With the vote on bombing Syria today I found myself listening to Bob Dylan's 60s protest songs (particularly "With God on our side"). There doesn't seem to be anyone producing similar material today. All the major stars, whether British (Adele, Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran, etc) or North American (Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, etc) only seem to do music on the theme of failed relationships and break-ups. That in itself is fine, love and sex is an important part of life but I wonder why there doesn't seem to be much music to do with world issues and contemporary concerns.

Maybe it exists a bit under the chart radar, but I do think it would be refreshing if artists sang about things other than their ex-boyfriends/girlfriends. Can anyone recommend any good recent music relevant to things happening in our time, like what existed in the 60s?

"too many protest singers, not enough protest songs".

Still about in other genres/artists. Perhaps less mainstream though.

John Mayer - Waiting On The World To Change (fantastic track)

From a reggae point of view

Beres Hammond - Truth Will Live On
Luciano - There's No Love In The World/ That's The Way Life Goes

No, they don't write protest songs like they use to, certainly not like this one:

We're at war all the papers say
We will win I read today
We are strong it wasn't us
We are right who started this?

Leave your work I just left school
Leave your home I am no fool
Take up arms it left me strong
Sound alarms the school bell rings

Sons of men who stand like Gods
We give life to feed the cause
And run to ground our heathen foe
Our name will never die this time will be forever

Join up here I wave goodbye
We need you, oh my breast sighs
Have no fear now I must try
God will be with braver men

Take the vow I know it's right
Praise the flag the good fight
We're at war I'm on my way
We will win why do I pray?

Sons of men who stand like Gods
We give life to feed the cause
And run to ground our heathen foe
Our name will never die this time will be forever

I wait here in this hole
Playing poker with my soul
I hold the rifle close to me
It lights the way to keep me free

If I die in a combat zone
Box me up and ship me home
If I die and still come home
Lay me where the rose is sown

Sons of men who stand like Gods
We give life to feed the cause
And run to ground our heathen foe
Our name will never die this time will be forever


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pBf...nel=CarlBewley

Eminem - Mosh
https://vimeo.com/27790825
Sweatshop Union - Close to home
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyUCEHDVClQ
Thievery Corporation Ft. Mr Lif - Culture of fear
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApK0kcy7U0Q
Michael Franti - Bomb the world
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICL-4Onk0PA
Brother ali - Mourning in America
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKHsGh-y8d8
Immortal Technique - Bin laden
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdagSIa-UQ8

This isn't the 60's when the huge post-war baby boomer generation were trying to pretend they were relevant.

Paolo Nutini - Iron Sky
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELKbtFljucQ

They're turning kids into slaves
just to make cheaper sneakers
but what's the real cost cos the sneakers don't seem that much cheaper

Try Biily Bragg orr Martyin Joseph. Not chart stuff but their music will make you think

Willy Mason, Oxygen.
Adam Freeland, We Want Your Soul.

Michael Franti is ace! Loved Disposable Heroes.

Why are we still paying so much for sneakers when they're being made by little slave kids
What are your overheads

The triumph of Capitalist ideology and the lack of any serious oppositional or idealistic youth movement in the West.

And of course ISIS don't like music or much art really.

I think these old psychedelic rockers say it well.

http://youtu.be/0nUQJjaXi-A

Being more positive D'Angelo's 'Black Messiah' album has some strong socially aware songs on it. '1000 Deaths', 'The Charade' etc.

M.I.A has just released a new music video entitled "Borders" at it is quite powerful. M.I.A has always produced quite powerful imagery in her music videos regarding racism and political issues.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfABZQedoCc

Someone not been turning on BBC 6 music then.

This

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntLsElbW9Xo


Barry McGuire - Eve of Destruction

They do. Whether the record buying public cares in large enough numbers to get them above the radar is another matter. I think people just don't want to be preached at. Also, whenever a big or biggish singer gets involved in any sort of protest/ awareness campaign, they're usually accused of doing it just to raise their profile or jump on a bandwagon.

Yes, I think one of the factors is how disengaged from politics many younger people have become. At work, I've been surprised at how disinterested and clueless some of them are about current politics.

The desert dust was rising from a military convoy
As it ran into the city with a cargo of despair
It waved away the roadblocks, as it dodged among the car bombs
For the cameras of the tourists in the foxhole inn

In the shadows of the ghetto there's a man beneath a blanket
Being kicked into the basement with his hands behind his head
They read him his confession, he agrees in his confusion
Then he asks for absolution from the cameraman

There is no love in the voice of the diplomat
He's running around in circles
There is no fear in the word of the journalist
He's seen it all before

I've had enough of holy men and holy wars
I wish that I was far away from here...away...away
Well I've had enough of holy men and holy wars
I wish that I was far away from here... away... away

We hear you have a story said the fearless freedom fighter
About jet fighters and missiles and the way the east was won
In the street the flags are burning for the women veiled and howling
And the schoolboys fire machine guns for the man from CNN

There is no love in the voice of the diplomat
He's running around in circles
There is no fear in the word of the journalist
He's seen it all before

He's had enough of holy men and holy wars
I wish that I was far away from here... away... away
Well I've had enough of holy men and holy wars
I wish that I was far away from here... away... away

On a runway west of Berlin there's a general and a contract
For the network man's exclusive and the sponsors campaign plan
In the headlights of the limo there's a smiling politician

For once they lock you up they never really set you free
I've had enough of holy men and holy wars
I wish that I was far away from here... away... away
And I've had enough of holy men and holy wars
I wish that I was far away from here... away... away... away

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsYb...el=isabellle87

i really don't think the thumb twiddling i-phone generation are going to be motivated in any great numbers by a political song.

The best political songs are ones that sneak their message in without being explicit, the worst king are all of Billy Bragg's discography

Nah, this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12ijyZgvbv0 Masters Of war

Or this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz9WLci27xc John Brown

I think most people prefer to listen to music as entertainment and don't want anything deep or political. I'm one of those. To me music is entertainment but also the soundtrack to my life and I prefer catchy pop songs or lively dance songs to anything overly political. I don't pay attention to the lyrics most of the time