do you think is the mood of this song?

2. Who are the different “sons” mentioned in the song?

3. What do you think is the main point expressed in this song? What is the historical and cultural background of this song (look at the year)?

Fortunate Son (Creedence Clearwater Revival 1969)

Some folks are born made to wave the flag, Ooh, they're red, white and blue. And when the band plays "Hail to the chief", Ooh, they point the cannon at you, Lord,

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no senator's son, It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one

Some folks are born silver spoon in hand, Lord, don't they help themselves, oh. But when the taxman comes to the door, Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale.

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no millionaire's son, no. It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, no.

Some folks inherit star spangled eyes, Ooh, they send you down to war, Lord, And when you ask them, "How much should we give?" Ooh, they only answer “More! more! more!”

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no military son, son. It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one. It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate one, no no no, It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate son, no no no.

Creedance Clearwater RevivalLead singer and writer John Fogarty (right)

Rise of 1960s “counterculture”, suspicion of authority, distrust of government;Massive anti-war demonstrations, Watergate scandal – President Nixon resigns (1974)

Some folks are born made to wave the flag, Ooh, they're red, white and blue. And when the band plays "Hail to the chief", Ooh, they point the cannon at you, Lord,

Wave the flag

The red, white and blue

Star spangled (eyes)

American flag, symbolizes passionate vocal patriotism

Some folks are born, made to wave the flag…”To be born with a special talent or ability (to do something); to be destined (to do something);e.g. “Yao Ming was born to play basketball.”

“…when the band plays Hail to the Chief…”

The US president is known as the commander in chief; this song is played when the president enters a room, everybody is expected to stand up;

“..they point the cannon at you…”

Usually fired (21 gun salute) to honour someone important, but now, patriotism is used as a threat: “Support the war, support your country”

In the early 2000s, many Americans who questioned the Iraq War were criticized as being insufficiently patriotic

Some folks are born silver spoon in hand, Lord, don't they help themselves, oh. But when the taxman comes to the door, Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale.

Born with a silver spoon (in one’s mouth/hand) –

Someone born to wealth and privilege

E.g. George W. Bush was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

“Don’t they help themselves…”“help yourself” = to take whatever you wantThe rich and powerful are very good at taking care of their own people

“the house looks like a rummage sale…”

An event to sell excess or old or used things for very cheap prices, usually when cleaning out a house

Why would the house of a rich person look like a rummage sale (i.e. full of cheap things) when a tax collector comes?

A picture of how the rich try to hide their wealth, rather than contributing to the country, even though they encourage other people to contribute

Some folks are born silver spoon in hand, Lord, don't they help themselves, oh. But when the taxman comes to the door, Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale.

Some folks inherit star spangled eyes, Ooh, they send you down to war, Lord, And when you ask them, "How much should we give?" Ooh, they only answer “More! more! more!”

“some folks inherit star spangled eyes… they send you down to war…”

“Inherit” – the children of the wealthy and powerful often inherit, not only money, but attitudes from their parents:

The powerful support policies that send the children of others to war

“How much should we give?”… “More! More! More!”

Those who support certain policies want others to sacrifice more – more of their money, more of their children

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no senator's son,

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no millionaire's son,

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no military son, son. It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one. It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate son,

Who are the “fortunate sons”?

The children of the rich and the powerful (politicians, the wealthy, the military leaders)

John Fogarty, lead singer and writer:

“…you just had the feeling that none of those (politicians’ children) were going to be involved in the war. In 1969, the majority of the country thought morale was great among the troops, and like 80% of them were in favour of the war. But to some of us who were watching closely, we just knew we were headed for trouble…

“You got the impression that these people got preferential treatment, and the whole idea of being born wealthy or being born powerful seemed to really be coming to the fore in the late-sixties confrontation of cultures.

I was twenty-three years old, I think. I was mad at the spectre of the ordinary kid who had to serve in an army in a war that he was very much against. Yet the sons of the well-to-do and powerful didn’t have to worry about those things. They were fortunate. I thought, all these guys were running around saying, ‘It’s good for America’… Yet their kids ain’t going”

Song: “Do they know it’s Christmas?” (1984)Band Aid (UK and Ireland)

1. What words or phrases associated with the Christmas season can you find?

2. What words or phrases indicate the kind of crisis in Africa that the song talks about?

In Western countries, the Christmas season is often a time when warm feelings of and wishes for world peace are expressed.

