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The Power of Protest Music
Posted at 7:55 PM on January 7, 2008
by Mark Wheat
(44 Comments)
Music has awesome powers!
I was reminded of this at the weekend listening to Weekend America telling a story about how a family boosted a 7 yo boy's confidence while he learnt skiing, by singing MC Hammer’s "U Can’t Touch This" when he got the jitters!
If it can boost our confidence so that we can do something scary...I'm going to try to ski for the first time ever this weekend...can it change our minds in other ways? Has anyone asked you "why do you think that way?" and you've realized that it was because an artist that you admire said it in one of their songs...which one?!
Steve Seel did a great job of outlining the history of protest music in our culture last week and Jacqui added that some of the contemporary artists (she used Arcade Fire) do express some very strong opinions in their music without it even being ghettoized as protest music.
What are some other examples?
If protest music is supposed to change our minds about something or at least bring attention to an issue that the artist thinks deserves it, or even confirm our point of view...when have you said dang that's exactly what I think but I've never been able to say it like that!...then which songs work for you in that way?
What are some songs that might not immediately come to mind if someone asked for an example of protest music (wiki is very very inclusive of this genre) but you've realized that it led you to believe something...anything. It certainly doesn't need to be overtly political, when I heard Kimya Dawson's song "Tire Swing" it validated the way I felt about the restorative powers of swinging, in the playground sense of the word!
Which song is the most affective protest song you've ever heard?
We'll play a bunch of your suggestions and read some of your comments on Thursday night between 8 and 9 pm.
Comments (44)
Before he fell in love and got all happy, our own Mason Jennings created a pair of powerful and beautiful protest songs on 'Birds Flying Away.'
'United States Global Empire' came out when I was entering college and resonated strongly with me. It helped fuel my disdain for our government's ever-increasing desire to be the world's police and to patrol it with violence. How true does that hold eight years later?
'Black Panther' is a unique kind of 'protest song.' Like 'United States Global Empire,' Mason (or perhaps a character he takes on)doesn't seem to be very fond of the 'criminal government,' but this song is an homage to protesters of the Vietnam era.
And, of course, his voice helps make his message more powerful in both.
OK, I've started to chime in on this topic (and Steve Seel's original post) at least half a dozen times now, and each time, I feel my response doesn't do the topic justice. I've never specifically been attracted to "protest" music per se, although as an old poli sci major, I'm utterly fascinated by political undercurrents in music. I think the most effective protest songs are the ones that aren't explicit, "hey-look-I'm-writing-protest-music" sloganeering. There's exceptions, of course, but I like those artists and songs that allow the listener to reach their own conclusions, and even more pivotally, to decide whether or not to accept the message in the first place.
i agree with Mac in that i don't find myself actracted to sloganeering-type protest songs (though i do have a massive soft spot for Sonic Youth's "Youth against Fascism" - because its so clunky & heavy-handed, its just silly - you know its gotta be tongue-in-cheek, at least in part). but i do find i like the social commentary sort of song, especially if it sneaks up upon you - a good example would be Greg Brown's "Brand New Dodge" - not until the very end do you realize this whole song is just a portrait of America on an afternoon just before JFK was shot, like the last afternoon of innocence. its chilling.
i heard a little more blatant, but still very incisive, social commentary song just this morning on 89.3 - Patrick Park's "Here we are". its kind of about how we are moving faster but losing touch with things that really matter - like our connections with those around us. i've never heard of him before - i'm gonna have to look him up - thanks Dale & Jim Ed!
When I heard your request for examples of protest songs, one immediately popped into my head. "Imagine" by John Lennon.
Thank you for asking.
"Imagine" seems more and more subversive with every passing year, but when it was a hit on top 40 all those years ago, it was probably the largest influence on my young mind when I was making the big decisions about what was important in life. Now it's 2008, and the song that expresses my thoughts better than I ever could myself is Springsteen's "Long Walk Home" - it's about the direction our country has taken in the last 6 years and how long it will take to get back to the values that made America the greatest society human beings have ever produced.
