London

London, a city where around every corner there seems to be another iconic site; the Shard, the London Eye, Big Ben, The 02 Arena and for me, Capital Radio!

 We had some really exciting experiences during the trip including getting splashed with water in the London Dungeons, taking a gruesome walking tour of Jack The Ripper's murder spots and zooming down the Thames at 40 km/hr!

Full of early starts and late finishes, we were definitely fit for bed by the end of the day. I was kept alive by Tesco Value energy drinks! Our trip had numerous photo opportunities including standing on the prime meridian, sitting on the main deck of the HMS Belfast and running from tube to tube.

I took this one myself on the last night.... Just kidding!

Radio Ga Ga

So, with some incredible luck, I have managed to secure a bit of work at Dublin's FM104! - I'm going to be doing some 'swing work' at the weekends. Basically what this boils down to is; I'll be on air every so often when the regular presenters are sick/on holidays etc. I am ecstatic about working on the station, as it will give me brilliant experience.

In addition, I will be doing some work with East Coast FM. Next Wednesday, I'll be presenting the coveted 4am - 6am slot! - It's all going to be pre-recorded (Yes! - radio is full of deception), so I won't have to set the alarm early on Wednesday.

Matheson Work Experience

Matheson Ormsby Prentice is an Irish solicitors firm with offices around the world. It has its headquarters on Sir John Rogersons Quay.

On Monday, I was put into the litigation department, where I would be working over the following 2 days. I met Conor and Clodagh, both trainees and relatively new to the job. They supplied me with a number of tasks throughout my work placement. I was given a desk and computer to work at.

Throughout the day, I had to sort through two folders of documents - crosschecking them with a list of the documents and ensuring that the date/info was matching in each. What at first sounded easy soon became a tiring and required attention to detail. Then, I was tasked with researching the Irish law system and how the courts work.

On Tuesday I had to do some research on an Aviation case, and print out documents relating to the case. I also had to do some research which involved searching online/reading books from the library on both the statute of limitations and contract law.

At 10.30 on Wednesday, we left for the Criminal Courts of Justice. Before embarking, I looked at which cases would be heard on the day. All gory, all violent - I knew it was going to be hard to stomach on a Wednesday morning. We sat in on two different cases, both of which were very interesting and intriguing.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Matheson, and am currently considering a career in law.

Finland - Tuisku 2015

Still only recovering from the trip as I type, I returned home from Finland on Wednesday afternoon. 

I am a member of 5th Wicklow Bray Sea Scouts and have been for the past 3 years. Each year we go

on a large camp, usually lasting around 7 days. Every second year we have the pleasure of going on a camp abroad. In 2012, we basked in the 40 degree heat of central Germany, but this year, it was quite literally the polar opposite. 

It was in mid-November that we heard the exciting news that we would be heading to Finland. The vast country at the edge of Europe is home to an array of wildlife, a cold climate, and thousands upon thousands of lakes. It was only then that we realised it would be no ordinary camp - the usual pleasures of . The familiarities of not having to worry about lighting a fire, wearing shorts and a t-shirt every day and sunbathing would be long forgotten on this Arctic expedition. Nonetheless, it was a new challenge, a break from the norm and not a type of camp that this scout troop had ever done 

before. I was extremely excited.

We left the den on Thursday afternoon with Dublin Airport in our sights. The plan was to fly directly from Dublin to Helsinki, and then hop on another flight which would take us to Oulu, a city 500km north of the capital. But, there was an interval of only 1 hour between our flight landing in Helsinki and our next flight departing to Oulu. As we sat at the departure gate, listening to the air hostess announce that the plane would be 20 minutes delayed, the thought of spending the night in Helsinki Airport became all too much of a reality.

Sunset from the plane

Luckily, mid-flight, we were able to explain our situation to the team in Finnair, who ensured that the plane wouldn't leave without us - How very nice of them!

We arrived in a cold and dark Oulu at around 1am local time. You see, Finland is two hours ahead of Ireland, which is actually quite a large difference. 

We were collected by Finnish scout leaders and brought to a local primary school where we stayed the night. At 8am the next morning, we headed on the bus to the camp, a further 150 km to the North!

As we ascended into Lapland, there was snow everywhere. The ground covered in a thick white layer.

