The song Then I decided to talk about is “This is America” by a very known artist, Childish Gambino. the song was brought out in 2018. songs purpose is to show that there is a lot of black violence in the United States and it also talks about racial discrimination against African-Americans. In an interview Gambino was asked about his song but he totally ignored the question and didn’t answer it the correct way as to what the purpose of the song really was. Throughout the song Gambino speaks a lot about police brutality, he doesn’t say it straight up but he says it in a way to make people understand what he’s really talking about without really having to say it.  Some listeners listen to this song just for the fun of it and some listen to it because of deep meaning that actually has behind it. I think that Gambino definitely did have his own political purpose to the piece of music but didn’t accept it when he was asked about it. 

A musical characteristic or a musical genre of the piece is Repetition because throughout the song he repeats a lot of the words that he is staying. Some of these phrases are, “This is America,” and “Yeah Yeah.” The song itself has a lot of singing and ends up becoming polyphonic. Polyphony is a style of musical composition which has two or more concurrent but relatively independent melodic lines.

The song I picked is “I Ain’t Marching Anymore” by Phil Ochs. This song was created as an “anti-war anthem”. It is made in order to establish that he is done marching to war and doesn’t want to be involved in the deaths of others. It was released as the Vietnam War was escalating, but wasn’t specifically about just that war, as he wanted it to have a lasting impact. The genres that this song seems to embody are “protest song”, “folk” and “rock”. Obviously, protest song has political aspects, but so does folk and rock. Both can be tied back to having political lyrics and messages in them. 

 Some lyrics important to the political message of the song include:

“For I’ve killed my share of Indians

In a thousand different fights

I was there at the little big horn

I heard many men lying

I saw many more dying

But I ain’t marchin’ anymore””

Here, he discusses the wars that have happened and the people that have died, and how he will no longer fight for the government anymore and kill people. Another lyric that stands out is this one:

“It’s always the old to lead us to the war

It’s always the young to fall”

Here, he discusses how its always the young men fighting and dying in the wars started by the older men. 

A Musical characteristic that I think is important for political protest is a simple and catchy melody. In the song I picked, there is a simple melody throughout the entire song, making it easy to pick up on and sing along to after one or two listens. That is why I think it is an effective characteristic to have. 

Rock History 101: Phil Ochs’s “I Ain’t Marching Anymore”

https://www.songfacts.com/facts/phil-ochs/i-aint-marching-anymore

The song I chose is Better Days by Victoria Monet ft. Ariana Grande and it revolves around the Black Lives Matter Movement. This song was created to honor the death of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling after they were shot by police officers. The lyrics of the song helps bring awareness of what is going on outside in the word, and offers hope to those who listen to it. The song has the lyrics ”Stop the hatred, stop the murders. We’re all human, that’s for certain. Come together, we deserve it. What kind of life will our babies have if we don’t change up and make it last?” They are referring to the deaths of black individuals and telling people to stop or the life of our future family may not even have a good life to live. The whole song itself just talks about wishing for better days where the life of people are taken away so easily and disregarded. The genre of the song is pop and although the genre itself is not political, it has been used many different times to deliver an important message. Throughout the song, the rhythm remains constant and slow with a catchy beat that makes the song very easy to remember. The repetition of the phrase calms the heart and gives hope to the people, allowing them to remember what the song was about.

The piece I chose for this blog is Childish Gambino’s This Is America. This was released in 2018 and became very popular at the time. The song itself wasn’t the only reason, as the video itself caught many people’s attention. The piece is about prejudice against people of color in America. Glover throughout the song reiterates this idea through the lyrics. For example,”Police be trippin’ now,” which refers to police brutality that is usually aimed towards black people. Another example is,”I just checked my following list and you guys owe me,” which shows how they feel that the way they’ve been treated isn’t fair and deserve something in return. However, the most repeated line shows how Gambino views the situation,”This is America” which I interpret to him saying, that’s just how it is in this country, like it’s bad but you can’t really do anything about it. However, there is a lot more commentary in the video. Such as how gun violence is commonplace in America, yet guns are still treated as sacred, as can be seen when Gambino finishes shooting both the guitarist and the choir the gun gently wrapped in a red cloth before being taken away. In addition to this the video also seems to be commentating on how the media doesn’t focus on the serious issues and chaos that is happening, rather focusing on things that would distract and entertain. This can be inferred from how there is always something chaotic happening in the background, yet Gambino dancing is the focus and distracts from everything else. One musical characteristic that makes it especially good as a political song is the repetition. This repetition, of such words as “This is America” and “Don’t catch you slippin’”, make the song stick in the listeners head, making them remember for much longer.

Donald Grover’s song “This is America” was a controversial song addressing the issue of gun violence in the United States. More specifically, it brought to light the issue of mass shootings and racial discrimination against African Americans. Although asked about the meaning behind the song, Grover refused to comment any further than the song being “a song for people to play on the fourth of July” (IndieWire). The message of the song along with the music video is clear, which may be the reason why Grover chooses not to elaborate on it further. Even though Grover refuses to comment further, I don’t believe listeners “added their own political purpose to it”. The song was made to have political purpose. Even without Grover explicitly saying it, we see this in the lyrics and video very clearly. “This is America” would be part of the musical genre of trap music. Trap music itself is more popular than political.

