Where are the good political songs?

fellowmortal@lemmy.dbzer0.com to No Stupid Questions@lemmy.world – 194 points – Piped

I feel like there are lots of parallels between the eighties and now (recession/inflation, yuppies/inequality, skin-heads/fascists, hot-cold wars etc.) but there used to be protest music! Where is that stuff now? Music that's intelligent and outraged - like we should be!

I'm out of touch now, so if it exists, educate me! Or have the protest songs been removed from tiktok by the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act (UK specific, but suppression of protest seems to be everywhere)? (I've linked to the Levellers - maybe it really was better back in the day?)

edit: Maybe not the right audience, but if the song is old enough to vote then I might already know it! What's happening now? Any songs from the last 10 years!

edit: Thanks for everyone's insights. I've spent the day discovering music that I'd never have found otherwise. Really enjoying a load of these, but thanks to everyone! It seems like protest music is confined to certain genres/places, and lots of older songs - maybe they just last longer... which is maybe a little interesting.

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Well, not sure about "good" but punk is and always has been about politics.

Personally, I love the folk punk end of things like AJJ's 'Normalization Blues': https://youtu.be/0EDVM73bU-w?si=_mtGGyFhrmeMRlpZ

In a similar vein, Matt Pless's "where the frayed wind blows" is 5 minutes of angry goodness.

There's also a lot of protest hip hop but I don't know the newer stuff particularly well.

This is great! :D

edit: Anyone know about hip-hop? Would be great to know where to start on that

Try Immortal Technique.

  • Dance with the Devil
  • Impeach the President
  • The 4th Branch

And many more

A lot of rap is political/social, for more mainstream stuff you’ve got songs like ‘This Is America’ by Childish Gambino, ‘Reagan’ by Killer Mike, or even ‘Fuck the Police’ by N.W.A.

You’ve got even more leftist groups/rappers like ‘The Coup’, RATM/Public Enemy supergroup ‘Prophets of Rage’, hardcore shit like ‘Immortal Techniques’ or ‘Non Phixon’, ‘Dead Prez’, ‘Nas’, ‘The Fugees’, ‘Tupac’, ‘De La Soul’ just to name a few more.

There’s also more tankie shit but I’m not gonna promote that authoritarian garbage.

It’s almost harder to find non-political rap than it is political rap when you start breaking down the messages of many songs.

Thanks! Childish Gambino - is a great example!

I didn't know some of these, so I'll check them out, but they aren't exactly new - the rest are from the ninties, right?

I tried mixing it up, it’s probably more early 2000-2010s for the majority. I kinda lost interest in a lot of rap after that whole trap phase started.

Killer Mikes a bit too centrist for my liking but Reagan from 2012 is an amazing song and one I’d recommend the most from that list.

Shots fired by Matt is also great. Oh, can't forget "what you will".

On the Hip Hop note I would say Run The Jewels have some amazing lyrical content in their songs about the state of things

Bro Killer Mike just won a Grammy

He won three! Imo, for the most boring song on his new album, but whatever. But that album is highly political

Well, NPR did an entire article of 20 protest songs that came out in 2020. Looks like they might have made a Spotify playlist of them at one point too.

Here are 30 protest albums that came out in the first half of 2022

Here are 50 protest songs from 2023.

These are just results from pretty simple Google searches. 'protest songs year'.

I'm a big fan of Rise Against. Try these tracks out:

  • Architects
  • Welcome to the Breakdown
  • A Gentleman's Coup
  • Megaphone
  • Holding Patterns

and Bad Religion:

  • American Jesus
  • Meeting of the Minds
  • The Resist Stance

Bad Religion was one of my high-school favorites that has stayed a favorite since. I have every one of their albums saved on my phone.

I personally would add: • The Nowhere Generation • Wolves

If you like Rage Against the Machine, Tom Morello did a solo project called The Nightwatchman that had a lot of great protest songs. I think it’s closer to 15 years old, so not the last 10.

