Importance of Music

                            

The Commitments is a motion picture that focuses on the trials and tribulations of an Irish band attempting to make it out of obscurity. This movie gives us deeper insight on the importance of music within Irish culture. Ireland’s history has been involved with its fair share of struggles and oppression. Because of Ireland’s troubles the people often use music as comfort from the harsh world that they lived in. 

The Irish have a profound appreciation for music. They have used this art form as an outlet to air their grievances about problems affecting their country for many centuries. Musical artists such as U2, Sinead O’ Conner, and The Pogues have been able to take some of the troubles within Ireland and bring them to the global forefront, shedding light on these events to an international level. With the immense audience that follows these Irish musicians the people of Ireland feel as if they can use their stardom to help inform the world about the pain and suffering that has existed on this island for many years.

Shane MacGowan
of "The Pogues"

U2

This form of communicating to the world was especially effective during the period of Irish history known as “The Troubles”.  This period consisted of vast amounts of violence and bloodshed over the political oppression the Irish were facing within their own country.  Songs like U2’s “Sunday Bloody Sunday”, about the shooting of Irish citizens at the hands of British Army soldiers during a peaceful civil rights protest, and “Peace on Earth”, about the car bombing in the Northern Ireland city of Omagh by members of the Real Irish Republican Army that resulted in the deaths of twenty-nine people, even “Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six” performed by The Pogues, about the bombing of the Birmingham Pub, tell the world about some of the horrific events that have transpired.

Sinead O’Connor’s song entitled “This Is a Rebel Song” takes a different perspective on the problems that were occurring. She does not sing about any specific event that happened; however she compares the relationship between England and Ireland to a troubled relationship one might witness between a boyfriend and girlfriend. In her song she is asking for the violence to stop when she sings “And please talk to me Englishman/ What good will shutting me out get done/ Meanwhile crazies are killing our sons Oh listen, Englishman/ I've honoured you hard Englishman/ Now I am calling your heart to my own/ Oh let glorious love be done”.  In order for it to end both sides need to stop trying to hurt each other, but need to sit down and discuss their problems; similar to how a couple would try and solve their differences.

Any person can read about events, like those previously mentioned, in newspapers, or textbooks, but they will only receive an objective viewpoint about certain situations; they will not gain any specific understanding how people on either side of the issue felt during these events.  Music takes these events and attaches emotional meanings. Only after you have listened to a song and hear the emphasis expressed in their voices can you gain deeper insight into the situation. The Irish appreciate this art form because for them it is a way in which they can escape, even if it is only for the duration of that specific song. They also understand that when utilized effectively music can educate the masses. Bono said it best on U2’s “Rattle and Hum” DVD when asked about the importance of music when he said “Rock 'n' roll stops the traffic!”