Hallucinogen and Music Essay

The era of the 1960s and ahead of time 1970s were the clear reverberations of both mysticism and altruism. It saw the rise of the American subculture know as the hippies, which professes itself through exotic clothing and erotic slogans that are centered on the subversion of the contemporary Western orderliness into a more liberal atomic number 53. Nonetheless, the bow of hallucinogenic drugs that largely permeated during the same period catapulted the rise of a medicine genre that is centered on an intensely esthetic entrancement, known as psychoactive music.Beca physical exertion of this, various artists emerged and gained popularity in the say field, further reinforcing the usage of hallucinogenic drugs through their craft. In this respect, this paper desire to analyze how the music of some groups during 1960s, specifically The Doors, The Beatles and The Jefferson plane were affected by the usage of hallucinogens, and the impact that their music had and still seduce within the society. psychodelic drugs A Background Hallucinogens are diversified groups of drugs that can alter a persons perception, thoughts and mood.Because it is a heterogeneous group, hallucinogens are noted for their varying chemical structures and mechanism of actions as rise up as different adverse make among its users. While small-army claim that hallucination is the instantaneous effect of exploitation hallucinogen, which are identified as false perception that check no pictorial basis, it was stated that most hallucinogens are more likely to change moods and thoughts rather than the actual hallucinations itself (Richards, 2006).The usage of hallucinogens can be traced from the hi tale of many cultures notably as a means of religious and mystical takes. Rig Veda, which is the Hindus holy book, mentioned the use of soma, a substance that is capable of inducing higher levels of consciousness among its users. It is believed that Soma is derived from the juice of Amanita Mas caria, a hallucinogenic mushroom. Similarly, in pre-Columbian Mexico , the Aztecs were noted to have utilise teotlaqualli, a paste that is derived from the hallucinogenic flower known as ololiuqui, during their religious ceremonies.Both the Aztec priests and soldiers rub the substance on their skin, and it was though that the teotlaqualli eliminates the emotion of fear and places its users under a proper mental state of military service to the Aztec gods. The abprofessional people of Mexico were similarly noted to have a long history of using peyote, which is mescaline that contains hallucinogens, during religious ceremonies. Likewise, in Salem, Massachusetts, it was proposed that hallucinogen use is the primary(prenominal) cause of unlikely behaviors of alleged witches during witch trials (Richards, 2006).The very first synthetic form of hallucinogen known as Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) 25, was discovered in 1938 by Dr. Albert Hoffman in Basel, Switzerlands Sandoz Laborat ories. At that time, Dr. Hoffman was searching for drugs that have medical purposes. He stumbled upon LSD and did not realize that the said drug have mind-altering features. It was in 1943, that Dr. Hoffman acciden loftyy consumed the drug that he realized its mind-altering effects right after he jazzd hallucinations.From then on, LSD was widely distributed for medical research. It was alike utilise for psychotherapy as such the term hallucinogenic is used to describe LSD which implies that it actually causes the symptoms of common mental problems (Levinson, 2002). By 1957, Dr. Humphry Osmond coined the term psychoactive in order to come up with more positive label for drugs that have consciousness-expanding properties, and later on the term LSD emerged.Psychedelic was further used by Timothy Leary and other advocates of LSD during 1960s in order to market the said drug as a substance of good pleasant that boost an individuals inter and intra-personal understanding, gives a he ightened feeling of spirituality and increased level of creativity. Leary and his colleagues found their inspiration in promoting LSD in the personal identity of Aldous Huxley (1954), a British novelist and essayist. Huxleys book entitled The Doors of Inspiration, was one of the major molds that introduce Leary toward the positive use of LSD.The title of the book was undercoatd on William Blakes (1963) words If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is infinite (Blake, 1963, p. 14 cited in Levinson, 2002, p. 76). Generally, Huxleys book chronicled the favorable experiences he encountered in account to mescaline, a psychedelic drug that can be derived from peyote mushrooms (Levinson, 2002). Due to Learys affectionate