Does protest music exists anymore?

[FunBobbyMucha]

On a major label, at least? I've been thinking about the great stuff I've heard over the years: "Ohio," "Born in the USA," hell even "End of the Innocence" had a political consciousness, whether you like the song or not.

I'm gonna turn 40 this year, I don't get out as much now, and I've been wondering who is out there writing and performing anti-Bush music? Can someone of that ilk even get a recording contract these days? I'm talkin' flat-out protest music. Who's doing it?

[Fenris]

1. "Hail to the Thief" by Radiohead, "BOOM" by System of a Down...

everything Rage Against the Machine ever made...it's there, you just have to know where to look.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

2. In France it does

G8 -Tryo

j'ai, j'ai, j'ai, G 8 lascars qui me saoulent (8 lascars qui me saoulent)
J'ai, j'ai, j'ai, j'ai envie de me sevrer (ouais)
J'ai, j'ai, j'ai, G 8 lascars qui me saoulent (8 lascars qui me saoulent)
J'ai, j'ai, j'ai, j'ai envie d'en parler (ouais)

J'ai ouï-dire que notre avenir c'est des Berlusconi,
des Bush, des Yang Xe-Ming, des Mac Dos, des industries,
des dollars, des euros, des actions qu'on investi ,
des politico pourris qui pensent au nom du profit
J'ai ouï-dire que notre présent, c'est notre avenir
Si c'est ça nos gouvernements alors y'a pleins de chose à dire
Y sont dans la cour des grands
Qui va bientôt rétrécir
Parce que devant y'a des gens
Qui veulent vivre et sourire

J'ai, j'ai, j'ai, G 8 lascars qui me saoulent (8 lascars qui me saoulent)
J'ai, j'ai, j'ai, j'ai envie de me sevrer (ouais)
J'ai, j'ai, j'ai, G 8 lascars qui me saoulent (8 lascars qui me saoulent)
J'ai, j'ai, j'ai, j'ai envie d'en parler (ouais)

J'ai, j'ai, j'ai pas peur pour mon gosse
J'irai à leur sommet montrer le peuple et sa force
L'attaque est un essai, qui fait peur à vos négoces
Et qui pourrait bien ruiner, vos espoirs et vos forces
J'ai, j'ai, j'ai pas peur pour mon gosse
J'suis pas le seul à en avoir fait au travers d'un monde féroce
Y'a pas d'ambiguïté, maintenant qu'il est né
J'vais pas le laisser évoluer dans un tel merdier


J'ai, j'ai une mauvaise nouvelle
C'est vous qui avez le nez dans vos poubelles
Et même si à Gênes, vous matraquez les rebelles
À notre envie de lutter, il pousse des ailes
J'ai, j'ai une mauvaise nouvelle
Votre boursicotage tient avec des ficelles
Et quand ça va casser
On va être là pour regarder
Votre gueule s'écraser d'un trait sur le pavé

J'ai une bonne nouvelle
On va boycotter en force et faire des étincelles
Belle est l'amitié oh oui qu'elle est belle
Belles sont les idées oh oui qu'elles sont belles
J'ai j'ai une bonne nouvelle
On va boycotter en force et faire des étincelles
Belle est l'amitié oh oui qu'elle est belle
Belles sont les idées oh oui qu'elles sont belles
http://www.azuraweb.com/tryo/g8.txt

[Soloflecks]

3. Here's some.

The problem is not lack of protest music; it's lack of playing it on the radio. Big surprise, I'm sure.

This is really cool. Next to each line of lyrics is a link to a website. You can also listen to the song at this link. "What Would You Do" by Paris (the rapper, not the socialite airhead).

http://www.911timeline.net/whatwouldyoudo.htm

And here's Davey D's list of hip-hop protest songs:

http://www.daveyd.com/commentarylantiwarsonglist.html

There's more; I just don't have time right now. It's not all rap or hip-hop, although I'm very happy that those artists are getting into this arena.

[stinkeefresh]

4. punk band NOFX

has a great song (even getting airplay here in LA) along these lines. I think its called "Franco unAmerican". The best thing about it is that it gives you a reading list, right in the lyrics. From Howard Zinn to M. Moore to "Fast Food Nation". And its upbeat and catchy.

[jpgray]

5. Yeah, but it's really, really dumb (nt)

[stinkeefresh]

10. what is?

the NOFX song? Well, it may be light entertainment, but it spreads some important resources to some people that may not otherwise hear about them.

Nothing dumb about that.

[el_gato]

6. I was gonna mention Paris as well but hell even

John Couger Mellencamp recorded that song you can download
called To Washington

and Steve Earle has some good stuff

not to mention all the shit Jello puts out on Alternative Tentacles

there's alot out there you just won't hear it on clear channel

also Bad Religion puts out some good stuff

[stinkeefresh]

7. oh, and the Beastie Boys...

had a fierce anti-war song, but it was only available on thier website. (Of course, it was the ONLY thing on thier website. one download- nothing else.)

Best line: "They're laying on the syrup thick! We ain't waffles, we ain't having it!"

And the B-boys have a fan base to rival Howard Dean's.

[jimbo fett]

8. U2 was once a protest band. Then they became celebrities...

And it all went to hell from that point.

