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"When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace."
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    GeorgeKenney October 13, 2009 English 101 Kingsley __The Message of Hendrix __  The American rock and roll history is rich with incredibly talented and unique musicians that laid the stones for the music scene today. One of the more influential artists was the nineteen sixties guitar god, Jimi Hendrix. He played with a one of a kind style, using amplifier feedback and distortion to completely change how his guitar sounded. His natural talent coupled with his on stage antics which included playing the guitar behind his back and with his teeth made him an instant hit and a major attraction for teens and young adults. Hendrix is even quoted as saying “ I want to do with my guitar, what Little Richard does with his voice.”( Shapiro , 53)At the height of his popularity, between 1968 and 1970 America was in the midst of the most controversial war in history. At this same time a new generation of youth was beginning to blossom. The sixties brought the ideals of free love and peace in America. This new love was expressed in many different outlets. People were experimenting with new and mind altering drugs, practicing new forms of art and were developing a scene of music that would carry the message of peace wherever it was heard. Hendrix expressed many messages of peace and anti- war rhetoric in his music, which made him a major part of this newfound movement of love. One song in particular gives a great example of the popular view of the Vietnam conflict which took place in the later half of the 1960’s; the top of Hendrix’s career. The song “//All Along the Watchtower”// is a clear reference to the military presence in Southeast Asia. Written originally by well known songwriter and folk singer Bob Dylan and performed by Hendrix this song holds deep meaning pertaining to the U.S presence in Vietnam. In the very first line Hendrix sings, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> Kenney 2 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“There must be some kind of way out of here, said the joker to the thief” Even this one line shows the situation is dire and that these characters, the joker and the thief want to leave desperately. The popularity of this song affected a great many people that were involved in the movement against the conflict in Vietnam, and the political strife of the time in America. He played the song in his own style which definitely improved not only the song, but how people understood it. Hendrix added a soul to the song, and really helped convey the need for a free world, void of a war senseless war in which young men were fighting and dying for a cause that no one understood. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> Another song that holds meaning to the ideals of free love and expression is his hit, release on his debut album entitled “//Love or Confusion”.// Hendrix sings how he believes he has found love and peace in his world, but he cannot tell if it is for real or this feeling just appears to be true. The line “is that the stars in the sky, or is that rain falling down” shows how his feelings are being shot around from the height of stars, to the plummeting of rain back to reality. This song continues to show the conflict between the logical and the emotional faculties in Hendrix. He sings “My heart burns with feeling, while my mind is cold and reeling”(Shaprio,26) This line gives a good example of the inner argument with the rational and respectful ideals of the mind and the impulsive, passion fueled ways of love and his heart. At the time this song was released, many people of this new generation were experiencing the same turmoil within themselves. Mostly young adults in this demographic, many of them were students or in the workforce, Americans who until recently were complacent with the government and its undertakings. Before this time in America, the government had never really been called into question by its masses like it was during the sixties. The civil rights movement, led by Dr. King was just the first major movement <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> Kenney 3 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">but it was soon followed by the United States entering Vietnam and the induction of the draft to recruit more fighting men. The fight against the draft was particularity serious and thousands protested being wrapped up into the war against communism. In the nineteen sixties very few people even knew where Vietnam was, much less desired to go and fight and die in some jungle in Asia. In America’s war against communism, the enemy wasn’t as tangible; there was no clear enemy, just the red menace. It was a time of great uncertainty and speculation in America, which explains why Hendrix so appropriately entitled the song. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Jimi spoke of love and free expression in his music. His messages resonated with the youth of the nation at the time, but it still rings true to the people of the day. His message was simple, love. To him love was everything, and a life without love was not a whole life. In the song “message to love” one of the final lines of the song state just that. “Everybody come alive, Everybody live alive, Everybody love alive, Everybody hear my message.” Hendrix is basically saying that everybody should live their lives to the fullest, and your lives should be full of love and happiness and that he just wants people to hear what he is trying to say. Now even today, Jimi Hendrix has a huge fan base that admires and loves his music. Not just for the insane ability that Hendrix had with the guitar but also his message of love. This quote by Jimi shows how truly poetic he was “ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I used to live in a room full of mirrors; all I could see was me. I take my spirit and I crash my mirrors, now the whole world is here for me to see.”(Redding, 28) This quote shows how Hendrix used to see the world like most people, only in perspective to himself. But when he takes his sprit, his love his passion he breaks the mirrors all around him and is able to see the world full circle. He is also famously quoted as saying “Music doesn't lie. If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music.”(brainyquote.com) This quote speaks for itself; <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> Kenney 4 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Music is the only thing in this world that is honest and unwavering. Music doesn’t sugar code and issue in order to appease the people, or to maintain an authoritative position in government. Music tells it how it is and cuts through all the mess and confusion to get to the heart of the matter. To Hendrix, music was the only thing that made sense in a world where everything else had gone insane. And if you played it loud enough, no one could keep out the message it carries with it. Music gave Hendrix the outlet he needed to show the world what power music really had and it had a profound effect on all that listened. Today, people still listen and love the works of Jimi Hendrix and recognize him as huge impact on American musical history and he is considered arguably the best guitar player ever. Inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame in 1992, Hendrix has left a legacy of inspirational music and laid the mortar and bricks for what the American rock and roll scene is today. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%; mso-themecolor: text1;"> Works Cited <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Harry., Shapiro,. //Jimi Hendrix, electric gypsy//. New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 1995. Print. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%; mso-themecolor: text1;">"Jimi Hendrix -." //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. Web. 02 Nov. 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimi_Hendrix>. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%; mso-themecolor: text1;">"The Jimi Hendrix Experience." //Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum//. Web. 02 Nov. 2009. <http://www.rockhall.com/inductee/the-jimi-hendrix-experience>. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Redding, Noel. //Are you experienced? the inside story of the Jimi Hendrix Experience//. New York: Da Capo, 1996. Print. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-themecolor: text1;">"Jimi Hendrix Quotes." //Famous Quotes and Quotations at BrainyQuote//. Web. 03 Nov. <span style="color: black; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-themecolor: text1; msoansilanguage: EN; msospacerun: yes; msothemecolor: text1;"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-themecolor: text1;">2009. <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/jimi_hendrix.html>. <span style="color: black; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-themecolor: text1;"> <span style="color: #262a2c; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">" <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-themecolor: text1;">Jimi Hendrix Lyrics, Song Meanings, News, & Musical Moods. Watch Jimi Hendrix Music Videos and Listen to Jimi Hendrix Songs!" //Experience Project — Personal Stories about any Life Experience.// Web. 03 Nov. 2009. <http://www.experienceproject.com/song_meanings.php?a=jimi+hendrix&t=a>. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">