New World Order by Rosa.
My favourite protest song by far, with a great, driving beat to boot!
BOOM! by System Of A Down
Depending upon your definition of "protest music" would influence my picks.
Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On?" album does a great job of asking what is going on in the world (specifically in light of Vietnam).
Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA" also raised awareness of the affects of Vietnam.
Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are a-Changin'" is a favorite of mine and has had a few cover versions that I enjoy.
The Black Eyed Peas released a great song "Where is the Love?" that got a new generation of youth thinking about the situation of the world.
One must not forget half the collection of U2 as they have tried to call attention to the affairs of the world.
Take your pick, as I could go on and on with more. The important thing with protest music is that it never truly dies. Songs from the early 1900's all the way through to today are sung and trigger people to action. That is the important part of the music is that it brings people into action. In a complacent age, when it is easier to talk about a problem than to do something about it, it is good to have music from all ages that will inspire us to make the world a better place than we found it. Heck, I still remember the words to "We Are the World".
Pete Seeger - We Shall Overcome
Country Joe & the Fish - The Vietnam Song
Billy Bragg - Great Leap Forward
Midnight Oil - Beds are Burning
Dead Kennedys - Kill the Poor
Bob Dylan - Blowin' in the Wind
Peter, Paul, and Mary (Pete Seeger) - If I had a hammer
Edwin Starr- War
Pete Seeger - Where have all the flowers gone?
John Lennon - Give Peace a Chance
Woody Gutherie - This Land is Your Land
'I Ain't Marching Anymore'
--Phil Ochs (1965)
Rebelling Against: War!
The fearless Ochs took Dylan-style folk to another level of topicality, attacking big business, blind patriotism, Jim Crow segregation, even hypocritical liberalism in frank terms worthy of a true outsider. A hero to latter-day rabblerousers Billy Bragg, Eddie Vedder and Sean Penn, Ochs made the ultimate protest statement at age 35: He exited this troubled world by hanging himself.
Listen to the song on this site
http://www.spinner.com/2007/07/13/20-protest-songs-that-mattered-no-15/
Copy and Paste...it workrs great!!!
;)
here's one i've always found pretty affecting from an unlikely source - New Order's 'Love Vigilantes'. being American, i've always heard it as being about the Vietnam War, but Bernard Sumner may have meant in reference to the Falklands. listen to it now, though, and you can't help but see the parallels with Iraq.
another Falklands-inspired great anti-war song: Elvis Costello's 'Shipbuilding'.
and while we're at - regarding songs that are as true today as they were 20 to 40 years ago - howabout Mose Allison's 'Everbody's Cryin' Mercy'? i'd put that with 'What's Goin' On'.
[incidentally, got a funny story about Mose Allison & protest songs - a couple years ago my GF & i caught him at the Artist Quarter in St Paul. he played a song i wasn't familiar with which had some pointed lyrics about fat cat oilmen from Texas stealing the vote for some idiot son. i said - whoah! that must be new song or someting, so i asked about it. the owner said, "no - that's about 30 years old - Mose feels he doesn't need to write new songs anymore, cause nothing ever really changes."]
"She Loves You" by The Beatles.
That song changed more heads than any song in recorded history. It heralded the youth movement, it defined the sixties. Lyrically it's not a protest song, but musically it is a Revolution. It changed the world. It cut thru the traces of the nuclear family and shot us into the swinging sixties. It did all of that without a negative word. In fact the whole song is about the joy of being young and alive, with the affirmation "Yeah Yeah Yeah" you know you should BE GLAD!
Neil Young "Ohio" and "Southern Man"
CCR (John Fogerty) "Fortunate Son"
Bob Marley "Redemption Song"
Cat Stevens "Peace Train"
The Beatles "Revolution"
Foo Fighters "Times Like These" and "Best Of You"
Bob Dylan "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall"
P.F. Sloan "Eve of Destuction" (sung by Barry McGuire)
Ritchie Havens "The Klan" and "Freedom"
Lenny Kravitz "Let Love Rule"
Pearl Jam "Leash"
Oh...and how could I forget...
