Can Music really make a difference?

af_thefragile

Couldn't think of another place to post think and i'm kinda looking for a more wider and general people's view on this topic so i thought this would be a good place to post this.

Its a simple question whose answer might be a lot more complicated and deep.
Can music really make a difference to people's lives and to the world?
Or is it just a tool for entertainment.

We have concerts like Live Aid, musicians singing songs about politics, religion, freedom and such. Does all that effort the artists put in to spread their message through the medium of their of music really pay off?
Or does it just pay off their bills?

Do people really care about what the artist has to say in their songs or the message the artist is trying to spread through his music, or do they just listen to the music cuz they like the way it sounds?

So what do you people think about this topic?...

Ruu_Old

<insert insult about Bono and him being a tax dodger>

Daysha

af_thefragile wrote: »

...

A deep, meaningful, philisophical post on a Saturday night at 3.30 in the morning.....yeah you're drunk

But in an honest answer to your question, I haven't a ****ing clue.

af_thefragile

deise59 wrote: »

A deep, meaningful, philisophical post on a Saturday night at 3.30 in the morning.....yeah you're drunk

But in an honest answer to your question, I haven't a ****ing clue.

Hmm... i think i couldn't find a better time and place to post this thread...
But sometimes on a saturday night there's nothing else to do!! :pac:

procter

Can music really make a difference?

only to indie kids.

Feelgood

Can it make a difference to peoples lives?, 110% yes. Will musicians actually get their message across through music, yes and no.

Without a doubt music alters my state of mind, I can listen to a tune that will put me in great form and I can listen to a tune that helps me push that bit harder at the gym and then theres tunes that can help you deal with the crap things that are going on in your life, but its really all down to how you can relate to the music.

Take snoop dog for instance, I don't really like snoop dogs music as I can't relate to it in anyway. So chances are if he starts harping on about world peace I'd probably just say Hey Snoopy, STFU.

On the other hand I love Pearl Jam, I love their music and I can relate to a lot of their songs. So if they were trying to push a message across it I would more than likely take it onboard, not necessarily accept everything they are trying to say to me but definitely consider it.

IMO its all down to how you relate to the music and the musicians...

af_thefragile

procter wrote: »

Can music really make a difference?

only to indie kids.

But who cares about the indie kids?
except for the indie girls maybe...
only the hot ones...

Insect Overlord

I for one welcome our new music overlords...

Of course music makes a difference, it wouldn't be used if it wasn't useful.

procter

af_thefragile wrote: »

But who cares about the indie kids?
except for the indie girls maybe...
only the hot ones...

the ones swathed in H&M and Urban Outfitters?

Black Swan

af_thefragile wrote: »

Can music really make a difference to people's lives and to the world?

Bagpipes marching into battle in some old film? Studying to Mozart? Making love to Bolero? Working out to Eye of the Tiger? Shedding a tear when they play "our song" after we broke up? Drawing courage when Dido sings White Flag? Naaaaa, music is meaningless.

Kold

Yes, most art is created with the intention of enriching our lives. The problem is, with every media, the bombardment of misinformation.

thesto

www.nomusicireland.com

they seem to think it does

Mark200

Feelgood wrote: »

Can it make a difference to peoples lives?, 110% yes. Will musicians actually get their message across through music, yes and no.

Without a doubt music alters my state of mind, I can listen to a tune that will put me in great form and I can listen to a tune that helps me push that bit harder at the gym and then theres tunes that can help you deal with the crap things that are going on in your life, but its really all down to how you can relate to the music.

Yep....more or less what I was going to say

Mr. CooL ICE

If you take hallucinogens, music can make a big difference. Compare Dark Side Of The Moon to something like Hendrix's Star Spangled Banner or Lux Aeterna and the difference is astronimical in what it does to your mood


However, Dragonforce has made me want to run into the forest with a sword to slay some orcs before realising my ears were bleeding while some Massive Attack has kinda made me want to have a **** (can't really explain that), so in small terms, music.... wait, what was the question again?

Karl Hungus

af_thefragile wrote: »

or do they just listen to the music cuz they like the way it sounds?

You say that as if it were a bad thing. Music should be about the music, not some backing track for an agenda.

SimpleSam06

af_thefragile wrote: »

Do people really care about what the artist has to say in their songs or the message the artist is trying to spread through his music, or do they just listen to the music cuz they like the way it sounds?

I enjoy music and some tunes can elicit an emotional response, but seriously, the ability to bang out a few tunes doesn't mean you have anything worth saying or taking on board, especially in the highly controlled music industry.

It always bemuses me how people hang on the words of artists or actors as if they were in some way qualified to talk about anything but music or acting. Yes, everyone is entitled to an opinion, but using their ability to entertain as a platform for some half cocked opinions is just silly.

Overheal

Ruu wrote: »

<insert insult about Bono and him being a tax dodger>

Heil Bono, The King of Ireland!

af_thefragile

Yup music does create emotional responses and make you think about certain things sometimes, they can relax you or energise you, they can calm you down or make you angry... All that music does and all that is what we listen to music for.
But that is still on a very personal level.

I'm asking about if music can make a difference on a bigger and more global level. Like can it really bring big (or small) changes into the world? Can it alter the way you think, perceive and look at the world?
Like literature (especially poetry) can stir up some strong political responses among people to fuel revolutions and such.

Is music a weaker form of literature? Or can it even be cited as literature or is it just a form of art with no other purpose than entertaining people.
Or maybe it can create some strong responses among people which can cause them to look at things in a different way (the way the artist wants them to look at it), but its not as strong as the power of literature or movies or other forms of media.

Thats the question like... sorta...
Is Bono and all those other musicians wasting their time trying to bring about world peace and awareness through their music or is it actually working?

JC 2K3

af_thefragile wrote: »

Like literature (especially poetry) can stir up some strong political responses among people to fuel revolutions and such.

No it can't.

Not in developed countries in this modern globalised world.

Neither can music.

nyarlothothep

Music can promote awareness among people about certain issues but usually it cant sustain itself as a politically mobilizing force imo.