Both gift-giving and donations to charity are a part of this holiday.

Do They Know It’s Christmas? (Band Aid, 1984)

It's Christmas time, there's no need to be afraidAt Christmas time, we let in light and we banish shadeAnd in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joyThrow your arms around the world at Christmas time

But say a prayer, pray for the other onesAt Christmas time it's hard, but when you're having funThere's a world outside your windowAnd it's a world of dread and fear

Where the only water flowing is the bitter sting of tearsAnd the Christmas bells that ring there Are the clanging chimes of doomWell, tonight, thank God it's them instead of you

And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas timeThe greatest gift they'll get this year is lifeWhere nothing ever grows, no rain nor rivers flowDo they know it's Christmas time at all?

(Here's to you) Raise a glass for everyone(Here's to them) Underneath that burning sunDo they know it's Christmas time at all?

Feed the world, feed the world, feed the worldLet them know it's Christmas time again

1983-85 drought and famine (荒旱 ) in Ethiopia (埃塞俄比亚 )

Irish musician Bob Geldof organized Band Aid to record “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”, and later, organized the globally-televised Live Aid concerts (1985)

British and Irish musicians who formed Band Aid

• Band Aid – charity music band of British and Irish musicians

• Name of the band has double meaning• “Band-Aid” – leading brand of bandage (绷带 )

used for first aid (急救 ) treatment; also used to indicate an emergency/short term solution to a problem;

• E.g. “The government’s actions are only a band-aid for the current economic situation.”

• Goal of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” was to raise money for relief of the 1983-85 drought and famine in Ethiopia

• Sold one million copies in the first week alone, biggest selling single song in United Kingdom (UK) history

• Inspired similar charity albums around the world in support of African famine relief, including the song “We are the World” by USA for Africa in 1985

• Irish musician Bob Geldof was the organizer of Band Aid, and followed up by organizing the 1985 globally-broadcast concert Live Aid

• Live Aid raised more than $250 million (USD)

• Live Aid as a great social innovation in using pop music, music star power and mass media to raise awareness of global issues; its influence is still felt today

Song: “If Everyone Cared” (2006)Nickelback (Canada)

1. What do you think is the main message of this song?

2. What people or groups of people does the video show or talk about?

We will listen to this song twice. The first time, we will look at the lyrics. On the second listen, we will watch the official music video that the band made for this song.

If Everyone Cared (Nickelback, 2006)

From underneath the trees, we watch the skyConfusing stars for satellitesI never dreamed that you'd be mineBut here we are, we're here tonight

Singing Amen, I'm aliveSinging Amen, I'm alive

If everyone cared and nobody criedIf everyone loved and nobody liedIf everyone shared and swallowed their prideWe'd see the day when nobody died

And I'm singing Amen, I, I'm aliveAmen, I, I'm alive

And in the air the firefliesOur only light in paradiseWe'll show the world they were wrongAnd teach them all to sing along

Singing Amen I'm aliveSinging Amen I'm alive

If everyone cared and nobody criedIf everyone loved and nobody liedIf everyone shared and swallowed their prideWe'd see the day when nobody died

And as we lie beneath the starsWe realize how small we areIf they could love like you and meImagine what the world could be

If everyone cared and nobody criedIf everyone loved and nobody liedIf everyone shared and swallowed their prideWe'd see the day when nobody died

Some key lines:

…We'll show the world they were wrongAnd teach them all to sing along

And as we lie beneath the starsWe realize how small we areIf they could love like you and meImagine what the world could be

If everyone cared and nobody criedIf everyone loved and nobody liedIf everyone shared and swallowed their prideWe'd see the day when nobody died

Music for inspiration, music for molding and forming moral imagination.

“Imagine what the world could be…” Echoes of John Lennon’s famous 1971 song “Imagine”:

“Imagine all the people, living life in peace.You might say I’m a dreamer. But I’m not the only one.I hope someday you will join us, and the world will live as one.”

People or groups featured in the video for “If Everyone Cared”:

Amnesty International (国际特赦 ), human rights non-governmental organization (NGO)

Betty Williams, 1976 Nobel Peace Prize winner, cofounder of Community of Peace People

Bob Geldof, organizer of Band Aid and the Live Aid concert

Nickelback donated 100% of the sales for this song to the charities Amnesty International and International Children’s Awareness

“Never doubt that a small group of committed people can

change the world.

Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Margaret Mead