Today was my first day I could take sometime to watch TV this week so I turned on VH1and watch the 100 Greatest Artists of All-Time countdown. Most of these countdowns have the same artists: Stones, Beatles, Zeppelin, and Michael Jackson, but no one exciting or new to a list and this one seemed the same way. Then came number 38. Sly & The Family Stone was a funk band from the late 60's who challenged every aspect of mainstream culture at the time. Not only were their lyrics a call for social action during the civil rights movement, they really pushed the envelope and showed what the future could bring for music. They had black and white musicians playing this intense funk fusion music calling for a change of the American social structure.
Their first number-one hit was "Everyday People"
They changed their sound from funky funk to a more commercial pop funk to appeal to the masses. This song coined the phrase "different strokes for different folks", which became a phrase of empowerment in 1969. This band really tried to change to world they were living in one song at a time.
We've been talking so much about the civil rights movement and how it was a grass-roots movement and this song attests to the fact that "Everyday People" can change things.
Sly and The Family Stone paved the way for so many integrated bands like Alice in Chains, Rage Against the Machine, Prince and the Revolution, and the new generation of music listeners need to be introduced to this band.
(And for reference, Give Up the Funk is a Parliament Funkadelic song which owns)
Chloe,
ReplyDeleteThis proves how music can influence the times. Today, we don't really have a group that calls people to action. The song "Waiting on the World to Change" by John Mayer comes to mind, but other than that I cannot think of music that calls for a more dynamic society. Thanks for bringing this up, I will have to check out Sly & The Family Stone some time!
I have to disagree with Glenna's point that "we don't really have a group that calls people to action". What about Lady Gaga? She is a huge activist for LGBT rights and her new song Born This Way really makes a great stride towards equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual,and transgender people. It may not exactly call people to action but it sure does call for people to think about the topic in a more positive light.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alex. It seems like the musicians and artists today are the trend-setters. Because of that, I think that they make an effort to promote tolerance and things that will improve the world. For some reason however, they also set trends that can be harmful to many people. Like promoting violence or something. I know that many kids these days know not to pay attention to those forces, but I still think that music should clean up its act so that we can keep improving our generations with music.
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