advocacy, many people were swayed to use LSD.His devised motto subprogram on, tune in, drop out spurred many young individuals to experiment with the said drug in order to exclude themselves from mainstream society. Likewise, mo vie stars and entertainers alike lauded the mind-altering effects of LSD many have veritable(a) incorporated it within their lifestyle that it has become a significant part in the indicatement of the hippie counterculture. Hallucinogen and music Psychedelic rock During the 1960s the widespread use of hallucinogens was recognized in account to the belief that ingesting the said substances eventually lead to mind expansion. It was even asserted that, why limit oneself with the experience of life on a banal level when one can experience life in a world where places are new and exciting through the usage of the said chemicals? Due to this, many are swayed by such rhetoric that hallucinogen use has become a trend incorporated in the counterculture lifestyle (Levinson, 2002). Young people tried to exist differently from the conventionality of the society they rather see in large groups instead of small families avoiding good paying jobs, and generally looking for excitement instead of becoming obedient and dutiful citizens.Nonetheless, the music of the said era reflected the beliefs and attitudes of the said counterculture becoming the persona to the new generation that cared less for power money and only wanted to live outside the rules set by ordinary society (Grimbly, 2001). The emergence of psychedelic rock has played a profound role in reinforcing the understanding that hallucinogen use is an inviting activity that promotes the feel of intra and inter-spirituality and becoming one with the environment.Many bands jumped into the bandwagon of the psychedelic era, including The Jefferson plane, The Beatles and The Doors which were considered as the forerunners of psychedelic sound. Before proceeding to the discussion of the music of the pertained bands, it is first an imperative to define psychedelic music. popularly known as Psychedelic Rock, psychedelic music or acid rock emerged during the later parts of the 1960s in California. It was music created under the influence of mind-altering drugs predominantly the LSD.The main features of this form of music are the long improvised instrumental passages, which are deemed as the replication of the mind-altering effects of LSD, in the mise en scene of musicality. Likewise, bands who used this form of music clearly shows their willingness to engage in experimentation through effect pedals, that are responsible for notes distortion from guitars, that range from wail to sustained percussive sounds (Grimbly, 2001).Such feature is a clear manifestation of the musicians inclination with hallucinogen characterized by their profound usage of distortion of notes and experimentation, which nonliterally represents the strong effects of hallucinogen use. The Jefferson Airplane Considered as one of the most crucial bands during the psychedelic era, The Jefferson Airplane from California experience a huge commercial victor because of their hallucinogen induced music. The music of the said band was n oted to have epitomized the drug-taking ethos of the hippies. Their interaction with people during their concert mirrored what was going on at that time.The 1967 phonograph album known as Surrealistic Pillow contained one of the most notable psychedelic tenors of all time which is White Rabbit. As the term surrealistic indicates, having the experience of disoriented and hallucinatory quality of dreams it was a clear manifestation of the bands inclination to hallucinogen use and its impact on ones mind (Jefferson Airplanes White Rabbit, 2008). White Rabbit has become a full blown cultural phenomenon as it manifested the rampant usage of LSD during the said period. create verbally by Grace Slick in 1965, Whit Rabbit was influenced by Lewis Carrolls Alices Adventure in Wonderland.However, instead of maintaining the classics original representation of the characters, Slick infused the stock with hippie messages, making the characters appear a shade darker, erasing their innocence, as it was centered on the purportedly induced hallucinations of hallucinogens. From the opening lyrics of the song which indicates One pill makes you larger and one pill makes you small. And the ones that mother gives you dont do anything at all. Go ask Alice when shes ten feet tallto the end part that states When logic and proportion have fallen sloppy dead.And the White Knight is talking backwards, and the Red Queens off with her degree Remember what the dormouse said feed your head Feed your head (Slick, 1965) Jefferson Airplanes White Rabbit is