The evolution of American protest music

Summary

This script explores the evolution of American protest music, from its simple beginnings with songs like 'Yankee Doodle' to the complex compositions of the 20th century. It highlights key songs and artists, such as Billie Holiday's 'Strange Fruit', Woody Guthrie's 'This Land is Your Land', and Bob Dylan's influence on protest music. The script also discusses the impact of social issues on music, including the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, and the rise of hip-hop and feminist punk rock. It concludes with the role of social media in modern protest music, exemplified by songs like Kendrick Lamar's 'Alright' and Milck's 'Quiet'.

Takeaways

• 🎵 Early American protest songs like 'Yankee Doodle' and 'John Brown’s Body' were simple and used familiar melodies for easy oral transmission.
• 📼 The advent of electrical sound recording in the 1920s enabled artists to create more complex music, as exemplified by Billie Holiday’s 'Strange Fruit'.
• 🚫 'Strange Fruit' was controversial and faced radio bans, yet its impact was felt through word of mouth.
• 🎸 Post-World War II, folk music and artists like Woody Guthrie with 'This Land is Your Land' became influential in protest music, appealing to the working class.
• 🎤 Bob Dylan, despite his reluctance to be a protest leader, had a unifying impact with songs like 'The Times They Are a-Changin'.
• 🗣 Nina Simone's 'Mississippi Goddam' was a direct response to the civil rights movement and specific acts of violence.
• 🎶 The late 60s and early 70s saw protest music diversify with Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On' reflecting the anti-Vietnam War sentiment.
• 📺 The 1980s rise of MTV and VH1 provided a visual platform for protest music, with genres like hip-hop and riot grrrl gaining prominence.
• 🔥 After 9/11, a surge of emotional and political songs emerged, though a lack of a unified movement affected their impact.
• 🌐 The election of Barack Obama and the rise of social media platforms have transformed how protest music is created and shared, as seen with Kendrick Lamar’s 'Alright' and Milck’s 'Quiet'.

Q & A

What was the purpose of early American protest songs like Yankee Doodle?

Early American protest songs served to spread messages through simple, repetitive, and easy-to-remember lyrics that could be passed down through the oral tradition.

How did the rise of electrical sound recording in the 1920s impact protest music?

The rise of electrical sound recording allowed artists to use more complex tunes and lyrics, which reshaped the genre and changed how protest music was created and perceived.

What was the controversy surrounding Billie Holiday's 'Strange Fruit'?

Billie Holiday's 'Strange Fruit' was a powerful commentary on lynchings in the South, eliciting strong reactions of love or hate, and was almost completely banned from radio, leading to its dissemination primarily through word of mouth.

How did folk music contribute to the protest music genre after World War Two?

Folk music became popular through the radio, and artists like Woody Guthrie used it to write protest songs, which became popular with the working class and inspired future musicians.

Why did Bob Dylan distance himself from being labeled a protest movement leader?

Bob Dylan did not want to be associated with any specific movement, stating that he wrote songs without any particular message or reason, and did not feel the need to comment on the themes of his music.

What event prompted Nina Simone to write 'Mississippi Goddam'?

Nina Simone wrote 'Mississippi Goddam' in response to the 1963 murder of civil rights activist Medgar Evers and the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Alabama.

How did the political unrest in the late 60s and early 70s influence American protest music?

The political unrest during this period led to a wave of protest music, including Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On,' which was a response to the Kent State massacre and the Vietnam War.

What role did VH1 and MTV play in the evolution of protest music in the 1980s?

The rise of VH1 and MTV in the 1980s provided artists with a visual medium to express themselves, leading to a shift in focus towards issues of class and the emergence of genres like hip-hop as a platform for protest.

How did the feminist punk rock movement, riot grrrl, contribute to protest music?

The riot grrrl movement, led by all-women bands like Bikini Kill and Sleater-Kinney, used music to forward progressive and specifically feminist agendas during the early to mid-nineties.

What was the impact of 9/11 on the resurgence of millennial protest songs?

9/11 led to a surge of emotion and frustration that influenced the creation of protest music, but the lack of a unifying political movement prevented a sustained resurgence of protest songs among millennials.

How did the election of Barack Obama affect the theme of protest music?

The election of Barack Obama brought a shift towards empowerment themes in protest music, with songs like Kendrick Lamar's 'Alright' becoming a rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement.

What role has social media played in the distribution of protest music in recent years?

Social media has become the primary tool for sharing protest music, as seen with Milck's 'Quiet,' which used the internet to recruit a choir and became an anthem for the Women's March.

Outlines

00:00

🎵 Evolution of American Protest Music

This paragraph traces the evolution of American protest music from its early days with simple tunes like 'Yankee Doodle' and 'John Brown's Body' that spread through oral tradition, to the impact of sound recording in the 1920s which allowed for more complex music. It discusses Billie Holiday's 'Strange Fruit' as a significant piece that, despite being controversial and banned from radio, left a lasting mark. Post-World War II, folk music and artists like Woody Guthrie with 'This Land is Your Land' became influential, inspiring future musicians. The paragraph also covers the shift in the 1960s towards civil rights and anti-war songs, the role of hip-hop and punk rock in the 1980s and 1990s, and how 9/11 and the lack of a unified political movement affected protest music in the 2000s.

