• Author / Uploaded
• Alexis Burgos

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Communication and protest through music Popular music is, without doubt, one of the most powerful ways in which we communicate our emotions, particularly our feelings about love. But it is also an important vehicle to express protest. Over a 20 year period, since the 1980s, the British music group New Model Army (NMA) and Afro-American musician Michael Franti's groups have been producing and performing protest music. NMA was strongly influenced by the punk sound of British bands such as The Sex Pistols and The Clash. Michael Franti's first group, The Beatnigs, belonged to the world of hip-hop, in San Francisco. However, both groups were notable for the raw energy of their music and the anger they expressed through their lyrics and body language. They sang and rapped about the injustice their communities experienced. For example, The Beatnigs dealt with racial discrimination and inequality in the USA. NMA lyrics criticised the policies of the British government during the 1980s and the social and economic consequences for the working class in the north of England. Over the years, the groups' music has evolved. It has been influenced by different genres including music from Celtic traditions, folk, reggae, Motown and rock. Their lyrics have also evolved to deal with current issues of global importance, such as environmentalism and post-9/11 concerns. In 1994, Franti travelled around Israel, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and Baghdad to become better informed about the people and conflicts in the Middle East. He then produced an album, which he called Yell Fire!, as well as a documentary about his experience. NMA's recent albums, such as Carnival (2005) and High (2007), have dealt with similar issues. Both Franti and NMA have had a difficult relationship with the mainstream music media; at the beginning of their careers, they received extensive coverage in the mainstream music press, such as New Musical Express. However, perhaps because they have refused to stay with a single type of music and because of their challenging lyrics, they have been largely ignored later in their careers. One of Franti's more recent songs, Bomb the World (2003), was virtually censored by US radio because it was thought to be unpatriotic. Despite this, NMA and Franti have managed to maintain a strong fan base through regular touring both at home and abroad, appearing at alternative music festivals and giving interviews to independent media.