Nationwide protests on “No Kings Day” are a recent memory. It was a day that had a lot of news events that overshadowed what June 14 could have been about. That day certainly did not turn out the way that many conservatives wanted.
A parade to “celebrate” and a national call to protest political overreach were at odds with each other. The right to free speech, protest, the shootings of Minnesota Democratic state lawmakers and bad weather overshadowed the Military parade. It was a crazy day of news that harkened back to thoughts of the 1960s where protests were frequent and large.
If you watched any movie, historical series, or documentary of that period in U.S. History, the music of the time was highly profiled and offered as background to what you were seeing on the screen.
Protest music has always conveyed free speech and opinion. Music transcends poetry. Music inspires, sooths, offers solace and invokes calls to action. It can stimulate the emotional side of our inner self and release raucous energy as well. Literally everyone at one time has been caught up in frenzied singing, lip syncing or playing air guitar to their favorite songs.
So, when current modern musicians speak out with their music or as recently as Bruce Springsteen did during his concerts – some people take notice. 47 did and, apparently, he does not like Bruce Springsteen. To pigeonhole Springsteen as “not a talented guy” by thin skinned 47 is laughable considering The Boss continues to sell out recent concerts that is averaging over 57,000 attendees. Some stadium shows are topping over 100,000.
As per usual, anyone that crosses Trump with bigger crowds or points out any of his deficiencies that he frequently displays elicits a steady stream of his consistent bile of rambling disdain.
Yes, America, President Trump rambles. The thought patterns that bounce around the perpetual mouth mash from the president has no artistic resonance. Of course not, because President Trump is not a musician.
He is not very creative either. He is not even a politician. He is effective at whining and trolling though. An absolute master of it.
Springsteen is not a politician either. He is a musician and his music through the years articulated the angst, hopes and dreams of America’s working people.
As has many other musicians both recent and historical. You must have a sense of creativity, poetry, rhythm and be well tuned to listen to the patterns of the natural world to be a musician. No one can doubt the genius of Beethoven, Mozart, Hank Williams, Woody Guthrie, Dylan, Brian Wilson, Lennon, and McCartney.
Through the years, many musicians, including some of those listed previously, have taken up causes both noble and political.
If you go back through our nation’s history, examples of songs that defined a political view have existed. You cannot think of the Civil War without thinking of two songs that defined each side: “Dixie” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Our national anthem is a protest song against British monarchical rule (there is that “No Kings” thing again).
More recent times have elevated the status of a traveling musical poet, Woody Guthrie, who was known for being outspoken on corrupt politicians, union busting, and supporting the ideas of Christ.
Guthrie once stated that music needed to get the “word around” about such matters. In perfect summation, Guthrie stated: “If the fight gets hot, the songs get hotter. If the going gets tough, the songs get tougher.”
Much like Woody Guthrie, The Boss wrote songs about working guys.
He always was a blue-collar storyteller. He wrote songs about people that had to move on from lost jobs (“My Home Town”) or some who could not reach out beyond their working class (“I’m On Fire”).
He also wrote “Born In the USA” which is one of his 15 identified protest songs and his most famous. The song expresses pride in being American while simultaneously criticizing the country’s shortcomings.
Conservatives misinterpret that song just like President Trump does not see the irony of having the song “Fortunate Son” play at the June 14 Military parade.
If you are talented enough to compose and sing a protest song, it is undoubtedly that you will also exercise your right to offer opinions about your political bent while performing.
Springsteen did just that. The songs (and statements) of protest are testaments to free speech. A great protest song can be a two-edged sword that cuts to the core of what things are wrong and slices into the ideas that will make things right.
It takes understanding to get to a greater good. Sam Cook wrote what is probably the greatest protest song “A Change Is Gonna’ Come” back in 1963.
Take a listen and you will understand what I mean.
Stephen Podwojski is a retired, well-traveled former hotel consultant and training specialist. He was also a long-time original member of the Register Mail Community Roundtable.
This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: Many Paths: Protest music has always conveyed free speech and opinion | Opinion
Reporting by Stephen Podwojski / Galesburg Register-Mail
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