One of the greatest achievements in terms of the expressive culture of modernity is popular music. Much of the music of the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s (social protest/soul, funk, reggae, rock, rap and punk) was made by young musicians (Jimi Hendrix, Nina Simone, John Lennon, Bob Marley, Carole King), people who were using their music to respond to world challenges—and engaging transformative ideas.
Music was their combined cultural and social voice. These were people who had a vested interest in, at least on the surface and on stage, what was going on in the world. “What’s Going On” becomes a kind of banner song.
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