As we settle into 2017, there is a lot going on in the world that brings out the best and the worst in us. Anger, fear, angst, anxiety, retribution, injustice, and the list goes on and on. It is often said that history repeats itself and that statement is true when it comes to music. These three songs perfectly encapsulate the state of our nation and the world:
1. Dialogue (Parts I and II) - Chicago
Written in 1972 as part of their album Chicago V, Chicago released "Dialogue (Part I)" and "Dialogue (Part II)." Composed by keyboardist Robert Lamm, Part I was a sung dialogue between guitarist Terry Kath and bassist Peter Cetera. Kath and Cetera portray individuals with different points of view about struggles that went on in the world such as war, starvation, repression, and politics during the 1970s. Kath portrays the person is worried about those issues while Cetera plays the individual who maintains that everything is fine. Sounds like an all too common conversation these days! Part II is mostly instrumental, yet intermittently has all three lead vocalists (Kath, Cetera, and Lamm) singing "We can make it happen," "We can change the world now," and "We can save the children." Part II provides hope for the future, and we need to have hope as well.
2. What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
What's going on? That's the question on a lot of people's minds. Released in 1971, "What's Going On" is perhaps Marvin Gaye's best song. Originally inspired by a police brutality incident, the song encapsulated the problems of the early 1970s such as the Vietnam War and the presence of racial discrimination despite the results of the Civil Rights Movement. The song still rings true today as there is still war abroad and personal battles among others. "We don't need to escalate. You see war is not the answer. For only love can conquer hate."
3. Land of Confusion - Genesis
"Land of Confusion" became one of the most popular Genesis songs when it was released on the Invisible Touch album in 1986. Guitarist Mike Rutherford's lyrics painted the picture of a 1980s Cold War minded world that consisted of "too many men, too many people making too many problems, and not much love going around." Those lyrics alone perfectly portray today's divisiveness among people especially in who we hold regard for in terms of world leaders as well as other unfathomable tragedies in our society. A land of confusion in 1986, a land of confusion now in 2017.