indeed a transitory song that is solely interpreted in the realms of Carrolls classic but in a more hallucinatory light. What adds to the depth of this interpretation is the bands usage of decompress building crescendo, snapping snare drum, strong driving electric guitar that creates the hallucinatory experience of its own (Jefferson Airplanes White Rabbit, 2008).Because of the vivid representation of hallucinogen used by the Jeffer son Airplane, White Rabbits influence extended itself in modern music and culture. The song has been covered by more than 100 various(a) bands during their acts, and has been featured in popular television shows such as the Simpsons, the Sopranos. White Rabbit also inspired the creation of the book Go Ask Alice compose by an anonymous writer, which chronicled the life of a teenager who died from a drug overdose.Hunter Thompsons 1972 film Fear and loathing in Las Vegas, featuring a man tripping on bad combination of drugs which are LSD, mescaline, cocaine and alcohol gave rise for the recognition of White Rabbit. Slicks pharmaceutical prescription advice was also referred to as the definitive rendition of the film The Matrix (1999) during a scene where Morpheus offered Neo a pill and said You take the blue pillthe story ends you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you believe. You take the red pillyou stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes (cited in J efferson Airplanes White Rabbit, 2008, n.p. ). Based from the given perspectives, it is evident that despite Jefferson Airplanes advocacy for hallucinogen use, they remained as one of the most sought after psychedelic bands that greatly impacted 1960s and the culture today, as they have become the striking visuals of rebellion that inspired various groups and artists, as well as populace to stand for what they believe. The Doors By far the most influential group to emerge in California is The Doors. Their brief but intensely germinal career, where they were able to record some of the greatest masterpieces in music history, has been widely recognized to date.Fronted by self-proclaimed poet Jim Morrison, the Doors was able to establish their name in the field of psychedelic music. From their name The Doors, which is noted to be a tribute for the poetry of William Blake and Aldous Huxleys psychedelic drug book The doors of perception, the band clearly conveyed their music in the conte xt of mind-expansion accounted to hallucinogen use. In fact, The Doors has been widely recognized for their notoriety in the usage of LSD in most of their performances (Whiteley, 2005).According to Ray Manzarek, the groups keyboardist, the early days of the band was marked by ingestion of LSD. Due to this, their usage of the said hallucinogen provided them a sense of shared of experiences. Each individuals tripping specifics developed a sense of bonding for the group, thereby giving them strong emotional feelings for each other, and eventually becoming the symbolic overtone of how they created their musicsexual and inhibition free which are strong parts of the LSD experience (Mazarek, 1999 cited in Whiteley, 2005).Although, Manzarek and Morrison did not openly discussed the details of their trips with LSD, the shared knowledge that they did have experienced the said drug has become evident within their trance-like music. Their songs reflected LSD use with each members extended solos . Likewise, Morrisons adaptive character, the Lizard King became the metaphorical representation of the hypnotic powers of the drug that entices the listeners to listen to their music and embrace the wild child within them (Whiteley, 2005).It was also found out that the hallucinogenic experience provided by LSD became the most crucial ingredient for the music of The Doors, as they believe that its use provided access for them to reach the metaphysical. As Manzarek pointed out about the hallucinogenic experience and we were off Flying on the wings of love To Nirvana, to the pure land It was divine. It was expansive and harmonious and beatific in one (Manzarek, 1999, p. 120 cited in Whiteley, 2005, p. 143). Apparently, they have used their music to express the transcendent moods that can be experienced under the influence of LSD.Songs such as Light my fire, People are Strange, as well as LA woman reflected the way of life The Doors have lived. Nonetheless, Riders on the Storm is said to be the culmination of the earlier hallucinogenic tracks of the band, as it is dark, mystical, and sinister and alienated, further reflecting what it is like to hallucinate (Whiteley, 2005). The music of The Doors continued to fascinate legions of rock fans even after the death of Morrison. During the mid-80s, the doors music