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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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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