Rhetoric in Popular Music

Music is intertwined with culture and daily life all over the world.  As our most beloved art form, music has many functions beyond simple entertainment.  Music rekindles memories.  It pumps us up and it soothes.  Music inspires us to feel a certain way or to take some sort of action, and can be at times almost more persuasive than any other form of rhetoric.  The 1960's and 70's were marked by an explosion of music with political meaning, sometimes masked under seemingly meaningless lyrics and other times much more salient to the listener.  Although much of our music today has reverted back to predictable songs about love or sorrow or having a good time, the existence of rhetoric in popular music in still undeniable.

Consider these well-known tunes and the meanings behind them:  "I Kissed a Girl" by Katy Perry. "Big Yellow Taxi" by Counting Crows.  "Waiting on the World to Change" by John Mayer.  "You are Beautiful" by Christina Aguilara.  "Born this Way" by Lady Gaga.  Whether endorsing a positive view of homosexuality or environmental awareness, inspiring change or promoting self-acceptance, the persuasive purpose in each of these titles is explicit.  I would imagine that implied rhetoric can be interpreted in nearly every song we know.

Music can be incredibly powerful as a rhetorical device for many reasons.  Songs tend to have simple themes embedded in lyrics written at an elementary level.  Being influenced by their verses is as effortless as turning on the radio.  Music is also readily accessible (and increasingly so.)  We involuntarily listen music in the car, at the gym, at the supermarket--nearly everywhere we go, and our favorite songs can be attained on Youtube or iTunes with the click of a mouse.  Perhaps music's greatest rhetorical strength is its ability to take root within us--there is just something about adding melodies and rhythms to a message that evokes intense emotion when heard.  Add that to a refrain's infectious tune, and suddenly that message is playing over and over in our heads, planting itself into our subconscious.  A belief presented in a song has a different effect than an idea conveyed through a speech, essay, or advertisement.  Music is immensely pleasurable and sinks into a deeper realm of our being, making it incredibly persuasive.