Feature: Music For Good?

Music is such a powerful platform and it has been since before I was in nappies - scratch that, before nappies even existed. The beat of a tune, the flow of a song and most importantly the lyrical content of a track is what undoubtably makes music so powerful. Believe me, if there were a song about photosynthesis, I surely would have passed my Science GSCE with flying colours. Instead I found myself reciting the theme tune of Bob The Builder in my brain for the duration of the exam. Don't laugh, the tune had a number one for three weeks in 2000, you can't knock it.

Anyway, it makes sense that you'd use music for something constructive and to raise awareness about an important issue through a popular artist and a catchy theme tune.

The first successful example of this came - as far as I can personally remember - in the form of Children In Need in 2005 which raised a whopping £17,235,256 [1] for the cause and included performances from Girls Aloud, Katie Melua, KT Tunstall, Pussycat Dolls and Madonna. The programme itself was emotional, hard-hitting and at some points awkward, raising the reality of how partially disabled children live and get by. At the time (and shamefully enough) I tuned in simply to see the celebs. By the end, however, I'd not only donated money, but had an understanding of why charities were needed. All because I wanted to see a few pop stars.

Over the years this has developed and there are a number of organisations and charities using music to connect to their audience. This year, the SAMM (Support after Murder and Manslaughter) campaign came together with the collective, Shooting Star Poets, from Liverpool, to create their debut single Campaign Time in order to raise awareness around knife and gun crime around the world. Emcee's Trim, P Money and Blacks were involved in a remix of the tune to connect to the underground fans. The single was a hit as victims, offenders and family of loved ones came forward for support and to tell their stories.

"...it makes sense that you'd use music for something constructive and to raise awareness about an important issue through a popular artist and a catchy theme tune."

Of course it's not always a success. Unfortunately there are plenty of spiteful people out, looking to make a quick buck off the public and make money for "charities", so be careful enough to make sure your money is going to the right place!

The most successful example of music for good I personally have been involved in and saw, raised an amazing £10000 in one night was Rave4Haiti [2] with True Tiger, SOMEnight and Chantelle Fiddy (on behalf of Ctrl.Alt.Shift). With acts on the line up such as Ms Dynamite, Sway, Tinie Tempah, MistaJam (Radio 1 DJ), Mystery Jets, Boy Better Know and about another 100 acts (no exaggeration) filled The Den in Central London, in February 2010, when the awful earthquake in Haiti ruined lives for millions of people. Many of the crowd admitted they were mainly there for the acts and a few (really ignorant) people were actually unaware of what had happened in Haiti. But the point was that they donated and left with the knowledge of what had happened and how they can help.

My point? Music is such a popular way of getting people involved in charities. It might sound painful that for some people a celeb is what it takes to get people interested. But it's a way in, to grab peoples attention and educate them. There are plenty of these events around and no one loses out. You pay to go to an event where there are acts you like, whether they're artists, comedians, strippers (okay not strippers), footballers etc, and they get to raise money for a worthwhile cause in the process.

So that warm glowing feeling you get inside? Get it at a charity gig near you. No strings attached, just some solid education and some fun at the same time!

Words: Sian Anderson.

Photo: Flickr user msuttonlong, of a crowd at the Glastonbury festival.

This blog is courtesy of the Leap Anywhere [3] website.