Should music be used as a form of protest?

Music is a curious thing, isn't it? The entertainment it gives both the listener as well as the performer is undeniable. But it goes a lot deeper than this surface function of ear-candy. It can be a strong vehicle for emotional release or expression; it is considered an art form that takes years of training and studying to get just right. The church has used it for millenia as a way of expressing worship to God, of releasing a creative expression of our very beings in response to all He is. Music has been used by movie makers to manipulate our emotions, and by advertisers to help make us remember a brand or product. It has also been used as a form of protest, or as a social commentary that can sometimes stir people to action.

Some of the ways in which music is used are trite and ephemeral, some are manipulative and wrong, while others can be a force for good, giving voice to the voiceless, speaking out for the oppressed, raising awareness of injustice and causing people to take action - when this happens music is explosive!

Or to put it aonther way, this is what music was created to do!

The protest songs, or polictical songs have been around for a while. 'Weeping' written in South Africa during the apartheid reigime spoke about the poression and injustice being carried out in that nation - the song was banned by the government! Bob Dylan and others wrote numerous protest songs in the 60s and 70s. Indeed I have also tried my hand at it with the likes of 'Chema', a song about the injustices being carried out in Zimbabwe. And who can forget Band Aid who sung 'Let them know it's Christmas time' to raise funds and awareness about the drought in Ethiopia, and later about poverty in Africa.

27th February 2012, sees another such song cause a stir in the music world - and perhaps, hopefully an historic music phenomenon. '27 million' by Matt and Beth Redman and rapper LZ7 speaks of the current twenty first century injustice of modern day slavery and human trafficking. An estimated 27 million people are forced to live a life of slavery and are bought and sold like animals. There are more slaves in the world today than there have been at any time in human history. It is an injustice and we do need to make people more aware so that we can all do somthing about it!

There have been facebook campaigns and twitter has been buzzing relentlessly encouraging everyone to buy the song to support the cause. Money from sales being donated to anti-trafficking charity The A21 Campaign. With the hope of the song reaching the charts, so even more people will hear it and learn more about the cause it represents. I think this is great!

However, we must not treat songs like these with the shake of our heads, take a sigh of resignation and then do nothing. This song is a call to action! Don't be satisfied with the pound you have donated by buying the song. Ask yourself - what can I do about it? How can I make a difference?

So, as you can see, I think songs like these are valid and have a very important role to play in society. What do you think? Comments either for or against are most welcome below.