Germany: Eat You Up by BoA
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/bb/7e/4e/bb7e4ec412bdc1b6ec0fbb6f4d548f6c.jpg
I wanted to emphasize that the goal of Germany was to eat every other country up. On September 1st, 1939, Germany began its series of aggression by invading the neighboring Poland. From there, Germany violently and rapidly expanded its territory by invading Denmark and Norway in 1940. Germany did not stop there: soon after its invasion of Denmark and Norway, Germany launched its attack on France. The lyrics tell a story about how “I” will eat “you” up. The word “you” is referring to the every country on this planet except for Germany, as Hitler and the Nazi regime dreamed of taking over the entire world with their alliance with Italy and Japan. Germany was convinced that they are the dominant country that is destined to take over the world. The country wanted to show off their formidable power and the lyrics of this song coincides well with that.
Japan: So What by Pink
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/bb/7e/4e/bb7e4ec412bdc1b6ec0fbb6f4d548f6c.jpg
This song represents Japan’s attitude towards the rest of the world: doing whatever that advances their agenda and not caring about other nations’ concerns. For example, Japan went ahead and bombed the Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, even though they knew the attack would affect both the Allies and the Axis. Japan’s attitude is further exemplified by the fact that they did not even care about committing atrocious war crimes such as killing innocent civilians. For example, Japan murdered thousands of Chinese civilians during the Nanking Massacre, which happened in December 1938. Historians estimate that about 40,000 to 300,000 civilians were ruthlessly slaughtered by the Japanese Imperial Army in the most grotesque way. This is a prime example of how Japan did not care about anyone but their own agenda during the Second World War. So what would be a perfect song to represent Japan’s stance? ‘So What’ by Pink contains lyrics such as: “I wanna start a fight, I got a brand new attitude and I’m gonna wear it tonight. I wanna get in trouble, I wanna start a fight.” This, I believe, perfectly represents Japan’s insatiable appetite for extreme aggression during the 1930s and 40s.
The United States: Freedom Isn’t Free (Team America OST)
http://www.lovethispic.com/uploaded_images/95307-Freedom-Isn-t-Free.jpg
About 400,000 Americans had died in the Second World War, and this number alone is enough to show how much of a hefty price America had to pay to protect the freedom of the Allies. Just like the lyrics of this song, freedom is not free, and we are not inherently born with it. During the Second World War, Americans believed that they were going to war in order to protect and preserve their freedom. Although America prevailed, the country had to pay a hefty price for the freedom, through the economic, social, and political consequences during and after the war. By August 1945, 12 million American men were serving for the Army, and they had to suffer through emotional and economic difficulties even after the war. To win the war, America had sacrificed so much. That is why the theme song for the U.S. is "Freedom Isn't Free."
Russia (Soviet Union): We Used To Be Friends by The Dandy Warhol
Germany and Russia’s relation go back way before World War II. Russia helped liberate Germany in 1812-15 in the Napoleonic Wars, and the two were generally friendly for a century. In 1939, Nazi Germany and the USSR signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. It was a non aggression pact that effectively made the USSR an ally to the Nazi regime. However, Germany broke this pact in 1941 by attacking the Soviet-protected territory in Poland. After that incident, the USSR and its leader Stalin joined the Allied forces in order to protect their territory and defeat Germany. Therefore, a song that sings about how two people used to be friends but are now enemies is perfect in representing the USSR’s position during the Second World War. Russia used to be friends with Adolf Hitler, yet they were betrayed.
Rosie the Riveter: Who Run The World (Girls) by Beyonce
http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=65293201
Who Run The World (Girls) is a perfect song to represent Rosie the Riveter because Rosie the Riveter was an icon of feminism, representing strong American women who worked hard during the war to produce many of the war supplies. Almost 19 million American women worked in factories and offices during the war, as the majority of American men were away fighting in Europe or Asia. For many women, this was the first time that they were given the opportunity to work in such environment. ‘Who Run The World’ by Beyonce delivers a strong feminist message that women rules the world. Rosie the Riveter is commonly used as a symbol of feminism and women's economic power. They are similar in a way that they both portray the message encouraging women to be strong and confident.