Arriving at the campsite

We broke the journey by stopping at a petrol station half-way. It was then that I realised that what I had been told about Finland was true - it is VERY expensive. Quite a thrifty shopper myself, it came as a massive shock to see that I had been charged a whopping €2.60 for a 500ml bottle of water! - Leaving that aside, we ventured forth toward the camp.

Tuisku, the camp, was held on a Finnish military base in a place called Taivalkosken - a placename which to this day, I still cannot pronounce. Roughly 600 scouts attended, from Ireland, Britain and Finland.

That's 5 feet of snow right there!

Snow ploughs had created the bulk of the arteries to get around the camp. We required tents to be set-up. Prior to embarking on the trip, we had been told that the task of digging ourselves into the camp lay ahead of us. The snow in most places was about 1.5 metres deep, and when you stepped into it, your foot would go straight down into the freezing liquid. The tents couldn't be set-up on top of this surface as they would simply collapse. Our job was to dig down into the layers of snow, slush and ice, to create a hole that we could establish the tent in. Digging into the ice was back-breaking work. You wouldn't realise how much of a sweat that you run up even in the freezing cold.

After a couple of hours hard work, we retired to the eating area for a well deserved lunch break. All 600 scouts ate in a communal area outdoors. Over the three days, we were treated to a variety of traditional Finnish dishes which included pastas, stews and the notorious raspberry porridge. It was unlike other camps I had been to insofar as we did not cook our own meals. For example in Fermanagh last summer we made everything that we ate. On one hand this meant that we could choose everything we had to eat. But on the other hand it required us to do the washing-up afterwards. In Finland, we were spared the latter requirement, which was a great relief.

INKELI!

All the boys in our group were split from the girls, and we were mixed with Finnish scouts. Our sub-camp had about 50 people in it, made up of both leaders and scouts. It was called 'Inkeli' , which, it now appears, Google translate has no translation for. Anyway, in our subcamp, there were four large tents. They each held roughly 10-15 people. Each tent had a wood-burning stove in it - which I will get into more detail about later.

Each night, between 10pm and 6am, we were required to burn wood in our stove to keep the tent warm. Each scout was assigned a different timeslot which changed night-by-night. The activity involved watching over the stove, seeing that nothing in the tent had gone on fire!! - Maintaining the heat, and making sure that nobody was too cold in the tent.  On my first night, eager not to let the fire go out, I set myself the goal of putting 1 log into the fire every 5 minutes. Tired and bemused, I watched the stove gradually turn red. Within half an hour, the scouts were awake, and the air was filled with Finnish insults being directed at me.

 It is Finnish tradition to have a sauna. After our activities, we took a shower and went into the sauna for some much-needed heat. For a bit of fun - we'd run outside, roll around in the snow in our togs before heading back into the sauna.

The language barrier was something that had worried me. It was an international camp, with scouts from Britain, Ireland, but the majority of people were Finnish. It's safe to say that I didn't have a word of Finnish before going on the camp, and I still don't have any. Luckily for our sake, everyone - even the younger Finnish scouts - had a superb standard of English. I had read about the Finnish education system being world-class, and one that numerous countries base theirs on. But its only in a situation like this when you see the true practical benefits of their education.

It was a great novelty seeing so much snow. In Ireland, an inch of white powder covers the roads and the country goes into lockdown. In Finland they have five feet of the stuff and everyone is expected to be in school and at work.

Still trying to figure out why they burned the witch in the cauldron -
one of the bizarre shows on camp

 Each night there was a show presented in both Finnish and English. Full of music, gags and stories - Very bizarre in many ways, but nonetheless, enjoyable to watch.

Easter Sunday mass

On Easter Sunday at 11pm, we joined in a candle light procession to celebrate Jesus' resurrection. We had mass in the dark, read in English. Though the majority of Finland is Lutheran, it is still a Christian religion and thus the service was similar to that of Easter Sunday back home.

There are no chocolate eggs in sight at Easter in Finland. The secular traditions are discarded in place of a religious celebration.

One of the days we went cross-country skiing. It had been about 4 years since I have skied and I would have considered myself a decent skier. But I was put to shame. All the finesse that I once had was gone! - I could barely stand up wearing a pair of skis. The skis themselves were very long, pointy and did not hold your heel down. I was told by one of the Finnish leaders that they were suited to uphill and flat skiing, a type of skiing that I had never done before. I was adamant that my skills had not deteriorated so drastically, and determined to shift the blame from my lack of skills to the variety of skis I was using.

