{"id":408,"date":"2017-10-31T05:31:05","date_gmt":"2017-10-31T05:31:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gcornish.digitalscholar.rochester.edu\/MHS123_Fall2017\/?p=408"},"modified":"2017-10-31T05:31:05","modified_gmt":"2017-10-31T05:31:05","slug":"politics-in-music","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gcornish.digitalscholar.rochester.edu\/MHS123_Fall2017\/uncategorized\/politics-in-music\/","title":{"rendered":"Politics in music"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 There are many mediums in which we can express political opinion, whether it be marches, boycotts, the possibilities are endless. In every single case, each advocate expresses their motives through the medium that is most accessible way that will have the highest chance of making their voice heard. Politics in music has been the most literal way for a lot of composers and performing artists to get their views and beliefs across. With substantial followings and the eloquent skills in presentation often times these artists have been able to successful spread their message to millions of people across the globe. Composers throughout history have written grandiose works to express political thought, Dimitri Shostakovich was one of the most notable composers of them. To this day we have mainstream artists utilzing their music to deliver powerful messages, and in this blog I will discussing Macklemore and Ryan Lewis\u2019 hit song, \u201cSame Love\u201d, and his message of support to the gay community.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u201cSame Love\u201d<\/span><\/a> is an incredibly powerful song with extremely substantial<\/span> lyrics<\/span><\/a>. The song starts with sustained string chords and a simple piano progression, and Macklemore opens with a simple rap-monologue that contemplating what it means to be gay, and digs into the common misconceptions about homosexuality. Although Macklemore (Ben Haggerty) is straight, he felt pressure that he must\u2019ve been gay since he was artistic, tidy, and that his uncle was. He doesn\u2019t hold back any punches and calls out right-wing conservatives as well as the conservative christian community in his lyrics \u201cThe right-wing conservatives think it\u2019s a decision\u201d and \u201cAmerica the brave Still fears what we don\u2019t know, and God loves all his children it\u2019s somehow forgotten, but we paraphrase a book written 3,500 years ago\u201d. He criticizes the people who refuse to open their minds, and who are still stuck in traditions while using specific religious interpretations to suit their needs. The chorus is especially chilling when Mary Lambert\u2019s erie voice enters singing, \u201cAnd I can\u2019t change, even if I tried, even if I wanted to\u201d. The lyrics lets us know that being homosexual is a natural part of someone\u2019s identity, and it\u2019s not just a lifestyle people choose. Macklemore\u2019s second verse attacks the negative connotation that has unfortunately developed around the word \u201cgay\u201d. I\u2019ve seen it in the world around me when you hear someone exclaim \u201cthat\u2019s gay!\u201d when describing something they think is dumb or disagree with. None of the other definitions of the word offer anything remotely close to being contextually correct with that statement. It is purely disrespectful and shaming of homosexuality, and it is saddening to hear it being used in modern dialogues. Macklemore states, \u201cOur culture [was] founded on oppression\u201d, which is scarily accurate. It started with the Native Americans, continued through the use of slavery and segregation of Non-Whites, and continues today with people of different orientations. Reading the <\/span>article on Dennis Prager<\/span><\/a> just shows that this hateful ideology is still alive today. He claims that same-sex marriage is detrimental to classical music and Western Culture. He also believes that \u201cHeterosexual AIDS has been entirely manufactured by the Left\u201d, and you can read all about this radical claim <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>. Of course I disagree with this claim, and I\u2019m sure Georg Friedrich Handel, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Aaron Copland, Samuel Barber, Benjamin Britten, Leonard Bernstein\u2026 the <\/span>list<\/span><\/a> goes on and on. All the composers above have had a significant impact on the advancement of Western Culture, and have created some of the best musical works audiences have ever enjoyed. Dennis Prager is the definitive example of the type of hateful person Macklemore describes in his song. Macklemore\u2019s lyrics open a curtain to the harsh reality of the depressing thoughts of the community and the hateful resistance that has been around since civilization began, his song prays for peace and urges people to hope and work for a better tomorrow. <\/span><\/p>\n

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis masterfully created a piece of art that would make it to phones and music players to millions of people internationally. With 182,087,438 views on their YouTube <\/span>music video<\/span><\/a>, the song went insanely viral. The duo serve as modern day political activists by operating in the medium that gets their message the most attention and traction. The song supports the gay community and helps raise awareness to take down pre-existing oppressive power. Whether you believe politics should or shouldn\u2019t be in music, there is no denying that it has found a place in it, and has been some of the most effective way to spread love and significant messages to millions of people.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Also it is fun to note that at the Grammy Award Ceremony, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis performed \u201cSame Love\u201d (Even though the song lost Song of the Year \u00a0to Lorde\u2019s \u201cRoyals\u201d, they still won best rap album and \u201cThrift Shop\u201d won for best rap performance and rap song) with Mary Lambert, Trombone Shorty, Queen Latifah, and Madonna. At the end of the last verse, Latifah presided over a wedding ceremony where 33 audience members both gay and straight exchanged rings, where at the conclusion of \u201cSame Love\u201d, Madonna makes her appearance singing \u201cOpen Your Heart\u201d over the same groove of \u201cSame Love\u201d. (<\/span>http:\/\/www.songfacts.com\/detail.php?id=28073<\/span><\/a>) \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 There are many mediums in which we can express political opinion, whether it be marches, boycotts, the possibilities are endless. In every single case, each advocate expresses their motives through the medium that is most accessible way that will have the highest chance of making their voice heard. Politics in music has … <\/p>\n

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