Week 7: Can popular music be a genuine force for political change?

Popular music can reflect a political time, protest against something, and raise funds and issues. We see examples through programmes such as Comic relief, Live 8, and Children in need. They tend to use celebrities such as The Spice girls to help promote the course and raise awareness to people. When discussing this within our seminar session we spoke about making a point in a crowd is more powerful and effective, then one person, you see this happen when you go to football matches, the supporters sing the national anthem to the team that they support. Also when they want to make a point they express themselves by shouting out chants in groups. We touched on gender politics and looked at Christina Aguilera’s song ‘Can’t hold us down’ which implies that if you’re a women you cant speak your mind, buts its alright for a man to. Women should be seen and not heard. Gangster rap music can have an influence on crime, as there encouraging people to take action against the police. Popular music can not force political change, but can help bring awareness, support and influence a point being made, but it up to the individual as to whether they put it in to action or not.