Jack White isn’t necessary known for recording political music, but there has been a few flirtations with writing socially conscious lyrics. For example, “The Big Three Killed My Baby” off of The White Stripes 1999 self titled debut is a protest against the automobile industry. Also during later performances of that tune White modified the lyrics to protest the Iraq […]
Learn more →“People’s Champ” is the newest single from Canadian indie rock band the Arkells. The catchy tune and fun video could cause some to lose sight of the socially conscious lyrics which resonates in today’s political climate. The song is a plead for leaders who truly care about their citizens. The lyrics also take a number of shots at Donald Trump. […]
Learn more →On May 4, 2018, English folk punker Frank Turner released his 7th studio album Be More Kind. Turner experiments with different elements and deviates from some of the rawness of previous albums. Lyrically it is probably his most socially conscious album to date. We will now look at five of the tracks from the album. Each of these contains timely messages […]
Learn more →“Can’t Deny Me” is Pearl Jam’s first original tune since their 2013 album Lighting Bolt. They released the protest song as a fan club single. The scathing lyrics takes clear aim at the Trump administration with lines such as: “Where’s your vocabulary? Your ignorance is sinful You plant your lying seeds Watch as the roots take hold The country you […]
Learn more →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 →Rock n’ roll folklore is filled with songs that eventually became prophecy. One of these tunes is “2 Minutes to Midnight” by Iron Maiden. The heavy metal classic is from their 1984 album, Powerslave. According to the Doomsday Clock, it is now officially two minutes to midnight. The Doomsday Clock was founded in 1947 by the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists […]
Learn more →On December 3, 2017 (televised on December 26), LL Cool J became the first rapper to be honored at the Kennedy Centers Honors. Even though he isn’t necessary known as a political rapper, on occasion he has been known to address political concerns. For example, on his 1990 album, Mama Said Knock You Out, he addressed police brutality on the […]
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 […]
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