Music of the Vietnam War / Part 1

Good evening, as you have seen, I am a fan of good music and I would like to make an extensive post about the songs that were heard between the years (1955-1975) that the great Vietnam War not only marked a milestone in the political and military history of the 20th century, but also had a profound cultural impact, especially in music. And you already know that when someone does not agree with something, they make it known both musically and with demonstrations, well during the conflict, numerous songs emerged that captured the feeling of the time, both from the perspective of those who supported the intervention and those who opposed it. The music was a reflection of the emotions, protests and tensions of a generation.

So let's start.

Anti-war protest songs

"Fortunate Son" - Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969)
He denounced how the elites, and when I refer to elites I mean those children whose father was a big shot and were exempt from fighting in the war.

"Give Peace a Chance" - John Lennon (1969):
Anthem of the pacifist movement. That is, the legendary hippie movement that made love and not war, well, and did many other things like smoking lots of joints (or marijuana cigarettes) and all the prohibited substances, and of course, no work, that was the movement.

"I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die Rag" - Country Joe and the Fish (1965):
A direct and biting satire on war.

"War" - Edwin Starr (1970):
With its iconic chorus, “War, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing,” it became an anti-war anthem. And I also want to remember that if you were black or any other skin color other than white, you were bound for war.

Rock and popular music that played in Vietnam

Soldiers and civilians alike listened to these songs, many of which evoked nostalgia or spoke indirectly to the mood of the times:

"We Gotta Get Out of This Place" - The Animals (1965):
An unofficial anthem for soldiers, it resonated with their desire to escape the harsh conditions in Vietnam.

"(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay" - Otis Redding (1968):
Its melancholic tone connected with feelings of loneliness and longing.

San Francisco - Scott McKenzie

"House of the Rising Sun" - The Animals (1964):
Popular with the troops and frequently played on the radio.

Spencer Davis Group - Gimme Some Lovin'
This song was also very popular among the troops and was played a lot on the radio, as it was necessary to keep the military's spirits high.

Wilson Pickett - Land of 1000 Dances
It was also important to remember that the songs that white people liked were not always liked by black people, so I had to put on songs that would cheer them up too (I don't want to offend anyone with the terms white and black, for everyone they are equal and have the same rights).

Well, gentlemen, I'll stop here today because there are many songs in different styles and I don't want to leave any behind, so tomorrow there will be more and better.