International
While the United States did not enter the war until 1917, soldiers and civilians from all across the world were already using music as a form of propaganda. Soldiers would sing songs in the trenches or while marching to keep their spirits up, and many times on the Western Front, marching bands would accompany the troops. Not only was music used to boost morale, it was also used as a sneaky way of complaining about the war and the conditions they were currently in. Being in the military meant you couldn’t openly disagree with the war or any situation surrounding it. Therefor, soldiers would create their own lyrics to typical marching tunes. These lyrics would often be satirical and comical, with inside jokes only known by the other soldiers. These new songs became a form of allowable disrespect, giving soldiers the opportunity to voice their frustrations without being discharged for going against their government.
Back on the home front, music as propaganda was also very prevalent, but in the opposite direction. Here, soldiers weren’t singing against the war and the government. Instead, the government used music to gain support from civilians for the war. On the Allied side (specifically Great Britain), music halls were the popular hang out spot during this era and were used to boost morale on the home front. Audiences would sing along with performers who were singing very patriotic songs, many of which were geared at recruitment. For example, Vesta Tilley, a British music hall celebrity, sang “Your King and Country Want You” as she brought men up on stage to sign up for the war.