We had a long journey through the Finnish countryside, stopping for our lunch after about 3 hours. We cooked salmon and potatoes on a fire. It's fair to say that none of us are future Gordon Ramsay's or have the intention to be, so the fish remained largely underdone following 90 minutes on the hot coals. Starving and cold, we ate up!

Another activity we did was fire building and fire safety. We raced to see who could make their fire first and cook popcorn. Then we did a fire safety quiz in the forest. Lastly, the Finnish scouts set a tent on fire to show how easily the material can be engulfed by flames and how quickly it can burn down. It was scary to think that a fire like that was not beyond the bounds of possibility in our camp, where we had burning stoves alight every evening.

Embarking on the trip, we were expecting temperatures of -25 degrees. Luckily for our sake, it became clear to us that we would be having a far-less Baltic experience. The weather was largely cold, ranging from -5 to 2 degrees. Many times, I needed to remove my ski jacket as I was too hot.

Saying farewell and hoisting the Finnish flag

After dismantling the campsite on Monday morning, we said our farewells to the Finnish scouts, and attended a closing ceremony. We headed back to Oulu at around midday.

Incredible sunset in Oulu

We were dropped off at our hotel where we would stay two nights before embarking back to Dublin. Oulu is a city roughly the size of Cork. It seemed extremely dull, grim and quiet - almost reminding me of something from the Soviet Block. Nonetheless, the hotel was quiet, clean and modern - extremely good value. On Tuesday we headed around the town for a spot of shopping and went to an excellent science museum - loads of fun and interactive exhibits for children of all ages. On Tuesday night we all stayed up and headed on the airport bus at 4am.

Tiredness hit us hard

Oulu science museum

Leaders selfie

I want to thank our incredible leaders who put so much effort into organising and planning a camp. They always show a huge amount of love, helpfulness and are forever good humoured regardless of how little sleep they have had. I want to extend my thanks to the organisers of the camp, who gave us a once in a lifetime experience in a part of the world vary different to Ireland. And to my fellow scouts, who I all love so much and with whom I have shared so many happy memories.

Scouting family :-)

I'm a FRQ

In an earlier post about my SPIN1038 work experience I remarked on how I met Andy Clarke. Just to re-cap, Andy is the station manager of FRQ.fm (pronounced 'FREAK'). The online-only station is used as a training ground for budding radio presenters. These presenters may go on to present on one of the Communicorp stations.

I had given Andy my demo and kept in touch with him after completing my work placement in the station. He invited me in to see what happens at the station and to train me in how to use the studio equipment. So last night, I took the DART into the Grand Canal Dock and met Andy at six. I was put into studio with Cally-Ann, who was presenting the evening show. Andy told me that one of the guys who usually presents on Friday evenings was sick, and in a true clichéd radio situation, he told me that I would be presenting the 7 to 9 slot. Wow! - It was a crazy moment, I realised that I would be on air in around 40 minutes. I had never used the equipment in the studio before and I knew little about the station but its name and purpose. Willingly, Andy trusted me to go live at 7!

The FRQ studio

Over the two hours following I staggered through the show. Although the first hour was a bit challenging, I got into the swing of things and was fairly comfortable by the end of the show. There were a couple of technical challenges, but I just about kept the show on the road.

It was an incredible experience which I thoroughly enjoyed. I'm on air again tomorrow between 1pm and 4pm. Listen Live: http://frq.fm/

SPIN 1038/98fm: Day 5

This morning we were tasked with a variety of jobs including making tea and distributing post around the office. I also had to ring competition winners to let them know that their prize was ready for collection in the station.

In the afternoon we wrote a reflection on the week; our highlights, the things we thought could have been improved and what we would have liked to have seen more of.

It was sad to say goodbye and leave the station after such a good week. I'd like to thank Siobhan and Stef for organising such a fantastic week.

SPIN1038/98fm: Day 4

The SPINIs

 Today we spent the morning with the Thunders and the SPINIs. They are the promotional crews from both stations and they appear at numerous events across the city including concerts, rugby matches etc.
They brought us to their storage site in which they keep their promotional materials. These range from 98fm mints to SPIN1038 phone covers. We were told about the work they do, shown some of the promotional materials and given a goody bag.
Then we went across to 98fm's 'Big Red' - the large double decker bus which they broadcast from. The bus is equipped with the latest technology including flat screen tvs, computers and an on-air studio.

