What happened to the music of protest?

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-03-28 04:26pm

After the infamous killing of four students in Ohio during a civil rights demonstration, Neil Young's "Ohio" became a big hit. Other protest songs like "Fortunate Son" were popular during the Vietnam War. But today, with something like four major conglomerates running the entire music industry and active efforts to freeze out smaller players and Internet competition through legal coercion and political lobbying, anything remotely controversial is verboten.

Is the era of genuine relevant social commentary in music dead? Nothing left but poseurs who whine about the difficulties of growing up in suburbia or being kept down by The Man?

Frank Hipper · Post by **Frank Hipper** » 2003-03-28 04:33pm

Darth Wong wrote:Is the era of genuine relevant social commentary in music dead? Nothing left but poseurs who whine about the difficulties of growing up in suburbia or being kept down by The Man?

Yes.

theski · Post by **theski** » 2003-03-28 04:35pm

The only thing I heard was that they were going to drag out Joan Baez for some rally.. Nothing New..

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2003-03-28 04:35pm

I'm certainly disappointed that rap has become the voice of protest and controversy; that's for sure. But things are starting to heat up in the political climate, now, what with the war and all. I think we might just see some intelligent protest tunes yet.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-03-28 04:35pm

Well, there's Paris, an American rapper who writes some scathingly anti-Bush lyrics (however he also rails against the Illuminati). Maybe you're right.

aerius · Post by **aerius** » 2003-03-28 04:37pm

R.E.M. just came out with one, Sarah Slean performed an anti-war song (can't remember the title) at a concert last month, Chantal Kreviazuk performed "G.I. Joe" in protest at recent concerts, "The Full Nine" is working on a protest song, it may even be out now. Unfortunately these artists aren't all that well known and radio wants everything to be nice and happy so they don't play any of this stuff. But if you're out in the live concert scene you'll notice a fair amount of anti-war sentiment, but once again, how many people watch live concerts these days?

Queeb Salaron · Post by **Queeb Salaron** » 2003-03-28 04:38pm

Darth Wong wrote:Is the era of genuine relevant social commentary in music dead? Nothing left but poseurs who whine about the difficulties of growing up in suburbia or being kept down by The Man?

Essentially, yes. First it was the Beatles to put politics into music, Dylan shortly after, EVERYone in the 70's, Punk in the 70s and 80s, Some early-90's metal... and then it just died. Everything went to emotional stuff: a whole bunch of introspection with the grunge movement of 1993, R&B has always been laced with personal accounts of bad situations limited to daily occurences, Hip-Hop is just mindless dance music that rarely ever does anything more than tell a story, techno is a joke, numetal is a whole bunch of mindless screaming about pain and suffering on a shallow personal level, and pop... well... Pop sucks.

Which is why I like old stuff. Particularly old Jazz. Gershwin... ::Drools::

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2003-03-28 04:41pm

I'm suprised Bono, Springsteen, & Dylan haven't done anything.

Then again, I miss "War What it is Good For", but this is Definatly NOT my father's war.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-03-28 04:43pm

Bono supported the war in Afghanistan. I don't know about the war in Iraq, however.

As for Dylan? He really hasn't been very political at all since the 60's.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2003-03-28 04:45pm

I see Ted Turner has transformed the infamous "Hanoi Jane" into a Hausfrau too.

EmperorChrostas the Cruel · Post by **EmperorChrostas the Cruel** » 2003-03-28 04:48pm

The hip hop rap community will only make a song, protesting the war, if doin' bitches, ridin' fancy wheels, or selling dope is involved. Or pimpin'.
Pop stars, only if one of the 2 protgonists were cool, or hotties.
Country, are you kidding?(Red necks, white socks, and blue ribbon beer?)
Salsa, latin? It's all about dancing!
Oldies rock, well, there IS no new oldies rock.
Classical, or jazz? No one understands scat, (as is is nonsence sounds, using the voice as a musical instrument.) and classical has no words.

What's left?
Punk? New age space music? Gregorian chants? Native American music?
Central American tribal music? Aboriginal music?
I'm running low, and no takers.
I think Sherrol Crow has one, and Paula Cole as well.
They are just not good enough as MUSIC, to play to the crowd.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2003-03-28 04:50pm

So it's left to the Alterinative/New Folk crowd again...

---Edit---

Quick, Alanis, Enya come out of Hiding and that movie soundtrack work your needed.

EmperorChrostas the Cruel · Post by **EmperorChrostas the Cruel** » 2003-03-28 04:51pm

I just thought of this. If the war can be portayed as the white man, keeping the black man down, Rap will take up the cause.

Too bad arabs and blacks are separate.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2003-03-28 04:53pm

Rap can be persuaded,

You just need to get Minister Farrakan involved.

Frank Hipper · Post by **Frank Hipper** » 2003-03-28 04:58pm

What passes for Punk these days can hardly be described as anything but corporate-cock sucking pop. Good Charlote=Justin Timberlake.

Queeb Salaron · Post by **Queeb Salaron** » 2003-03-28 05:01pm

Frank Hipper wrote:What passes for Punk these days can hardly be described as anything but corporate-cock sucking pop. Good Charlote=Justin Timberlake.

AMEN TO THAT!!!

irishmick79 · Post by **irishmick79** » 2003-03-28 05:09pm

Once the artists with actual talent realized how much more money they would be making if they went with the big time record labels, they sold out in a new york minute. Most of the ones left, either don't sound interesting, or don't have the talent to write compelling stuff.

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2003-03-28 05:11pm

But Good Charlotte, they like, talk about how terrible it is to be a suburban white kid! They sing about petty, minor bourgeoise difficulties! This is the anthem, throw all your hands up and the like. They're keeping it real, yo.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-03-28 05:15pm

Ick. I never cared much for punk much at all (too much socialist garbage), but Good Charlotte is really awful.

Arthur_Tuxedo · Post by **Arthur_Tuxedo** » 2003-03-28 05:49pm

System of a Down's song Boom! is the first counterculture anti-war song I've heard that's of any merit. You can get the music video from their site.

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2003-03-28 05:58pm

Too bad I hate System of a Down.

Enforcer Talen · Post by **Enforcer Talen** » 2003-03-28 08:51pm

there was protest music at a protest I went to. a friend of mine got out a literal war drum and drowned em out.

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi · Post by **Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi** » 2003-03-28 10:57pm

Personally, I think politics have no place in music, just like logic has no place in the mind of a fundie.

There are plenty of protest songs out, and the ones that haven't wirtten songs against the war are spouting it out in other ways.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2003-03-28 11:02pm

What's wrong with SoaD?

Hey, just interested; any pro-war songs out? Or is it dirty and wrong for celebrities to be pro-war?

Post by **Gandalf** » 2003-03-28 11:06pm

Who would want a music protest with the current musical crap out there do we really need the Backstreet Boys or some crap like that rapping about the war?

If only Midnight Oil and The Screaming Jets were still around...