05:01

🗣️ The Resurgence of Protest Music in the 21st Century

This paragraph discusses the resurgence of protest music in the 21st century, particularly focusing on the impact of social media and the internet. It highlights how bands like Green Day with their song 'American Idiot' criticized the Iraq War, and how the election of Barack Obama shifted the focus to empowerment with songs like Kendrick Lamar's 'Alright' becoming an anthem for the Black Lives Matter movement. The paragraph also notes the significant role of social media in spreading protest music, exemplified by Milck's 'Quiet' which became an anthem for the Women's March. The paragraph concludes by emphasizing the ongoing importance of protest music in rallying movements and its adaptation to new platforms.

Keywords

💡Protest Music

Protest music is a genre of songs that convey messages promoting social, political, or environmental change. It is often characterized by its critical stance against established systems or to raise awareness about certain issues. In the video, protest music is the central theme, with examples ranging from traditional folk songs like 'Yankee Doodle' to modern compositions addressing civil rights and political unrest.

💡Oral Tradition

The oral tradition refers to the method of transmitting information, stories, or songs through word of mouth rather than in written form. In the context of the video, early American protest songs spread through the oral tradition, making them accessible and memorable to a wide audience without the need for printed lyrics or recordings.

💡Electrical Sound Recording

Electrical sound recording is a technology that emerged in the 1920s, allowing for the capturing and reproduction of sound with greater fidelity than previous methods. This innovation is highlighted in the video as it enabled artists to create more complex protest music with intricate melodies and lyrics, as exemplified by Billie Holiday’s 'Strange Fruit'.

💡Folk Music

Folk music is a genre that typically features traditional themes and is often played on acoustic instruments. It became a popular medium for protest music after World War II, as discussed in the video. Woody Guthrie's 'This Land is Your Land' is cited as a prime example of folk music used as a protest song, challenging the status quo and resonating with the working class.

💡Lynchings

Lynchings refer to the act of public execution by mob violence, historically used as a form of racial terrorism against African Americans in the United States. The video mentions 'Strange Fruit' by Billie Holiday, which addresses this dark chapter in American history, illustrating how protest music can shed light on and condemn social injustices.

💡Civil Rights Movement

The Civil Rights Movement was a struggle for social justice and equal rights for African Americans in the United States, particularly during the 1950s and 1960s. The video highlights how the movement inspired protest music, such as Nina Simone's 'Mississippi Goddam,' which was a direct response to the murder of Medgar Evers and the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church.

💡Kent State Massacre

The Kent State Massacre refers to the tragic event in 1970 when the Ohio National Guard opened fire on students protesting the Vietnam War, killing four. The video connects this event to the emergence of protest songs like Marvin Gaye’s 'What’s Going On,' demonstrating how music can respond to and reflect on significant historical incidents.

💡Vietnam War

The Vietnam War was a conflict in Southeast Asia from 1955 to 1975, involving the United States and other countries. The video notes that the war was a catalyst for protest music in America, with songs like 'What’s Going On' by Marvin Gaye capturing the anti-war sentiment and the desire for peace.

💡Feminist Punk Rock

Feminist punk rock is a subgenre of punk music that incorporates feminist ideologies and critiques of patriarchal society. The video discusses the 'riot grrrl' movement, which was led by all-women bands like Bikini Kill and Sleater-Kinney, using their music to forward feminist agendas and challenge gender norms.

💡9/11

The 9/11 attacks refer to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, which had a profound impact on global politics and culture. The video suggests that the emotional and political fallout from 9/11 led to a resurgence in protest music, with artists like Green Day creating songs that critiqued the subsequent war in Iraq.

💡Black Lives Matter

Black Lives Matter is a movement advocating for the rights and fair treatment of Black individuals, in response to systemic racism and violence. The video mentions Kendrick Lamar’s 'Alright' as a song that became an anthem for the movement, showing how protest music can galvanize support and provide a voice for social change.

Highlights

American protest music has evolved over time, with the way it reaches the audience reshaping the genre.

Early American protest songs like 'Yankee Doodle' and 'John Brown’s Body' were simple and spread through oral tradition.

The 1920s saw a shift with the rise of electrical sound recording, allowing for complex tunes and lyrics.

Billie Holiday’s 'Strange Fruit' from 1939 was a powerful commentary on lynchings in the South.

Post-World War Two, protest music changed with the popularity of folk music and artists like Woody Guthrie.

Bob Dylan's music became popular despite his reluctance to be seen as a protest movement leader.

Nina Simone's 'Mississippi Goddam' was a direct response to the 1963 murder of civil rights activist Medgar Evers.

