Yesterday, a friend of a friend had an “encounter” with the TSA. This innocent traveler eventually arrived at the appropriate destination, which was meant for relaxation and fun, humiliated and disgusted. Throughout the discussion afterwards about what had happened, my friend and I realized that it had been ages since we had actually heard of an encounter with the TSA that was worthy of the outrage that I had felt upon hearing about the incident yesterday. Did they just stop happening or did the media just stop reporting it? I understand coverage of jabs between liberals and conservatives and Democrats and the GOP and Trump’s hair and Obama’s birth certificate is surely entertaining, in the way that a one season reality show might be, but what else is going on in the world that actually could shape history? What have we already forgotten and why?
Then, while thinking about the annoyance of the mainstream media deciding what information we actually DO need to hear and be reminded of, I got to thinking about more substantial forms of expression- ones that have more staying power than simply a headline that sells a newspaper or a lead in that prompts us to “tune in at 6.” I would surely be hard-pressed to find a person out there that doesn’t have an all time favorite movie- one that effected an epiphany and a number of favorite musical artists, that helped shape viewpoints.
There is so much turmoil in the world right now: protests erupting throughout countries once thought to be stable, the economy crumbling, rights being legislated away and essential services being obliterated with the check of a ballot. We’ve seen our share of turmoil in the US over the years, but typically, as well as televised and printed news accounts, we also had songs that rallied and upset and got people to think and develop real opinions about what was happening. During World War II, we had songs like "Remember Pearl Harbor" - Sammy Kaye (1942) and ”Kiss The Boys Goodbye” - Composer: Frank Loesser and Victor Schertzinger - From: Movie "Kiss The Boys Goodbye" (1941). In the 1950’s http://www.fiftiesweb.com/tune5055.htm there was “Sixteen Tons” by “Tennessee” Ernie Ford, and not much else that would be considered thought provoking, but then again, in the ‘50’s, everyone was pretty much happy. The 1960’s however, made up for that, with the United States’ involvement in Vietnam and the sexual revolution and the loss of our nation‘s innocence. I couldn’t begin to list even a percentage of the songs that were of the times, but shall instead direct you to, of course, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin and countless others who managed to tell their stories and their views in a way that immortalized the strife of the era. The ‘70’s gave us John Lennon's Imagine, which was a breath of fresh air to a war weary world.
The 1980’s gave us groups like Megadeth, with albums like Peace Sells...but Who's Buying? And in the 1990's we had bands like U2 and Rage Against the Machine to bring us socio-political commentary. After the September 11 catastrophe in 2001, a number of songs were released by artists like Toby Keith to commemorate and speak out about the harrowing event and its repercussions.
In the decade following 2000, we continue to have socio-political turmoil. There are military conflicts, poor people, unemployed, environmental concerns, inequality amongst immigrants and sexual orientation. There’s strife between the classes, distrust of our leaders, conspiracy theories, nuclear crises, ad infinitum- and, no one seems to be singing about any of it. Great music transcends time. When I was growing up in the 1980’s and 1990’s, dusty records found in the attic prompted my own research into the stories the songs from the ‘60’s and ‘70’s told. Even in my young teens, I was developing opinions about the world around me. Before I could drive, I was politically active and by the time I could vote, I was well informed enough to make intelligent choices when I finally got to pull that lever for the first time.
So where have these influential songs gone? Is it that they won’t sell, or is it that someone doesn’t want them sold? I am not sure if I fall into the “lazy generation” of which so many of my respected elders speak (I DO think I am slightly older,) but when the young folks have Reality TV and Justin Bieber being rammed down their throats, and billionaire business folk buying up educational software companies, and schools failing them, and parents working 2 jobs each, and multi national media moguls deciding what info really should be given to the public, it’s no wonder society has produced a generation that really just doesn’t give a shit. It’s certainly obvious that the representatives that are supposed to protect their interests sure don’t.
Then, while thinking about the annoyance of the mainstream media deciding what information we actually DO need to hear and be reminded of, I got to thinking about more substantial forms of expression- ones that have more staying power than simply a headline that sells a newspaper or a lead in that prompts us to “tune in at 6.” I would surely be hard-pressed to find a person out there that doesn’t have an all time favorite movie- one that effected an epiphany and a number of favorite musical artists, that helped shape viewpoints.
There is so much turmoil in the world right now: protests erupting throughout countries once thought to be stable, the economy crumbling, rights being legislated away and essential services being obliterated with the check of a ballot. We’ve seen our share of turmoil in the US over the years, but typically, as well as televised and printed news accounts, we also had songs that rallied and upset and got people to think and develop real opinions about what was happening. During World War II, we had songs like "Remember Pearl Harbor" - Sammy Kaye (1942) and ”Kiss The Boys Goodbye” - Composer: Frank Loesser and Victor Schertzinger - From: Movie "Kiss The Boys Goodbye" (1941). In the 1950’s http://www.fiftiesweb.com/tune5055.htm there was “Sixteen Tons” by “Tennessee” Ernie Ford, and not much else that would be considered thought provoking, but then again, in the ‘50’s, everyone was pretty much happy. The 1960’s however, made up for that, with the United States’ involvement in Vietnam and the sexual revolution and the loss of our nation‘s innocence. I couldn’t begin to list even a percentage of the songs that were of the times, but shall instead direct you to, of course, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin and countless others who managed to tell their stories and their views in a way that immortalized the strife of the era. The ‘70’s gave us John Lennon's Imagine, which was a breath of fresh air to a war weary world.
The 1980’s gave us groups like Megadeth, with albums like Peace Sells...but Who's Buying? And in the 1990's we had bands like U2 and Rage Against the Machine to bring us socio-political commentary. After the September 11 catastrophe in 2001, a number of songs were released by artists like Toby Keith to commemorate and speak out about the harrowing event and its repercussions.
In the decade following 2000, we continue to have socio-political turmoil. There are military conflicts, poor people, unemployed, environmental concerns, inequality amongst immigrants and sexual orientation. There’s strife between the classes, distrust of our leaders, conspiracy theories, nuclear crises, ad infinitum- and, no one seems to be singing about any of it. Great music transcends time. When I was growing up in the 1980’s and 1990’s, dusty records found in the attic prompted my own research into the stories the songs from the ‘60’s and ‘70’s told. Even in my young teens, I was developing opinions about the world around me. Before I could drive, I was politically active and by the time I could vote, I was well informed enough to make intelligent choices when I finally got to pull that lever for the first time.
So where have these influential songs gone? Is it that they won’t sell, or is it that someone doesn’t want them sold? I am not sure if I fall into the “lazy generation” of which so many of my respected elders speak (I DO think I am slightly older,) but when the young folks have Reality TV and Justin Bieber being rammed down their throats, and billionaire business folk buying up educational software companies, and schools failing them, and parents working 2 jobs each, and multi national media moguls deciding what info really should be given to the public, it’s no wonder society has produced a generation that really just doesn’t give a shit. It’s certainly obvious that the representatives that are supposed to protect their interests sure don’t.
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