politics in music

its a subject that has probably had its heyday with the likes of bob dylan...protest music...songs like blowing in the wind were not only beautiful songs but also had strong anti war messages

are these same kinds of protests becoming less apparent in music due to the influence of the corporations and there appeasement of governments in order for tax breaks

why is it left to ageing stars such as bono of U2 to keep forcing political issues into peoples faces through the use of song

do people like chris martin of coldplay just seem pretentious when trying to lobby for action by writing "make trade fair" on his hand at every gig he does

is political music neccessary or obsolete?

discuss

personally i hate it at the moment because of the people constantly complaining about Bush when they must know full well theres not many countries in the world they could complain about the government and live to tell it

i dont like it if the band is to over bearing with the message it kills the song

It has to be done right.

If you are doing a protest song in order to seem "with it" or because it'll be good for your rep - step back.

If you are doing a protest song in order to differentiate your songs - step back.

If you are doing a protest song in order to merely complain about something, rather than inspire change - take a step back.

If, however, you do a protest song, that is intended to move and sway the masses, against something you truly believe in, then I guess that's Ok.

Also, I get a bit sick of songs that suddenly appear on the radar, tackling things such as the war in Iraq or President Bush. Some people think war was necessary, it isn't always an act of evil either. You've gotta be careful, or you'll just look like a bandwagon jumper rather than looking sincere and truly getting behind the cause.

Culture Club once sang a song about "War is stupid and people are stupid" - what's all that about? That's just a typical crap protest song that should never have been made.

done a search on it

this was vh1's 25 greatest protest songs

25 (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding Elvis Costello

24 Rockin' in the Free World Neil Young

23 Where Is the Love? Black Eyed Peas

22 Do They Know It's Christmas (Feed The World) Various Artists

21 Nelson Mandela The Specials

20 London Calling The Clash

19 Fortunate Son Creedence Clearwater Revival

18 Boom! System of a Down

17 People Have the Power Patti Smith

16 The Message Grandmaster Flash

15 Biko Peter Gabriel

14 Freedom [Live] Rage Against the Machine

13 Sun City Various Artists

12 Anarchy in the U.K. The Sex Pistols

11 Get up, Stand Up Bob Marley

10 Born in the U.S.A. Bruce Springsteen

9 Fight the Power Public Enemy

8 Sunday Bloody Sunday U2

7 Ohio Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

6 Strange Fruit [#2] Billie Holiday

5 What's Going On Marvin Gaye

4 Give Peace a ChanceJohn Lennon

3 Say It Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud), Pt. 1 James Brown

2 This Land Is Your Land Woody Guthrie

1:Blowin' in the Wind [Live]Bob Dylan

if you are going to do one keep it vague if its to blattint your only going to get people who are all ready down for your cause to hear or buy it and thats kind of pointless unless your only goal is to make money
if you want to change peoples minds you have to get people who arnt down for your cause to hear and buy it

does that make sense to any one else

All of RATM's music, and most of SOAD's is political. If you do it right, it can really be great at getting across a message.

No point in being an Eminem and saying "**** Bush!". Coz then someone is sooner or later gonna go "Yeah **** BUS....wait...why?" and he won't have an answer because he doesn't know.

Zack is the best political lyricist to ever live in my opinion.

-AC

Definitely.

Oh I don't know, the boys of Cunninlynguists have written some pretty outstanding political material. It's not their main priority like RATM's, but they're just as passionate and poetic.

Then of course there's Chuck D. Simpler and more to the point can be good too.

Originally posted by Df02
personally i hate it at the moment because of the people constantly complaining about Bush when they must know full well theres not many countries in the world they could complain about the government and live to tell it

What exactly do you mean? You shouldn't complain, because you have the freedom to complain?

I think Public Enemy does it the best. I mean they touch on a wide variety of political social issues in their songs, not just anti-government stuff. They walk about interracial relationships, take shots at 911, talk about women's obsession over fictional male characters (I think), talk about rappers being persecuted for sampling, etc. Of course they do have their "**** the government" stuff too, that's not all their about. That's why I like them best.

Yeah but the reason why Zack is the best is because he talks in depth about everything he brings up. Injustice and corruption etc. He doesn't just say "This society is bad" or "These people need liberating". He tells you things, then tells you why he says them and what needs to be done.

Chuck D definately a fav also.

-AC

Don't get me wrong, I do love RATM. When it comes to purely anti-government political songs I'd put Zack above Chuck D, it's just that gets a little repetitive and tiring for me. Public Enemy are less tied down to one type of subject than RATM, yet they continue to talk about social and political issues throughout their albums. That's the main reason I prefer them to RATM, because they seem to switch subjects more and keep me interested.

Although I'll admit I'm pretty biased.

My favourite political musicians are Bob Marley, Chuck D and KRS-1 mostly because they taught me alot that is relevant to me as a black man. I understand there may be people that are more in depth than these artist but these guys meant the most to me when i was looking for information about my history.

Originally posted by Afro Cheese
Don't get me wrong, I do love RATM. When it comes to purely anti-government political songs I'd put Zack above Chuck D, it's just that gets a little repetitive and tiring for me. Public Enemy are less tied down to one type of subject than RATM, yet they continue to talk about social and political issues throughout their albums. That's the main reason I prefer them to RATM, because they seem to switch subjects more and keep me interested.

Although I'll admit I'm pretty biased.

I agree, Chuck is a lot more varied. I know this because I can listen to Bum Rush The Show, ITANOMTHUB, Black Planet, Apocalypse '91 and Muse Sick-N-Hour, and on each one be completely eager to hear what he's gonna say next, whereas with Rage, for me, RATM and Evil Empire where Zack's albums, Battle Of LA was good too, but there was no new leaps in his lyrical subject matter.

I have to say though, if you pit the two against each other based on pure skill and use of vocabulary, Zack is by far the superior.

Most political music blows donkeys, bunch of bullshit hippie propoghanda whining about Iraq. Very few bands can do it properly.

Dead Kennedys, RATM, Public Enemy - all great.

Politics still drive, and have ALWAYS driven true punk music. Mainstream, I think artists and their labels understand that pushing their own agenda doesn't always sell.

I think its over-rated....