98fm's Big Red

In the afternoon we looked at a range of newspapers and at which businesses were advertising in them. We listed out each business, which paper they were advertising in and what they were advertising. This was use to the sales team, who could contact these companies to offer them advertising on either 98fm or SPIN.

SPIN1038/98fm: Day 3

The highlight of Wednesday was meeting Barry Dunne. He is the afternoon presenter on 98fm, and a true gentleman at that. We sat in on Barry's show, where he voiced links, recorded calls and gave away prizes. He told us how he loved his job and we discussed the Irish radio industry.

Afterwards, I met Andy Clarke. Andy, who used to present on LMFM, is now in charge of running FRQ.fm. FRQ (pronounced 'freak') is an online-only station that is used as a training ground for presenters. DJs are trained in how to use the studio equipment, and are taught how to improve their presentation. After this, in the case that presenters are needed on SPIN/98, they may have the opportunity to be on air. Upon meeting Andy, I handed him my radio demo. A demo is a clip of audio, usually 2-3 minutes long, giving examples of presenter's links. He showed me the FRQ studio and told me about the aims of the station.

SPIN 1038/98fm: Day 2

Nikki Hayes

 This morning we went straight up to Nikki Hayes, who presents SPIN Hits. She is a familiar voice on the Irish radio scene and has been working on-air for over 20 years. Nikki presented on SPIN after it launched in 2002, and left for 2fm, before returning to the Dublin station in recent times. She explained various elements of her job and talked to us about our ambitions in radio.

Next, we met Pat Gill. He is in charge of imaging on 98fm. Though the word suggests his job deals with pictures, this is far from the truth. Pat produces all of the jingles and sweepers that are played between the songs. He played us examples of his work and told us about various techniques which are used to get listeners to constantly remind listeners that they are tuned to 98fm. This becomes essential when the listenership figures are published.

SPIN1038/98fm: Day 1

 This week, I am doing work experience in both SPIN and 98FM, which are both located in the Grand Canal. 

 This morning we were set a task by Gavin Ward, 98fm's Music Director. The aim was to compile a list of gigs happening in Dublin in the next 3 months and to write three articles about artists/groups that would be appropriate for 98's website. I really enjoyed researching and writing the articles. 

 In the afternoon, we met with the Caroline, head of Sales and marketing at 98fm. She told us how her team works and about the various promotions that they run on the station. They are in charge of selling traditional advertising on-air, sorting out sponsorships, competitions and outside broadcasts among other things. We were then given two briefs to write ads for both Captain America's and DID Electrical. We scripted the ads, each of which had to be 30 seconds long.

Irish Times: Day 4

Today was my last in the Irish Times. We spent the morning with features. This is the department involved in reporting anything that is not news, business or sport. They produce various supplements throughout the week including 'The Ticket', the motoring supplement and the health supplement. We were told how articles are decided on, and we were tasked with finding appropriate articles in the main section of the paper that could be covered more in-depth as features articles.

Then we looked at different headlines; those that we felt were effective, and those that we felt were not so effective. We were told about how headlines and articles are often changed when they are published on the Irish Times website. We came up with suggestions about how we could shorten a variety of headlines to make them suitable for online.

In the afternoon, we headed to the sportsdesk. We met the editor of sport, who told us about his job, and about how the Irish Times cover sport. We were then tasked with coming up with headlines for a number of topical sports stories.

After that, we went upstairs to MyHome.ie . The site allows estate agents and auctioneers to place houses up for sale. We were told about one of the website's sources of income; advertising. It was our job to design a banner advertisement that would be suitable for the website.

I thoroughly enjoyed my week in the Irish Times. We got to see many of the departments in the newspaper and meet lots of people, all of whom were willing to answer any questions we had.

Irish Times: Day 3 - Film Review

As part of today's activities, we went to see 'Whiplash'.

 Movies are an escape from reality - enough so that they excite us, but so much so that they are within the bounds of possibility. We never believed that Superman was flying through the skies trying to fight Atlas, nor did we believe that our toy cowboy Woody could talk to his friends Buzz and Rex. But there was a sense of reality somewhere - we believed what the characters said, and understood the storyline. This was one of my greatest problems with Whip Lash. The plot seemed disjointed, incomplete and unrealistic with characters that were not credible.

