Music of Protest
American Wars have always been accompanied by music. American Social life has also been heavily influenced by music, especially after the Vietnam War Protests. A Major difference from classics like, “God Bless America” and “Yankee Doodle”, was the tone of the Vietnam Protest music was the negative attitude of the music. Though some patriotic songs did well, the majority of the music was anti-war.
Along with the negative attitude of the music, Rock and Roll and the growing Civil Rights Movement in the south spurred a whole new youth culture that allowed for experimentation and grew on questioning the traditional views on society. Music of the time period, especially anti-war music, became a place for cultural dialogue and conflict.
Both the protests and the war were slow moving in the early 1960’s. Bob Dylan was a huge factor in the success of the protests and anti-war musical phenomenon. Although in the beginning he was a small-time folk singer who wasn’t very well known, he became a huge face of the protests. For example, his song "Blowing in the Wind" was recorded by him and others as an anti-war anthem. His music sparked something in protesters that moved these protests to huge events. He, along with many others, inspired America and pushed the protests into the spotlight for everyone to see.
Although the Anti-War Music didn’t have a very definite course, it became clear that the more bloodshed the Vietnam War brought, the more the people would protest. The height of the anger spiked when President Richard Nixon revealed his plan to bring America back together. His plan was to reduce the number of troops in Vietnam, which he did, but in April of 1970 he ordered troops into Cambodia; Protests broke out on more than 700 campuses over the country. During these protests a total of six college students were killed by National Guard troops at Kent State in Ohio and Jackson State in Mississippi. After seeing the destruction these protests caused Neil Young wrote the song “Ohio” calling Americans to stop the war and the killing. Music was vital to the Vietnam War protests. It provided a new space for exploration and creation. It exposed truth and redefined what it meant to live in our country and be an American. The musical habits started during the protests still influence us today. Music is huge part of our society. Still today we’re inspired and moved by music.
(The Sixties and Protest Music).
Along with the negative attitude of the music, Rock and Roll and the growing Civil Rights Movement in the south spurred a whole new youth culture that allowed for experimentation and grew on questioning the traditional views on society. Music of the time period, especially anti-war music, became a place for cultural dialogue and conflict.
Both the protests and the war were slow moving in the early 1960’s. Bob Dylan was a huge factor in the success of the protests and anti-war musical phenomenon. Although in the beginning he was a small-time folk singer who wasn’t very well known, he became a huge face of the protests. For example, his song "Blowing in the Wind" was recorded by him and others as an anti-war anthem. His music sparked something in protesters that moved these protests to huge events. He, along with many others, inspired America and pushed the protests into the spotlight for everyone to see.
Although the Anti-War Music didn’t have a very definite course, it became clear that the more bloodshed the Vietnam War brought, the more the people would protest. The height of the anger spiked when President Richard Nixon revealed his plan to bring America back together. His plan was to reduce the number of troops in Vietnam, which he did, but in April of 1970 he ordered troops into Cambodia; Protests broke out on more than 700 campuses over the country. During these protests a total of six college students were killed by National Guard troops at Kent State in Ohio and Jackson State in Mississippi. After seeing the destruction these protests caused Neil Young wrote the song “Ohio” calling Americans to stop the war and the killing. Music was vital to the Vietnam War protests. It provided a new space for exploration and creation. It exposed truth and redefined what it meant to live in our country and be an American. The musical habits started during the protests still influence us today. Music is huge part of our society. Still today we’re inspired and moved by music.
(The Sixties and Protest Music).