Blogspot 6: Effects of Music on War

We start this entry by asking the question: “How are music and war related?” We know for a fact that Music triggers so many emotions and passions into people's ears. As per  Oliver Sacks article entitled "The Power of Music" on the oxfordjournals.org. We also know that Music influences as per my older entries. Now whether or not we should believe that music has a direct involvement or effect in war is something that I would like to into in this particular entry. War and music is whole different matter all together as compared to my older blogs. I want to see the effect music had on the soldiers and people directly affected by this war and also get a glimpse if whether the music during the Vietnam War in particular had a great effect on the outcome this war and generation that had to bear with it.

We start by stating what is for certain, music helps out people in this case soldiers not to feel home sick or lonely, according to an article entitled "How to Cure Loneliness" on allaboutlifechallenges.org. Also we know that, every war preceding the Vietnam War had music to help or support the war, but was during the Vietnam War where music in wartime changed. It was during Vietnam War, A war I can still sort of relate with since I love the music that was played during that time. Many call the Vietnam War "America's first rock-and-roll war" because of the of rock music that was played and listened to by Americans and other nationalities worldwide.

It was also during this time that an overwhelming number of military personnel belonged to one generation where the average age of combat soldiers was 19 and 90 percent were under the age of 23. Many if not most of these soldiers also did not want to be in Vietnam compared to the fervor and willingness of the youth that fought during WW 1 and WW 2.  This time around no one wanted to be away from his/her home. 

This is reinforced by a blog that was written by Bob Staranowicz, entitled "More Music of the Vietnam War" on phillyburbs.com. Bob states that many soldiers took things that reminded them of home and Rock music was what most soldiers brought from home. The uneasiness of many of the soldiers and even the youth back home, meaning America, I believe was directed and inspired by music that they listened to. In the case of the soldiers, the music that brought with them which in turn connected them to their families and roots back home.

Music during these trying times was also pivotal in pressuring Government to end the war with the rise of anti-war movement and the Peace generation. Whether it was hard rock or psychedelic music they were listening to or rhythm and blues, classical or folk, music has one way or the other helped direct the thinking of that generation that was unfortunate to bear the responsibilities of fighting a war they did not believe in.