I always thought songs nowadays were just about relationship problems and social life, but John Legend proved me wrong when I went to see the movie Selma in the theaters. This was the only song I had ever heard that actually meant something to history and the people, where as most songs are sung about the artists’ problems (sorry Sam Smith). My parents know many people that were affected by this era and song. The voice that the song was written in made the song more relatable. The significance pierced my heart with empathy, and my response was tears.
The voice from the page to the performance in this song is phenomenal. The first time I hear this song was moving. I sat there in the theater finishing my popcorn, and when the first verse struck the speakers, as a musician, I knew this one was different. And as I listened to the rap, (which I’m not a big fan of but in this case, yes) I heard major historical events wrapped up in it. But the voice itself is in the perspective of the people that had to live through the painful era of the civil rights movement. The voice itself was inspired by the people. That’s what makes this song so respectable.
The mere presence of a song like this is tantalizing. It does a phenomenal job of capturing the biggest events of the civil rights movement, as well as create an unavoidable state of empathy. In the line, “King pointed to the mountain top and we ran up”, the mountain top was one of the metaphors that Dr. King used in his speeches, meaning that there is a future at the top of the mountain, but we must climb to reach it. So many people were affected by that line. That line summed up some peoples life goals in two seconds. Freedom and Glory was what they were looking for. They had fought so hard and so long to be a part of society and be respected as a human being. In the lines, “The movement is a rhythm to us, freedom is like religion to us, justice is juxtaposition in us, justice for all just ain’t specific enough” those lines are based off what the people want believe and desire. The significance of this song is groundbreaking, and inspiring. It really captures so many peoples hearts and empathy. The reactions to this song is a whole different and emotional story.
My initial reaction was tears. I did not know anyone who had to live through this horrible time, I did not know what it was like at all. But this song made me feel so empathetic for these people who had to go through this time, without even knowing them, without even relating to them in any way, I still drew tears from my heart. I couldn’t even imagine the emotions stirred up in the people that actually had to go through this time. They must have been angry, sad, unheard, abused, and thankful. I added thankful to the mix because they are thankful that one of the biggest names in pop/R&B soul artists decided to write about something that every person on this planet should know about. This was the best song of the year. It won a well deserved Oscar. It one many other recognitions, but most important of all, it won the heart of the people. And that was the purpose for which it was wrote.
I always thought songs nowadays were just about relationship problems and social life, but John Legend proved me wrong when I went to see the movie Selma in the theaters. I felt endless empathy for the people, and teary eyed recognition for these artists. They put something that many people couldn’t to words in a song that speaks volumes.