It was just another typical day in Evans, Georgia. It was early November, the sun was covered by clouds, the fog was taking over and it was pouring rain. I was in school, which consisted of the usual covering of the set course schedule; however, something different happened today that happened every year on this specific day. It was November 11th, also known as Veterans Day. Every year on this day our school took three minutes of silence to reflect in honor of the soldiers who fought for our freedom. This day is always very important to me due to the fact that my family consists of a legacy of men that fight overseas. Just how I knew that every year on this day we would have three minutes of silent reflection, I also knew that when I got home my father would be listening to “A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke. Every year I would come home from school on this day and as soon as I entered I would hear the soul of Sam Cooke blasting through the house. I would go downstairs to the basement and find my dad sitting in his chair with his eyes closed, listening to the one record on repeat on my grandfathers record player. He would hear me, open his eyes, and smile. Something about the soothing sound of records on the record player made me get the chills and my heart get warm, unlike the sound of music on the radio made me feel. Every year he would say the same thing to me. He said, “Pops believed more than Cooke that a change was gonna come.”
Everyone has their different reasons for seeking music as an outlet and these variances can be dependent on things such as race, ethnicity, gender, and lifestyle. It is the common and shared desire of music as an outlet that can create unity in people by causing them to realize that one thing everyone in this world has in common is the use of music. My grandfather listened to this song for motivation through the hard times, while my father is listening to this song for comfort in honor and remembrance of my grandfathers time overseas. The shared song creates a special connection between my grandfather and father that is deeper than just blood. They both have a shared appreciation for this song that is so strong, that they feel connected through this song. Music is a universal language for all of mankind because it has the ability to comfort and connect people.
The invention of the phonograph marked the beginning of the evolution of music. The phonograph was invented in 1877 by Thomas Edison (Darrell 91-103). What was so special about the phonograph, is unlike other inventions, it not only recorded sound but it also reproduced the recorded sound. Edisons desire to improve the telegraph and the telephone is what sparked the creation of the phonograph. He was working on a device that would write messages that could be sent repeatedly to the telegraph. The interest in this idea led Edison to another idea. It led him to the idea of using those same workings, but concerning the recording of a telephone message. He experimented with many different methods to playback recorded sounds. He originally used a frame that had a carved point being held against fast-moving paraffin paper. The vibrations from speaking created indentions in the paper so he changed the paper to a tinfoil-coated cylinders. The phonograph consisted of two diaphragm-and-needle units. One was for the recording of the sound and the other was for playing back the recorded sound. When the mouthpiece was spoken into the recording needle it would indent the vibrations from the sound into the cylinder in a vertical, groove-like pattern. While Edison was a genius to be able to come up with an idea such as this, he was not able to build it himself. Rather he sketched the mechanics of the phonograph and gave the drawings to his mechanic, Kruesi. It is said that Kruesi created the phonograph in thirty hours. Once the phonograph was built, Edison decided to test it out by singing the nursery rhyme, “Mary Had A Little Lamb.” To his satisfaction, the phonograph played his words back to him. Once Edison got the business side of his phonograph worked out, such as filing for a patent and advertising it on the market and to big company buyers, he promoted to the public the possibilities for the phonograph. Those possibilities ranged from phonographic books for blind people to clocks that announce the time.