The first part of the song is very carefree. Then there is a juxtaposition after the main intro which is revealing a more serious problem in contrast to the “carefree” and “nice sounding” beginnings. The beginning of the song repeats:

We just want the money (yeah)
Money just for you (ooh)
I know you wanna party (yeah)
Party just for free (yeah)
Girl, you got me dancin’ (girl, you got me dancin’)
Dance and shake the frame (ooh)

Then after the intro, the song repeats these phrases in a more serious tone:

This is America
Don’t catch you slippin’ now
Don’t catch you slippin’ now
Look what I’m whippin’ now
This is America (woo)
Don’t catch you slippin’ now
Don’t catch you slippin’ now
Look what I’m whippin’ now

One musical characteristic of the piece that make it a useful tool for political protest would be catchy beat. This is useful for any kind of political protest because it is memorable and danceable too. While the song holds a grave message, the beat makes it easy for people to listen to.

In ” High For Hours” J.Cole speaks on politics throughout the song. His message is very straightforward. He talks about violence in America. Police brutality is also talked about and how America is celebrating violence. The genre of this song is rap and, rap music has been used for political statements in the past.

He says “they came here seeking freedom and they end up owning slaves”. This is addressing the idea of the “American Dream” and how people came here for freedom. However, that’s not the reality when looking at the way society is made up. “Claiming that he reached for a gun” this is speaking on police brutality. In America, there have been numerous cases of police brutality happening. With these cases, there have even been videos showing the victims weren’t reaching for a gun. The violence that was used on them was uncalled for, and that is what J.Cole is bringing up. Furthermore, this song focuses on “American hypocrisy”. He lists how this hypocrisy can be seen. Whether it is celebrating violence or justifying it.The Timbre in this song remains the same throughout the song. This allows what he’s saying to be the focus rather than a change in the beat.

Fight the Power was originally was on the soundtrack for Spike Lee’s “Do the Right thing”.,  but the song definitely stood its own ground as it stays one of hip-hop most recognizable and quoted lines. This song and its lyrics were huge for the civil rights movement, the lyrics are quoted by artists and social activists everywhere.  It is in the hip-hop/rap genre, rap genre is used as a response form of music, for example rap battles. The lyrics go into depth attacking racism and classism straight on its head. Starting with the title of the song “Fight the Power” is kind of the clean way of saying F*** the police and bring against those in power not those with authority. The people in higher positions that take advantage of people’s skin color and their class so they can get away with more. One of the most shocking lyrics, till this day, is when Public Enemy said:

“Elvis was a hero to most But he never meant sh*t to me you see           Straight up racist that sucker was Simple and plain Mother f*** him and John Wayne”

Many Black people felt that Elvis stole elements from black music and culture. His music and his lyrics suggest so.  Later in the song PE says:

“What we got to say    Power to the people no delay Make everybody see In order to fight the powers that be “

The “Power to the people” line is in reference to the slogan used by the black panthers in protests, working to help the powerless and cross racial lines. These were protests to the people of corporate America and the racists who exploit all their power. One musical characteristic that this piece can’t be without is rhythm. One of the most recognizable samples in the piece is the Funky Drummer break that comes in about 20 seconds in. James Brown’s Funky drummer was a commonly sample song at the time but more effectively used because James Brown was a large civil activist at the time, Public Enemy actually samples The Funky Drummer another 7 times. 

The piece of music I choose is “Alright” by Kendrick Lamar and it focuses on the Black Lives Matter Movement. Many of his songs from his album “To Pimp a Butterfly” had become anthems that reflect on the modern social justice movement. This song became very popular in our generation and its chorus became very important to have that hope for things to get better. The chorus consists of a rallying cry of protestors in the United States. They said, “a kind of comfort that people of color and other oppressed communities desperately need all too often: the hope-the feeling- that despite tensions in the country growing worse and worse, in the long run, we’re gon’ be all right”. The song itself reflects on the Black Lives Matter community, their protest to fight for equal rights, and most importantly for them to have a voice and not be harassed for their opinions. Many also speak out through this song about the treatment they have involving police brutality especially the student activists at Cleveland State University. The song was known for its beat as well while Lamar worked with Pharell Williams to put together. The dah dah dah sounds in the song is actually Williams disembodied voice, which is constantly played throughout the song. He wanted for the beat to not just be a tune but a statement to be told. It contains rap and complex rhythms and references to Jazz which was started in the South in black communities. A set of skittering drum beats and jazz horns, timbres in the saxophone, and piano. make this music piece stand out as well. This is where he decided to bring back the struggles of the modern black experience in America as well as the years that passed. Slaves would sing songs to keep their heads up with the struggles at the time and now four hundred years later people still need that music to heal. It was written in terms of positivity with a backdrop of civil unrest. This piece is a part of the Hip-Hop genre, but I wouldn’t necessarily say the genre itself is political. The song itself is a mix of R&B, dance-pop influences, and the 1990s deep house music.

In the song Democracy written and sung by Leonard Cohen it talks about his views of America. Although he was a Canadian, he cared about America and wanted people to listen to his song because he was horrified and worried about what America was slowly becoming. Some of his lyrics were great representations to what was happening in America today. For example, from the protesters of Black lives matter the lyrics “it’s coming from the sorrow in the street, the holy places where the races meet. Another example are the feminists that are also protesting for equal rights, he said “from the homicidal bitchin’/ that goes down in every kitchen/ to determine who will serve and who will eat”. Although he passed away recently, many Americans still play his music for the wise words and opinions in his song. It is known that if words don’t hinder someones feeling a poem or song will, which is why people listen to these types of songs, possibly to pass on the message. 

The beginning of the song you could hear a snare drum that closely sounded similar to the beginning of an American marching band. This song is a genre of pop as it was widely recognized and played by many people all around the world. His music video shows different pictures of the history of America and could be heard saying U.S.A multiple times. I think his addition of drums in his song are a very effective way to create a political feel to it. Not only does the title of the song give away a political vibe, but his use of instruments also show a great example of a political song.