Music is an art that gets killed most
Music is very important. Everyone has her or his own music. Music can represent the value of a generation. Among baby boomers in America, there is Bob Dylan. Among freelance intellectuals in France, there is Gainsburg. In China, Pop singer Cui Jian’s song “I got nothing left” reflects a typical cogitation of the revolutionary generation.
Music is a type of power, a political view. If you don’t agree, just listen to “Marseillaise” and “Internationale”. A dictator in Latin America once said, “…better to kill all poets and musicians; those guys are too influential….” The dictator made this statement in a ridiculous way. Nevertheless, when looking back, it’s not hard to find out that among all art formats, music is the one got punished or killed most frequently.
In 1953, ABC radio station banned famous blues singer Billie Holiday’s “Love for Sale”.
Sullivan to Presley: No Hips
In 1956, Elvis appeared on a popular TV program, ED Sullivan Show. However, only upper part of his body was shown on screen – half of his dance, the lower body, was censored. In 1961, the same program invited Bob Dylan but required him to revise a lyric. He refused and broke up with the channel since.
In June 1965, all radio stations banned Rolling Stone’s “I Can’t Be Satisfied” for its vulgar content. In the same year, radio stations also killed The Who’s “Picture of Lily” as the song mentioned masturbation.
In 1966, radio stations in the south banned Beatles music after John Lennon said to a reporter , “…We’re more popular than Jesus now.” Also in 1966, police had to stop a James Brown’s concert in the middle of performance for profanities in dancing.
In 1967, a TV network asked Jim Morrison of The Doors to rewrite the lyric of “Perpetual Flame”. Morrison agreed first but changed mind by singing the original lyric in a live show. He was banned for a year as the result.
In 1968, Bob Dylan was banned in Texas; The Doors “Unknown Soldier” was banned by all radio stations; Rolling Stone’s “Street Soldiers” was banned in Chicago.
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Those are just some high profile events took place in 50’s and 60’s. The list of music that got punished or killed can go on and on for a mile long. It isn’t hard to see, from the length of this list, how strong influences the music can have on the society.