The phonograph has undergone a few changes since it was first invented by Thomas Edison (Darrell 91-103). In the beginning there were just a couple minor improvements here and there to make the rebuilding of it more convenient. The desire for improvement also stemmed from the inconvenience of the consumers, such as it being difficult to operate, except by experts, and the tin foil only lasting for a few playings. While Edison was no longer interested in the further advancements of the phonograph due to his new found interest into what is now known as the lightbulb, other inventors jumped on the phonograph train. Alexander Graham Bell, who invented the telephone, used his earnings from that to improve the phonograph with his cousin Chichester A. Bell. He fixed one of the problems of the tinfoil not lasting long by replacing it with wax. He also fixed the problem of it being difficult to operate, unless you are an expert, by replacing the rigid needle with a floating stylus. Once those two changes were made, they presented the machine as now being called the graphophone. Since the two had made significant changes on the machine they got a patent for their work and asked Edison if they collaborate, but he turned down their offer and decided to improve the phonograph himself. However, the changes that Edison made to the phonograph were quite similar. He too replaced the tinfoil with wax cylinders and the needle with a floating stylus; nevertheless, the difference between his machine and the Bell’s was that he called it the New Phonograph. Shortly after Edison put out the New Phonograph he then put out the Perfected Phonograph. The phonograph still continued to undergo many changes. The wax cylinders began to become a problem due to them being so short so the machine was not able to record much and there was no mass way of duplicating the cylinders. These problems caused the machine to be time consuming and the production of it to be costly. Eventually they figured out how to duplicate the wax cylinders for the phonograph and balance the costs of the materials needed for production to where it was still doing well on the market. The phonograph continued to undergo many changes and have different names, such as the Spring Motor Phonograph, Edison Home Phonograph, Edison Standard Phonograph, Edison Concert Phonograph, and the Ediphone. These were basically different versions of the phonograph that were created overtime to benefit certain occasions. Such as if one wanted to use the phonograph to record a concert they would use the Edison Concert Phonograph, which produced louder sound and had longer wax cylinders that would record longer. Still to this day the phonograph has had improvements made and is now known as a record player. The phonograph was the foundation for the record player; therefore, Edison has credit for inventing the record player. Without the phonograph Alexander Bell would have never had the desire to improve it and make what is called the gramophone and Emile Berlin in turn would have never further improved the gramophone to where it requires records and is now known as a record player. She changed the gramophone to where it interpreted grooves on flat discs instead of a cylinder. You would think that, that is it for the advancements of the phonograph, but that was not the end. Eventually, people got rid of all the wax cylinders, needles, and stylus. Modern day record players use electricity to convert the vibrations of sound from the spinning record into electrical signals, that are fed into an amplifier; thus, making the sound much louder. So basically, now people have the option of getting electric record players. While that may be easier, more convenient, and seem better because things that are technologically inclined are viewed that way in society, the sound is different. It does not have the same soft sound the needle makes when it touches the vinyl. It also does not require as much assistance, such as the changing of records or fixing of the needle. However, that vintage, beautiful sound and assistance needed which requires the listener to sit near and just listen, is what makes vintage record players still popular to this day.
After the invention of the record player, the listening of music as a leisure activity increased (Smith). People now had the possibility to listen to any song of their choice. No longer did they have to try to catch the song on the radio or hope that it would come on. People had the opportunity to listen to new music because since they now had a device to listen to it on, all they needed now were the records. Before the record player they might have heard the song on the radio or in concert but did not know exactly what the song was called or who the artist was. However, after the invention of the record player people could go to record stores and browse new music. This caused people to become exposed to different genres of music and experience different perspectives based on the artist or the audience the artist was making it for. The availability of diverse music and easy access to music of ones choice allowed people to listen to music to feel a certain way. If they were in a certain mood they now had the opportunity to have music that matched their mood or got them out of their mood at the tip of their fingertips. They could either put on a old song that they know like the back of their hand, or they could go find a artist or song that they believe they will connect with. Music began to become an outlet in the sense that it exaggerated or deflated ones mood. If a war is over and the citizens are celebrating, they are in a happy mood; therefore, they would listen to the national anthem and other patriotic songs to help elevate and emphasize their mood (Jason 4). If someones loved one passed away in the war then they are mourning; thus, they may listen to their loved ones favorite song as comfort to fill the void and lessen the sadness they are feeling. The record player in a way ignited the beginning of music as a way of expressing ones feelings (Smith). Without the record player, people would not have been able to express themselves as easily, frequently, and whenever they desired to.
A person that has been touched by the record players abilities, as stated above, is my grandfather. My grandfather fought in the Vietnam War in the 1960s (William Pouncey Jr.). He was not only a survivor of the war, but more importantly in that time period he was also an African American. While this was not the first war where blacks were allowed to fight with whites, there was little to no improvement since the first time they were allowed to fight together (Reef). The blacks were still treated as less and received unequal and cruel treatment. They always got the short end of the stick overseas. They were the last to rest, eat, and receive shelter or clothing; however, they were the first to be put in the first line during combat because the first line has the most likely chance of getting injured or killed and they were the first to be left behind. My grandfather, William Pouncey, was use to this treatment (William Pouncey). Being an African American male was not only difficult for them overseas, but also in their daily lives (Mullen). My grandfather claims to have been treated far worse then he was when he was overseas (William Pouncey). Matter of fact, he says that the way he got treated overseas was considered a break compared to his life back home. While he was use to this treatment, it still got to him. One might ask why he would enlist in the war knowing that he would be treated badly. Well the reason he did so is because of a family tradition. It is a family tradition in the Pouncey family that all the males enlist in the war. Generations farther back then I can remember enlisted in the war. My grandfather was not going to be the one to stop the family tradition, back down from the challenge, and disrespect, in his mind, the previous family members that took part in the war. He viewed himself as going into war as an honor for his past ancestors. So, he enlisted in the war being ready for and knowing he would be discriminated against because of his skin color. He decided to listen to music as a way to get through the war and life. He claims that without music, he would have never made it through the Vietnam War or life.