Nirvana "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
That song both boosted and destroyed a lot of musical careers at the same time!
"Everywhere" by billy bragg
As a true Minnesotan, I think that Bob Dylan's Freewheelin' Bob Dylan is the best protest album. As a 22 year-old, I still feel that I can relate to "Masters of War" even though the war we are currently engaged in is in a different area of the world. He's angry and a little self-righteous, but sends the message home.
However, the song that made me get up and do something peaceful with my life is The Beatles "Across the Universe." Something about the words pasted together makes me feel like peace and goodwill can be achieved, but it's up to us to accomplish it.
'Uncle Sam Goddamn' - Brother Ali ... flat out truth
"Fight The Power" by Public Enemy
When I was in junior high and purchased "Fear Of A Black Planet", I remember Chuck D.'s voice used to kind of scare me. The Elvis line is fantastic.
I think "Shut Em' Down" and "By The Time I Get To Arizona" where good too because of the whole Nike thing and getting a Martin Luther King holiday in Arizona.
I have to second Phil Ochs "I Ain't Marching Anymore" and add Michael Franti's "Bomb the Wold" who just finished up the Power to the Peaceful Festival down in Brazil.
Live, Love, Enjoy
For me, it has to be "Helicopters", by BareNakedLadies on Marroon. The first time I heard it, I cried. It never got much airplay, but it should have.
my current favorite: "sing again" chris walla
chris walla (of death cab for cutie) is releasing his first solo album at the end of the month. i think he's gonna have a lot to say. :)
'For What It's Worth' by Crosby, Stills & Nash always reminds me of the sixties and I always love the song. I think it also relates to more of the political situation in America the longer the current government stays in power.
I don't recall a time when a protest song ever changed my mind, meaning that I switched positions based on a song. However, some songs have raised my awareness of situations, got me to start thinking about the issue. Examples are Buffy St. Marie's "Now that the Buffalo Is Gone" and "My Country 'Tis of Thy People You're Dying". Steve Goodman's "Penny Evans" got me thinking about the plight of war victims here at home.
I have lots of favorite punk, reggae, and rap songs that I could name here, but for me, one of the best songs to tackle injustice is prog rocker Peter Gabriel's "Biko" about the killing of Stephen Biko in a South African prison. It's a powerful, emotional song that gives me chills just thinking about it.
Another one I just thought of is Ben Harper's "Better Way" Mostly generalized angst about the state of everything, but when he starts screaming the lyrics, it's really cathartic. Makes you want to take that frustration to the streets.
Just about everything I listened back in the 80's had something to say about government and society (JFA, DK, Adolescents, Fear, Black Flagg ect). I don't think disco ever came up with any protest songs....now that I think about it. But in the 60's there were tons.
Now?....I think my fav has to be Fiona Apple, Extrodinary Machine.....I think of the poor, or single moms reply to the governments decisions that affect them (That means you Pawlenty)
Thanks for the suggestions and spirited debate, we have enough tunes to fill a great hour of programming, but is there still some songs that we might not consider protest songs, but that have a message that you have uncovered after many listens?
Also we might have to reschedule the on air portion of this discussion as Mary might still be out tomorrow...stay tuned!
Thanks to Jill Riley we have been adding to the discussion from our Myspace page, Eric writes;
"I don't participate in group events, but my two suggestions are "Subterranean Homesick Blues" by Dylan and "Freedom" By Rage Against the Machine."
And people are so desperate to have their voice heard that they are using their Blackberry, like Barb of Mpls;
"Blowin' In The Wind changed my life when I heard it on my transistor radio."
