My friend is in media (well sorta, he's in radio directing and producing and wants to be the next Alfred Hitchcock but you get the point) and he and I go back and forth attempting to deterimine the causality of the media and society. Is music a reflection of society, or does music change society?

I can't tell.

But historically people in power have been leary of freedom of speech, and music was a form of speech. The countless songs of freedom in Irish history for example, songs of the revolution in America, songs that brought the idea of freedom and equality. I can't believe that they listening to people singing these, seeing the passion and strength of conviction, didn't influence some people's opinions.

Perhaps its not a direct change, that no one stood up and said "I heard this song so now I want to overthrow my landlord", but that idea, that freedom is for all, for example... ideas are powerfull.

Rob O