One day while overseas, my grandfather decided to purchase a record player from a shop in one of the towns they were stopped in (William Pouncey). He does not remember the name of the town, considering they went to millions of them. He was walking through the village and noticed a little shop that had music playing from it. He was drawn to the sound due to hearing the words “A change is gonna come,” within the tune. He went over and saw that the sound was coming from a record player. He had always seen them back home but never thought about buying one nor could he afford it. However, something about this record player made him feel at ease. He finally felt relief for the first time in his entire life. Those comforting words from Sam Cooke soothed his soul. He then knew in that moment that he had to get the record player. The only question was how. He had money but not quite enough to buy a record player, at least not over in the States. He asked the lady who owned the shop the price, just to humor himself, and he was baffled by the response. He had more than enough money because money from the States was viewed as more valuable here. So, he not only bought the record player but he also bought Sam Cooke’s vinyl record “Shake.” Now that he has the record player and record, the next obstacle was hiding and keeping up with it while he was still overseas and then bringing it back home with him. One of his only friends in the war, Jim, helped him look after it and bring it back home with him. He was able to do so because he was white. He was able to claim the record player as his and keep it sheltered with him when possible, put it on the cars when transporting material, and bring it back home with him simply just because he was white (“America in Vietnam”). Without Jim my grandfather would have never been able to have that record player or be introduced to the music of Sam Cooke, and for that he is forever grateful for him. Because of Jim my grandfather is not only the owner of a well kept, vintage Crosley Dansette Record Player, but he is also responsible for the starting of a new family tradition. The record player is now a family heirloom in my family and is passed down to the male of every generation that is enlisting into the war.
Due to the negative effects during this time period on specifically African American soldiers and their families the most that the record player has been played was the first couple of weeks after my grandfather came home from the Vietnam War (Steven Pouncey). My grandfather was coping through everything that he had gone through overseas, while also trying to adjust to being back home. His father and brother, were also adjusting to him being there but not actually being “there”. To cope and adjust to how the war changed both his and their lives they listened to music on the record player. The record player saved them. Without that record payer, his family claims that he would have never become “himself” again (Roscoe Pouncey). In the beginning of the process of my grandfather enlisting in the war, he worked very hard to join the war (William Pouncey). He made sure that he was prepared mentally and physically. If there was a standard he didn’t meet or a criteria he didn’t understand, he did everything in his power to have it met and understood. However when he got home, he claims that if he had known how badly he was going to be treated while overseas, he would never have fought so hard to go there in the first place. He says that what he experienced over in Vietnam was something no one should ever have to go through. The things he saw and heard he would give his life over having to go through it again. Due to his inability to speak of the things he saw I was only able to get a gist of how it made him felt and not what it was that made him feel the way he did (“America in Vietnam”). He knows that he was a completely different person after the war, but he says, “The person I was got killed on the battlefield,” (qtd. in William Pouncey). He claims that he had to become a different person to do the things he had to do to survive and serve his country (William Pouncey). He was permanently changed after the war, and he did not think he would make it. He said he thought to himself over and over, “What a shame it would be to make it through all that and then fail because it was too much to think about. It was like baggage being held over my head of everything I had done. But I had to do what I had to do to survive,” (qtd. in William Pouncey). So, he used the same outlet that he used to make it through war, to make it through the rest of his life, music (William Pouncey).
What many people do not think about, is how going to war effects the families of the soldiers just as much as it effects the soldiers (“America in Vietnam”). My grandfathers father and brother lived their life in fear of my grandfather not making it (Steven Pouncey & Roscoe Pouncey). They not only feared for his life while he was overseas, but also when he came back. Like I stated above, he was not the same person when he came back. He was there at home, but he was not living. They claim that he was just going through the motions of life but not truly living to where his motions had purpose. So, just like my grandfather, they listened to music to give them hope that he would make it while overseas and that one day he would go back to his old self or at least a person that felt as if they had a life worth living for. Seeing how much the war effected him and hearing about how much he went through, motivated his little brother and later on son to give everything they had overseas (Roscoe Pouncey & William Pouncey Jr.). They wanted to fight in honor of his hard work and refusal to give up. His brother claims that he was always going to enlist in the war because it was a family tradition, but hearing his older brother listen to the same song by Sam Cooke, “A Change is Gonna Come,” for weeks after he got home, really pushed him to try and make that change come (Roscoe Pouncey). He felt that if he went to war to help our country and protect the people in it, that some how he was contributing to the change that was gonna come. If it were not for that record player my grandfather would have never heard that song and made it through or after the war and his brother would have never had the strong drive he had while overseas and possibly not made it through the war also. That song connected them (“Music for the Common Man”). It held their family together. They both connected to that song in a way that was so deep to where it gave them the push to not only keep going in life, but to do so with purpose. Music is a universal language because it connects people, gives them what they need, and speaks volumes far more powerful than words.
