1967 Atlantic Record Promo Photo 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 […]
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Source: malvinareynolds.com “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 […]
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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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Source: Mrmw | Wikimedia Commons Music plays an integral role in filmmaking. When employed successfully it can create ambiance, even to the point of becoming an additional character in the movie. It can make an excellent film even more iconic. At other times an outstanding soundtrack to a forgettable motion picture can transcend the movie and even have a significant cultural […]
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Sinéad O’Connor (December 8, 1966-July 26, 2023) Photo courtesy of Man Alive, via Flickr 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 […]
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One of the objectives of this site is to create an online archive of artists, albums, and songs that have made significant contributions to the canon of protest music. With that in mind, back in 2018, I decided to create an online Protest Music Hall of Fame. I invited website visitors to fill out a Google doc to nominate their picks, […]
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Source: Markus Spiske | Pexels One of the objectives of this website is to document music’s link to different protest movements. Music often mirrors what is happening in the world, so it is no surprise that many protest tunes address environmental concerns. Here is a small sampling of songs that deal with climate change. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) – Marvin […]
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Ragana, from the artist’s Bandcamp Music is often a reflection of the current political climate, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that multiple artists this month recorded music in response to the Israel-Palestine situation. Of course, climate change is still a thing, and racists, fascists, and homophobes still exist. Here is your recap of notable socially conscious music released in […]
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Hurray For The Riff Raff, from the artist’s Bandcamp I started this website back on December 6th, 2017. During that first month, I hastily compiled a list of the 25 best protest albums. Back then I wasn’t cataloguing what I was listening to like I am now. I decided to revisit the list and expand it to 40. You will […]
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Speedy Ortiz, from the artist’s Bandcamp Here is a recap of some of the notable socially conscious music released in the past month. Songs/Videos Red, White, and Blue – Kishi Bashi In 2019 Bashi released Omoiyari (one of the best protest albums of that year), an exceptional concept album that linked the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II […]
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