[Loonman]

12. Actually, they were more of a Christian band

Read the lyrics to the October LP.

Bono has gone on record many times decrying the use of "Sunday, Bloody Sunday" as a protest song.

[IronLionZion]

20. but what is that song for then?

because Irish people really did die on that fateful sunday in the 70's right?

[kaitykaity]

9. Sepultura has some good stuff.

Brazilian metal band. (They make my ears bleed.)

So You Want A Nation?
Your Very Own Nation
Push The Machine Aside
Many Have Tried

We Have Always Been There
We Will Always Be There
Making Sure You Need Us
And Feed Us

We Got The Money
We Got The Power
We Got The Guns
We Got TV

You Are Our Livestock
We Make You Love It
Slave And Dream For Escape
But Scared To Death Of Change

[geniph]

11. Some of the artists who wrote the old protest music

are still doing it, e.g., Jackson Browne, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen - all have had songs in recent years with some very pointed lyrics.

Jackson Browne's Lives in the Balance:

I've been waiting for something to happen
For a week or a month or a year
With the blood in the ink of the headlines
And the sound of the crowd in my ear
You might ask what it takes to remember
When you know that you've seen it before
Where a government lies to a people
And a country is drifting to war

And there's a shadow on the faces
Of the men who send the guns
To the wars that are fought in places
Where their business interest runs

On the radio talk shows and the T.V.
You hear one thing again and again
How the U.S.A. stands for freedom
And we come to the aid of a friend
But who are the ones that we call our friends--
These governments killing their own?
Or the people who finally can't take any more
And they pick up a gun or a brick or a stone
There are lives in the balance
There are people under fire
There are children at the cannons
And there is blood on the wire

There's a shadow on the faces
Of the men who fan the flames
Of the wars that are fought in places
Where we can't even say the names

They sell us the President the same way
They sell us our clothes and our cars
They sell us every thing from youth to religion
The same time they sell us our wars
I want to know who the men in the shadows are
I want to hear somebody asking them why
They can be counted on to tell us who our enemies are
But they're never the ones to fight or to die
And there are lives in the balance
There are people under fire
There are children at the cannons
And there is blood on the wire

[ret5hd]

13. Steve Earle...(but dont know if he meets your qualifications)...

some of the most powerful protest stuff written...
check out "Christmas in Washington" (older)
or "John Walker Blues" (new, re:John Walker Lindh)

[Bridget Burke]

21. Another vote for Steve Earle....

Some specifically "protest" songs, lots more with some social consciousness. Others that are just beautiful tunes--or that rock.

I don't just like him because of his beliefs--he makes some fine records. His voice is a not-so-great "songwriter's" voice, but he sings with feeling. Musical backing ranges from solo acoustic to heavy-duty rock. He did a whole album with the Del McCoury (Bluegrass) Band & does an Irish tune from time to time. (He's been known to hang out in Galway City.)

[soup]

14. Anti-Flag

Maybe it's an age-thing - but I have trouble understanding what they're saying and find them 'ear-jangling' if that's a word. The lyrics themselves are really really good, though.

lyrics (and annoying flashing ads) here-
http://www.quicklyrics.com/lyrics/Antiflag.htm

[SlavesandBulldozers]

15. A Perfect Circle

check out this new song by A Perfect Cirlce on their new album "Thirteenth Step"

the song is called Pet

Don’t fret precious, I’m here
Step away from the window
Go back to sleep

Lay your head down child, I won’t let the boogie men come
Count the bodies like sheep to the rhythm of the war drums
Pay no mind to the rabble, pay no mind to the rabble
Head down, go to sleep to the rhythm of the war drums

Pay no mind what other voices say, they don’t care about you like I do
Safe from pain and truth and choice and other poison devils
See, they don’t give a fuck about you, like I do
Just stay with me, safe and ignorant, go back to sleep, go back to sleep

Lay your head down child, I won’t let the boogie men come
Count the bodies like sheep to the rhythm of the war drums
Pay no mind to the rabble, pay no mind to the rabble
Head down, go to sleep to the rhythm of the war drums

I’ll be the one to protect you from your enemies and all your demons
I’ll be the one to protect you from a will to survive and voice of reason
I’ll be the one to protect you from your enemies and your choices, son
One and the same I must isolate you, isolate and save you from yourself

Swaying to the rhythm of the new world order and
Count bodies like sheep to the rhythm of the war drums
The boogie men are coming, the boogie men are coming
Keep your head down, go to sleep to the rhythm of the war dums

Stay with me, safe and ignorant, just stay with me,
Hold you and protect you from the other ones,
the evil ones don’t love you, son

Go back to sleep….

[wysimdnwyg]

16. Incubus' new song "Meglomaniac"

While the lyrics don't specifically name Bush, the video has him all over it. I love the line "Step down... Step down..."

[ElsewheresDaughter]

17. NOFX's "War on Errorism"....great CD

[Brewman_Jax]

18. Public Enemy

In fact on the Revolverution CD is the song Son of a Bush referencing both Bush* and Bush, Sr.

[musiclawyer]

19. we are doing it

check out our songs HowardDean and Deluge

www.cdbaby.com/tallinndefiant

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

22. Black Eyed Peas

Where's the love