It doesn't take a political genius to realise that here in the UK, we need some kind of change in our governing system. Clearly, something needs to be said, and historically, the youth were the ones who said it... Whatever "it" was. Expression through music, art, dress and activity added to and fuelled the cause the kids felt so strongly about. Thousands became involved causing a 'movement' and defining an entire generation. I may be the only one who thinks this, but it seems like the majority of the youth today can't be bothered.
In Washington DC on 15th November 1969, more than 250,000 people protested against the war in Vietnam, the punks of the 70s were known for their anti-establishment attitude and lifestyle; they stuck a big, fat finger up at Margaret Thatcher and broke free from her grasp. Musical movements can scare the older generations; even jazz when it began to grow in popularity in 1920s and 30s America was approached with caution by the parents.
What I'm asking however, is what's next? Who will be the 21st Century voice to scream at Parliament, to 'scare' the elders? What will make my generation be taken seriously by those in power? Who will articulate what we want to say, but individually we can't? I don't know. In fact, I'm not even sure of songs which 'define the era.' As the youth we live in a time of High School Musical and Fame remakes, Disney is the (so called) musical 'big shot' with Billy Ray Cyrus' daughter and The Jonas Brothers.
For every decent song there are twenty horrendous ones. For every great artist there are one hundred ridiculous ones. Yes, we have decent bands, The King Blues express their views well, Oasis broke up before they got there (announcing to a crowd "everyone vote Labour!" was as politically expressive as it got), Jamie T is an amazing artist - perhaps not the most political person around, but he can communicate with my generation through stories we can all relate to. Although not wanting to be known as a political artist, his songs point out the broken Britain we live in, what the youth are up to and how many still feel proud of the Empire we once possessed. The sad thing is, one man can't make a movement. And no matter how much I can't stand it, most music today means nothing - you just need to watch X Factor to see the regurgitated nonsense Simon Cowell throws in our faces each year...
Sham 69 united the kids of yesterday, let’s reunite. Even if we don't know what as yet.
*Credit to www.flickr.com/jadeeey/ for the photograph of The King Blues letter to Gordon Brown billboard. I got it from Google Images, thanks.
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