Read Between The Frets: The Philosophy of Rock Music

November 4, 2008. A sense of anticipation and anxiety permeates the atmosphere of America and the rest of the world. The outcome of this day will determine the course of world events for the next four to eight years. Yet, the determination of this outcome will result from a multitude of disparate, conflicting and discombobulated1 views. Amongst these competing views are some that vie for preeminence. Amidst the pandemonium Rock ‘n’ Roll Activists have been conspicuous  throughout the election. Endorsements of Presidential candidates, Concerts to fire up supporters and songs meant to encourage social change have all been utilized to garner support for the respective candidates. These deeds among others establish the image of Rock ‘n’ Roll as a potent force in this election. Rock ‘n’ Roll’s Activist tradition since the 1960’s has matured over the decades and is a consequential power in American Politics today.

Current Influences in the Election

In the current charged climate of Election Day, bands and artists have done their best to “Rock the Vote”. Arcade Fire, Arrested Development, Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Dixie Chicks, Elton John, Grateful Dead, Madonna, Ne-Yo, The Decemberists, The Goo-Goo Dolls among a host of others have held concerts, primarily for Barack Obama, as a way of influencing America. These icons of popular culture can have a profound influence on potential voters.  An example of this influence was the concert held in Philadelphia by Bruce Springsteen.

Bruce Springsteen’s concert in Philadelphia was to act as “…a catalyst for the disengaged to register to vote. Plenty of people heard the call - according to the Obama campaign, some 21,000 new voters were registered as a result of the event.”²

As evinced by this account, a Rock Star’s activism can have a massive amount of influence. Even if the information is biased and the actual number is perhaps half of the estimated 21,000, 10,000 votes can still be a vital part of a campaign. If the information given by the Obama campaign is correct then one man can influence 21,000 people through Rock music and personal reputation.

Furthermore, this activism is not restricted to just one popular artist. If this were the case then it would be the activism of a person not that of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Several organizations have arisen out of the tradition of Activism in Rock. Among them, Rock the Vote, an organization dedicated to “getting out the vote “for young people had its roots in Rock ‘n’ Roll in addition to other forms of popular culture.”Today Rock the Vote represents the historic and groundbreaking 18-year intersection of music and politics…” Its impact comes from its voter drive efforts and its online registration process. Their goal for the 2008 election was ambitious. Yet, the election results show that they more than exceeded their goal.⁸

Their goal:”This year Rock the Vote will forge the largest youth voter registration drive in history, registering 2 million young people. Together with our partners, we are charged and excited to harness our combined power to make our voices heard. 2008 is clearly the year of the youth vote and Rock the Vote will be there every step of the way. ”³

Their effort has paid off. Record numbers of young people have voted and they have been the cornerstone of the success of President elect Barack Obama. “Exit polls showed that young voters were supporting him by a more than 2-1 margin, with his greatest support coming from black and Hispanic young people.”⁴ This support came primarily from the magnetism of Barack Obama; however this does not detract from the efforts of the organizations such as Rock the Vote and the efforts of artists such as Bruce Springsteen. The activism in Rock ‘n’ Roll stems from the traditions established in the 1960’s that have grown until its manifestation today. This Activism did not spontaneously occur because of this election; rather its roots were established around fifty years ago and it has since grown branches and leaves that overshadow American Politics.

The Beginning of a Tradition

The Sixties were a decade that transformed America. The Vietnam War, Anti-War protests, Segregation, Discrimination, the Civil Rights movement, the Cuban Missile Crisis, Great Society, War on Poverty, Feminism, Baby Boomers, sexual revolution, drugs, the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Martin L. King Jr., Malcolm X and a whole slew of others, Counterculture; the chaos caused by Social Upheaval encouraged the growth of Rock Music . Rock Music came into its own during this period, though it had its roots in the mid 1950’s it did not become notable until the 1960’s. Likewise the Civil Rights movement emerged, after the Brown vs. Board of Education case (1954), as a coherent force which focused on Activism, ranging from sit-ins and marches to boycotts and Freedom Rides. This campaign culminated in Washington D.C. with MLK and the famous “I have a Dream” speech that was a major catalyst to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This was helped in part by Rock and Folk singers who gave the movement a voice. The Civil Rights movement and the emergence of Rock as a way of voicing ideas could hardly be kept apart. Folk/Rock singers such as Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and Bob Dylan politicized their music and “Folk-singers became the voice of both the civil-rights movement and the peace movement.” ⁶

This became known as the “Greenwich movement…” and it “…helped the folk-singer mutate into the singer-songwriter …Music became the vehicle for young people to vent their (political) frustration. It was a different kind of music, and a different kind of frustration, but the similarity with rock’n'roll was obvious. It was just a matter of time before the personal (rock’n'roll) and the public (protest song) would find a common ground.”⁶

This common ground led to a fusion of Rock as it was then with folk music. A few bands and artists that bridged the gap between Folk and Rock: Bob Dylan, Grateful Dead, Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, and The Byrds.⁷Of course there were many more, but these were some of the more influential ones. Bob Dylan’s popularity gave him influence. The Grateful Dead still have influence since they are still alive and recently held a concert for Obama. Pete Seeger is influential since he is 89 years old and still playing music. Then The Byrds as Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees are likewise influential. These Rock/Folk singers were among the first activists. Bob Dylan, one of the most notable activists spread his message of socio-political change through famous songs including: “Like a Rolling Stone”, “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “A Hard Rain’s gonna fall”.⁹The influence of these songs is still apparent today.¹²

How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, n how many ears must one man have

Before he can hear people cry?

