I don't think there ever was a time when music could change the world. There are a lot of variables: trends, economy, population shifts, etc. Neil Young has every right to that huge ego though, he's a farking living legend.

mollybad

He's a liar. Music will always change the world. He's just being cranky that HIS music isn't changing the world anymore. Cranky!

I think he's right to an extent. Music used to be hopeful and optimistic. Even the vapid pop I detested in the 80's seems much more fun and lighthearted when I hear it today.

I'll always love Neil Young and remember my mom dancing around the kitchen with my feet on hers to Harvest.

Today's music is the new Velveeta. It's manufactured, it's processed, it's bad and it will likely kill you.

sexyback is on to something here. Plus he is pushing his MOVIE now.

You know, after I read this post much earlier today, I have got Don Mcclaine's "American Pie-The Day The Music Died" stuck in my head.

The Music never dies. It does inspire.
Even if you have a movie to promote. I'm just saying.

Yes, he is right. I don't see the Britneys or Rihannas or the world singing out a message of worth. Todays MAINSTREAM crappy-pop is as mentally stimulating as lime jello. I don't think that music's ability to challenge us died when his heyday was over necessarily, but what is on the radio today is overly processed, force-fed, fast-food-like garbage. You don't become healthy on a diet of McDicks, and Beyonce's music won't bring you out of your apathetic stupor.

I know that the youngs can't remember it, but music used to actually change things. Aside from music, people used to actually interact with each other in person!
Now, it really can't, and people don't, and that's all right, I guess. And even if it isn't, it's the way it is.

name one song that changed the WORLD.

Umm, the post no.9 is not from the poster of no.8

maria, that was the question of the century.

I have been thinking ever since you posted that comment. I am stumped.

I also considered commenting some stupid, silly, vapid things, like: "Oh anything Barry White did. Oh wait, that didn't change the world, but the earth MOVED."

GOOD POINT, maria.

How about "Happy Birthday" or "The Star Spangled Banner" or "Strange Fruit"? I guess those are all debatable though.

Strange Fruit
Ohio
Imagine
Rock the Casbah or London Calling
Don't Believe the Hype

These songs didn't change the world but they sure as hell made us think, and listen to what was going on. My point is that what we hear on the radio today (mainstream music) is substanceless, but if we settle we will never look forward. Britney Spears will definitely not start a cultural revolution.

if nobody under the age of 18 knows who you are, should we trust your assessment of the probability of future events that would most likely involve that group?

Music will always change the world in small ways. As you get older, you just begin losing touch with this process.

One song doesn't cause the WHOLE world to change dramatically, it's just one of zillions of factors influencing our choices.

I know someone who quit their job one day and was inspired to finally do so by listening to a certain song. You could say that song, heard at that time, changed her life. Nobody said it had to be a monumental change.

Mainstream music is no more substanceless than it has ever been. We have always had some music with substance and some without. Didn't your parents tell you that YOUR music had no substance or value! Well, you haven't admitted that they were right, have you?

Mainstream music influences young people. It always has. It probably always will.

"I know someone who quit their job one day and was inspired to finally do so by listening to a certain song. You could say that song, heard at that time, changed her life. Nobody said it had to be a monumental change."

I agree with that. I've done some pretty crazy shit because of music. Beastie Boy's got me into a lot of trouble one night. I was just fighting for my rights to partay.

I also broke off an engagement to my ex after listening to Guns N Roses; Don't Cry. It only changed my world but it also captured a period of time, in my mind.