It’s another morning of waking up
to headlines about more senseless killing. These are the 5 Dallas policemen
killed randomly in response to viral videos of unimaginable police brutality
perpetrated on what appear to be innocent African American victims. The world
seems to have completely gone crazy sometimes. Americans have become
desensitized to more lives lost now. It must be like being an Israeli seeing
yet another bombing in a public place.
Some would blame guns. I tend to
think that argument is as empty as blaming cars for automobile accidents.
Others are quick to point at whoever the politicians holding office are. I do
believe our elected officials are big on promises and small on results but I’m
not sure where the blame lies for that. Still others blame radicalized
religious and racial groups. Who really knows?
I grew up in the 60s and 70s-
another time of great social upheaval. The Viet Nam War accounted for over
60,000 dead and 150,000 wounded and no one could tell us exactly why we were at
war. Blatant racism was fighting to remain a way of life in many cities. Young
people were asking why leaders seemed to have the interest of big corporations
and not American citizens at heart.
So, to the point I want to make.
Through it all, music lead the way. It voiced concern, shouted in anger and
called to action. It affected change. It convicted us to “Reach out and touch
somebody’s hand and make this world a better place if you can”, “put a little
love in your heart” and “what the world needs now is love, sweet love”. The
Beatles declared that “all you need is love”. We were called to “get ready for
a train a’comin”. It was a peace train or a love train. There were songs for
peace and unity and change.
These were not protest songs
reserved only for folk clubs in the Village in New York or a hippie club in San
Francisco. They were main stream, top 40, huge hit songs that we all heard on
our radios in heavy rotation. The words of the songs made us believe in the
idea that love could change our world for the better and that it had to start
with each individual.
There are probably songs like these
in niche markets of alt rock or folk artists today. But modern pop, top 40,
country and urban artists sing about sex, dancing and doing whatever it takes
to feel good now. The songs are the most disposable, vapid and unimportant
renderings I believe have ever been written. The subjects are booties, dancing
all night, anacondas and other equally embarrassingly shallow topics. Is this
the sum of all abilities for modern artists to think or are they just so afraid
they might not get their song on the radio and be wildly popular with their
social media slurping, selfie taking fans?
Sure, there were silly ditties when I grew up.
In fact, there were a lot of them. There have always been silly songs on our
radios like “Yes, We Have No Bananas” or “You Ain’t Nothing but A Hound Dog” or
“Supercalifragilisticexpealadocious”. But along with all that side of the
entertainment cube were the meaningful songs. The words are as needed today as
ever.
When rap music swept over the world
like a tidal wave it originated in the anger and angst of inner city
despondence and hopelessness. It voiced injustice and gave white America a real
glimpse at how African Americans felt. It rode to massive success on the swell
of human emotion and pathos.
For any readers who are making art
or aspiring to it I implore you to do your best to matter with the words you
say. The time span that most artists have in the public eye is very short. Make
your time there count. We need wisdom and guidance more than ever. When the
Youngbloods finished recording their hit “Get Together” in the late 60s they
sent a copy to all senators and congress representatives. The words cried “Come
on people now- smile on your brother everybody get together, try to love one
another right now”. Whether you support an organized religion or a spiritual
self awareness you must believe in the power of people getting together and
loving one another and how much better our world would be if that happened.
Americans are firing the wrong bullets. And you musical creators and artists of
our time are either unconcerned or you have absolutely no idea the power you
have at your fingertips.
Words. They are now and forever the
building blocks or wrecking balls we can change the world with. Sing about
peace, shout about peace, blog about peace. If you are one of the chosen ones
who has an audience and the power to implement change shame on you if the best
you can do is write words about staying up all night to get lucky without an occasional
call for everyone to love each other.