was much popular as it has been during 1960s.Numerous quantities of the bands original album have been sold, including the reissues and releases of their live materials. By 1991, director Oliver Stone created the movie The Doors which tackled the story of the band. From here, it is easy to point out that the fame of The Doors never ceased despite their inclination to LSD usage (Ruhlmann and Unterberger, 2009). The Beatles The popularity of The Beatles throughout the 1960s has been well documented. They started out as mainstream band that eventually marked the British assault in the music industry, and was considered as the reason for the uprising of the wome ns sexual revolution.Their ability to popularize trends and the capability of their music to achieve global dissemination, suggested that they are one of the most significant forces in popular music history (Whiteley, 2000). By the year 1967, The Beatles eventually changed pace. From their mainstream music they jumped on to the American psychedelic bandwagon. The release of their album, Sgt. capsicums Lonely Hearts Club marked their conversion to the underground music. Such change of pace was considered as a significant factor for the British Psychedelic rock.The Beatles change image and emphasis on both love and drugs as expressed in the Sgt. Peppers album is said to be in perfect harmony with the 1960s LSD-influenced mood. The immense popularity of the album notably indicates that the absence of the Beatles during the psychedelic era would have made the British counter culture insignificant. In short, the jump that the Beatles created from mainstream music to psychedelic rock est ablished the British counter culture in the context of cultural themes and music (Whiteley, 2000).Lucy in the gear with diamonds, which was the third track in the album, was considered as the central force behind the British psychedelic rock because it served as the musical metaphor for the hallucinogenic experience. Musically, the songs gentle beats is working directly towards the pulse rate of the listeners making it slow down, while slow shifting of the harmonies used in the base suggest relaxation that brings the audience into a comfortable dream state. Likewise, the melodic lines of each verse is very trancelike, allowing the audience to become reflective, and also creates a feeling of reassurance.Similarly, the well structured rising and falling phrasing of And I love her, For no one, and Yesterday partnered with exotic timbres and filtered vocal delivery makes the audience a heightened redolent(p) good trip. The Beatles knew the effects of LSD and they have enjoyed the hal lucinogenic experience. As such, they use it to their own advantage by inculcating it within their music so as to create a heightened sense of awareness. They used psychedelic imagery such as tangerine trees and marmalade skies in order to strongly support the spatial dimension experienced during a hallucinogen trip.Finally, their jump to psychedelic music promised the audience a route where they can have a changed state of consciousness, which is an authentic experience (Whiteley, 2000). last Based from the data drawn from the study, it is evident that hallucinogen use has become a significant part of the 1960s history. It affected every aspect of the society which paved way for the development of the counter culture known as the hippies. What further reinforced people to view such drug as an important part of the society was the music that deeply reflects the entrancement that can be attained through the use of hallucinogens.The Jefferson Airplanes, The Doors and The Beatles, w ere considered as the forerunners of psychedelic music. They reflected the beliefs and attitudes of the counter culture and they became the voice to the new generation that cared less for power money and only wanted to live outside the rules set by ordinary society. In this respect, they were able to establish their own names through their music that has been significant back then, and is still considered as significant to date. References Grimbly, S (ed. ). (2001). Chapter 3 Rock.The Story of Music Volume 6 From Rock and Pop to Hip-Hop. Danbury , CT Grolier Educational. Jefferson Airplanes White Rabbit. (25 November 2008). Dark Party Review. Retrieved April 24, 2009 from http//darkpartyreview. blogspot. com/2008/11/great-tunes- jefferson-airplanes-white. html. Levinson, M. H. (2002). The drug problem A new view using the general semantics approach. Westport , CT Greenwood Publishing Group. Richards, M. E. (17 April 2006). Hallucinogens. Emedicine. Retrieved April 24, 2009 from h ttp//emedicine. medscape.com/article/293752-overview. 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