Music During the Vietnam War
Brittany Smerud
How does the music during the Vietnam War show the different view points on the war?
The South and the West Coast during this time showed their beliefs of the Vietnam War by music. The south had country music which supported the war with singers like Merle Haggard, who sang about fighting in the war and how the West was acting. The West Coast, unlike the South, sang about burning draft cards and avoiding the war with singers like Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan. These different are like the civil war, which split the country up about going to war.
The Pro-War Music
The Fightin' Side of Me was harsh to everyone criticizing America's involvement in the Vietnam war.
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The Ballad of The Green Berets was written to boost the moral of the troops fighting in Vietnam. This song was written in 1966 and became number one by American Popular-music fans.
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Anti-War music
caused men to burn Draft cards or try ways to avoid the war.
Jimi Hendrix real name is Johnny Allen Hendrix and born in Seattle Washington, 1942. When he was a teenager he learned to play the guitar and in the 1960s he pleased audiences. His most memorable concerts was in 1969 where he performed "The Star spangled Banner." He died in 1970 from complications of drugs.
All Along The Watchtower was originally recorded by Bob Dylan before Jimi Hendrix recorded the song. The joker and the thief represent outcast who find the system unfair. These two are also the riders who hold a silent march against the capitalist society or the princes.
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Phil Ochs was born El Paso, Texas in 1940. In 1964 Phil Ochs released his first album "All the News That's Fit To Sing". His songs were political, humorous, and serious. All of his songs were about the issues going on during the 60s.
I Ain't Marchin' Anymore is showing the perspective of a solider who was in every war since 1812 and how the solider is attacking how the American military fights in wars.
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Creedence Clearwater Revival
Creedence Clearwater Revival is made up with brothers Tommy and John Fogerty with Stu Cook, Doug Clifford. This bands most known song is Fortunate son. Also, this band was #47 on VH1's 100 greatest artist of rock and roll.
Fortunate Son was written in 1969 and is about the different types of sons, the fortunate son who protected from going to the Vietnam war due to being privileged and then the unfortunate son who have nothing to protect them from the draft and the war.
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