A voice for change

Janice Lee, a fourth-year English student and musician at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, believes in the power of music to promote social change.

Lee sings lyrics that call for change on many levels, from the very personal to the universal. "Lyrics are so much more powerful than simple words because the addition of a melody, and the creation of music, takes those words and brings them to another level."

Believing that singing is more emotional, eloquent and inspiring than speaking, Lee writes lyrics that tug the heartstrings of many. "Music brings people together because everyone can feel it," says Lee. "Even if the lyrics are in a language you don't understand, you can still feel the emotion, and emotion is universal."

As a member of The Radical Choir of Waterloo Region, Lee explains that the secret to the choir's success is the fact that they sing with meaning, and that draws people in.

To Lee, music is a great vehicle for social change because lyrics bring an issue into focus as the music also triggers emotions. "Outrage, hope, love - all these emotions can fuel movements. If you don't feel anything about an issue, well then you don't care. So, if a song can get your emotions flowing, it's more likely that you will be motivated to make a change."

Bringing an issue to the forefront is the first step to Lee's music, "So people think about it and know it exists. That's making a change right there, singing lyrics about an issue so others will simply think about it. That's pretty powerful. Anytime anyone calls for change, it starts with yourself, with things you yourself can do. Change really isn't that difficult."

And like Lee says in one of her songs: "I'm going to change the world, and I'm starting with my song."

Mara Silvestri
Junior Journalist

Mara Silvestri is a second-year Communications and Global Studies student at Wilfrid Laurier University. Mara enjoys reading, writing and traveling and hopes to combine her interests to produce social change

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