The themes of rock songs still shape our political and social agenda today: democracy, tolerance, diversity, peace, the environment

Plato already knew that music can shake entire states. The fact that rock music can shake societies is already clear from its name (which is derived from the German “Ruck”). When Bob Dylan sang “The Times They Are A-changin’” in 1964, it was the announcement of the ’68 revolt. “Satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones and “Mercedes Benz” by Janis Joplin were lyrical implementations of critical theory. David Bowie demonstrably contributed to the fall of the Berlin Wall with “Heroes”, and the Scorpions sang the anthem of change with “Wind Of Change”. Provocative music, a rebellious youth movement and socio-theoretical analysis went hand in hand – and now both rock music and the themes it propagates have also reached Rotary.