Music and Society

It took me quite a while to think of ways in which genres of music have been influenced by various aspects of society. Ideas such as social and economical revolutions and wars raced into my mind but I wanted to discuss a topic that I was passionate about. After several hours of research, I finally found valuable information I would like to share. There has been a point in many of our lives when we have been watching television and have fallen victim to one of the many commercials displaying heart-wrenching images of starving or disease ridden children in Africa. Even though I cannot financially help fight famine in Africa there must be others who dedicate aspects of their life to this momentous cause.
Bono has dedicated the latter half of his career, beginning in 1980, to performing songs to help end hunger, poverty, and disease in Africa. He has traveled to Lesotho, Rwanda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Mali, and Ghana peacefully protesting the corrupt government and deficient support systems in Africa that have contributed to these major problems. One of the most known philanthropists, Bono has established many organizations and raised billions of dollars to help fund this mammoth cause. For example, he launched the DATA organization (debt, aids, trade, Africa) in 2002 which main mission was to eradicate poverty and HIV/AIDS in Africa. After meeting with numerous government officials, he also convinced former United States President George Bush, to create a five million dollar aid package, which helped replenish resources in the destitute villages of Africa.
After reading all this information only one question in my mind is left unanswered. Bedsides numerous large donations, how does he fund all these “renovations"? But surely as I re-thought my question, the answer was clear as day, music. Bono has performed countless concerts, in which 100% of the funds go to his charitable causes. His songs have transcended all ages, races, and status levels, to unify people to get together and help end this predicament. Bono’s most influential songs about his travels to Africa are "Where the Streets Have No Name" and “Bullet the Blue Sky", from U2's "Joshua Tree" album. They are simply remarkable and great examples of how music is influenced by aspects of a society.