Music: An Unconventional Weapon of Social Transformation

What do the songs “Imagine”, “Blowin’ In The Wind” and “We Shall Overcome” all have in common? Indeed, they gained significant popularity, topping music charts at the time, but more importantly, they all had a profound impact on society. With powerful messages of justice, equality, and peace, they have become, arguably, the strongest symbols of the causes they advocated, across continents and generations.

Throughout history, music has consistently embodied the spirit of revolution, unity, and resilience. From the jazzy melodies of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States to the rhythmic rap of the 2021 Senegalese Protests, artists and musicians have often transformed their creations into anthems of discontent and hope. On behalf of wounded societies and particularly their youth, the lyrics call for justice and challenge the status quo.

In this article, several historical examples are explored to better understand the role music has played in societies in bridging the gaps opened by social unrest and in fostering empathy on a broader scale.

A universal language of harmonies

Historical evidence has confirmed the role of music in conveying messages and preserving narratives due to its unique ability of transcending barriers of time and geography. Characterized by melodic and repetitive patterns, songs are easily understood and memorized, disseminating in informal contexts and creating cycles of transmission. Furthermore, music surpasses barriers of language and culture. When displaying simple harmonies and a catchy chorus, they manage to captivate even those who are unfamiliar with their lyrics, fostering unity among diverse audiences.

It is often the simplest compositions that become the best sources of conflict transformation. In fact, “Bella Ciao” a well-known Italian song, with a refrain that is nowadays almost universally recognized, despite having its roots in the late 19^th century, is a prime example of this. The song’s first adaptation to the context of social unrest was conducted by Italian partisans, who used it as an anti-fascist opposition anthem during the Italian civil war. It has since become a hymn of freedom and resistance, translated into many different languages and adapted to fit different contexts, always reflecting social discontent. As Money Heist’s creator, Alex Pina, puts it simply, “a song of struggle, which evokes a dream of freedom”.

The power of lyrics

Emotive lyrics and melodies allow individuals to passionately express their convictions with others. It is because of the sense of social well-being that one gets from sharing emotional states that music so frequently accompanies movements that build, and depend upon, solidarity.

“No music alone can organize one’s ability to invest affectively in the world, [but] one can note powerful contributions of music to temporary emotional states” (Rhythm and Resistance, 1990).

One example would be the best-selling single “Imagine”, a joint composition by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, written during the tumultuous period of the Vietnam War. Despite not containing an overt political message, as Lennon described it, “an ad campaign for peace”, it embodies the vision of those who long for global harmony. Decades after its original release, this popular masterpiece, continues to inspire people and has since become a permanent peace protest song and a lasting emblem of hope.

A powerful tool for social justice and freedom

Although social justice is typically thought of as a political agenda, many movements have used music as a way of inviting and maintaining broad-based participation in their initiatives. The paradigm of musical expression’s commitment to social justice was the political protest culture in the 60s of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. “We Shall Overcome” by Pete Seeger is the classical example. It started as an old hymn sung by striking members of a union, when folk singer Pete Seeger learned the song and changed the “will” to “shall”. It became the unofficial anthem of the Civil Rights movement, becoming one of the most striking examples of music transcending mere entertainment and becoming the voice of the oppressed and the catalyst for societal transformation. The song has since appeared in diverse protests around the world.

In the context of Portuguese history, the song “Grândola, Vila Morena”, performed by Zeca Afonso, represents yet another proof of the power music holds to inspire societal and political transformation. The song became an iconic anthem of the Portuguese democratic establishment. It held a crucial role in the events that unfolded on April 25, 1974, a peaceful military coup that overthrew Portugal’s authoritarian regime. The song was broadcasted on a radio station that day, setting the official start of the nonviolent uprising. The choice of this song was symbolic, as it conveys a message of hope, unity, and freedom.

Throughout history, music has often also replaced speeches of hate, efficiently breaking cycles of indifference and oppression brought about by lack of social change. As an example, comes the song “Same Love” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, promoting marriage equality, which became the first Top 40 song in the United States to explicitly support same-sex marriage.

The impact nowadays

Music has been a peaceful vehicle for voicing public opinion and each era has had its unique features, players, and tools. We can observe a new era of protest music emerging, where rappers serve as not just artists but also as political voices. On March 6^th, 2021, rapper Dip Doundou Guiss, a Senegalese hip-hop musician, posted a music video entitled #FreeSenegal, the slogan of a wave of demonstrations that had shaken the country during previous days. Explicitly supporting the protests and revolt, the video clip was played one million times just in the first day after being released.

Artists are increasingly embracing their role as activists, using social media platforms to amplify their messages. This fusion of music and the internet has led to the development of a unique framework that transcends physical borders, enabling artists to inspire change and confront oppressive systems in a more lasting widespread way.

In conclusion, as the world grapples with conflicts and social injustices, music stands tall as a universal language of resistance, resilience, and hope. Its melodies echo the cries for social change, reminding us of the power of the human connection. Through the harmonies of music, societies find the strength to resist, the courage to fight, and the inspiration to dream of a more just and equitable world.

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