Collision of War and Music: Vietnam and the Protest Music of the Mid 1960's and Early 1970's
Collision of War and Music:
Vietnam and the protest music of the mid 1960’s and early 1970’s
By: Ashley Gallegos-Sanchez
AP United States History
6th Hour
“War! / Hunh! Yeah / What is it good for / absolutely nothing…
War has caused unrest within the younger generation
Induction, then destruction—who wants to die.”
Edwin Starr-“War” (1970)
Music has undeniably become an advocate in spreading a gospel of free opinion. Without the Vietnam War, the music that presented itself in the mid 1960’s and early 70’s would have inevitably been impossible. In looking at songs that targeted the general public, the soldiers fighting in Vietnam and with ‘subversive song’s’, it is apparent that the music of the 60’s and 70’s was indeed influenced by the war and turmoil in the society. Through this catalyst the people already angered by Vietnam War began their political movements through mass protest. The idea and motivation behind the protests were to bring home their dying sons, fathers and brothers from a pointless war. This idea has been preserved in the music behind the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War is an event that impacted the musical culture so profoundly that it would change the course of music history by introducing a new form of protest, in end creating a ‘golden age’ of musical expression. Particularly in the genres of rock and folk, who freely expressed their views, both pro-war and anti-war through music. This ‘golden age’ era consisted of the most popular and most influential bands of the time such as, Barry McGuire, the Animals, The Byrds, The Carpenters, Credence Clearwater Revival, and Neil Young. The widely controversial protest music of the mid-sixties and early seventies was ever only possible through occurrence of the Vietnam War and its impact on the cultural beliefs of society.
“The Eastern world is exploding, violence flaring and bullets loading,
You’re old enough to kill, but not for voting…
…Ah, you don’t believe we’re on the eve
Vietnam and the protest music of the mid 1960’s and early 1970’s
By: Ashley Gallegos-Sanchez
AP United States History
6th Hour
“War! / Hunh! Yeah / What is it good for / absolutely nothing…
War has caused unrest within the younger generation
Induction, then destruction—who wants to die.”
Edwin Starr-“War” (1970)
Music has undeniably become an advocate in spreading a gospel of free opinion. Without the Vietnam War, the music that presented itself in the mid 1960’s and early 70’s would have inevitably been impossible. In looking at songs that targeted the general public, the soldiers fighting in Vietnam and with ‘subversive song’s’, it is apparent that the music of the 60’s and 70’s was indeed influenced by the war and turmoil in the society. Through this catalyst the people already angered by Vietnam War began their political movements through mass protest. The idea and motivation behind the protests were to bring home their dying sons, fathers and brothers from a pointless war. This idea has been preserved in the music behind the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War is an event that impacted the musical culture so profoundly that it would change the course of music history by introducing a new form of protest, in end creating a ‘golden age’ of musical expression. Particularly in the genres of rock and folk, who freely expressed their views, both pro-war and anti-war through music. This ‘golden age’ era consisted of the most popular and most influential bands of the time such as, Barry McGuire, the Animals, The Byrds, The Carpenters, Credence Clearwater Revival, and Neil Young. The widely controversial protest music of the mid-sixties and early seventies was ever only possible through occurrence of the Vietnam War and its impact on the cultural beliefs of society.
“The Eastern world is exploding, violence flaring and bullets loading,
You’re old enough to kill, but not for voting…
…Ah, you don’t believe we’re on the eve
Bibliography: Sharp, Brett. , 2008-01-09 “World-Wide Symphony: The Role of Popular Music in American Foreign Policy” Time Magazine-“at war with war” Monday, May 18, 1970 http://www.geocites.com/afvn3/historybac.html http://www.jwsrockgarden.com/jw02vvaw.htm http://www.vietnam-war.info/protests/protests2.php