Buffalo Springfield
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30W3iRL48gQ&feature=related
"There's something happening here
What it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware
I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind
I think it's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
What a field-day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly say, hooray for our side
It's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
You step out of line, the man come and take you away
We better stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, now, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down"
I chose “For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield, a protest song written during the Vietnam War. I really like this protest song because of the message it makes. It does not bash anyone or send out any hate messages. All it does is propose some really good questions that I believe we should ask ourselves more often. Like asking us to look at our surroundings and questions the decisions being made, in particular, those by our government. This applies to us today just as it did during Vietnam. Too often people just accept what is going on and trust those with power just because of their status. In particular I really like the lines “Nobody's right if everybody's wrong, Young people speaking their minds, Getting so much resistance from behind, I think it's time we stop, hey, what's that sound, Everybody look what's going down.” The whole song just really makes a lot of sense, and is powerful to me because it’s a peaceful protest song that really brings up good points.
Protest songs, in general, really are not that effective when it comes to really getting a message across or getting action. This is because they are often catchy and fun to sing, but messages are hard to read or understand. I do, however, feel that they can be effective in drawing up a lot of emotion in people if the message is clear and the music is good. Music can be a powerful tool when it comes to drawing peoples emotions and feelings about certain topics. I believe the song by Buffalo Springs is effective because it raises awareness about what the artist’s point they wanted to make: he felt that people needed to raise more questions about what was going on during the Vietnam War when so many young men were being drafted and sent to fight a war that seem to have no end or a good reason for the US to be there.
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2 comments:
I like your protest song too, because there's no criticism of anyone or any country. People get offended really easily, and I don't think anyone should try to insult others to make a point. Therefore, I think your protest song is great in successfully sending out its message to the public and not offending anyone in the process.
I agree with you that protest songs are not that effective. They are great a making a point and raising awareness, but they don't really tell people how they can make a difference.
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