Love And Other DrugsEver wondered where your style came from, what musical society your fashion sense derived from, or what bands your favourite bands were influenced by?
Music has had many uses and functions throughout history. In tradition it has been used at birthdays, funerals and weddings. But many bands, particularly Punk and Rock bands, used music to get a message across to the public and their governments. Black Sabbath wrote a song called ‘War Pigs’ which has the line “Politicians hide themselves away, They only started the war.Why should they go out to fight, They leave that role to the poor.” This is showing a view on politics which many members of the public had during this period. This is a good example of how music can be used to put a message across to the public.
Music has been used in television, video games, and television shows based around music, such as talent shows like the X-Factor. Without music people wouldn’t dance at parties, have fun at gigs or even enjoy it in their own time. Audience's emotions can be manipulated through music. For example; In The Shining the music puts the audience on edge by using bells, playing low notes and by using a floor tom to build up tension. Someone has cleverly made a trailer for The Shining which, purely by changing the music, creates completely the opposite mood. Music is a way of social groups defining themselves. Including themselves in a community. An example of this is ‘The Mods’. A small British community focused on Fashion and Music. The term ‘Mod’ derived from Modernists, who were youths in the 1950’s that listened to Modern Jazz. Over the years it became a style, as opposed to a taste in music. Mods would typically wear tailored suits, ride Vespas and listen to R&B music. Like with many teens, Mods were heavily into Amphetamines and other drugs. This led to drug fuelled rages against, who were called, The Rockers. Rockers were effectively Mods with a different dress sense and different music, but drugs were always in the picture. Rockers were another society, giving youths the feeling of community. They rode motorbikes, wore leather and listened to Rock ‘N’ Roll music. The disputes between Mods and Rockers became increasingly more unpredictable as Rock bands such as The Who and The Small Faces took interest in the ‘Mod look’ during the late 1960’s. |
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Disco is a genre that peaked its popularity in the 1970’s. Combining elements of Funk, Pop and soul. It had a wide target audience from the psychedelic drug users to the general American public. Typical Disco songs would contain a 4/4 time signature with a fast tempo and a ‘four on the floor’ rhythm. This means that the bass drum is played on every beat whilst the Hi-Hat plays on the off beats. These songs also contained heavy basslines with syncopated rhythms, which means to displace the rhythm off the beat. Disco is popular for its love and drug inspired lyrics. For example ‘Love To Love You’ by Donna Summer, which is a very simplistic, repetitive love song, and ‘Pusherman’ by Curtis Mayfield which has references to Cocaine and Weed.
![]() Disco was a very popular genre with young Americans and Brits. It had vocals out of the church which spun its way on to the dance floor, it had an easy listening beat and often beautiful melodic lines. Although this was a strong reason for the genre's popularity, the uprise also came out of the community it had created. It was an era of love and drugs which allowed any class, any race and any sexuality to come together, dance and have fun without fear or embarrassment. So, despite their original purpose being take drugs and have fun, this music had a crucial impact on gay rights and arguably changed public views on homosexuality.
I have described Disco as a drug and dance orientated genre however, there are deeper meanings behind the style. Songs such as ‘We Are Family’ by Sister Sledge and ‘I Will Survive’ by Gloria Gaynor represent cohesion and empowerment. This again, gives people the sense of community, unity and self empowerment.
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"Without music, life would be a mistake." - Friedrich Nietzsche |
Comparing The Two |
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Disco wasn’t only a genre but, like with other genres, it was a style. ‘Tight on the top, baggy on the bottom’. open collar shirts, flared trousers, sequins, glitter, jumpsuits and platform shoes. This was an era of creative freedom and expression. fashion was no longer limited for women and discotheques became places where glamour and fantasy reigned. Women defended their decisions to wear feminine, flirty, sexy clothing by redefining feminism to include the idea of sexy self-determination. Fashion allowed people to feel as if they could change identities and allowed women to dress provocatively without being sexually objectified. Dancers and celebrities would often wear more elaborate outfits however, women would still dress with a certain sexual prowess. Women weren’t the only ones acceptably able to feminise themselves. Typically men would wear a suit and a tie, or something less ‘fashionable’, but Disco fashion allowed men to obsess over fashion trends, the way they look in general and even their fragrance. This is an unorthodox representation of masculinity although, as they were contending to attract women, the androgynous outlook on fashion became more repetitive amongst men.
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"Music can change the world because it can change people" - Bono |
As I have already stated, I don’t think that Mods and Rockers had many differences. Their music taste was very similar and their lifestyle was easily comparable. Their dress sense may have been different but their transportation methods resembled one another. Does this make them that different? No. Both wanted a community to feel apart of. To feel wanted and loved by others. This could be related to their parental upbringing. Having a lack of attention as a youth can make you rebellious and feel the need to branch out into an unconventional lifestyle.
Unlike Rock and Mod music, Disco didn’t have a distinct social group against them. As Disco became more favoured to the gay community, there were of course people imposed to the type of message a lot of songs were putting out into the public. Although, Mods and Rockers had the same basic morals whereas Religion and Disco have polar opposite beliefs. Mods and Rockers didn’t have the same views on homosexuality but that didn’t mean they didn’t take to the androgynous appearance that became so popular during this period. Open shirts with a hairy chest to prove their masculinity. Short dresses to display feminist freedom. Both societies wanted to seduce women with their sexuality. The clip on the right is from the film ‘Grease’. Although this is from an american viewpoint, the idea is the same. The clip shows two characters having an emotional conversation and to regain their masculinity they walk away whilst combing their waxed hair. They think that looking good increases their manlihood. Disco communities wouldn’t necessarily do this for masculinity but just to generally look good. Both communities were into drugs and amphetamines but Disco goers would tend to dance and use their bodies to express themselves whereas, Mods and Rockers would generally bounce around in a mosh-pit like fashion. The two societies I have written about are rather similar but people involved in other societies, such as Football, would have completely opposing views to either of these groups. One similarity which lies beneath every society is community. Every individual member of these societies wants to become part of something bigger. Become a member of a society which makes its own rules. |
Music has a great impact on the way people feel. It can alter someones mood and feelings. It can change someones views on a subject and it can be used in celebration of birth and to commemorate the death of a loved one.
Music creates communities and societies for people to feel apart of something bigger and better. Speaking for myself, music can be used to define a certain period in time. I associate the 1960's with Rock, the 1970's with Disco and the 1990's with Indie Rock. I don't only associate the music, but the fashion as well. Throughout my article I have described the basic clothes that each society would wear and these are typically the clothes associated with the period of time. Music doesn't always have a positive impact. It can create a divide between groups. Much like Romeo And Juliet, opposing societies would expected not to mix with each other. Disco music created an environment that homosexuals became comfortable in. It broke a segregative barrier between gays, blacks, whites and any other sexuality or race. It defined women as humans and not sexual objects. They could wear sexually explicit clothing, like men, without being sexually objectified. As you can see, there are endless functions and uses for music in society. It can bring communities together, create friendship and define a person. This is why I think it has a major impact in both communities and societies. Meaning, life without music is un-functional and useless. |