The Economist, Prospero: Singing the songs of angry men, Revolutionary music, from rousing to mindless - G.O. (2017)

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[...] Today, even though Europe is going through a lot of political turmoils, there is no music to "organize" or melt individual worries into one collective project. Essay Write a short, well-argued essay in English (two pages max) on the following subject: "Would you say that music is a powerful weapon?" "Without music, life would be a mistake." That quote from Nietzsche shows how important music can be for an individual. Is it something that can also be seen as a weapon, that is to say a means to influence people? [...]

[...] Contrary to national anthems that are pro-establishment, there were a lot of protest songs that helped people change perspective on a specific cause throughout history. Slave songs in the United States were often seen as something that helped Black people fight for freedom. Being at the root of jazz music, these songs were a powerful way of expressing freedom for them when they had no liberty. In the 1960s, during the Civil Rights Movement, music was part of the process of bringing together black and white youth under the same banner. [...]

[...] Hip hop in the 1980s and 1990s also became a way to talk about the ghettos in the US, or the French "banlieue," with rap groups talking about racism, historical injustices, police violence and so on... Music styles go along with political ideas and this can't be just a coincidence. Music is a powerful weapon, and also reflects what is going on in societies. It can be used by historians to judge on how and when people changed their minds, felt different about a war or a political system. It can also be used by leaders (see how politicians choose their music when they organize a political meeting) to foster unity and develop emotions. [...]

[...] Also, the quality and quantity of revolutionary music went down ever since. In Germany, to what was strong music connected to? Music in Germany played an important role at the time of the Luther Reform, helping diffuse new messages about individual freedom. Lutheran texts were used by Bach for example and became very famous. People started praying in German instead of Latin, thanks to music. Later, music was an important feature in the political discussions. In the 1840s, musical societies were places where we could discuss the unity of Germany, the fight against tyranny and other political topics. [...]

[...] Music is much more than melodies, it is something that can change the life of people, bring up a revolution or help understand a specific context. Anti-war songs against the Vietnam War, as we have seen in the Economist article, were also present everywhere else. In France with people like Boris Vian singing a song called "Le déserteur," music expressed poetically how absurd the war was. All political and society changes were accompanied by music changes as well. In the 1970s, the emergence of punk culture in the United Kingdom went along with ideas of anarchy and socialism. [...]