 The film tells the story of Terence (J.K. Simons), a frustrated conductor, and his student Andrew (Miles Teller), who is a young and budding drummer. The film opens Andrew is discovered by one of the conductors, Terrence, playing a complicated rhythm. Soon after, he becomes a member of Terrence's prestigious band, in which performers are pushed to the edge to exceed their ability. In an act of rage Andrew loses his place in the band and has to work hard to earn the coveted position of drummer again.

The psychopathic element of Terence's character is quite prevalent throughout the film, many times he bursts into rages of unprovoked anger. The film often breaks into a melee of hostility and profanity. These are some of the finest scenes in the film; the intensity is quite overwhelming. These scenes are surreal and as a result are the highlight of the film for me. It is no surprise that J.K. Simons won an Oscar for best performance by an actor in a supporting role.

The plot was at many stages was just that little bit unrealistic for me to relate to. Meaning a compilation of bizarre, irrelevant sections which do not add greatly to the overall experience, yet stick out awkwardly as they are placed among some of the most engaging and impressive scenes in the film.

The film has a mixture of great cinematography and engaging acting. While there are a number of very powerful scenes, the irrational elements to the plot and clichéd storyline are lacklustre and largely mundane.

Irish Times: Day 2

 Bright and early, we arrived at Tara Street. A day in the newsroom awaited us. We were soon introduced to Caroline, one of the women who works at the news desk. Her role is to sift through the many emails, faxes and press releases that the Irish Times receives on a daily basis and decide which of them are newsworthy. She then forwards these stories to the appropriate departments in the building.

At 10:30, we went to an editors meeting. Around a conference table sat a number of editors for different sections of the paper. There was a business editor, arts editor, politics editor etc. They each presented the stories that would be going into their section of the following day's paper and the stories that they would be following throughout the day to come.

 Later on in the day, we were introduced to Conor Goodman, the features editor. He is in charge of all of the content in the paper that is not news, sports or business-based. This content is found in many of the features in the paper including the 'Irish Times Magazine', the motoring supplement and 'The Ticket'. He explained that we will be going to see a movie tomorrow and will be critiquing it in our own article afterwards. 

 Following that, we sat in on another editors meeting, this time to finalise exactly what was going to be published. Each editor sat around presenting the stories that were ready to be put in the paper, and those that requires work. 

Irish Times: Day 1

This week, I am doing my work experience in the Irish Times. I am greatly privileged to have such an excellent week ahead of me.

After arriving in the paper's offices in Tara Street, we were introduced to Margaret from HR, who organised the placement. She took us on a small tour of the building. We saw the news desk, the editors, the supplements section and the canteen.

Then we all got into taxis and headed for the National Concert Hall. We were told that we would be going to see an event called 'Music in the Classroom'. Upon our arrival, we were greeted by one of the Irish Times' marketing team, who is in charge of organising these concerts. They have been running for over 25 years. 

Though I am unsure what the collective noun for a group of school children is, I'd say 'a cackle' would be quite apt. Because that's exactly what they did; chuckling and roaring non-stop throughout the 90 minute performance. The show was very entertaining, and it had everyone standing and clapping-along by the end. It featured music varying from the classical strings Tchaikovsky, to the adventurous sounds of Mission Impossible - All performed by the RTE Concert Orchestra.

After lunch, we went to the 'Little Museum of Dublin'. Though it was not my first visit to the museum, I still thoroughly enjoyed seeing the history of our capital being presented in such a jovial and rational manner.

WCDMUN

 My second MUN, yet still very daunting. Around 200 delegates representing far-flung countries including China, the Russian Federation and New Zealand.

Fueled by a potentially lethal concoction of caffeine and jelly snakes, I headed to Wesley. I can be forgiven for my antics, as the conference started on the same day that we returned from Gartan. Although we were on a mental high following the great week, physically, we were drained. Nonetheless, our delegation (which was that of the Netherlands, by the way), carried on regardless.

On Friday we split into our committees and handed in our resolutions. I was on the Economic and Social committee , or ECOSOC for short. In the last MUN conference I had attended, I had been on the disarmament committee, yet, being quite the pacifist, I couldn't handle all the talk about terrorism and guns!

It was much to my surprise when I received a note from the chairpeople informing me that my resolution was going to be discussed. Naturally, I was ecstatic - But that didn't guarantee me any success with it. We began discussing it on Friday evening at around 8. We had to pause the proceedings at 9 o'clock as it was time to go home. Fortunately, as the case may be, at that stage I was in a vegetative state of tiredness and disillusion, so for my own sake, it was a relief to go home!