Yes, n how many deaths will it take till he knows

That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin in the wind,
The answer is blowin in the wind.

This is one stanza of “Blowin’ in the Wind”¹⁰In it the questioning of government is clearly seen. Lines four and five target the government. The lines question why the government does not acknowledge the people and their choices and how the government has failed in its obligation to listen. The deaths refer to the casualties that resulted from Vietnam and this song can also apply to the current situation. The last two lines are resigned almost as if the singer knows that there is nothing he can really do, they are also considered “…impenetrably ambiguous: either the answer is so obvious it is right in your face, or the answer is as intangible as the wind.” This song became one of the most influential songs of an influential singer.  Forty one years later this song is still being sung at peace rallies and this is a testament to timelessness and effectiveness.¹²

The sixties were years of turmoil, but they resulted in the expansion of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s puissance.¹³ Rock ‘n’ Roll took on the Activist Role through the  bands’ and artists’ participation in Rallies, performance of Protest Songs and encouragement of civil disobedience through music. This Activism led President Lyndon B. Johnson from attempting a second term, furthermore it caused the election of Richard Nixon who promised a quick out from the war. Thus the influence of Activists in Rock ‘n’ Roll helped to shape the Presidential elections during this time period. The sixties were the start of a long tradition of Activism in Rock ‘n’ Roll affecting American Politics.

The 1970’s and 80’s

The seventies were dismal compared to the vibrancy of the prior decade. They consisted of: the Shootings at Kent State, the Vietnam War until 1972, expansion of the feminist movement, an expansion of the Environmental Groups, death of Jimi Hendrix, stagflation, Jimmy Carter, and the Hostage Crisis. It was during this period that Cat Stevens wrote Peace Train.¹⁴The 70’s were milder than the 60’s due in part to the waning of the Civil Rights Movement and the eventual pullout from Vietnam.  Activism still existed, but with a depressed economy and with many of the causes gone, Activism waned.

Still, the Song “Peace Train”, one of the most effective war- protest songs written right before the end of the Vietnam War, was composed during this time. Thus, activism still existed albeit not on the same scale as in its the heyday in the 1960’s.

The eighties were a revival for Rock Music, not Activism, mainly for Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Big Hair Bands and Glam Metal. While Activism increased during this time, it was focused on combating Famine in Africa, though there was some Activism on behalf of AIDs victims as well. This period was a time of massive unrest in the international community, but not so much in the United States and Activism with its sights set abroad did not affect politics in America as much as it had in the past.¹⁵

1990’s to Present

The 90’s proved to be a revival for Activism in Rock ‘n’ Roll, but in America as opposed to internationally; once again Activism had become a major player in the politics of the U.S. However, it lacked the focus that made Activism so powerful in the 1960’s. Without a war or a Civil Rights Movement they settled for less salient issues. This excerpt from the New York Times sums up the Activism in the 1990’s.

Hence”…with no single issue uniting them, protest rockers have little chance of commanding the attention gained by Woodstock-era prophets. The strongest political voices in pop remain on the underground, in places like Brooklyn, where hip-hop artists have united to record and stage protests against police brutality, and Washington, where the leftist hardcore punk subculture has long influenced the shape of both youth activism and the independent music business. Yet even without a Vietnam conflict or a civil rights movement to bring unity, politics in pop is beginning to take a new shape, along with the leftist subcultures the music supports. Musicians are choosing issues, from veganism to prison reform, and addressing them not just in songs but in activism that goes beyond the concert stage. A model for activism is emerging among artists that complements the direct-action oriented, coalition-building style of the young left. ¹⁶

Despite the lack of focus they still managed to have a wide influence which gave them political clout. Eventually, this activism greatly benefitted Clinton during his race for the Whitehouse. Though they may have had no major issues to unite them Rock ‘n’ Roll Activists played a vital role in our Country’s process to pick the next President. Thus Rock Activist groups can voice the message of the people and politicians ignore them at their own peril.

Conclusion

Activism does not have as much of an impact as it did in the 1960’s. However, it still remains a powerful tool in American Politics. “Rock the Vote” helped Clinton to win his presidency by mobilizing the young people. Likewise, in 2008, Rock Activists such as Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen held concerts to support and garner votesfor the candidates and “Rock the Vote” registered almost 2.3 million young people⁸ who by and large support Obama and probably facilitated Obama’s victory over McCain. The outcome of this election was heavily influenced by a process started over fifty years ago. Rock ‘n’ Roll’s Activism have a potent effect on the political processes of The United States of America.

1. http://thesaurus.reference.com//browse/discombobulated
2. http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/10/06/bruce-springsteen-inspires-voters-with-passionate-acoustic-set-at-philadelphia-rally/
3. http://www.rockthevote.com/about/history-rock-the-vote/
4. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iV2V7gbqz8sAFjW0uAafyK4ODEFwD948JH1G1
5. http://www.scaruffi.com/history/cpt1.html
6. http://www.scaruffi.com/history/cpt13.html
7. http://www.richieunterberger.com/turnlinks.html
8. Young votes could rock the polls this year - RealClearPolitics
9. http://www.scaruffi.com/history/cpt16.html
10. http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/1093/
11. Mick Gold, “Life & Life Only: Dylan at 60″ in Judas! magazine, April 2002, p. 43
12. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/03/17/DD41757.DTL
13. http://thesaurus.reference.com//browse/puissance
14. Rock and Roll By Paul Friedlander
15. http://www.cjsonline.ca/pdf/artofprotest.pdf
16. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9504E1DC1038F932A05751C1A9669C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all