Individual Blog Post 1

As I read these two readings back to back and analyzed them there was two important aspects that really stoop out to me. The idea that music can shed light on certain social groups or issues in today's society. Music can either bring people together or tear people apart and it has such a emotion access to us because music is something we can feel flow through us as humans. I read somewhere in the past that the human brain is so intensely connected with patterns that music can soothe any soul.  One of the most important ways music connects us as people is by bringing light to certain cultures such as Mexican/Chicano and social groups such as feminists.While reading I noticed that before the Mexican/Chicano music began to become much more popular Alice decided to identify as Mexican/Chicano unlike before because of her impact on that culture's music. Habell-Pallàn says,  "But Alice realizes now that, without conscious intent, she did bring the influence of Mexican/Chicano musical culture to the Hollywood Punk scene..." (2). This is of such great significance not only within the music world but in our society. To be able to confidently share the influence of your culture and beliefs through music is an amazing part of not only just the musical pattern and sound but to the meaning of it all. As i was reading the second reading by Wald I noticed a section that ties to what Habell-Pallàn was saying in her writing. Through biography we can bring about the importance of certain societal issues in order to have an impact on certain issues. This reminds me of how Habell-Pallàn says that Alice was bringing pride to her Mexican/Chicano background. This biography brings to light the ideas of social groups such as feminists. Wald says, "Biography can be critical and it can be feminist. It can shed light on women's lives while questioning the historical apparatuses that have excluded them" (160). This is amazing to me that music and biographies share such a similar connection, it opens my eyes to how much music is more connected to other things than we really think.

Where is the love?- The Black Eyed Peas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpYeekQkAdc

Changes- 2Pac
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G6ro-c0C5E

The connection to these two songs that I chose is very descriptive. Changes by 2Pac speaks of gang violence and racism in our world today, this ties to the reading from Wald that speaks of Feminism. The use of music in order to get the message of a societal issue is more impact than we may notice at the first listening of a song. The second song I chose is where is the love? by The Black Eyed Peas. This song played a huge role in my growth in my youth because i listened to it a lot. It speaks of all the hate in the world and how we need to fix it, such as racism. It connects to Habell Pallàn's writing when she speaks about music bringing light to a certain culture.