Toxicity - System of a Down was an incredible album about American exceptionalism and war hungriness. The towers were hit a week after the album was released.

Sheesh, some time in June of 2023, Toxicity's debut date became closer to 1/1/1980 than present day

Every single one of their records is more relevant now than ever.

System's whole catalogue really, they're basically Rage Against the Machine, but with an Armenian twist and flair, love them, but can't believe the drummer is a MAGAtard.

This might not be everyones cup of tea, but metal and hardcore are full of protest music. Heaven Shall Burn for example is lyricly anti-fascist and environmentalist (live video because that show is fucking legendary).

Gojira also slaps.

Holy shit! Thanks - that video is outrageous! These are great

Between the Buried and Me, a progressive metal band that is considered legendary, is philosophically political in so much as that most of their albums are about the inevitable decline of humanity and the destruction of everything due to capitalism, greed, regressive ideologies etc. If you've never listened to them you should start with the Great Misdirect. Spotify has a live version I think and it is phenomenal.

Born in the USA

I didn't see this mentioned so wanted to add it. Most people think of it as pro USA, but the lyrics paint a very different message.

For example:

Got in a little hometown jam So they put a rifle in my hand Sent me off to a foreign land To go and kill the yellow man

Uncle Sam Goddamn - Brother Ali
Ju$t - Run the Jewels (and a lot of their or Killer Mike's songs)
Gang Shit - Marlon Craft
The Guillotine - The Coup
I Wish I Was a Riot Grrrl - Destructo Disk
Nobody's Biz - Four Fists

Some of these being older than 10 years is a real bummer lol

Nofx - you’re wrong:

You're wrong about virtues of Christianity And you're wrong if you agree with Sean Hannity If you think that pride is about nationality, you're wrong

You're wrong when you imprison people turning tricks And you're wrong about trickle down economics If you think that punk rock doesn't mix with politics, you're wrong

You're wrong for hating queers and eating steers If you kill for the thrill of the hunt You're wrong 'bout wearing fur and not hating Ann Coulter Cause she's a cunted cunt

You're wrong if you celebrate Columbus Day And You're wrong if you think there will be a Judgement Day If you're a charter member of the NRA, you're wrong

You're wrong if you support capital punishment And you're wrong if you don't question your government If you think her reproductive rights are inconsequent, you're wrong

You're wrong fighting Jihad, your blind faith in God Your religions are all flawed You're wrong about drug use, when its not abuse I hope you never reproduce

You're getting high on the downlow A victim of Cointelpro You're wrong and will probably never know

NOFX has been around for like 100 years, they're the old guard, they're just still active (and alive) somehow haha.

It's not as punk, but the last three albums by Metric are brilliant in how they discuss the current state of the world.

This is good. It doesn't have to be punk - I don't even know what people listen to now...

Lol me neither

The internet fractured culture and there is no one thing everyone is watching or listen to anymore and I don't know how I feel about that

Bella Ciao and Sixteen Tons are perennial favorites.

Both of those are good but old songs, I think OP was wondering where the current protest music is.

Thanks for these - they are great examples of what I want. However, as @shish_mish mentioned, I was wondering what has come out recently? [edit:words]

Thrash metal has a lot of politics, if that's your thing.

I'll give it a try - any suggestions?

If you are starting out with metal, I would recommend Metallica, or Death Angel (albums such as Evil Divide or The Dream Calls For Blood). They have a more mainstream sound. If you enjoy those, either dm me or reply, I can send you more. Or alternatively I have a community: !thrashmetal@lemmy.world, if you wanna check out some less obvious ones.

