When determining whether or not a song meets the definition of a protest tune, an important factor is intent. Often, it is the intent of the songwriter. At other times, it is the intention of the singer. It is possible to have two versions of the same song, and only one of the versions is a protest song. A notable […]
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John Lennon was no stranger to socially conscious music, contributing many notable tunes to the canon of protest songs. One of his standouts is “Working Class Hero” off of his 1970 album, John Lennon/Plastic Ono. While some of his songs might come across as simple sloganeering, “Working Class Hero” is an insightful social commentary on class splits and how society […]
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“Some of those that work forces are the same that burn crosses” Often the most effective protest songs are the most direct. That is the case with “Killing in the Name” off Rage Against The Machine‘s 1992 self-titled album. In the face of injustice sometimes the most appropriate response is a defiant “fuck you.” This anthem of disenfranchisement attacks systemic […]
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“Emancipate yourselves from mental slaveryNone but ourselves can free our mindsHave no fear for atomic energy‘Cause none of them can stop the timeHow long shall they kill our prophetsWhile we stand aside and look? OohSome say it’s just a part of itWe’ve got to fulfill the Book” More of a solo acoustic folk song than a traditional reggae song, Bob […]
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One of the most important protest tunes of all time, the genesis of “What Going On” happened when Four Tops vocalist Renaldo “Obie” Benson, witnessed police brutality in San Francisco in May 1969, while on tour. While stuck in traffic, Benson observed young protestors being brutally attacked by cops wearing riot gear. “The police was beatin’ on them, but they […]
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“When she walks, the revolution’s comin’In her hips, there’s revolutionWhen she talks, I hear the revolutionIn her kiss, I taste the revolution” These are lyrics to Bikini Girl’s tune “Rebel Girl”, widely considered the anthem of the riot grrrl movement. “The power of “Rebel Girl” is that it’s about being a feminist pirate, being an adventurer,” states Bikini Kill vocalist Kathleen Hanna. “It’s not […]
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“Don’t push me cause I’m close to the edgeI’m trying not to lose my headIt’s like a jungle sometimesIt makes me wonder how I keep from goin’ under” That famous chorus is from the landmark socially conscious tune “The Message,” released in 1982 by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. Before that time, rap music was known for its party […]
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“And the people in the housesAll went to the universityWhere they were put in boxesAnd they came out all the same” “Little Boxes” is an anti-conformist anthem composed by singer-songwriter and political activist Malvina Reynolds in 1962. The satirical tune critiques suburban housing development and middle-class conformity. It also popularized the term “ticky-tacky”. The song also received widespread attention when […]
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The influential and controversial Irish singer-songwriter first received international success with her 1987 debut The Lion and the Cobra, which sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide. Her 1990 follow-up, I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got was even more massive, selling over 7 million worldwide, and featured her mega-hit rendition of Prince’s “Nothing Compare To You”. But her most important impact goes beyond […]
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“We shall live in peaceWe shall live in peaceWe shall live in peace, some day Oh, […]
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