The civil rights movement produced several notable pieces of protest music, influencing artists like Marvin Gaye.

The late 60s and early 70s saw protest songs focusing on class issues and the political unrest in the states.

The rise of VH1 and MTV in the 1980s gave artists a visual medium to express themselves, influencing genres like hip-hop.

The feminist punk rock movement, led by bands like Bikini Kill and Sleater Kinney, emerged in the early to mid-nineties.

After 9/11, a wave of emotion and frustration led to the creation of impactful protest music.

The election of Barack Obama in 2008 brought a new energy to protest music, focusing on empowerment.

Kendrick Lamar’s 'Alright' became a rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement.

Social media has become the biggest tool for sharing protest music, as seen with Milck’s 'Quiet' and the Women’s March.

The purpose of protest music is to bring a movement together, and it continues with the leverage of new tools like the internet.

Transcripts

Right now, American protest music sounds like this.

...we don’t believe you, cuz we the people... ...a million dollar loan...

...If I don’t say something should I just lie still...

But it wasn’t always this way.

While today’s protest music serves the same purpose as music like this, the way it reaches

the audience has reshaped the genre time and time again.

Early American protest songs like Yankee Doodle and John Brown’s Body were pretty simple.

The melodies came from songs people already knew.

The lyrics were repetitive and easy to remember and that made it easier for the songs to spread

through the oral tradition.

But the rise of electrical sound recording in the 1920s changed the way music was created.

It allowed artists to use complex tunes and lyrics.

A famous example of that is Billie Holiday’s Strange Fruit from 1939.

It was a powerful take on lynchings in the South.

People had a really strong response to the song — they either loved it or they hated

it.

It was almost completely banned on the radio, which meant that most Americans heard about

it, if they heard about it at all, through word of mouth.

But its omission from the radio didn’t take the song out of history.

After World War two, protest music changed again when folk music became popular through

the radio.

Woodie Guthrie is probably one of the most famous folk music protest writers.

one of his most famous songs is This Land is Your Land, which he wrote as a protest

song in response to this super popular song the time called god bless America

Guthrie’s music became popular with the working class and went on to inspire musicians

like Bob Dylan.

The times, they are a changin

But Dylan himself edged away from the suggestion that he was a protest movement leader.

I got nothing to say about these things I write.

I just write em.

I don’t have to say anything about them.

I don’t write them for any reason.

There’s no great message.

If you want to tell other people about that, go ahead and tell em.

People turned to Dylan’s music for its unifying message despite his reluctance to be a part

of any sort of movement.

But there were other artists, who were less coy than him.

And everybody knows about Mississippi / god damn

Nina Simone wrote “Mississippi Goddam” in response to the 1963 murder of civil rights

activist Medgar Evers in Mississippi.

Mississippi goddam

In it, she also sings about the bombing of the 16th street baptist church in Alabama

that same year.

Alabama’s got me so upset The civil rights movement produced several

notable pieces of protest music.

But the late 60s and early 70s also saw a lot of political unrest in the states.

So this is Marvin Gaye’s 1971 hit What’s Going On.

brother brother brother / there’s far too many of you dying…

It was a part of the famous wave of protest music that followed the Kent State massacre

when the National Guard opened fire and killed four unarmed students protesting the Vietnam

War.

Later as the Vietnam war came to an end, protest songs in America re-focused on issues of class.

The shift coincided with the rise of VH1 and MTV in the 1980s which gave artists a visual

medium to express themselves.

Hip-hop quickly gained notoriety, in part thanks to groups like Public Enemy and N.W.A.

Fuck the police / and that’s straight from the underground

While hip-hop became a burgeoning space for political thought, a feminist punk rock movement

also began to take shape.

the riot grrrl movement was led by all women bands like Bikini Kill and Sleater Kinney.

and it was in the early to mid nineties when all these women came together with a focus

on making their music try to forward progressive agendas, specifically feminist ones

All girls should have A real man Should I buy it?

I don't wanna

Our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deadly terrorist attacks.

After 9/11 there was this huge pool of emotion and frustration that helped singers make some

really good music.

But the lack of a unifying political movement left a millennial protest song resurgence

sort of dead in the water.

But bands like Green Day gave a really good effort and the title track of their 2004 album

American Idiot took aim at the war in Iraq

Don't wanna be an American idiot

The election of Barack Obama in 2008 brought a different energy to protest music.

With the first black president in the White House, musicians took up the empowerment song.

Kendrick Lamar’s Alright became a rallying cry for Black Lives Matter toward the end

of Obama’s presidency.

Do you hear me / Do you feel me / we gon be alright

And in this era social media became the biggest tool for sharing music.

That change is even more evident in the face of Donald Trump’s presidency.

A good example of that is Milck’s song called Quiet

The songwriter, Connie Lim, used the internet to recruit a choir for the song which became

an anthem for the Women’s March.

the purpose of protest music is to bring a movement together.

So as long as people continue to leverage these new tools that we have with social media

and with the internet to make these songs, protest music will continue.