Success and Liberation

Finding songs about success was a lot easier than finding songs for liberation in mainstream music. Most Americans would probably define success as being famous, rich, having many cars and houses, having many girlfriends, and many other things that have nothing to do with love. When I thought about liberation, I kept thinking of Christian songs that talk about feeling liberated from the world and finally realizing that there’s something bigger than them which is God. The songs I picked for success dealt with fame and money and the liberation songs I picked discussed leaving the past life behind and starting anew to dedicate their life to God. I believe that the American sense of success and liberation is highly different from what the Hindu understanding is.

Liberation

Liberation

Mercy Me, “So Long Self,” Christian, 2006 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJtKdjaH2nY

Newsboys, “Born Again,” 2010 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHcCBtIcxhQ

Casting Crowns, “To know you,” 2009 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rciWoJODu2k

Starfield, “Revolution,” 2004 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imIuXqQ26nU

Starfield, “Alive in this moment,” 2004 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehgCYO2sUI4

Success

Lady Gaga, “Paparazzi,” pop, 2009 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2smz_1L2_0

Counting Crows, “Mr. Jones,” 1993 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oqAU5VxFWs

Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show, “The Cover of the Rolling Stone,” 1972 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH_npzCeg30

Metallica, “The Memory Remains,” 1997 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5rZmUPDHCk

The Smiths “Frankly, Mr. Shankly,” 1993 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9l_zAypP7Q

The pleasure aim was far more prevalent than the community service aim. I think this is because society wants to hear about sex, love, drugs, and other things that arise pleasure rather than listening to music about how to change the world for the greater good. It surprised me that it was kind of difficult to think of songs in the last two to three decades that spoke about helping others but yet I easily came up with many songs that dealt with pleasure and were released in the last few months. The Hindu understanding of the four aims of life differ from what is expressed in American pop music because it doesn’t focus on selfishness like American pop music does. The pleasure songs I picked mostly talk about love and how nice it is to have a special someone in your life. The community service songs I picked dealt with overcoming racism, peace in times of war, and standing up for ourselves for the greater good of others and for ourselves.

Community service:

Katy Perry, “Firework,” pop, 2010,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGJuMBdaqIw

John Mayer, “Waiting on the World to Change,” pop, 2006,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBIxScJ5rlY

John Mayer, “Daughters,” pop, 2003,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZLbUIa7exE

John Lennon, “Happy Xmas (War Is Over),” pop, 1972,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8jw-ifqwkM

Micahel Jackson, “Black or White,” pop, 1991,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2AitTPI5U0

Pleasure

Pleasure:

Taylor Swift, “Today Was a Fairy Tale,” pop, 2010, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUqnrjSFXtE

Rihanna, “Rude Boy,” pop, 2010,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e82VE8UtW8A

Bruno Mars, “Just The Way You Are,” pop, 2010,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjhCEhWiKXk

Katy Perry, “Teenage Dream,” pop, 2010,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98WtmW-lfeE
Ke$ha, “Your Love is My Drug,” pop, 2010, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QR_qa3Ohwls