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Posts Tagged ‘social commentary’

Guess what, everyone…

You all get to go through an entire writing process with me!!! Aren’t you excited?! I know you’re already in utter rapture at the idea, so get some poppycorn, fasten your seat belts and away we go!

I plan on this being a sort of series which will come in (semi-)regular installments. This being the very first, I’d like to introduce to you why I am writing and what it is I am writing about. I will even attempt an Intro/Thesis Statement! I find this to be a wonderfully self-benefiting idea because it gives me a chance to get some helpful feedback from all of my well-versed readers.

Let me start by informing you that I have not, do not, and will not write essays unless forced. That being said, I’m writing an essay for my English class. It has to be under the general-topic-umbrella of “Music and Social Commentary.” Now, as some of you may already know, I am a fan of Michael Jackson. Aha, let me rephrase that… I FREAKIN LOVE MICHAEL JACKSON! Naturally, I have decided to write about him; my lovah.

I know some of you are probably snickering at me for my love of the Michael, but that’s okay. Not everyone understands him or even wants to, though it should be accepted as a natural law that he was a musical genius.

The direction I wish to take with this paper is somewhat of a broad one. See, I plan on discussing 3-4 of his songs and the social commentary in each. After compiling a list of possible songs and their related social issues, I have come up with this:

Black or White- racial inequality
Earth Song- environmental concern, warfare, animal welfare
We Are the World- global awareness
Heal the World- similar to ^
Man in the Mirror- making the world a better place
Gone Too Soon- written for AIDS victims (specifically, his friend Ryan)
What More Can I Give?- along the same lines of We Are the World
Morphine- drugs
Scream- public scrutiny/paparazzi, sensationalized media
They Don’t Care About Us- stereotypes, prejudice, police brutality
We’ve Had Enough- situations in Iraq and Afghanistan

After careful deliberation, I have narrowed it down to Earth Song, They Don’t Care About Us, and We Are the World/Heal the World. The last two will be combined since they pretty much deal with the same issues.

And now, what you’ve all been waiting for. *DUN DUN DUN* The Intro/Thesis! Any and all feedback is GREATLY appreciated, and don’t forget to come back for my next installment! Enjoy:

Known for being the greatest pop musician in the history of the genre, Michael Jackson was and still is a musical legend. It is nearly impossible to find a single person on planet earth that cannot name and/or sing along to at least one of Jackson’s songs. What many people are not aware of, however, is the incredible lyricist with a knack for social commentary that was hidden behind those infectious rhythms and that shiny pop veneer. Whether it was world poverty, environmental degradation, police brutality, racial inequality, or simply making a difference in this world, Michael Jackson’s talent for penning socially aware songs left a lasting impression on multiple generations and continues to inspire fans of music worldwide.