The mixture of different war-chants and loud horns used by armies to charge, change tactical moves or terrify the opposing armed forces were noted as the first fusions of music and politics. The public, musicians, and even politicians began to combine music and politics beyond its origination as a social war tactic. Over time, the two concepts evolved into the term, political expression, which has been used to bolster anti-establishments, protest for and against political campaigns, and speak for the people.

Music even became a medium for activists and presidential candidates. From John F. Kennedy and Frank Sinatra to Jimmy Carter and the Allman Brothers, presidential candidates and musicians befriended one another for political and musical responses.

Political expression has taught us about life and the events that change it. The following is a brief account of the contributions made by some of the mainstream music genres.

What folks don’t know about Folk Music

After experiencing WWI, people began to turn to music and self expression for liberation. Instead of listening to others perform on stage, people played instruments and sung in groups in order to capture a traditional and more anonymous style of music. This style of music was called folk music. In Folk music, also known as traditional music, songs were sung to commemorate strikes and popular uprisings, and to protest against social inequity and injustice.

Folk artists, such as Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, became famous folk musicians for their traditional sound, but their songs like “Don’t Go Down in the Mine Dad” and “Where Have All the Flowers Gone” promoted a movement through their music for unionization and understanding.

And then there was Rock

There were different kinds of rock that expressed political views in the 1960s. There were folk rock, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, and later heavy metal rock. Such musicians like Elvis Pressley and the Beatles used their music to push political issues. From the 60s to the 80s many musicians wrote songs about the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement and Ronald Reagan’s Cold War tactics. For instance, songs such as “Ohio” by Crosby, Stills and Nash, and Young’s was written in response to the 1970 deaths of four antiwar protesters at Kent State University, memorialized tragic events.

Pop, Rap and Hip-Hop

Popular 80s artists like Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Phil Collins were among many who yielded the support. Michael Jackson’s hit, “We Are the World” by itself helped to raise millions to relieve hunger in Ethiopia at the USA for Africa charity event. Band Aid was another concert charity that was a success. It brought awareness to the general public about AIDS and the possible dangers of nuclear war.

In more recent years, activists and political candidates have used the latest music for political expression and awareness. Dr. Cornel West, American scholar and public intellect has teamed up with Prince, Talib Kwali, Andre 3000, and many others to release a new CD titled, “Never Forget: A Journey of Revelations CD” this past August. Created to stir up a movement among young black people, Dr. West collabo with the MC’s is a first and has sparked new means of activists using music as a political expression.

The music community also plays a role in educating its listeners about powerful players in politics, with or without the politicians support. Senator Barack Obama has won support through “Obama Girl”, a YouTube pop-star, and several hip hop artists on singles, such as Common’s “The People”. Vibe Magazine grabbed a portion of the hip-hop magazine’s readership by dubbing Senator Obama as infamous “B-Rock”.

For decades the music community, including it audience have interacted with political expression. The profound have been seen and the voices of the people have been heard. Music cannot be dismissed if as a medium of only entertainment, it has to be viewed upon and understood as a tool. Its power is timeless. And in a time where light needs to be shed on the economy, government, and world, its relativity and aid to its audience’s experience is necessary.