Tuesday 27 March 2012
Best Protest Songs #8 - Bruce Springsteen (Born In The U.S.A.)
Like many great songs, superficially you might not know what the song is saying - you need to dig a bit deeper. Once you do you understand that The Boss is not singing a blindly patriotic song...he's talking about Vietnam vets who feel let down and even cheated by their country. Not that it stopped Ronald Reagan name checking him in error in the '84 presidential election must to Bruce's dismay...
Saturday 24 March 2012
Best Protest Songs #7 Manic Street Preachers (Natwest Barclays Midland Lloyds)
So many Manics songs to choose from, but thought I'd pick something from their first album Generation Terrorists, when their messages were not so subtle! This was released back in 1992, but was their bankers bashing a premonition of what was to come 15 years later? Listen and decide for yourselves...
Manics chosen by Hannah J...
Wednesday 21 March 2012
Best Protest Songs #6 - U2 (Sunday Bloody Sunday)
In January 1972 British troops opened fire upon civil rights protesters in Derry killing 14 unarmed young men and injuring more. This 1983 U2 song commemorates this incident. Recommended by Luke C...
Monday 19 March 2012
Sunday 18 March 2012
Best Protest Song #5 - Bob Dylan (Masters of War)
Could have had a whole top 50 just dedicated to Bob; Hurricane, Blowin in the Wind, The Times They Are A Changin' etc. But I've gone with Masters of War from 1963 about the decision makers and weapons manufacturers who send people to war and profit from it but don't have to face the consequences. Pretty powerful lyrics. Annoyingly you can't get any Dylan vids on youtube so I've gone for the Pearl Jam cover who redid it in response to Bush and the Iraq War...
Best Protest Songs #4 - Sex Pistols (God Save The Queen)
A fair few requests for this 1977 classic (Jack B, Hannah J and others). Not sure if it is technically a protest song, social commentary or just trying to be controversial but it miffed the authorities off so much that they banned it at the time...
Saturday 17 March 2012
Best Protest Song # 3 - Public Enemy (911 Is A Joke)
Chosen by Elliot H (and me!). Public Enemy in full effect talking about US Police forces not responding to crimes in mainly black/poor areas of cities.
Best Protest Songs #2 - Billy Bragg (Scousers Never Buy The Sun)
As chosen by Josie M. From left wing troubador Billy Bragg - could have picked a number of songs, There Is Power In A Union, NPWA etc but went for his newest number protesting against The Sun and phone hacking.
Thursday 15 March 2012
Best protest songs #1 - Plan B (Ill Manors)
Hearing the new Plan B song made me think about other great protest songs over the years. I will put a new one on every day or so. If you have any suggestions, comment/tweet or mail me and if I agree I'll bang it on!
Thursday 8 March 2012
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