“Consequentialism” is a highfalutin word for capturing such thoughts as “The end justifies the means” and “At least to some extent, judge actions on the basis of the collection of outcomes.” Applied to music, consequentialism places some focus on the songs that result from events that motivated the songwriting. Ignoring all other consequences (which is nearly impossible to do), the Vietnam War is justified by the collection of timeless songs the war inspired.
Recent activities in the U.S., the U.K. and elsewhere are raising political awareness and motivating songwriters. While it's too early to apply the consequentialism test, the evidence is starting to flow. “People” was written by Little Scream in 2013, but was released last month as a benefit to Planned Parenthood and the ACLU. The song is a call to get involved before it’s too late. “What’s wrong with us, people?" ... You see the deer by the side of the road with its broken spindly legs; ... don’t just dismiss it with the conclusion that “someone else was driving;” ... “this is a burden of our age.” “Come on, people.”
The almost continuous guitar hook in “People” is consistent with the song’s goal to motivate. The song is energetic, despite its message that people aren’t sufficiently involved and need to make a change.
Little Scream is the performance name of singer/songwriter Laurel Sprengelmeyer, who was born in Iowa and is now based in Montreal.
“People” by Little Scream
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Website: http://www.littlescream.com/
