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What's happened to political songs? |
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#1 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 258
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What's happened to political songs?
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? |
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#2 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: uk
Posts: 350
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"too many protest singers, not enough protest songs".
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#3 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Emmerdale
Posts: 4,291
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Still about in other genres/artists. Perhaps less mainstream though.
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#4 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Emmerdale
Posts: 4,291
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Quote:
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? |
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#5 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Emmerdale
Posts: 4,291
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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 |
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#6 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 168
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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 |
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#7 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: London
Posts: 3,849
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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 |
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#8 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 710
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Quote:
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? |
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#9 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 11,893
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Paolo Nutini - Iron Sky
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELKbtFljucQ |
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#10 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,034
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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 |
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#11 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,773
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Quote:
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? |
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#12 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: I like to singy singy singy...
Posts: 17,667
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Willy Mason, Oxygen.
Adam Freeland, We Want Your Soul. |
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#13 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: I like to singy singy singy...
Posts: 17,667
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Quote:
Eminem - Mosh
https://vimeo.com/27790825y 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 |
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#14 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 588
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Quote:
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 What are your overheads |
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#15 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Belfast
Posts: 7,287
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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 |
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#16 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Belfast
Posts: 7,287
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Being more positive D'Angelo's 'Black Messiah' album has some strong socially aware songs on it. '1000 Deaths', 'The Charade' etc.
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#17 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 165
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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 |
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#18 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,288
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Someone not been turning on BBC 6 music then.
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#19 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 259
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#20 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Bristol
Posts: 9,446
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Quote:
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?
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#21 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,282
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Quote:
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.
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#22 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 168
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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 |
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#23 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: In England
Posts: 4,349
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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 |
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#24 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 7,436
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Quote:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12ijyZgvbv0 Masters Of war Or this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz9WLci27xc John Brown |
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#25 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: At college, in L.A.'s office
Posts: 54,221
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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
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