Music with Meaning

Everyone loves music. The love for music can be from the melody or the lyrics that are being created. Music can be someone’s therapy and they get away to another reality. But what if you find a song that relates to your current situation? The song usually hits your heart even harder, with the combination of that melody and lyrics; you can be on cloud nine.

With it being February and Black History Month, there have been songs that I have heard that have been released 50+ years ago and even 10 years ago that relate to the Black community today. The songs not only speak the truth about society but it is an outlet. As music is a form of therapy, Black people for years starting with our ancestors have used music as a way of expression and it hasn’t changed and it won’t be changing anytime soon.

Erykah Badu- Soldier

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsEVAYVX6Wc

Erykah Badu, the mother of Neo-Soul, released this song on her fifth album New Amerykah Part One (4th World War). The song was recorded in 2007 and released in 2008. 

Erykah Badu is attempting to depict the United States and the different personas predominating it. These personas address the hopelessness we are in. She’s attempting to make the genuine picture of America that individuals are attempting to keep away from. Erykah says we know the historical backdrop of bondage and it’s suggestions in present day culture, thus the case of the shooting in the dark ghetto, henceforth even persecution. 

She’s attempting to reveal to us that we should continue to walk and recollect the difficulties that we outperformed and we need to continue to push forward for a superior future. 

The United States fills the role of a nation of opportunity, however a ton should be done before we hold that title. 

“They know who we are,” indicates individuals denying postmodern prejudice. 

She is attempting to join together and realizes that everybody needs to ascend to the following degree of edification and opportunity. She approaches the audience members to say “Yessiree” in the event that they concur and, at that point, continues to give a melodious beat psalm to join them.

The Temptations- Ball Of Confusion 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5P7x4vh_ts

The 60’s R&B group The Temptations released this song in 1982. Randy Shilts cited the verses from “Ball of Confusion” when he named his honor winning editorial record of the AIDS, And the Band Played On. 

In the melody, the rehashed use of the expression “and the band played on” flagged that nobody was giving legitimate consideration to world issues, in a similar way the AIDS pandemic was at first overlooked. Lyrically, the song attacked the Vietnam war, Nixon’s Government and the drug addiction problem in the U.S.

Although the song has been released for over 30 years now, I believe that it relates to today more than ever. It’s amazing to see how history does not change, but it’s altered. 

“People moving out, people moving in

Why? Because of the color of their skin

Run, run, run but you sure can’t hide

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth

Vote for me and I’ll set you free” 

Between the lyrics and the melody of this song it doesn’t make you feel angry, but more so powerful. It’s a song that is expressing emotion, the emotion of confusion. Why must the world turn this way? 

Marvin Gaye- What’s Going On

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-kA3UtBj4M

Lastly, this notorious song is one that many know. This song was released in 1971. “What’s Happening” is an exceptionally incredible political tune performed by the late American artist Marvin Gaye. 

The verses of the tune are propelled by savagery and police severity in America. One of the lyricists, artist and musician Renaldo “Obie” Benson of the Four Tops was motivated to concoct this tune when he saw savagery and police mercilessness while in Berkeley, California.

 On May 15, 1969, Benson had recently shown up with the visit transport of the Four Tops in Berkeley and saw a gathering of hostile war activists challenging the Vietnam War. Benson was stunned to his center to observe the sheer measure of savagery and police fierceness defacing the dissent. That grievous occurrence was subsequently known as “Bloody Thursday.”

“Mother, mother

There’s too many of you crying

Brother, brother, brother

There’s far too many of you dying

You know we’ve got to find a way

To bring some lovin’ here today” 

With there being many songs that can relate to the Black community, these are just three. These songs have meaning and soul that one can understand the lyrics.

• BlackHistoryMonth