Some of the classical ones

  • L'internationale, which is still relevant today

  • La banderra rosa

  • Bella Ciao, which despite becoming a pop hit is a struggle song

  • El pueblo unido

  • La butte rouge

-The Red army choir have a ton of great ones

Then on more recent, just look at the punk and rap scene, there is a lot

Womanarchist by Bad Cop/Bad Cop is pretty excellent

The fast paced Ukrainian version of In The Army Now which protests military marketing and conscription (directed at USA)

Laga Reh (translations required lol) which protests Pakistani government complacency in allowing foreign powers (cough USA cough) to dictate the country at the expense of progress and "disappearing" of any local opposition.

Thanks for these - really interesting stuff that I couldn't have just happened upon!

Billy talent are great for political, fuck the government/ big corporations type songs. Not protest songs so much. But it feels pretty on theme. Their messages are great.
Surprise surprise and viking death march are two of my personal favourites songs by them.

That album is absolutely killer and I've loved BN since I heard Try Honesty many moons ago.

That said ... They have been singing about how young people need to fight the system while having one of the most clean, corporate images I can think of for bands in their category.

Watching a 40 year old man dance around an arena in VANs and Atticus hoodies while telling contemporary youth that their generation is a "fucking joke" is peak cringe to me.

Still love the music though. Wish he'd do more heartbreak songs, they're his forte.

You mention the UK, so I'll just drop a couple of names of folks/bands talking about racism, immigration and toxic male culture.

Bob Vylan

We live here - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VFqhJyvly1g

Wicked and Bad - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KRJ-s7jRyAM

Idles

Danny Nedelko - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QkF_G-RF66M

Lambrini Girls

Lads lads lads - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IuLK56UrCL0

There's a lot of good punk still happening.

Guilty as charged. Good stuff - I'll look out for these - my new years resolution is to see some live music.

Bob Vylan and Idles are great, will check the Lambrini Girls, thanks

Garbage - No gods no masters. Whole album is shamelessly political.

The men who rule the world Have made a fucking mess The history of power The worship of success The king is in the counting house He's chairman of the board The women who crowd the courtrooms All accused of being whores

I listen to a lot of punk music so obviously it's strongly political. Here's just a few off the top of my head:

  • White People for Peace by Against Me!
  • Unprotected Sex With Multiple Partners by Against Me!
  • Survivor Guilt by Rise Against
  • State of the Union by Rise Against
  • The Eco-Terrorist In Me by Rise Against
  • 45 by Sum41
  • Empty Walls by Serj Tankian
  • Prison Song by System of a Down
  • Christian Nationalist by Anti-Flag
  • Die for your Government by Anti-Flag
  • 72 hookers by NOFX
  • Please Play This Song on the Radio by NOFX
  • Fuck Euphemism by NOFX
  • Take Back the Power by The Interrupters
  • Quarantine by Blink 182

I tried to include a bit of variety and not all be anti-war songs from/about the Bush era. A couple are about the music industry specifically, and one is a musical rant about kink culture (and it's not the one you think based on the title!) I'm also a big Rise Against fan so I tried to pull out some non-singles from accross many years since basically any song by them has a good political message. I highly recommend looking up the lyrics to all of these after the first listen or better during the second listen

Nofx is doing their retirement tour right now and it makes me super sad I won't be able to go

I love this question. Perhaps there is also the record labels and mainstream media that prioritize marketability and mass appeal, which most probably would discourage artists from producing overtly political content, the stuff that may be thrown into the controversial or polarizing basket just doesn't pull in the bucks these days.

Leslie Fish is still writing music. Plus her old works from 1980-s (eg It's Sister Jenny's Turn to Throw the Bomb and Firestorm) are as relevant now as they were 40 years ago.

Gary Clarke Jr. Has some good protest songs, especially for a blues musician, including a remake of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young's Ohio.

Municipal Waste is great for some hardcore, there's actually a bunch of hardcore bands that have some excellent protest songs.

Then you have Ice-T's Body Count.

Lamb of God's albums post-Randy's time in a Czech prison have been full of social commentary, far more than the earlier albums.

I've seen people highlight Killer Mike's Grammy wins, but his other group Run the Jewels is pretty much the biggest name in protest rap these days.