French Resistance Fighters / Charles De Gaulle: Home by Michael Buble
French Resistance Fighters and their leader, General Charles De Gaulle, were exiled from their own country (France), after France’s defeat to the Nazis in 1940. A puppet regime set up in occupied France - the Vichy regime - collaborated with the Nazis to plunder resources from the French people and intimidate them into submission. Many important figures in the Resistance, such as General De Gaulle, had to flee to the United Kingdom and work with the British Intelligence for years in order to take back their homeland. For many years, the only goal that they were working towards was to drive the Nazis out of their country and go back to their homes. Michael Buble, in his song 'Home,' sings about how all he wants is just to go home. Therefore, it is a perfect song to describe how the Resistance would have felt during their exile.
Adolf Hitler: I Am The Best (2NE1)
http://cp91279.biography.com/1000509261001/1000509261001_1630293503001_BIO-Biography-Adolf-Hitler-SF.jpg
This song by 2NE1 is a perfect representation of Adolf Hitler and his attitude during the Second World War. Not only did Hitler believe that he is the best, but he also believed that the Germans - specifically the Aryan race - were the only people worthy of any respect. Hitler believed that those with blonde hair and blue eyes are the only “desirable” ones, and the Nazi Germany even tried to advance eugenics in order to “breed” the ideal Germans that Hitler dreamed of. It is ironic that Hitler himself did not have blonde hair nor blue eyes, but it is very clear that he believed himself to be the best, regardless. Therefore, a song that expresses ungrounded confidence in oneself represents Hitler perfectly.
President Harry S. Truman: I’ve Got To Go On My Own Way by Vannessa Hudgens
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cf/Harry_S._Truman.jpg
President Truman was a determined and straightforward person who made a few controversial decisions such as dropping two atomic bombs on Japan in August 1945. However, I believe that Truman truly believed that he was doing the right thing, and that his personality definitely affected the decisions he made during and right after the Second World War. President Truman did anticipate that his decision to actually use nuclear weapons on Japanese civilians will attract much criticism. However, once he made up his mind, he did not look back. Therefore, ‘I’ve Got To Go On My Own Way’ is perfect for describing President Truman: he was an independent person who did what he believed was right, no matter what the critics said.
Japanese American Soldier: Heartless by Kanye West
Although Japan did attack the U.S. by sending suicide bombers to Pearl Harbor, Japanese Americans during the World War II were innocent victims of history. Two months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt signed into action the Executive Order 9066. With this order, more than 110,000 Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated to internment camps set up to imprison them for the duration of the war. The reason provided for this violation of basic human right was that Japanese Americans - even though they were Americans - might betray their own motherland by spying on it on behalf of Japan. In a formal apology issued in 1988, the U.S. government granted $1.6 billion in reparations to all survivors. However, I believe this was not enough to pay for what they have done to Japanese Americans who were did nothing wrong and were loyal to their country. This song sings about betrayal by a loved one. “How could you be so heartless,” West sings. Yet, the lyrics suggest that the singer is still in love with the woman who betrayed him, and is waiting for her. I believe this perfectly represents how Japanese Americans felt like when they were imprisoned by their own country for no reason.
King George VI: Call You Mine by Jeff Bernet
http://cp91279.biography.com/1000509261001/1000509261001_2008602120001_King-George-VI-Visiting-FDR.jpg
King George VI was the last emperor of India and the first Head of the Commonwealth. On September 1939, Britain declared war on Nazi Germany. Germany started bombing the U.K. very intensely, and London was constantly in danger of being burnt to a crisp. However, King George VI stayed loyal to his country and his people throughout the turmoil. Once France fell, Britain was the only country left in Western Europe, defending itself against the advancement of the Nazis. Britain was desperate for help. King George VI went all the way to America to go see FDR, who has declared earlier that United States will not be joining the war. Despite this, the King went to America to form amicable relations with the American president. He was the first ruling British Monarch ever to visit America. It would have been a very hard decision for him to accept the invitation from FDR because no British monarch
No comments:
Post a Comment