MUSIC, LYRICS, & SOCIAL ISSUES

Music, Lyrics, & Social Issues  
BY Melissa G.

Do you remember when Kaepernick from the San Francisco 49er, a football play, who took a knee during a game while they were sing the national anthem? He was the first person to stand up and make awareness of people of color being mistreated. This brought many attentions some were negative while others were positive. One of the negative things was he lost his job brought many people against him, mainly the government. The same happens in music many artists write music of current or have written song of events in the past and this creates an issue with the government. According to the article the “Intertwined Relationship Between Music and Politics” explains that there always existed there has been music to spread awareness of an event or issue. 

I believe sometimes music speaks for you and me, for the people that can't be heard because of skin color or your economic status. I agree music should spread out awareness of what the government doesn't speak out about. 

Here are some examples of some song that talk about some old or current events. 

Fuck the police by N.W.A 

This song speaks about according to “The Intertwined Relationship Between Music and Politics” talks about police brutality and the war on drugs. This song was written a couple years ago, but according to a documentary the house “I Live In” proves that the war on drugs is still alive. 

   

XXX by Kendrick Lamar  

This song from the album “Damn” according to The Colorlines Newspaper talks about the racial inequality there is in the U.S and also about other controversies with the government. 

Like Really by Oddisee 

This song if from an artist which talk of the many current social issues in the United States. When I listened to this song it caught my attention because it speaks many truth out about what is happening in the U.S. 

 

Many song and many parts of the world have their own social issues too and some are very afraid to speak about while other are brave to sing out stories about their country. I will continue and present some social issues in Mexico and their artist who sing about it. 

  

El Circo by Tigres Del Norte  

I know this song was released in 1982 and talks about how a man becomes president and thought out his presidency he also becomes the boss of a big cartel. This song sings the injustice that they live in Mexico. 

 

Allison- Asesino  

This song is from a Mexican rock band who talks about how the current president of Mexico had let many people die and is ignoring everything that’s happening.  

Panteon Rococo- La Carencia  

This is one of my favorite song personally because I use to live in Mexico and know and understand what this is talking about.  This song is like ska/rock and talks about how people work every day and everyday prices are going up and people are getting paid less. 

I hope you guys enjoy learning about this as much as I did.