Political Musicality

Now that the elections have happened (to view results click here) I feel it is an appropriate time to think back to the events leading up to the election.  Moldova has an interesting way of getting the message out to voters.  Billboards, quarter cards, hiring kids to pass out papers in matching jackets with balloons and concerts.  It's interesting to me that the platform and messages of the political campaigns can not be found on the billboards and there is no indication as to where I can go to get the information about the party, their platform and the candidates.  It's like they decide to put up a billboard, put a picture or logo, add on the slogan and bam... it's done.  No follow-up information. 

The concerts were the most interesting.  Do you remember the campaign in the USA called "rock the vote?"  It seems using music as a force to drive political messages or attract attention to a political cause is a universal tactic.  Throughout the months of October and November there were concerts all across Moldova paid for by political candidates and their parties.  Why is it that music is so effective when it comes to political messaging?  It's universal.  Almost everyone can and does share the ability to enjoy music.  You don't really have to know much about music to enjoy it.  It's powerful and it speaks to the public in a way that speeches and words fail.  Moldova is in an interesting situation socially, economically and especially politically.  I am glad to be living in this part of the world during such an interesting time.

Music itself can tell us a lot about the time in which it was written.  Study the lyrics of some of the most outspoken bands around time periods of social or political instability... such as the Vietnam War or most recently the War in Iraq.  I wonder what the songs of today will tell our children about the times we live in...

Easy Silence - Dixie Chicks 
 (This and most of their songs on the album "Taking the Long Way" were banned from most country radio stations after the lead singer spoke out against the President).

When the calls and conversations
Accidents and accusations
Messages and misperceptions
Paralyze my mind

Busses, cars, and airplanes leaving
Burning fumes of gasoline
And everyone is running
And I come to find a refuge in the

Easy silence that you make for me
It's okay when there's nothing more to say to me
And the peaceful quiet you create for me
And the way you keep the world at bay for me
The way you keep the world at bay

Monkeys on the barricades
Are warning us to back away
They form commissions trying to find
The next one they can crucify

And anger plays on every station
Answers only make more questions
I need something to believe in
Breathe in sanctuary in the

Easy silence that you make for me
It's okay when there's nothing more to say to me
And the peaceful quiet you create for me
And the way you keep the world at bay for me
The way you keep the world at bay

Children lose their youth too soon
Watching war made us immune
And I've got all the world to lose
But I just want to hold on to the

Easy silence that you make for me
It's okay when there's nothing more to say to me
And the peaceful quiet you create for me
And the way you keep the world at bay for me

The easy silence that you make for me
It's okay when there's nothing more to say to me
And the peaceful quiet you create for me
And the way you keep the world at bay for me
The way you keep the world at bay for me
The way you keep the world at bay