Rock the vote (political music thread)

[Goredho 17408]

So what are the great songs that carry a less personal/individual message and focus instead on ideals, activism or politics?  With as crazy as politics are, I am a little surprised that there isn't more such music being produced today compared to say the 60s.  Would be especially interested in examples of political music since 2000 that aren't in the rap/hiphop genre.

I'll kick things off with a couple from back in the 60s/70s era:  Times They Are A-Changin' (Bob Dylan) and The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (Gil Scott Heron).  Probably good to assume that any songs posted in this thread are NSFW.

 

 

Edited November 25, 2019 by Goredho

[noharleyyet 2838]

socio-political count?

 

[Goredho 17408]

Absolutely, @noharleyyet.  Good one.

[Goredho 17408]

Jumping ahead a decade or two but is arguably more relevant today than when it was published...
 

 

Edited November 25, 2019 by Goredho

[Buzzrock 14921]

Some definitely do it better than others. Ben Harper, Rage Against the Machine, Dylan.

Hey Green Day how about you go sit over there.

[Buzzrock 14921]

Here’s a great one from a legendary band off a fantastic album:

[Goredho 17408]

I had never heard that MD song before, good addition.  In the same vein:
 

 

[noharleyyet 2838]

 

[4th&Five 41558]

I could post 20 more just from those 3 groups.

[noharleyyet 2838]

 

[Deej 76800]

A whole bunch of Clash songs.

[Goredho 17408]

Not sure what you would pick as the single best political song from the Clash.  London Calling would probably be the most popular.

Another anti-war song that may have been Hendrix’s most impressive guitar work. 

 

Edited November 26, 2019 by Goredho

[Deej 76800]

 

Edited November 26, 2019 by Deej

[GhostOfTomJoad 9327]

Find a better anthem from the past 10-15 years. Good luck.

[Goredho 17408]

3 minutes ago, GhostOfTomJoad said:

Find a better anthem from the past 10-15 years. Good luck.

That's a badass song.  Good submission.

[Goredho 17408]

I got a letter from the government the other day
I opened and read it, it said they were suckers
They wanted me for their army or whatever
Picture me giving a damn, I said never
Here is a land that never gave a damn
About a brother like me and myself because they never did
I wasn't with it but just that very minute it occurred to me
The suckers had authority
Cold sweating as I dwell in my cell, how long has it been?
They got me sitting in the state pen
I gotta get out, but that thought was thought before
I contemplated a plan on the cell floor...
 

 

[Deej 76800]

 

[Goredho 17408]

A lot of good material from the Emerald Isle.
 

 

 

[GhostOfTomJoad 9327]

 

You can get killed just for living in...your American skin.

[DalTxHornFan 3102]

 

[Goredho 17408]

11 hours ago, Deej said:

 

Strange Fruit is damn near a perfect song, imo.

[Guest Lobo]

Pos rep to the Strange Fruit post.  If you ever get the chance, do yourself a favor and listen to Billy Crystal tell the story of how that song got made by his uncle/grandpa/father.  Great story and of course, it's funny despite the heavy subject of the song. 

I'll add, the great Sam Cooke.  Just as he was lighting up the Civil Rights movement with his star power, he was taken too soon:

 

[noharleyyet 2838]

 

[noharleyyet 2838]

 

[Goredho 17408]

Always thought this was a great song
 

 

[South Austin 52515]

C'mon you people.

[Goredho 17408]

37 minutes ago, South Austin said:

C'mon you people.

Great song.

[South Austin 52515]

32 minutes ago, Goredho said:

Great song.

I'm talking about the entire album.  One of the greatest protest albums of all time.  And a risk for Marvin, who was counseled not to depart from his prior Motown pop work and dive into the political arena.

[tigol 2398]

 

[Rip76 4928]

 

[tigol 2398]

 

[tigol 2398]

 

[Goredho 17408]

37 minutes ago, South Austin said:

C'mon you people.

Great song.

[South Austin 52515]

3 minutes ago, Goredho said:

Great song.

Edited November 26, 2019 by South Austin
i kill you

[Goredho 17408]

Takes skill to double post 2 hours apart.

[hullabelew 3724]

I know it's a Dylan song but I love Buddy Miller's version. 

 

[4th&Five 41558]

if we're doing dylan covers...

 

[Goredho 17408]

Thanks for the posts, have been able to add a few things to my 'FUCK THE MAN' Spotify playlist.

[noharleyyet 2838]

 

[deadshank 24653]

 

 

 

 

[deadshank 24653]

 

[PRONG HORN 3146]

 

[Seger78 258]

 

Edited November 27, 2019 by Seger78
me dum

[noharleyyet 2838]

 

[DalTxHornFan 3102]

 

[Al_4_ISU 12464]

 

[Guest Lobo]

Although it's being sung by a really white guy in a tuxedo (which was intentional), it's a very powerful folk song about peace, justice, and racial equality.  

And then as fate would have it, his inspiration---Bobby Kennedy is killed.  Then this Bobby dies a few years later 

Edited November 27, 2019 by Lobo

[noharleyyet 2838]

 

[noharleyyet 2838]

 

[Ths71 472]

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