When Woodstock was introuced in the summer of 1969, it set the standard for every rock festival to come and cued up the attitudes of young people of the time. It was described as “3 days of peace, love, and music." Those holding the event did not expect it but over 200,000 showed up in mobs. With only three ticket booths the event was forced to be free.
The frustration over Vietnam was apparent with those who attended. Many bands used this as an opportunity to share their feelings about the war. Although the crowd was very diverse, including rich, poor, black, white, gay, straight, there was no fighting. The security guards at the event said the worst they had to do was tell people to cover up for the cameras while they were skinny dipping. Woodstock was a combination of people that would unknowingly make the biggest political statement of their generation.
Music in the early 70s’ was heavily influenced by the controversial war in Vietnam. The song, We Gotta Get out of this place, was the most requested song by the Armed Forces during this time. The lyrics say, “We gotta get out of this place If it's the last thing we ever do We gotta get out of this place 'Cause girl, there's a better life for me and you.” These lyrics didn’t pinpoint feelings on the war and the song wasn’t even about war in the first place, but it did support the ideas of the young men and women effected by the Vietnam. A similar song, Leaving on a Jet Plane, by John Denver was popular during the Vietnam war even though it was written in 1967.
Bob Dylan was an essential element of protest music during the Vietnam. The lyrics to his song, The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll, will stun you. “But you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears, Take the rag from your face, Now ain’t the time for your tears.” Another song that strikes a chord is the collaboration song between Bob Dylan and Neil Young, Blowin in the Wind. Even today, the lyrics to this song tell you exactly how Bob feels about war singing “Yes ‘n’ how many times must the cannon balls fly before they are ever banned? The answer my friend is blowin’ in the wind.”
The Vietnam war was a time of mourning and loss and reflected appropriately with the music that was produced during the time period. The documentary entitled “Birth of a Generation,” depicted Woodstock for those of us who may not the luxry of holding those memories. The director Michael Richards said to a man that was very angry about all the teenagers’ skinny dipping. “Do you know about the war in Vietnam?” the man said. “Yes” he replied. “Then why aren’t you more upset about all of the young people losing their lives instead of the kids out skinny dipping?”
The influences today are just as insistant about getting a point across. In 2001, when the Twin Towers fell due to a terrorist attack, a lot of country artists were supporting the war in Iraq or writing tribute songs to those who lost their loved ones to this tragic incident. Except the Dixie Chicks, who got the biggest kick in the face when the lead singer Natalie openly mentioned how she didn’t like George Bush or his war on terrorists. Although the public was strongly opposed then, with Dixie Chick's C.D. bonfires, they have calmed down and most people are starting to agree, at least about having the troops come home.
One of the most political and anti-war albums was 2004s’ American Idiot was written by the infamous Green Day. This album was released at exactly at the right time. With songs like, American Idiot and Holiday, a lot of feelings about the war were discussed. “Don’t want to be an American Idiot don’t want a new nation under the media information nation of hysteria It’s going out to idiot America.” This album was widely received and accepted selling over 5 million copies.
Their are anarchist artists as well. One example is the band Anti-Flag. One of the most anti-war songs on their album, “For Blood and Empire” is called, War Sucks lets Party. The song says, “Pull the feeding tube, out of the mouth of democracy. Tell ‘em we’re starving to death. What’s buried in the ground we can all breathe free.” They hold the same sound and attitude of the punk music that came out in the 1970s’. Although their egos aren’t stroked through mainstream appreciation they are true musical revolutionaries.
Although music has evolved throughout the years, one thing has not changed; Music is the glue that unites the general public and politics. This isn’t about MTV or VH1 or other network channels that are worried about turning a profit, this is about the artists that still have something to say and the people who still want to listen.