Thanks to david for mentioning one of my fave songs of all time, made famous by Elvis Costello but written by Robert Wyatt who made a great album this year too, "Comicopera". mark K made an awesome post about the Beatles, I'd never thought about THAT before, and MarkW ( not me by the way ) made a fine distinction, raising awareness is right. Dale's example of "Biko" I would wholeheartedly endorse, I literally started to think of other cultures having unique problems by trying to figure out where that haunting song came from. I think a lot of the artists that write these songs that you are suggesting wish that their work was not STILL considered to be protest music, in other words that things would have changed significantly,Mavis Staples said that about her new album, almost echoing the quote that david provided from Mose Allison.
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Steve Earle, a man who is probably on all kinds of government watch lists!
I could throw in many by Michael Franti but Yell Fire! is my favorite.
But Tony's suggestion about Steve Earle made me think of his tune "Jerusalem" about the ongoing frustration of the Middle East and the haunting line: "I don't remember learning how to hate in Sunday School"
Has anyone heard of David Rovics? I recently heard him sing "The San Patrick's Battalion" on a bootleg cassette tape. I just found it on youtube. He has many more. Dissident to the max. Class consciousness big time. Paz. -RM
In no particular order...
"Fight The Power" - Public Enemy
"Cop Killer" - Body Count
"Stars & Stripes of Corruption" - Dead Kennedys
"Untold Stories" - Buju Banton, also Sinead O'Connor's version
"Cashout" - Fugazi
Musicians that resort to protest songs are sellouts. What does a musician know about politics? If you ask me, music is more effective if it focuses on music rather than pleasing a bunch of brainless teeny-boppers by writing songs about the popular opinion of their generation. Protest songs are stupid.
We're on for 8pm tonight as we play musical DJ Host chairs here at the Current!
Thanks for all the suggestions so far, feel free to add more...anyone want to debate Scott? Are protests songs stupid, do you cringe, skip ahead when you come to one, even on a cd you otherwise like?
I m an Iraqi Folk Blues singer ..I made alot
of these along the years and I wish to share
this song its a colab with two amercian friends
of mine sure they are just precious to do that
with me .... just a word to the world !!
Down By The Riverside (with-James Bouchard & Joseph Brady) by Feter
http://www.macjams.com/song/37593
sorry, but since you've asked Mark, i have to take on Mr Long. unfortunately, i do not feel i can do so politely, for i feel his opinion (as expressed) to be woefully misinformed, and in fact suspect that it is so merely because he chooses to be willfully misinformed. Bob Dylan resorted to protest songs because the teeny-boppers of his day wanted to hear it? the teeny-boppers of his day wanted to hear things like "the Twist" and "Surf City". Mr Long, i suspect that you just personally dislike protest songs, and also that you feel your world of entertainment should not be disturbed by opinions you find contrary to your own. unfortunately for you Mr Long, serious artists (of any form of art) pursue their art in part as a form of communication. that would be tough for you, because they will give their opinion from time to time, when so moved.
and in a free society, that is their right.
I have to agree with David in his statements vs. Mr. Scott Long. True art, be that on a canvas, in sculpture, in a photograph, in the cinema and especially in music takes risks. It's a bold reflection of that which haunts or even enlivens the artist.
Not to say that any and all songs with a socio/political protest is art... (Cypress Hill's "Legalize It" comes to mind) ...but to discredit the political opinion of a musician simply for not being a politician is contrary to everything that not only art, but also our country stands for.
Protest songs move me like no other. Psychological science states that the clearest memories are experienced during times of high emotion and music has an incredible ability to evoke emotion. The peace rallies that I have attended are forever in my memory thanks to some of my favorite protest songs including:
One Tin Soldier - Coven
I am a Patriot - Steven Van Zant
Rockin in the Free World - Neil Young
Gimme Some Truth - John Lennon
Protest songs move me like no other. Psychological science states that the clearest memories are experienced during times of high emotion and music has an incredible ability to evoke emotion. The peace rallies that I have attended are forever in my memory thanks to some of my favorite protest songs including:
One Tin Soldier - Coven
I am a Patriot - Steven Van Zant
Rockin in the Free World - Neil Young
Gimme Some Truth - John Lennon
These artists ARE taking risks! Anyone that is in a high profile position has a a great responsiblity to use their voice to make positive changes, but they are risking loosing their audience. Look at what happened to the Dixie Chicks for standing against the president.
