Political Songs - A Good Idea?

[Disturbed]

Political Songs - A Good Idea?

By: Phil Frazier

Should artists be writing about their personal politics and releasing songs which espouse a definite political point of view?

Some artists write political songs while others never do so. Some songs are real specific; obviously left wing or right wing. Is that a good idea? Doesn't this typecast the Artist? Won't this alienate some of the potential fans of an Artist? It may endear the Artist to a specific group of people that hold the same or similar political views but it may also achieve the opposite effect with possible fans that don't share those view at all.

The heyday of USA political songs was in the mid sixties early seventies. It was almost fashionable for folk and rock Artists to sing protest songs. The trend seems to be coming back.

On mp3.com The Bush Recession Station is quite popular.

Bush Recession Radio features music's most important Progressive artists! Bjork, Steve Earle, Little Steven, Bruce Cockburn, Gil Scott Heron, Public Enemy and Jello Biafra!

Shortly after the 9/11 Attacks on the USA quite a few songs came out directly about that (Neil Young, Paul McCartney, Charlie Daniels, many indie artists) and also patriotic songs were abundant of and on the Net.

The MoJo Wire's Top 20 Political Songs



Boogie Down Productions, "Love's Gonna Get'Cha (Material Love)"
Elvis Costello and the Attractions, "Peace in Our Time"
Frankie Goes to Hollywood, "Two Tribes"
Gang of Four, "At Home He's a Tourist"
Geto Boys, "Mind Playing Tricks on Me"
Paul Hardcastle, "19"
Husker Du, "Turn on the News"
Los Lobos, "Will the Wolf Survive?"
Minutemen, "This Ain't No Picnic"
Pet Shop Boys, "Domino Dancing"
Liz Phair, "6'1""
Prince, "Sign 'O' the Times"
Public Enemy, "Can't Truss It"
Lou Reed, "Strawman"
The Smiths, "The Queen is Dead"
Sonic Youth, "Youth Against Fascism"
Talking Heads, "Once In a Lifetime"
Wire, "Reuters"

For more detailed information regarding these Artists and song go to:

The Mojo Wire's Top 20 Political Songs

No doubt there will always be political songs of some kind. While some feel that artists should not espouse political causes, others feel it is a duty for artists to express whatever they feel that they wish to.

©2002 Phil Frazier

http://www.godsofmusic.com/gom/articles.php?action=detail&ID=209

[Moderator]

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Excerpts from copyrighted materials are limited to four paragraphs.

Moderator

[Disturbed]

2. Uh...it's my article.

;)

[Moderator]

3. OOPS. Sorry I did not make the correlation between your screenname

......and the authors name.

Kudos for a well written piece!

Moderator

[Disturbed]

4. Thanks

;)

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

5. Gang of Four was explicity political

...cant get any more political than this band.

There was a boatload of Political Pop from the punk/new wave era..late 70s/early 80s...most of it from England, though.

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

6. Lunatic Fringe, by Red Ryder, from the early 80s, was pretty good

not really punk/new wave, but the lyrics are apt for nowadays


Lunatic Fringe
I know you're out there
You're in hiding
And you hold your meetings
We can hear you coming
We know what you're after
We're wise to you this time
We won't let you kill the laughter

Lunatic Fringe
In the twilight's last gleaming
This is open season
But you won't get too far
We know you've got to blame someone
For your own confusion
But we're on guard this time
Against your final solution

We can hear you coming
(We can hear you coming)
No you're not going to win this time
We can hear the footsteps
(We can hear the footsteps)
Way out along the walkway
Lunatic Fringe
We know you're out there
But in these new dark ages
There will still be light

An eye for an eye
Well, before you go under
Can you feel the resistance
Can you feel the...thunder

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

7. Heaven 17, Fasicst Groove Thang

good new wave tune, lyrics updated a bit

everybody move to prove the groove)
Have you heard it on the news
About this fascist groove thang
Evil men with racist views
Spreading all across the land
Don’t just sit there on your ass
Unlock that funky chaindance
Brothers, sisters shoot your best
We don’t need this fascist groove thang

Brothers, sisters, we don’t need this fascist groove thang

History will repeat itself
Crisis point we’re near the hour
Counterforce will do no good
Hot you ass I feel your power
Hitler proves that funky stuff
Is not for you and me girl
Europe’s an unhappy land
They’ve had their fascist groove thang
Brothers, sisters, we don’t need this fascist groove thang

Democrats are out of power
Across that great wide ocean
Bushes’s president elect
Fascist God in motion
Neocons tell him what to do
Stop your good time dancing
Train their guns on me and you
Fascist thang advancing

Brothers, sisters, we don’t need this fascist groove thang

Sisters, brothers lend a hand
Increase our population
Grab that groove thang by the throat
And throw it in the ocean
You’re real tonight you move my soul
Let’s cruise out of the dance war
Come out your house and dance your dance
Shake that fascist groove thang
(shake it!)

[DemVIctory]

8. D Boon of the Minutemen

D Boon was probably the most political of any musician ever. Listen to 'Double Nickels on the Dime' sometime. (the above mentioned 'This Ain't no Picnic' is on it among 40+ other politically charged songs)D's brakes failed in the mountains of southern California and he was killed. Many still suspect that it was the work of the Reagan Admin.