"Where is the Love?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpYeekQkAdc&ob=av2e 

To follow up on what my last blog was talking about, I’d like to present an example of a song that I think comes close to civic engagement.  “Where is the Love” by the Black Eyed Peas has a message that, in my opinion, comes across very clearly in the lyrics.  Even without watching the music video or checking someone else’s analysis of the song, listeners can see they are looking at the world and its lack of togetherness.  The lyrics mention gangs, violence, people killing each other, children crying and hurt, hypocrisy, and yet how we all share the world.  Those are undeniable parts of life as we know it, and their negative connotation brings emotions of disappointment, sadness, regret, and more.

Even to people who just sing along or listen because the song is catchy, it is hard to miss the idea of people hating and mistreating each other for no reason.  Merely the repetition of “Where is the love?” throughout the song establishes some type of thought or connection to the problem at hand, making people think, and opening a possibility for a perspective change. 

Additionally, when they say, “ask yourself,” “we,” and “one” in phrases throughout the song, they establish a connection with listeners which can make them feel more connected to the song, artist, and issue; listeners realize they are not hearing about someone else’s breakup, love story, etc., but are part of the issue and its solution. 

Also, the lyrics create an appeal to logos in the way they slip in explanations.  For example, there is a verse that goes, “But if you only have love for your own race, then you leave space to discriminate, and to discriminate only generates hate, and when you hate you’re bound to get irate.”  The progression is simple and makes sense, allowing it to be understood in a song.

In terms of this song as a means of civic engagement, I think it is effective because it points out a problem to which almost anyone can relate.  The feelings of disappointment, sadness, and exclusion have been familiarized with everyone at one time or another.  Using relatable emotions, and also children as examples, creates an appeal to ethos, and motivates change among people; since everyone knows the feeling, people may realize they shouldn’t try to bring that upon others; by not creating it, they can work to eliminate it.  If that happens, people may treat each other more nicely, and perhaps we can discover “the love” that the Black Eyed Peas cannot find.  

Whether working out in the gym, walking to class, going to a party, doing homework, or studying, people are always listening to music.  It surrounds us, and for most people, music is enjoyable.  We see our favorite artists on TV and look at their faces on the covers of magazines while we’re in line at the grocery store.  They have a large public presence and make up a significant part of pop-culture.  People listen to their songs, watch them on interviews, and tune-in when they are on award or talk shows.  Hey, some people even try to be them.  Musical artists have a constant presence and an almost infinite audience, and they attract people through music.  They have above average means to spread their opinions and use rhetoric.   So, for my first blog, I’d like to talk about music as a means of civic engagement.

With the amount of people who listen to pop music, there is a lot of potential to spread a message.  However, I do believe the way in which it is done has a huge effect on specifically what message will be sent, how it will be perceived, and whether or not a message will be sent at all.  I realize different uses of music (i.e. commercials, movies, etc.) also change its meaning, but I’d like for now to think about music alone disregarding where it is heard, where an artist appears, or any other outside circumstance.

Until now, I never really thought of songs as a means of civic engagement, and I am not saying that every song is oriented toward civic engagement, but there definitely are certain songs that aim to spread a message, help people to become aware of issues, encourage them to take a stance (usually that of the artist), and act on it.  I think that as a means of getting an argument out there, songs are an effective means.  Here is how I see it: almost anyone can hear them (whether they want to or not most of the time); the internet provides a global forum for discussion and sharing; usually there are loyal fans who will spread the song and perhaps its message(s) further; and the media is informed and habitually highlights artists and songs.  If a song is executed with the intent of spreading a message, I think it is very likely that people will at least hear the message.  Even if someone gets a glimpse of a message he/she doesn’t like, the most he/she can do is stop listening, but even then, at least he/she is thinking.  There wouldn’t be a reason to turn it off if someone didn’t have to ask oneself, “What is making me turn this off?”  Granted, there are myriad other aspects of songs that affect personal taste as well as the song’s rhetoric, which I can hopefully discuss in the future, but in general, they are a very engaging way to speak publicly and perhaps civically engage.