Music: Strategic Outlet for Spreading Idea of Female Empowerment?

            As an attempt to write a blog post that combines both courses involved in this blog, I found an article listing the top ten female empowering songs that were celebrated during this year’s Women’s History Month. Many of these songs I have listened to before and must agree that I feel inspired/pumped after listening to them. They are also follows (from http://www.theboot.com/2012/03/30/girl-power-songs/):

10. 'Man! I Feel Like a Woman,' Shania Twain

9. 'Gunpowder and Lead,' Miranda Lambert

8. 'Phenomenal Woman,' Olivia Newton-John

7. 'Somebody's Hero,' Jamie O'Neal

6. 'Guys Do It All the Time,' Mindy McCready

5. 'The Pill,' Loretta Lynn

4. 'All-American Girl,' Carrie Underwood

3. 'Just Because I'm a Woman,' Dolly Parton

2. 'I'm a Survivor,' Reba McEntire

1. 'This One's For the Girls,' Martina McBride

These songs cover a variety of topics, “including birth control, equal rights and the trials of single motherhood.” They applaud all things woman, especially emphasizing women’s strength, determination, and capability to have their own opinions.

            I find these songs refreshing after listening to back-to-back love songs or break-up/cheating songs. There is substance in the stories these songs are about, whether the substance is the pain and suffering one goes through to “survive”, the mocking of how similar men and women can really be, or the fun women can have without men. They promote how far women have gone from being submissive homemakers to resilient independent women who fight for what they believe in and pursue their desires.

            Since music is a dominant media outlet in modern society, being able to revolutionize music to underline the strong traits of women is a logically powerful tactic. I know personally that I feel a lot more connected to a situation, or understand a concept better if it is put to music. Music has this therapeutic capability that puts many people at ease and opens their mind to new ideas. Thus, music is the perfect channel to spread the idea of powerful women among the society. People are much more open to the ideas represented in a song. This is why many people, out of fear that children and teenagers don’t become aggressive sex-fanatic fiends, criticize controversial songs that emphasize sex or violence. So if people are worried about the messages that are communicated in songs, then why not “kill two birds with one stone” and produce more motivating songs, such as the listed ones above.

            How do you feel about music’s influence on what people believe in? Do you think this is logical? Do people really capture the entire message of a song’s lyrics? Or is it only the catchy tune that draws these audiences to the music?