Music Monday

  1. Reflect on how these songs contribute to making the community or natural world a better place and identify how the lyrics actions call others to action and can work to make positive change.  

These songs contribute to make the world a better place by drawing attention to important issues that Indigenous peoples face. The artists use their platform as music creators to spread awareness about the societal and historical mistreatment of Indigenous peoples. The lyrics evoke a powerful message of resilience and rebellion and invoke discussions on cycle breaking and accountability. 

  1. How do these songs represent that something is unfair? What is that “something”? Explain. 

The songs represent that the treatment of Indigenous peoples is unfair. The “something” that is unfair is the mishandling, assimilation and erasure of Indigenous culture by society over many generations that has led to systematic racism. 

  1. What emotions do these songs generate for you? Compare your emotions between each song. Which one is more compelling? And why? 

The first song generates emotions of anger and frustration stemming from the crushing feeling of an authority that doesn’t have good intentions for the narrator. The second song invokes feelings of frustration and sadness, a feeling of helplessness over the circumstances that the narrator is struggling with. The second song is more compelling, not only in delivery but also in the fact that it is coming from a First Nations perspective. 

  1. What is important to each of the singers? What is the message they are trying to convey? 

The singer of the first song speaks of rebellion and living life individually, without the suppression of authority. The singer is promoting a loud, blatant rebellion that relishes being arrested by the police. The singer of the second song sings about injustices to the Indigenous community, and the formation of a quieter rebellion.  

  1. Using one of your similarities and differences, discuss in a short paragraph how music can convey different perspectives on the same cause? 

Music can convey different perspectives on the same cause through the use of lyrics. This can be seen in “Wreck Beach/Totem Park” by the Zolas and “Caribou ghosts and Untold stories” by Leanne Simpson.

Both songs have themes of rebellion woven into the lyrics, but the implementation of this rebellion differs. The Zolas have the perspective of white settlers, and thus they may be less afraid of authority and law enforcement. They are more eager to “sit on the beach till they put me in cuffs,” and rebel by willingly being arrested. Their rebellion is loud. Leanne Simpson uses lyrics that speak of a quieter rebellion, one that doesn’t want to be noticed. “Meet me at the underpass, rebellion is on our way” gives the feeling of an elusive, undercover form of moving against authority.  

To conclude, both the Zolas and Leanne Simpson share the interest in rebelling, but the lyrics in their songs convey the differing perspectives shown in their music.