Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Protest Songs That Came Before and After the Movement

Even before the Civil Rights Movement, there were those trying to get equality for African Americans.  It wasn't a new idea, so there were many songs dedicated to the promotion of civil rights.  The years following the Civil Rights Movement were still rough for African Americans, even though a bill was already passed.  Even two decades later, America was still struggling with inequality or unfairness even though the Civl Rights bill was passed.  And songs still sung out in protest.  Music has always acted as the voice for those who haven't the courage to speak up, or haven't yet done so. I believe that music has been very influential before, during and after the Civil Rights Movement, and has helped the cause greatly.  As we saw during the Movement, music has been very powerful in helping to spread ideas and opinions.  The years following the Movement, and even until the 90's (I feel especially), music has helped to express the feelings and sentiments of people who have been put down and looked down upon. It has served as a rally point where people gather to create an even stronger voice.

Pete Seeger2 - 6-16-07 Photo by Anthony Pepitone.jpgArtist: Pete Seeger
Song: We Shall Overcome
Album: American Ballads
Record: Folkways Records
Catalog: FW-4921
Date: 1957


Artist: Hank Crawford and Jimmy McGriff
Song: Steppin' Up
Album: Steppin' Up
Record: Milestone
Catalog: 2518
Date: 1987






Artist: James Brown
Song: Say it Loud: I'm Black and Proud
Album: Say it Loud
Record: King Records
Catalog: 6029
Date: 1968





The Roots 2007.jpgArtist: The Roots
Song: Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round
Album: (can't find)
Record:
Catalog:
Date: 1999




Artist: Sly and the Family Stone
Song: Everyday People
Album: Stand!
Record: Epic
Catalog: BN 26456
Date: 1969






Artist: Neil Young
Song: Southern Man
Album: After the Goldrush
Record: Reprise
Catalog: Reprise 291
Date: 1979






Artist: Public Enemy
Song: Fight the Power
Album: Fear of a Black Planet
Record: Motown Records
Catalog: Motown 1948
Date:1989






Artist: Michael Jackson
Song: Black or White
Album: Dangerous
Record: Epic Records
Catalog: Epic 563
Date:1991





Artist: Queen
Song: One Vision
Album: A Kind of Magic
Record: EMI/Capitol
Catalog: EMI 452
Date: 1985

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Songs In Response to Events

With the Civil Rights Movement in full effect, there were many who still believed that America should stay the way it was.  To thwart the efforts of prominent leaders in the black struggle, violent actions had been taken.  In 1963, the 16th Street Baptist Church was bombed and resulted in the death of four young children.  In 1964, Medgar Evers, a civil rights leader, was murdered.  And perhaps the most widely known leader of the Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated on April 4, 1968.  All of these events had impacts that would later fuel the fire for more to join the movement.  The atrocities committed against the Civil Rights Movement led many artists to write and release songs in response, helping to gain more awareness. 

File:Ninasimoneinconcert.jpgArtist: Nina Simone
Song: Mississippi Goddam
Album: Nina Simone in Concert
Record: Philips
Catalog: 40194
Date: 1964






John Coltrane Live at Birdland.pngArtist: John Coltrane
Song: Alabama
Album: Live at Birdland
Record: Impulse!
Catalog: A-50
Date: 1964






Artist: Billie Holiday
Song: Strange Fruit
Album: Fine and Mellow
Record: Commodore
Catalog: WP24403A
Date: 1939






Artist: Joan Baez
Song: Birmingham Sunday
Album: Joan Baez/5
Record: Vanguard
Catalog: 35012
Date: 1964






 
A black-and-white close-up of Dylan's face looking downArtist: Bob Dylan
Song: Only a Pawn in their Game
Album: The Times They Are a-Changin'
Record: Columbia
Catalog: Columbia 7804
Date: 1964






Artist: Phil Ochs
Song: Too Many Martyrs
Album: All the News That's Fit to Sing
Record: Elektra
Catalog: 6502
Date: 1963






Artist: Phil Ochs
Song: Here's to the State of Mississippi
Album: I Ain't Marching Anymore
Record: Elektra
Catalog: 7292
Date:  1965






Staple Singers on Soul Train.jpgArtist: The Staple Singers
Song: Long Walk to DC
Album: Mavis Staples
Record: Volt
Catalog: Vos-7019
Date:1969



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Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Songs that Spoke of Freedom and Change

With the Civil Rights Movement sweeping the nation, music became an outlet for artists to express what they and many others were feeling.  These songs talk of hope, of a better future, and the steps toward that future.  Each of these artists are passionate and outspoken about their beliefs.  These songs were influential and got people to understand what the movement was all about.  They showed the courage people needed in order to make the change happen.  A new America was being born, and these songs showed people that they needed to change with it.

AnthologyArtist: Nina Simone
Song: I Wish I knew (How It Would Feel to Be Free)
Album: Silk and Soul
Record: RCA Victor
Catalog: LSP-3837
Date: October 1967




Artist: Sam Cooke
Song: A Change is Gonna Come
Album: Ain't That Good News
Record: RCA Victor
Catalog: LPM-2899
Date: December 1963






Artist: Bob Dylan
Song: The Times They Are a-Changing
Album: The Times They Are a-Changing
Record: Columbia
Catalog: Columbia 8905
Date: 1964






Artist: The Impressions
Song: People Get Ready
Album: People Get Ready
Record: ABC-Paramount
Catalog: ABC Paramount 10622
Date: 1965






Artist: Sam Cooke
Song: This Little Light of Mine
Album: Sam Cooke at the Copa
Record: LPM
Catalog: LPM/LSP-2970
Date: 1964





Mavis Staples: Mavis StaplesArtist: Mavis Staples
Song: We Shall Not Be Moved
Album: We'll Never Turn Back
Record: Volt
Catalog: VOS-6007






Artist: Joan Baez
Song: Oh Freedom
Album: Live at Newport
Record: None
Catalog: None








The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan's album cover. Wearing a brown jacket and blue jeans, a man walks along a snowy street. A woman wearing a long green coat and black pants holds onto his arm and walks alongside him. The words "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" frame the man's head, and the names of songs contained within the album are listed in small print in the bottom left and right of the image.
Artist: Bob Dylan
Song: Blowin' in the Wind
Album: The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Record: Columbia
Catalog: Columbia 7801
Date: 1963
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Description


Music has always been a powerful medium in today's media and entertainment world.  It can inspire, move and rally.  I believe that the reason why music has always been so influential is because it has the ability to convey the feelings and the message of the singers to a wide audience in a way that news coverage and politics cannot.  It can stir up different feelings in different people, encouraging multiple interpretations; however, the fact remains that if there is a message in a song, it is sure to be heard.  If it is heard, there is sure to be people who will act.  

This seems to be very fitting for songs during the Civil Rights Movement.  Along with influential speakers such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcom X, songs with the same sentiment helped to spread the ideals of equality for all men, black and white alike.  Jazz and Blues, genres made famous by African American artists, were popular because of its sound.  It resonated with people because of its emotion.

"Jazz speaks for life.  The blues tell the story of life's difficulties — and, if you think for a moment, you realize that they take the hardest realities of life and put them into music, only to come out with some new hope or sense of triumph. This is triumphant music."-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the Opening of the Berlin Jazz Festival
The songs of the Civil Rights Movement were exactly this.  They represent not only the hardships, setbacks and failures, but the hard-earned successes that Civil Rights protesters had fought for.  

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