Feeling rather refreshed on Saturday, we went back to the school and began discussing my resolution again. After about two hours, we reached the voting procedure. By a handful of votes, my resolution passed!

We spent the hours following drinking tea, deliberating and discussing. My committee passed another two resolutions in this time.

After lunch we went to GA (General Assembly) - I really should have a glossary for this blog post! - This was where all the delegations gathered together irrespective of which committee each delegate was on. We began discussing an emergency resolution about ISIS. A resolution about NGOs working with governments followed. Unfortunately, though we put up our placard a number of times, we were only recognised once.

It was another really enjoyable MUN, and as a delegation, we are looking forward to the next one. Well done to all of you!

RTE

Yes, I did a week of work experience during the mid-term break! - I suppose I'm seen as crazy to some and as committed to others.

 DIGITAL

On Tuesday, we went to digital. They are the section of RTE in charge of the website and RTE Player. We were part of a focus group with the team where they asked us about our online habits and about how we consume the media. They also showed us ways in which RTE were selling innovative digital ways of advertising to their clients. Their plan was to create something that is interactive and entertaining for the viewer, away from the monotonous nature of traditional ads.

RADIO

On Wednesday, we went into radio - my favourite section of the campus, narrowly beating the canteen! - We talked to Carl who works on 2XM, one of RTE's digital stations. He schedules pre-recorded shows, playlists music etc. Carl also features on 2FM's Nicky Byrne Show, where he is forced to do a variety of crazy stunts, all for the purpose of entertainment!

Then we went into 2FM, where we met Marc Mc Cabe. Before you ask, I confirmed this with him - That he is in fact the same Mark Mc Cabe of Maniac 2000 fame. Anyway, if you weren't going to ask, you now know! - Mark is the music director of 2fm. Basically this means that he picks all of the songs on the station, and categorises them based on popularity/chart positions/spotify plays etc. He then compiles them into playlists and they are broadcast on each show.

We headed downstairs to the studios, where Alan Swan, the producer of The Nicky Byrne Show, was waiting. Much to the dismay of the TY students with me, where we were informed that Nicky had left the building! - Not that I really cared all that much, I was more interested in the brand new 2fm studio. 'CC1' is looking very modern and funky, I'm sure you will agree! - Ignore the anorak jargon here!!!

Then we met Michael Cahill. He is the producer of Rick O'Shea in the afternoon. Unfortunately, I never got to ask the question I had always wanted to ask - Is Rick O'Shea a stage name? - Luckily, Google had the answer for me, and it is little but an alias. He told us about his path into radio and about the daily shenanigans on the show.

TELEVISION

On Friday we went to the television centre to see the Late Late Show being rehearsed. Unfortunately, as recording/photography was prohibited in rehearsals, I didn't get any photos. The set looks cramped in reality compared to its vastness on television. It was interesting seeing such a large team working alongside each other to produce a two hour show.

We were brought through the Fair City studios, which looked incredibly insignificant in person, much to my surprise. We heard how the show is edited as it was being filmed, which I had never realised.

We saw a number of editing suites where promos and vts were made, and where presenters dubbed and voiced their packages. These are the behind-the-scenes elements of tv that many are unaware even exist.

Here are a number of pictures of me in various studios:

                                 

CONCERT/SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

On Thursday we took the bus into the Natonal Concert Hall. Our group was taken around by the administrative director of the RTE symphony orchestra. We were told about their performances and given a brief history of the concert hall. 

We made our way into the auditorium and watched the orchestra rehearse for about 20 minutes. It was a brilliant experience hearing the great amplification of the acoustic instruments playing together.

Reflection

It was a really brilliant four days at the country's public service broadcaster and I envy everyone that gets to work in such an exciting and varied environment.

The Role of Music in the Civil Rights Movement

 In this project, I will investigate the role that music played in the civil rights movement. I will be examining why music was such a powerful medium in securing justice for African Americans, I will discuss a number of famous events which involved music during the civil rights movement and study four songs from the period in detail.

 Why Music?

It stems from the 1800s, when black slaves sung together while they worked and night.

 In a country so oppressed, where black people didn't have the right to vote, couldn't go to the same schools as white people or couldn't use the same means of transport as whites, African Americans were demoralized. Singing provided a happiness, a safe haven away from the violence, a feeling of community. Music gave black people the voice that they didn't have.

