Top 6 Examples of How Music Can Change the World

There is no language as universal as music. It is one that the whole world understands, and this gives it an amazing power to change the course of things. Music is practically involved in all aspects of our lives. Music is used in lots of cultural activities, religious activities that are almost synonymous with music, and our social life is spiced up by music. Also, sporting activities and games cannot do without music, to the extent that when we play online slots for fun, soundtracks are used to make them more captivating and exciting. Because of the universal nature of music, many musicians and organizations have employed music as a tool to bring about positive change in society on many occasions.

The artistic expression called music could be very loud sometimes. Because of this, it can attract attention easily, influence opinions, and shape ideologies. Most importantly, music can heal, break down barriers, reconcile, educate, assist the needy, galvanize support for good causes, and even promote the protection of human rights. Music has the undisputed capacity to make the world a better place. That is why we have decided to reveal the top 6 scenarios that show that music can change the world.

Outreach for Social Justice

1. The Amnesty International and ONE’s Outreach

One of the biggest examples of how music can change the world could be found in what ONE and amnesty international are doing with music. Amnesty started engaging musicians from the 1980s, and they continued till they set up the Art for Amnesty. The initiative has focused on bringing together human rights-loving artists from varying fields. They keep adding more artists who support their bid to foster social change. This got to its peak during the U2 360 tour that took place from 2009 to 2011. The tour involved up to 110 music concerts, during which they encouraged people to sign up with ONE and assist in making a difference.

The weights of these music concerts were bolstered by the fact that Amnesty International, ONE, and Burma Campaign were all present. The most memorable moment of the tours was when the “Walk On” song was performed. The song drew more people to the course and got them to join the mission of making the world a better place. The entire attendees had to put on masks designed with Aung San Suu Kyi’s image, while the volunteers were called to come on stage wearing the masks. The feeling of hope that people are willing to make a difference and work for the social justice course was so evident in these concerts. The binding force on all this was music.

Succour for Victims of Earthquake

2. Hope for Haiti Now

This involves a global earthquake relief outreach even though Haiti was the focal point. It was on the 22nd of January 2010 that the global telethon was hosted after Haiti was struck by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. The telethon was meant to raise funds for the victims, and it had up to 83 million viewers. By the end of the concert, up to $58 million had been raised. This telethon had high-profile musicians like Shakira, Madonna, and Coldplay performing. However, the highlight of this was when the original telethon song titled “Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour)” was performed by the trio of Rihanna, Jay Z, the Edge, and Bono. This act brought huge financial relief to those devastated by the earthquake.

Help for the Refugees

3. The Concert for Bangladesh

It was on the 1st of August 1971 that a former lead guitarist with the famous Beatles Band, Ravi Shanker and George Harrison, put a concert together. The concert was aimed at creating international awareness and raising funds for Bangladeshi (formally East Pakistani) refugees who were only searching for food to eat, clothes to wear, and where to lay their heads, even when people in other parts of the world were having fun and enjoying top online casino bonuses. This became necessary after the Bangladeshi Liberation War and the atrocities it meted on the locals. This concert had 40,000 people in attendance, and the performance was by high profile artists, including:

  • Ringo Starr
  • Harrison
  • Eric Clapton
  • Bob Dylan

Talking about the event later, Shanker said that the entire world got to know and started talking about Bangladesh in one day. Nothing could have such an impact other than music.

Outreach for Food Safety and Abundance

4. Farm Aid

Farm Aid has been in the business of throwing an annual concert to support family farmers in different localities. They focus more on raising awareness of the value of having good soil, water and food, and fostering strong communities – something that is becoming increasingly rare in the world of today. During the music concerts, funds are raised, and records have it that they’ve raised US$45 million since the inception of the program. Their board members, Dave Mathews, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, and Willie Nelson, are all instrumental to this. No other activity can do this except music. This is even more important now that food security is of very important concern.

5. Live Aid

Many people see this as the first-ever benefit concert of its kind. This was put together by Midge Ure and Bob Golf in 1985, and it centred on raising funds to assist victims of famine in Ethiopia. The concert was so well organized that it was held consecutively in Philadelphia in the United States and London in the United Kingdom. At the end of the concert, it garnered up to 172,000 physical attendees, while up to 1.9 billion people joined electronically from more than 150 countries of the world. The concert was very successful after all, as it garnered up to $245 million to help curb famine in the country in just one day. Once again, you can only achieve this through music.

Hope for Victims of Tsunami

6. The Concert of Hope: Tsunami Aid

This benefit was held all over the world to assist victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. Here, a new innovative way of raising funds was practiced. This new method allowed viewers to buy digital downloads of performances by high-profile musicians. They include:

  • Roger Waters
  • Eric Clapton
  • Sheryl Crow
  • Madonna

At the end of the day, the concert garnered up to $5 million. This happened in one day, and the proceeds were sent to the tsunami victims to make their world better. This can only be achieved through music.

Conclusion

Music is very powerful both on personal and general levels. So, it is difficult for us to mention all the occasions where music has shown that it can change the world and make it better. However, the occasions mentioned above point to the massive potential that music has in making the world better. When you think about galvanizing support or organizing people to do great things for the course of humanity, think about music. It has a huge role to play, and the world will always be better for it.