As you can see based on my family’s experiences, music has had an extreme effect on peoples lives. It has specifically greatly contributed and impacted African Americans and their culture (Martin). African Americans were playing music as far back as when they were first brought to the United States from Africa as slaves. The first Africans transported to the United States brought with them a variety of music styles that were representative of their diverse ethnic groups. They not only used music as a form of leisure and representation of their culture, but they also used it as communication. Slaves would use instruments to communicate between plantations to figure out a way to escape or check up on each other. Eventually their masters caught on and took away their instruments they used to communicate. However, that did not stop them from communicating. They still found ways to talk between plantations they just had to be more creative. Therefore, they came up with unique and affordable ways of making noise; thus, cultivating very distinctive instruments and sounds. Without music African Americans would not have had a way to communicate and have some enjoyable moments in their life, which was very difficult to do so in this time period (Reef). Music became a foundation for their culture (Martin). They used it as a representation of their culture by creating music that only they understood and defined who they were. Not just who they were as people but as a culture. Their distinctive music allowed others who were not apart of their culture understand how they were feeling. It became a universal language in the sense that it gave others the opportunity to have insight into their world and it allowed them to communicate without words but through rhythms and beats.
My grandfather was not the only one to listen to music during rough times as stated above. Listening to music during controversial and rough times was very common in the past and still is to this day (“Music for the Common Man”). Music will come out that will touch on controversial issues, such as in todays world there are gay pride songs. Music will come out that will try and distract and, or help in rough times, such as war music. There would be songs that were aimed specifically at aiding the soldiers (Jason 4). The songs would instill hope, faith, and motivation in them and in turn helped them make ninety-days seem like thirty-days. There was also music for the soldiers family waiting back home. Their families were always anxious, hoping that their soldier would make it through and would get lonely from not seeing them months at a time. So, music came out that helped their families back home cope by cheering them up in times of sadness and loneliness. Music helped people get through tough times. Music during war has served as a means of communication and as a psychological weapon. The mood of the song or the meaning behind the song, such as national anthems or songs played when a solider is being buried, says all the words that are needed to be said without actually saying them. The anthems say the honor that everyone is feeling for their country and the burial songs say the sorrow and respect they feel for the fallen soldier. Music is a psychological weapon in the sense that it allows people to escape from reality for a second and get lost in the noise (“Music for the Common Man”). It allows people to keep that tune with them and play it over and over or sing it over and over until it is repeated or spoken enough to where they believe it. They do not even have to believe in the words they are listening to completely, but that little shred of hope that the words they are listening to may be true, will give them the faith and push that they need to make it through whatever they are going through. Music not only connects people, but it also unites them. There are songs that certain groups have that is “their song” to where when it is played they are reminded that they are one. For instance, national anthems. Countries use their national anthems as a reminder that they as a country are a unit. This is why a countries national anthem is played before celebratory events, such as the Super Bowl, or grave events such as a press conference after a school shooting. It reminds the citizens of the country that no matter what they are going through, whether it be happy or sad, that they will make it through because they are a unit and unity is the key to success. Music makes people feel connected by reminding them that no matter what, we are all united.
Music is a universal language. It connects people in a way that is so deep that we do not even realize that we are connected. If we realized that we all experience a personal connection when we listen to music, then we would see that we all have one thing common. That one thing is music. However, it is not just music. It is the fact that we listen to music to feel and to help us stop feeling. We all listen to music in times of happiness, sadness, and anger. We use music as an outlet for our emotions and a way to express them when we do not know quite how to put our feelings into words. Music is a universal language in certain groups such as cultural groups, and in just random people in the world. As for cultural groups, music has greatly impacted them by being variant depending on what it is that cultural group needs. Such as when African Americans were slaves, they needed music that gave them ways to communicate and keep faith that one day they would be free (Martin). As for just random people in the world, there are many people in the world who are completely different who listen to the same song for the same reason. I’m sure there are many people in the world who have listened to “Champions” by Queens when they are celebrating a win. The definition of universal is “affecting, concerning, or involving all” Music affects, concerns, and involves all people in the world (“Universal”). Therefore, music is a universal language because we all use it as a form of expression. It is our voice, without us even knowing it.