Back in November 2016 I started writing a book on the historical developments of protest music tentatively titled 500 Songs of Protests. Writing about music’s link to a variety of protest movements while the US election was winding down and then witnessing the aftermath of the results, made for an interesting climate to write about this subject. Within this backdrop there […]
Learn more →“Justice” is a collaboration between jazz musician Trombone Shorty and funk band Dumpstaphunk. The New Orleans natives released this funky jazz fusion tune on Donald Trump’s inauguration day. The music video also features poignant imagery which blends well with the song’s lyrical message. Dumpstaphunk’s Ivan Neville made the following statement about the tune’s intent: “Inauguration day seemed to be an […]
Learn more →Sharon Jones sadly lost her fight with cancer on November 18th, 2016. After her death Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings posthumously released the album, Soul of a Woman (“Matter of Time” off of that album was one of the 50 Best Protest Songs of 2017). One of the songs recorded for that album session was “Tear It Down”, which didn’t […]
Learn more →“What a Time To Be Alive” is the title track to Superchunk’s 11th studio album which is due out on February 16th. Both the song and upcoming album deals with the realities of living in Trump’s America. According to lead singer Mac McCaughan, it is a record “about a pretty dire and depressing situation but hopefully not a record that […]
Learn more →“Mother” is a cover of a Pink Floyd song which appeared on their classic 1979 album, The Wall. Lyrics such as “Mother, should I build the wall?/Mother, should I run for president?”, takes on added weight with the Trump presidency. The video for Palmer’s haunting rendition, depicts a dystopian world where child labour is used to build a wall, while a […]
Learn more →The jaded cynic may dismiss music videos as simply promotional vehicles to help a musician go viral and to increase their net worth. Even though that synopsis is often accurate, when done properly music videos can be elevated to a fine art, capable of making profound statements. With socially conscious music the visuals can also reinforce the lyrical impact. Here is […]
Learn more →When I complied the list of the 25 best albums of 2017, there were a few EPs I was seriously considering as well, but I ended up going exclusively with full length albums. So, here is a list of my top 5 EPs. Feel free to protest the list in your comments. 5: Bridges Not Walls – Billy Bragg The […]
Learn more →As far as protests go, this is pretty straight forward. Fiona Apple composed this chant for the Women March on Washington which took place on January 21st, 2017. “We don’t want your tiny hands anywhere near out underpants” just doesn’t apply to Trump and recent efforts to re-shine the light on the sexual allegations against him, but that refrain takes […]
Learn more →Later today there will be a Senate election in Alabama. The Republican nominee Roy Moore is not only an accused child molester, but he has a long history of promoting racist and homophobic behavior. One example was when asked by a black man during a September campaign rally when he thought that America was last great and he responded with: […]
Learn more →On October 10, 2017, Eminem performed an anti-Trump freestyle during the BET awards entitled “The Storm”. On December 7th, Eminem furthers attacks Trumps and tackles systemic racism in the polarizing “Untouchable”, the second single to his upcoming album, Revival. For those commenting on this supposed new-found “wokeness” and him suddenly becoming political, this isn’t his first foray into political commentary. For example, […]
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