It has been said that music is the universal language. This statement could not have been any truer—ever since the dawn of civilization, humans have always used music as an instrument in expressing their thoughts, feelings, and passion to the audience regardless of language. What is wonderful about music is that it speaks to us a message that transcends language barriers.
One distinct primary goal of music is to give out a message to the audience. These can be attributed in the early days when music was a form of accompaniment in telling the stories of every culture. As time progressed, poets and other artists began to use music as a medium to express their deepest insights. This had the result of making the people aware of the thoughts and opinions of the people behind the music. In some cases, this has led to social change.
With society growing more progressive and aware of the social issues, there has been considerably less focus on music like this. However, it does not mean to say that the society could do away with popular music for social change, as there are still many social issues that need to be addressed. One specific example would be the case for the LGBT people, and their fight for equal rights in the society. Many songs have been written about this issue, and some, like Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” have a significant impact on the society. This type of music had encouraged LGBT people to accept themselves, as well as letting the rest of the population know that LGBT people deserve equal rights too.
The Case for LGBT Equality
It is a well-known fact that LGBT people are among the most divisive members of society. While same-sex relationships are tolerated and accepted in some ancient societies like Greece, for the most part it was frowned upon by society. For example, during the eighteenth and nineteenth century, cross-dressing and homosexual relationships were punishable by law, and practitioners of it are considered outcasts of the society. It was only recently that the LGBT rights movement emerged, along with people accepting that homosexuality is not a form of disease. Since then, more people have begun treating LGBT members as they would any other people. However, it cannot be denied that there is still a great deal of stigma when it comes to LGBT people. This can be attributed to the fact that most religions consider homosexuality a sin, which is then fueled by homophobes’ intrinsic hate for LGBT people. LGBT hate crimes, such as the recent Orlando shooting, are a concrete, but sad examples of this fact. It has spread to an extent that there is internalized homophobia among gay people; they hate themselves for being gay.
As a response to this, there are many songs in the pop music industry, which spread out the message that there is being part of the LGBT community is not wrong, and it is okay to accept oneself no matter their sexual identity or orientation. Some prominent example, include Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way”, Kesha’s “We R Who We R”, and Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ “Same Love”.
LGBT Songs and their Impact on Societal Change
When it comes to LGBT songs, one of the famous ones is Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way”, an anthem that teaches the message about accepting oneself because everyone is wonderful. It contains overt lyrics that clearly spell out that everyone is awesome regardless of their orientation (“No matter straight, gay or bi/Lesbian, transgendered life/I’m on the right track, baby/I was born to survive”). The title references one of the popular questions regarding homosexuality, whether it is genetic or picked up in nature (Werde).
Another song that was intended for the LGBT community was Kesha’s “We R Who We R”, which is a celebration of anything deemed quirky. Kesha has stated that this written as a response to the rising suicides among gay teenagers due to bullying (Doyle). However, the lyrics of this song are meant for the general public; like “Born This Way”, it makes clear that accepting oneself is wonderful.
Lastly, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis “Same Love” is a song that discusses same-sex marriage. Macklemore wrote this song in response to his frustration in the hip-hop community, wherein homophobia is treated as a normal thing (“Macklemore’s Gay Anthem”).
Based on the general reception these songs have gotten from critics and the general public alike, it can be said that these songs are effective in sending their message regarding LGBT rights. For example, many people have followed these artists in promoting LGBT activism, and many LGBT people have become more comfortable with their community. In addition, “Same Love” became the unofficial anthem of the case for the legality of the same-sex marriage, which was declared constitutional last year.
Conclusion
Aside from entertaining the public, songs can be used as a medium to express feelings and thoughts, and in some cases, lead to societal change. In particular, music has been an influential factor in letting the public know of LGBT rights and activism, as evidenced in songs such as “Born this Way”, “We R Who We R”, and “Same Love”. The success of these songs makes the society know that LGBT people deserve rights as well, as well as proving that music is truly a language in which everyone can listen to.
Works Cited
Doyle, Patrick. “Kesha Says New Single Addresses Teen Suicides”. Rolling Stone. Werner Media LLC, 15 October 2015. Web. 2 July 2016.
“Macklemore’s Gay Anthem”. New York Public Radio. Web. 2 July 2016.
Werde, Bill. “Lady Gaga ‘Born This Way’ Cover Story”. Billboard. Billboard, 18 April 2011. Web. 2 July 2016.
