It has been argued that music has ‘a symbolic force’ which can stir up emotion and rouse individuals to take action in political matters. Billie Holiday released ‘Strange Fruit’ an extremely moving song about a lynching in Indiana; it was politically charged and a very definite stand against something that was wrong, and although it didn’t effect immediate political change it did begin to raise awareness. An example of actual political change would be that it was at Frank Sinatra’s demand that Sammy Davis Junior was allowed to stay in segregated hotels, this was nothing to do with Sinatra’s music- in fact his music had absolutely no political element to it however it was his power within the industry that effected this mammoth change. These two examples show how although music can educate and effect gradual change, immediate results seem to only be achieved via political power wielded by certain individuals.
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An interesting distinction between the potential of the music to inspire and the political power afforded to the artist by success.
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