Introduction
Music has become a vital part in the modern world and in our daily lives. We listen to music for various purposes which include enjoying ourselves, informing ourselves about a particular topic, among other crucial reasons. The music industry has in fact grown tremendously and as a result of this it has in one way or another lead to many opportunities to be created where the talented people have ventured in. In fact, the society has evolved through music. For a very long time music has been accepted as a social change tool but many individuals do not realize that social change itself affects the music as well. Music and social change can be described at two hearts sharing one beat.
Listening to the “Where is the love” music by Black Eyed Peas we do not only enjoy its band, lyrics, and tune but we also get informed about various social changes that were going on during that time. I personally like the tune, band, and lyrics in the song of this popular hit released in 2003. It is actually a song that sparked interest in many individuals throughout the world. In my opinion it is not only the three stated things that actually sold this interesting song to people. It was released during a period when the United States of America was actually going through numerous dissimilar social changes particularly after the 11th September attack and war on terrorism was ongoing. Therefore, it is a song that I personally view being complete in performing all the functions that a song is supposed to perform since its timing coincides with the social changes that were essentially happening. As a result of this, we the audience by listening to this song critically think about the happenings that were going on around them.
Any listener can conclude that “Where is the love” touches on the various social changes of time and from past and calling all the listeners out on not looking at what is considered right in front of them. The lyrics in the song clearly demonstrate the social changes taking place. For instance, lyrics like “overseas, yeah, we try to stop terrorism, but we still got terrorists here living’ in the USA, the big CIA, the bloods and the Crips and the KKK” undoubtedly shows the many American aspects which were still not handled. Thus, it is clear that Black Eyed Peas was trying to demonstrate the social changes that were happening during that time in this song.
I am exclusively moved by these lyrics, “but if you only have love for your own race, then you only leave space to discriminate and to discriminate only generates hate when you hate then you’re bound to get irate” where in my opinion I view that when we listen to it we understand the amount of separation or hate that is revolving all over the world hence not just in the United States of America. These are the social happenings that are going on during this time and it is my believe that these social changes must have inspired Black Eyed Peas to produce this interesting song.
In the following chorus, “people killin’, people dyin’, children hurt and you hear them cryin’, can you practice what you preach and would you turn the other cheekfather, father, father help us, send some guidance from above, cause people got me, got me questioning, where is the love,” I believe that the artist was trying to stress the importance of the need for us to be united and live together as one. In my opinion “Where is the love” talks about various topics of terrorism, racism, war, and hate in general. These things were in fact happening during the release of the song hence it clearly demonstrates that the social changes at that time and this song are clearly related. I consider the song as effective in the modern society since in it a call to action is present.
References
""Where Is The Love?" Lyrics." BLACK EYED PEAS LYRICS. AZ Lyrics, n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.
