Music is Power

Brad Schreiber

Published by Rutgers University Press 2020

Music is Power

Popular Songs, Social Justice, and the Will to Change

Brad Schreiber

https://doi.org/10.36019/9781978808157

Overview
Contents

About this book

Popular music has long been a powerful force for social change. Protest songs have served as anthems regarding war, racism, sexism, ecological destruction and so many other crucial issues.

Music Is Power takes us on a guided tour through the past 100 years of politically-conscious music, from Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie to Green Day and NWA. Covering a wide variety of genres, including reggae, country, metal, psychedelia, rap, punk, folk and soul, Brad Schreiber demonstrates how musicians can take a variety of approaches— angry rallying cries, mournful elegies to the victims of injustice, or even humorous mockeries of authority—to fight for a fairer world. While shining a spotlight on Phil Ochs, Gil Scott-Heron, The Dead Kennedys and other seminal, politicized artists, he also gives readers a new appreciation of classic acts such as Lesley Gore, James Brown, and Black Sabbath, who overcame limitations in their industry to create politically potent music

Music Is Power tells fascinating stories about the origins and the impact of dozens of world-changing songs, while revealing political context and the personal challenges of legendary artists from Bob Dylan to Bob Marley.

Author information

BRAD SCHREIBER is an award-winning author, journalist, and screenwriter. His previous books include Death in Paradise, Becoming Jimi Hendrix, and Revolution’s End. He has received fellowships and awards from the National Press Foundation, Edward Albee Foundation, International Book Awards, Independent Publisher Book Awards and Los Angeles Press Club.

Reviews

“Brad Schreiber understands both music and politics, as well as the jagged lines where they overlap and intersect. His clarity, intelligence and insight provide lasting rewards.”

— Anthony DeCurtis, Grammy Award-winning journalist, Rolling Stone, author, Lou Reed: A Life

“An inspiring tour through the history of making change with music, and an important call for retrieving music’s intrinsic ability to challenge power.”

— Douglas Rushkoff, documentarian, professor, Media Theory and Digital Economics, CUNY/Queens, author, Team Human

“A stirring survey of the sometimes sad, sometimes joyful, sometimes angry but ever hopeful music that is the soundtrack for America’s struggle to become a more fair and just society.”

— Seth Rosenfeld, journalist, winner, George Polk Award, author, Subversives: The FBI’s War on Student Radicals, and

Interview on "Deep Dish Radio with Tim Powers" with Brad Schreiber
https://play.acast.com/s/deepdishradio/7424927b-bdc3-4183-a884-a84f4ba85c5f

— Deep Dish Radio with Tim Powers

Law and Disorder Radio interview with Brad Schreiber
https://lawanddisorder.org/2019/11/law-and-disorder-november-25-2019/

— Law and Disorder

Interview with Brad Schreiber onThe Stuph File Program

— The Stuph File

"Music is Power: Author Brad Schreiber digs into he history and power of protestmusic" interview with Brad Schreiber
https://wgnradio.com/2019/12/10/music-is-power-author-brad-schreiber-digs-into-he-history-and-power-of-protest-music/

— Nick Digilio Show - WGN

MWN Episode 136 – Popular Songs , Social Justice, and the Will to Change with Brad Schreiber

— Midnight Writer News

"Afun read. It provides the old timer with a quick sail down the streams of memory and the younger reader with a useful and concise look at the music of the West that helped form the culture of today."

— CounterPunch

Louisiana Radio Network "Talk Louisiana" interview with Jim Engster and Brad Schreiber
https://www.wrkf.org/post/monday-january-20th-faye-williams-daryl-glasper-brad-schreiber

— Louisiana Radio Network

"Music Is Powercovers the socio-political history of important music, from Bob Dylan to hip-hop, including genres like punk, comedy, folk, psychedelia, R&B/soul and major musicals, and encourages listeners to respond to this powerful music with real world activism. It’s a timeless New Year’s gift!"

— Planet Proctor

Unstructured Podcast interview with Brad Schreiber
https://unstructuredpod.com/psychotically-eclectic-author-brad-schreiber/

— Unstructured Podcast

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
1. Musical Workers of the World Unite: Joe Hill, Woody Guthrie, and Pete Seeger Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	4
2. There for More Than Fortune: Phil Ochs, Joan Baez, and Bob Dylan Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	20
3. Caged Artists: Lesley Gore, Janis Ian, and P. F. Sloan Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	37
4. Parody and Poetry: Tom Lehrer; Peter, Paul and Mary; and The Smothers Brothers Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	53
5. Psychedelicate Situations: Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	68
6. Reason and Blues: Marvin Gaye and The Temptations Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	82
7. Say It Loud, We’re Blocked but Proud: James Brown and Curtis Mayfield Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	94
8. Hard Rock Turns Metallic: The Who and Black Sabbath Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	108
9. More Than a Working-Class Hero: John Lennon and The Beatles Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	121
10. Out of Place and In Your Face: The Dead Kennedys and The Sex Pistols Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	137
11. Word: Gil Scott-Heron and Grandmaster Flash Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	151
12. Global Music Consciousness: Bob Marley and Peter Gabriel Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	162
13. Weird, Funny, Smart, Angry: Frank Zappa versus Everyone Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	177
14. Rap, Not Hip-Hop: NWA and Public Enemy Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	195
15. Weapons of Mass Deconstruction: Dixie Chicks and Green Day Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	205
Epilogue: Music Is Power Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	217
Acknowledgments Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	219
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	221
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	227
About the Author Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	237