Discussion 6

Prompt #6 – Music with Social Conscience 

Let’s discuss the rise of social conscience in popular music. Social conscience in popular song goes way back historically, and we have already seen that in the early 60s Bod Dylan, inspired by his idol Woodie Guthrie, wrote many songs that dealt with social injustice and change. “Like a Rolling Stone,” “The Times They Are a Changin’,” etc. In the 70s, artists continued to highlight various social issues in their song lyrics and performances. Important examples include George Harrison’s Concert for Bangladesh, John Lennon’s “Imagine” and “Give Peace a Chance,” Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” “Mercy, Mercy Me,” and “Inner City Blues,” the recordings of Stevie Wonder, Sly and the Family Stone, and Bob Marley’s “Get Up, Stand UP.” These are a few examples of artists that chose to spend the powerful social capital of their celebrity to focus awareness and fundraising on a variety social issues.

What are your favorite artists and songs from the 70s as well as more recent artists that focus on raising social awareness?  One of my favorite groups is the metal band Tool and I really appreciate their song “The Pot” which lyrically references the tragedy and social injustice that occurred due to Hurricane Katrina and the devastating flooding of New Orleans in 2005.

What are some of your favorites?

Discussion 6 Answer

I really like music that tackles social issues. For the music of 1970s, I’m really drawn to the songs of Bob Dylan, especially “Like a Rolling Stone”. The lyrics is very provocative and it tells how dynamic and permeable society is.