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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“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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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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“Southern trees bear strange fruitBlood on the leaves and blood at the rootBlack bodies swinging in the southern breezeStrange fruit hanging from the poplar trees“ One of the most important songs ever composed and recorded, Strange Fruit” was written by Abel Meeropol as a poem under the pseudonym Lewis Allan. He penned it in 1937 under the name “Bitter Fruit”, […]
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“The Only Band That Matters” The promotional tagline bestowed upon them by their record label may seem like hyperbole, but at times, they came close to scaling the lofty heights of being “The Only Band That Matters.” One of the reasons why they’ve mattered is that they were able to address real-world issues in fresh ways. Their music continues to […]
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The history of protest music is filled with tunes that are often misinterpreted. One example is Woody Guthrie‘s “This Land Is Your Land”. Originally composed as “God Blessed America for Me”, instead of being a patriotic tune, it was meant as a caustic critique of Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America”. The tune’s most potent lyrics often get excluded: “There was a […]
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“This machine kills fascists” It would be impossible to overestimate Woody Guthrie’s impact on American folk music. His contributions to the canon of protest songs are undeniable. His music rallies against fascism, racism, and other injustices. Even though Woody’s initial attempts at a music career began in the early 1930s, he started to gain a wider audience in 1937 when […]
Learn more →After tabulating the results of a previous poll, here are the 2023 nominees for the Protest Music Hall of Fame online archival project. The poll will be open until December 31. Loading…
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