Protest songs move me like no other. Psychological science states that the clearest memories are experienced during times of high emotion and music has an incredible ability to evoke emotion. The peace rallies that I have attended are forever in my memory thanks to some of my favorite protest songs including:
One Tin Soldier - Coven
I am a Patriot - Steven Van Zant
Rockin in the Free World - Neil Young
Gimme Some Truth - John Lennon
I think the protest songs that hold my attention most me the most are those epic songs that cry out from oppressive powers and then re-envision and re-imagine life. Folk music has always done this well...Woody Guthrie possessed that quality, so did Seeger.
I think Josh Ritter's "Thin Blue Flame" is my favorite one of those epic protest songs that not only protests, but gives hope.
Art is always political, because art always affects the "polis," the public, our collective life. Perhaps it can protest injustice and then give some sort of re-imagined poetic life as well.
I know it's not in the usual vein of protest songs, but I'd like to propose two songs that got me into rock music in general, that are also protest-y songs.
Black Sabbath - War Pigs
Metallica - One
Yes, I know. "One" is based on Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo (a must read... the first book that ever made me cry). But it's still a good song.
Steve Earl's "Steve's Hammer" on his latest album is also great. It reminds my girlfriend and I of a sentiment captured in "We Shall Overcome."
I actually am against the war, in case anyone was wondering about my political position. Bob Dylan was never a topical song writer. Watch "No Direction Home." He explicitly states that he never wanted to talk about something as trivial as politics. But what I'm saying is that American culture today has no great struggle. The American public is just bored and they need something to bitch about. The difference between today's protest songs and the protest songs sung in the sixties is that they had something noteworthy to sing about in the sixties. I am so sick of rich american youth protesting things just because it's a popular opinion. They are mindless drones brainwashed by other mindless drones. I hate bush. I hate today's political agenda. I hate war in all its forms. However, I have more interesting things to sing about.
And for the record, The Dixie Chicks lost their audience because their audience is a cornucopia of inbred rednecks and slack-jawed yokels.
Hi there. I've been in tune with the current "Debate" regarding protest music..Wow...thanks for allowing the public to voice their opinion over your airwaves, especially regarding such an important topic.
I believe that humans are always in a conflict with their ideal self and their actual self (which isn't actual at all, but merely the perception of their self). I believe that we are all, in some way, aware of the potential that we possess and when we begin to focus on whether or not we are maximizing this potential, we, sometimes, may feel like we are not..or in other words that we have failed or are failing (it is true to say that some people have covered this so much, or have been deprived in some sense and are ignorant) Now...relating this to social/political responsibility...we all feel, in some way or another, at some time or another, that we are not fulfilling this role. So whether one is a politician in action, a political/social activist, a protester, an average Joe, or a musician writing a piece that expresses their opinions regarding this topic...it is okay and should they all should be equally credited and honored. Regardless of what social costume one is wearing and regardless of how many people they are "effecting" externally, one's motive or intention is most important. We all impact one another whether it be the president of the United States, a bum on the corner of 3rd and 7th or an artist attempting to express. We are all attempting, whether we know it or not, to be more effective communicators so we can become better at finding solutions to suffering and better at seeing through misunderstandings which commonly lead to tension, comparing and unecessary clashing. Yes of course we hate other people and their opinions and the impact they have had, but we must focus on our intention, give our self credit for our compassion and become more advanced as far as communicating with one another.
WITH THAT SAID....COULD YOU PLAY A PROTEST SONG THAT WAS DONE BEAUTIFULLY BY A LOCAL BAND I LOVE CALLED
"ABZORBR"
Song: "THORN PICKS ROSE"
or
"THE BED."
Thank You.
Akmud.
Sunday Bloody Sunday by U2.
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