The Protest Song
During the era of the 1960's, music was a popular medium for youth activists to express their opinions. Protest music provided an outlet for the youth that raised questions and brought light to issues that the mainstream media was not reporting on (Hadrakis). These songs helped to express the varying emotions the youth were feeling during this time of turmoil. As the youth began to demonstrate their feelings through protest (especially on college campuses) protest songs increased in popularity. The relationship between youth activism and music was apparent through the songs of popular artists throughout the decade. Bob Dylan, John Lennon, and Country Joe McDonald all had popular protest songs that opposed the Vietnam War. Many of the songs performed at the Woodstock '69 festival, had strong political themes, such as "The Star Spangled Banner", performed by Jimi Hendrix. In the clip, Hendrix utilizes the effects of his guitar to mimic the sounds of war, including the dropping of bombs and sounds of gunfire (Hopkins). Hendrix's version of the national anthem brought the festival to a close, but the influence of his guitar far outlasted the confines of the three day festival.
For a list of popular protest songs against the Vietnam War click here
For a list of popular protest songs against the Vietnam War click here
Anti-Establishment and Creative Control
Music during the 1960s was meant to make a statement. Musicians wanted their listeners (especially the youth) to rally against the American government and protest the war in Vietnam. Musicians wanted the listeners to think about important issues of the time period such as war, racism and sexism. Music was not just a passive activity, but an outlet of the frustration that many people apart of the youth counterculture felt towards their government. The reason musicians in the 60s were allowed to make songs that openly criticized the American government was because of the creative control artists had during this time period. The music industry was much more organic, and artists were not only making music to sell records. The anti-Vietnam War movement may not have been as strong if it was not for the popular protest musicians of the decade.