This podcast was really interesting to me. I had heard some of the songs that it referenced, but it was cool to hear the backstory and meaning of some of them. Music has always been a way for people to express themselves, and that has often turned into singing about social issues and conflicts in our world that people want to speak up about. Just like the songs during the Vietnam War spoke out against sending people into the war, songs like “This is America” speak out against racism and police brutality in our country. Music is always evolving and adapting to it’s environment and culture, and I think music will always be one way to talk about issues and inspire change. Like Dr. Bezio said, music helps us remember things and triggers memories. So when someone hears a song on the radio or a song by their favorite artist, they might be more likely to listen and remember what they are saying, than if a politician said the exact same things in a speech. I know that every time I hear “This is America,” I picture the music video in my head, and some of those images will always be a constant reminder of the social injustices in our country.
Critical Thinking
I think it is cool that we can associate songs with moments in our lives and that they can trigger memories. I also think that it is especially cool that music has two things that can trigger that in us. Both the song (instrumentals) and words (lyrics). I know I associate songs with both and I do not need to hear both for my brain to begin thinking about a song.
Songs have always been used as a form of expression against injustice. What I find most interesting are the messages potentially fading away as they become less relevant or simply forgotten over time. Listeners then enjoy the song without truly understanding its meaning, potentially lessening the impact of the song.
I agree that music will always be a way to talk about issues and inspire change – it has been a constant in human life for so long and has always meant so much to people. With all of the changes in the world we never know what the future will look like, but I think it is safe to say music will always be there as a way to connect with everyone.