music matters

With our recent study of music in mind, I have been thinking a lot about current songs that blast through the radio. As we study the influence of song writers like Bob Dylan and Marvin Gaye, I am eager to find parallels in present day music. And at the moment, none come to mind. I know we are not living during the Vietnam War, but the Iraq War is strikingly similar. It makes me wonder if music will soon be a tool of protest the way it was during the 1960's and 1970's. And if so, what will that music be and how will it be received. There are actually a few songs with an anti-war connotation that come to mind, but I can't even think of the artist or title, indicating they did not have the kind of effect tantamount to those of the Beatles or Dylan. Many aritsts like them really were catalysts for change during their respective years. It will be interesting to see what the next years have in store and what outlets will be used to express disapproval for our current situation in Iraq.