Then you have Kendrick Lamar, possibly the best rapper of his generation, absolutely one of the greatest story tellers of rap, period.

Overall there's a lot of pop, metal, rock, rap and other genres who have some prominent names and many lesser known names who are putting out good angry music.

Then you have Ice Cube putting out Arrest the President then proceeding to talk about voting for that same president.🤦‍♂️

I don't know if thease two are protest songs, but they are near enough: Plavi orkestar - Fa Fa Fašista, Bijelo dugme - Pljuni i zapjevaj moja Jugoslavijo

Edit: They are yugoslavian, so not that relevant now.

This thought has occurred to me recently. What is this generation's soundtrack? What is the music everyone will look on and say it defined the time?

There isn't one so much these days because streaming has given everyone their own particular music bubble. And stuff can still get insanely popular, but there aren't hits that everyone talks about anymore.

Despacito, the fox, Gangnam style, shape of you, cruel summer, blinding lights, etc.

Anything by flobots, old stuff or new is pretty political

Maybe I'm late but I recommend Speak by Queensryche, it's about revolution. The entire album Operation Mindcrime is a rail against religion and capitalism told through a character recruited into an underground revolution. It's very good and a song that contains the lines "educate the masses" and "burn the Whitehouse down" gets a thumbs up from me

Spreading the Disrase also…

Fighting fire with empty words While the banks get fat and the poor stay poor And the rich get rich and the cops get paid To look away as the one percent rules America

They were talking about the 1% LONG before it was popular to do so.

Body Count, Ice T Rage Against the Machine Green Day Tool,more about religion

Tyler Childers - Long Violent History

It's the worst that it's been since the last time it happened It's happening again right in front of our eyes There's updated footage, wild speculation Tall tales and hearsay and absolute lies

Been passed off as factual, when actually the actual Causes they're awkwardly blocking the way Keeping us all from enjoyin' our evening Shoving its roots through the screens in our face

Now, what would you get if you heard my opinion Conjecturin' on matters that I ain't never dreamed In all my born days as a white boy from Hickman Based on the way that the world's been to me?

It's called me belligerent, it's took me for ignorant But it ain't never once made me scared just to be Could you imagine just constantly worryin' Kickin' and fightin', beggin' to breathe?

How many boys could they haul off this mountain Shoot full of holes, cuffed and layin' in the streets 'Til we come into town in a stark ravin' anger Looking for answers and armed to the teeth?

Thirty-ought-sixes, Papaw's old pistol How many, you reckon, would it be, four or five? Or would that be the start of a long, violent history Of tucking our tails as we try to abide?

Or would that be the start of a long, violent history Of tucking our tails as we try to abide?

Ashenspire - Hostile Architecture

Chat Pile - God's Country

2 recent albums I've been slapping. Dangerously spicy at times, and unapologetic.

Given that Tiktok is a corporation with likely ties to a government that is not particularly fond of protest, perhaps it is not the best place to find protest music. Having said that, Muse continues to make protest music as they always have. I suppose the problem is that protest music doesn't often get included on music platforms, leaving us with a sanitized version of the musical landscape.

Stand Out Riot is an incredible ska/hardcore band with mostly political lyrics. They are from UK so I don't get all of the references, but they are fucking awesome anyway.

Since I haven't seen him mentioned yet, Ted Leo is still making albums.

How about some Billy Talent? Love them musically, but lyrically they are equally strong. Some songs that come to mind are: -Reckless paradise -Kingdom of Zod -Surprise surprise -Dead silence

Additionally I'd add Paramore's 'The news' from their recent album.

Most stuff mentioned here is from artists few people know. We need the big names to step up and take a stand.

I can already see it: Taylor Swift - Fuck tha police

The weekend - War

Beyoncé - Get up, Stand up

Bieber - give peace a chance

Drake - the revolution will not be televised

And Ariana Grande - I hate the rich