Black people sung in groups. Communities were united. Each person was reminded that they were not alone, they stood together in the fight against injustice and inequality. This gave them hope. Equally, it also showed the powers that be in government that American citizens were not willing to tolerate any racist policies. The songs were weapons, tools against oppression. Politicians recognised this.

 Songs are populist. Enjoyed by both races, it was hoped that the white people would be exposed to these songs enough in order that they recognise the true pleas hidden among the lyrics. The songs were thought-provoking, and encouraged white people to fight against the injustices in their own nation. As a result, it became an extremely powerful tool against oppression. In some cases, music was the catalyst for change. It showed white people the

The call and response style of singing was common at the time. It involved a lead singer singing a line, followed by a group of singers singing a response to that line. While each singer may have felt afraid, sad, pitiful, this arrangement.

Rhythm and Blues was an up-and-coming genre in the 1950s. Pioneered by African American's , it showcased the hurt and fear among the black community across the United States.

Notable events in the Civil Rights Movement involving Music

 March on Washington - African Americans from all over the country unite in Washington to protest. They ask the government for change, for rights and for. Martin Luther King delivers his powerful 'I Have a Dream' speech. The soundtrack for the day was performed by Joan Baez, Bob Dylan and Mahalia Jackson, among others. The crowds chant, cheer and cry at the moving scenes of the day. They are united in song, bringing them hope and

 Montgomery Bus Boycott - After the simple, yet remarkable act of Rosa Parks, the city of Montgomery was in protest. African Americans would gather together and sing for equality, sing to see the end of segregation, sing in hope that the situation would change. One of the songs that they chanted together was 'We are Soldiers in the Army'. This was a church hymn which was adapted for the purpose of political protest. The powerful lyrics referencing death and . It used the call and response technique, meaning that the protesters followed a lead singer and responded to their chants.

 Funeral of Martin Luther King - African Americans had lost their leader. He was their main representative in the civil rights movement. They banded together for this touching ceremony. Artists including Aretha Franklin, Mahalia Jackson and - sang to pay tribute to their inspirational peaceful leader.

 Selma to Montgomery Marches - Black people walked the 54 mile journey between Selma and Montgomery, protesting for the right to vote. Musicians including Nina Simone, Sammy Davis Jr. and Harry Belafonte accompanied the protesters. The marches led to a landmark achievement in the civil rights movement, as the Voting Rights Act was passed into law in 1965.

Bob Dylan - Blowin' in the Wind

 I will start with a song written by a white singer-songwriter. I feel that a lot of the time, a segregated America is presented to us in such a way that, it is almost as if blacks and whites would not see eye-to-eye. This is definitely a misinterpretation of the situation. This song proves it incorrectly. Bob Dylan, a white musician, showed great concern towards the injustices faced by African American's in his country. This song became an iconic part of the civil rights movement.

Bob Dylan himself is cryptic when it comes to disclosing the true meaning of the song. America, many black people in 1960s America would have felt it was written for them. The opening line reads:

"How many roads must a man walk down, before you can call him a man?"

 This lends itself to those suffering injustices, the victims of racial inequality and those seeking equal rights. Yet it was not necessarily written about the civil rights movement in the states, more so about the world's problems. Nonetheless, it was adopted by African Americans searching for equitability, and became symbolic of the civil rights movement.

"How many years can some people exist, Before they're allowed to be free?"

 This line may be referring to the freedom marches across America. Where black people, young and old, had gathered together to protest for their rights. Songs similar to this were chanted at these marches.

"How many times can a man turn his head, Pretending he just doesn't see?"

 It is possible that this line may be referring to the ignorance of America. This line suggests that Americans were aware of their ignorance and wrongdoing, but preferred to pay little heed to the problem. It is only when a person stands out from the crowd with the courage to acknowledge this wrongdoing, that change will come. Dylan uttered those powerful words in order to do so.

"How many deaths will it take till he knows, That too many people have died?"

 It is possible that this line is also referring to the ignorance of the nation. Questioning and recognising the injustices, this song and others like it were the catalyst for change. White people heard the lyrics; they confessed their iniquity and felt the pain of their black.

This song was just one of a number that Bob Dylan composed highlighting the injustices faced by black people.

In 1973, following what he believed to be the wrongful conviction of black boxer Rubin Carter. Carter was jailed for shooting a number of customers in a bar in 1966. Dylan released 'The Hurricane' nine years later, protesting the boxers' innocence. Carter, who passed away last April, was eventually freed by petition in 1985.

