Kevin Castillo
Prof. Kufs
English 114
October 6th 2014
Do Protest Songs Have A Fighting Chance?
Throughout the article there are many different views on how music has changed throughout the years. The author believes that music has indeed changed its course from being about social issues to being about meaningful and personal issues. This article includes people with different views. The author Julia Keller takes everyone’s view to support her own personal opinion. I believe that Keller does believe that today’s musicians are no longer writing protest songs and aren’t taking advantage of talking about social issues.
Julia is not the only one who believes that protest songs are fading away. Michael Cameron, owner of Chicago's Uncommon Ground coffeehouse believes that artists are focusing in writing songs about personal issues rather than social issues. This may be suitable for some listeners but others would rather hear protest songs that are meaningful and are about issues that people are facing. On the contrast, Al Rose, a Chicago singer and composer who co-owns a coffeehouse in Andersonville believes that audiences are also the blame for lack of protest songs. I believe that most audiences rather hear love songs or songs about fame and money over protest songs. I do agree with the author that protest songs gained popularity during the 1960s and 1970s due to the Vietnam War and The Civil Rights Movement. Although, I feel like protest songs shouldn’t have started to fade away just because both events ended. I agree with Julia that artist and audiences should both enjoy protest songs because it does send a powerful message and can make a positive difference on an issue. For example, my music taste is 60s and 70s rock because most of the bands during that time made music that was both about personal and social issues. My favorite band is The Beatles because they had a unique and distinct way in making music and also had songs that sent very powerful messages. One song that should be listed in this article is “Revolution” by the Beatles because its not only has a very unique melody but a very powerful message that focuses on the Vietnam War and how the government would brainwash and control people.
Overall, Julia Keller makes several points in how the music industry is changing and how protest songs are slowly fading away. She includes various points of views of very important people that have worked in the music industry or have witness the making of protest songs. She introduces both positive and negative opinions of protest songs. Some people believe that protest songs are meaningful and others believe that it lacks interest that prevents listeners in caring about the song. I believe that protest songs should be encouraged and favored but sadly my generation lack interest in social issues and rather hear meaningless music that don’t benefit anything. I still want artists to make protest songs but target a certain audience that will actually appreciated and learn from it.
Prof. Kufs
English 114
October 6th 2014
Do Protest Songs Have A Fighting Chance?
Throughout the article there are many different views on how music has changed throughout the years. The author believes that music has indeed changed its course from being about social issues to being about meaningful and personal issues. This article includes people with different views. The author Julia Keller takes everyone’s view to support her own personal opinion. I believe that Keller does believe that today’s musicians are no longer writing protest songs and aren’t taking advantage of talking about social issues.
Julia is not the only one who believes that protest songs are fading away. Michael Cameron, owner of Chicago's Uncommon Ground coffeehouse believes that artists are focusing in writing songs about personal issues rather than social issues. This may be suitable for some listeners but others would rather hear protest songs that are meaningful and are about issues that people are facing. On the contrast, Al Rose, a Chicago singer and composer who co-owns a coffeehouse in Andersonville believes that audiences are also the blame for lack of protest songs. I believe that most audiences rather hear love songs or songs about fame and money over protest songs. I do agree with the author that protest songs gained popularity during the 1960s and 1970s due to the Vietnam War and The Civil Rights Movement. Although, I feel like protest songs shouldn’t have started to fade away just because both events ended. I agree with Julia that artist and audiences should both enjoy protest songs because it does send a powerful message and can make a positive difference on an issue. For example, my music taste is 60s and 70s rock because most of the bands during that time made music that was both about personal and social issues. My favorite band is The Beatles because they had a unique and distinct way in making music and also had songs that sent very powerful messages. One song that should be listed in this article is “Revolution” by the Beatles because its not only has a very unique melody but a very powerful message that focuses on the Vietnam War and how the government would brainwash and control people.
Overall, Julia Keller makes several points in how the music industry is changing and how protest songs are slowly fading away. She includes various points of views of very important people that have worked in the music industry or have witness the making of protest songs. She introduces both positive and negative opinions of protest songs. Some people believe that protest songs are meaningful and others believe that it lacks interest that prevents listeners in caring about the song. I believe that protest songs should be encouraged and favored but sadly my generation lack interest in social issues and rather hear meaningless music that don’t benefit anything. I still want artists to make protest songs but target a certain audience that will actually appreciated and learn from it.