Music for Change

"An ideological story to inspire the realist"

by Sandra Bartelle

Neil Young once stated "I think that the time when music could change the world is past. I think it would be very naive to think that in this day and age”. This has always been true, music has never been able to change the world. However, music can and should be used to bring about change in a world where so much injustice has occurred. Does music have the ability to bring change to the world?

Music has been constantly evolving. It is now a tornado of different cultures and genres working together, collaborating new sounds and styles the planet has never heard before. The only inspiration for some, the medicine for a broken heart, it speaks directly to the soul. Music is never old or boring, it is always new and exciting, touching parts in the soul that none other has touched.

Music for Change, an organization in England, works with the finest artists from all around the world in schools and community spaces, creating festivals and events to deliver targeted issue based projects. The aim of this organization is to bring about change by celebrating and developing understanding and respect for the world’s cultures and its peoples, all achieved through the promotion of music. Projects address issues such as Racism, Immigration, Migration, Poverty, and Gun Crime. Created in 1997, Music for Change has now grown from a community based project to one of the foremost organizations working educationally with culturally diverse music in the United Kingdom.

The Irish lead singer of U2, Paul David Hewson, universally known as Bono, has been using his fame to publicize African poverty, and to boost American aid to war and poverty stricken areas of Africa. He has been the key name in benefit concerts and charity auctions that have raised as much as $46.2 million in aid. Not at all fazed by the impact he has had on changing the lives of many affected by AIDS or hunger, he calls trying to change the world “sexy”. He launched a new product line under the name “RED”, which includes a variety of products ranging from sports shoes to ethnic African products. RED’s proceeds all go to reduce the annual 6,500 HIV-related deaths in Africa and 9,000 new infections. Bono, now a household name, has won a Nobel Peace Prize and been named Time’s man of the year; he has the capability to touch everyone’s heart with his music.

Sometimes, even a single song has the capability to bring about this change; though a single song may seem like nothing, to the receivers it may be a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. $50 million was raised by the Michael Jackson “Heal the World” song.

Single tracks have the power to change the outcome of dire situations. Civil Rights Movement marchers chanting Pete Seeger’s “We shall overcome” took away the fear of being part of an unwanted cause. Refugees all over the world are given hope by Wyclef’s “Sweetest Girl” song. Tupac touched many rape victims with his message of justice in the “Baby Don’t Cry” hit of the 90’s. How many of Obama’s young supporters are energized by the Will-i-am’s “yes we can” song? This song’s video clip has got some of Americas biggest entertainers, Scarlett Johanson and John Legend, and it is recorded over one of Barack Obama’s speeches, filling the listener with hope.

Every situation can change for the better, sometimes we just need a push in the right direction or a helping hand. Music can be that push.

Music cannot change the world but it is an amazing instrument of change. It is all about how you can use music to bring about that little change. Music is a powerful instrument that has the power to change the world, whether it’s a lonely orphan, a recovering alcoholic, an AIDS victim, or a refugee; music is something we can rely on to be a comfort to our souls. The money that benefit concerts raise is always used to benefit the ones whom the rest of the world has forgotten about.