Dylan released the album 'The Times they are A-changin'. It compiled eight ballads dealing with the themes of poverty, social divide and racism.

Sam Cooke - A Change is Gonna Come

 Sam Cooke was a black gospel singer. After hearing Bob Dylan's 'Blowin' in The Wind' he was inspired to write a song about racial segregation in America, and so, 'A Change is Gonna Come' was born. Cooke was amazed that Dylan, a white songwriter, could capture the emotions of black people so perfectly in writing 'Blowin' in the Wind'. Based on Cooke's impression of white people being ignorant and racist, he could not understand how someone like Dylan would be so empathetic and understanding to African Americans.

This heartfelt masterpiece became one of the most iconic songs of the civil rights movement.

The song is emotive. Cooke is speaking on behalf of all black people. The singer himself had been denied access to a room in a motel on the basis that he was black. He felt the pain of his African American counterparts, day-by-day he had experienced injustices. This enables him to compose such an impassioned song.

Cooke was taking a completely different tone when writing this track. A gospel singer, a number of his singles had peaked in the pop charts. But it was in 1964 that he wrote a political ballad. He was addressing social issues in a clear-cut manner. This was a brave and courageous move to do, and came as a shock to many of his fans, some of whom would have been white.

"Oh there been times that I thought I couldn't last for long, But now I think I'm able to carry on"

 This line is significant. It marks the perseverance of African Americans. Their triumph over hardship. It is celebrating the fact that black people are uniting together, which is marking the start of a social revolution.

"But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will"

 Though the song is dealing with a massive social problem, it manages to maintain a positive tone. In this line, Cooke is certain that change beckons, it is only but a matter of time. This hopeful attitude makes the song quite remarkable.

We Shall Overcome

 This is probably the most iconic protest song of all time. After being chanted at numerous marches across the nation, it became the anthem of the civil rights movement.

Originally a song sung by black slaves, it was titled "I'll be alright someday". This was sung at churches under the title of "I'll Overcome Someday". From the church pews to picket lines, the song began being used at political rallies. The lyric soon morphed into 'We Shall Overcome'. The plural 'we' represented black, and white people coming together to fight injustice.

We shall overcome has become iconic of the American civil rights movement. But there are few tracks that can boast to have featured in liberation movements around the globe. This is quite possibly, the world's best well-known protest song.

It has a universal meaning. The simple, yet poignant lyrics can be understood by everyone, and it can be used in numerous contexts. For example, it became used during the Northern Irish peace process.

Joan Baez recorded a version of 'We shall overcome'. She performed an iconic rendition of the song at the March on Washington in August 1963. Both blacks and whites were united in song to tackle inequality.

In a presentation to congress, American president Lyndon Johnson quoted the protest song:

"Their cause must be our cause too. Because it is not just Negroes, but really it is all of us, who must overcome the crippling legacy of bigotry and injustice. And we shall overcome."

 This represented the influence that the music of the time had on politics during the civil rights movement. Lyndon Johnson was to issue the Civil Rights Act 1964, banning segregation and giving black people the right to vote.

Billy Holiday - Strange Fruit

It was originally a poem, but Holiday set it to music in 1939.  It was a brave move for her to do so. The song refers the mass-lynching of black people in southern America. The dead black bodies are compared to fruit hanging from trees in an horrific metaphor.

"Southern trees bear a strange fruit, Blood on the leaves and blood at the root, Black body swinging in the Southern breeze"

Though it is only three verses long, the song is haunting. The gruesome lyrics portray the emotion. The dead bodies are compared to fruit, as they hang from a tree.

"Scent of magnolia sweet and fresh, And the sudden smell of burning flesh!"

The exotic trees and aromatic landscape is used as a contrast to the grim, lifeless bodies.

This is possibly one of the most macabre songs of the time. It deals with a serious theme, and presents it to us in a frightful manner.

The track has since been covered numerous times. My favourite cover version is that of Nina Simone. A black jazz artist, she had a unique style of singing in which she conveyed great emotion and sentiment through her voice.

Simone wrote 'Mississippi Goddam' , an upbeat track describing the issues of the . The song itself makes reference to the 16th street church bombings in Birmingham, in which four young girls were killed. There was outrage at the time, as church was seen as a sacred oasis, free from violence. Nina Simone captured peoples emotion and anger when she composed the song.