Where are the good political songs? (piped.video)
from fellowmortal@lemmy.dbzer0.com to nostupidquestions@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 08:54
https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/post/13820619

I feel like there are lots of parallels between the eighties and now (recession/inflation, yuppies/inequality, skin-heads/fascists, hot-cold wars etc.) but there used to be protest music! Where is that stuff now? Music that’s intelligent and outraged - like we should be!

I’m out of touch now, so if it exists, educate me! Or have the protest songs been removed from tiktok by the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act (UK specific, but suppression of protest seems to be everywhere)? (I’ve linked to the Levellers - maybe it really was better back in the day?)

edit: Maybe not the right audience, but if the song is old enough to vote then I might already know it! What’s happening now? Any songs from the last 10 years!

edit: Thanks for everyone’s insights. I’ve spent the day discovering music that I’d never have found otherwise. Really enjoying a load of these, but thanks to everyone! It seems like protest music is confined to certain genres/places, and lots of older songs - maybe they just last longer… which is maybe a little interesting.

#nostupidquestions

threaded - newest

xmunk@sh.itjust.works on 06 Feb 2024 08:57 next collapse

Bella Ciao and Sixteen Tons are perennial favorites.

shish_mish@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 09:09 next collapse

Both of those are good but old songs, I think OP was wondering where the current protest music is.

fellowmortal@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 06 Feb 2024 09:28 collapse

Thanks for these - they are great examples of what I want. However, as @shish_mish mentioned, I was wondering what has come out recently? [edit:words]

Ziggurat@sh.itjust.works on 06 Feb 2024 09:26 next collapse

Some of the classical ones

  • L’internationale, which is still relevant today

  • La banderra rosa

  • Bella Ciao, which despite becoming a pop hit is a struggle song

  • El pueblo unido

  • La butte rouge

-The Red army choir have a ton of great ones

Then on more recent, just look at the punk and rap scene, there is a lot

[deleted] on 06 Feb 2024 09:31 next collapse
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fellowmortal@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 06 Feb 2024 09:56 next collapse

I guess this what I’m afraid of, but things must have felt pretty scary during the first cold war - Imagine raising children while governments were openly[edit] testing fusion weapons!

I think that music is part of giving people inspiration and hope. Does tiktok just filter out the protest to keep us scrolling?

nightwatch_admin@feddit.nl on 06 Feb 2024 12:23 next collapse

Excuse me, GenX chiming in. We had that exact same list, with the sort-of-maybe exception of climate change (pollution was really really bad though). Then again , we had the daily doom of nuclear war on our heads.

orvorn@slrpnk.net on 06 Feb 2024 14:13 collapse

I’ve participated in in-person protests with various groups about a dozen times a year since 2020 and I don’t even live in a city. People are definitely out here protesting, we just don’t get any media coverage at all unless we break things.

edit- in an attempt to actually be helpful - search the internet for any progressive or socialist activist groups near you and sign up for their newsletters/follow their socials. Try to attend a few events, and there you’ll hopefully meet people who can get you connected to local anarchists/more radical folks who go out and protest a lot. Then you can carpool with folks and share expenses and have a safe group of people to go to protests with.

Lauchs@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 09:33 next collapse

Well, not sure about “good” but punk is and always has been about politics.

Personally, I love the folk punk end of things like AJJ’s ‘Normalization Blues’: youtu.be/0EDVM73bU-w?si=_mtGGyFhrmeMRlpZ

In a similar vein, Matt Pless’s “where the frayed wind blows” is 5 minutes of angry goodness.

There’s also a lot of protest hip hop but I don’t know the newer stuff particularly well.

fellowmortal@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 06 Feb 2024 09:59 next collapse

This is great! :D

edit: Anyone know about hip-hop? Would be great to know where to start on that

Deceptichum@kbin.social on 06 Feb 2024 10:21 next collapse

A lot of rap is political/social, for more mainstream stuff you’ve got songs like ‘This Is America’ by Childish Gambino, ‘Reagan’ by Killer Mike, or even ‘Fuck the Police’ by N.W.A.

You’ve got even more leftist groups/rappers like ‘The Coup’, RATM/Public Enemy supergroup ‘Prophets of Rage’, hardcore shit like ‘Immortal Techniques’ or ‘Non Phixon’, ‘Dead Prez’, ‘Nas’, ‘The Fugees’, ‘Tupac’, ‘De La Soul’ just to name a few more.

There’s also more tankie shit but I’m not gonna promote that authoritarian garbage.

It’s almost harder to find non-political rap than it is political rap when you start breaking down the messages of many songs.

fellowmortal@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 06 Feb 2024 10:32 collapse

Thanks! Childish Gambino - is a great example!

I didn’t know some of these, so I’ll check them out, but they aren’t exactly new - the rest are from the ninties, right?

Deceptichum@kbin.social on 06 Feb 2024 12:43 collapse

I tried mixing it up, it’s probably more early 2000-2010s for the majority. I kinda lost interest in a lot of rap after that whole trap phase started.

Killer Mikes a bit too centrist for my liking but Reagan from 2012 is an amazing song and one I’d recommend the most from that list.

kambusha@feddit.ch on 06 Feb 2024 11:56 next collapse

Try Immortal Technique.

  • Dance with the Devil
  • Impeach the President
  • The 4th Branch

And many more

gothic_lemons@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 2024 06:57 collapse

Reagan by Killer Mike. Samples shit Reagan said

QuantumSparkles@sh.itjust.works on 06 Feb 2024 15:14 next collapse

On the Hip Hop note I would say Run The Jewels have some amazing lyrical content in their songs about the state of things

BreadOven@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 2024 02:15 collapse

Shots fired by Matt is also great. Oh, can’t forget “what you will”.

Varyk@sh.itjust.works on 06 Feb 2024 09:41 next collapse

Tropical fuck storm is pretty good at ranting against the bullshit and bonus they also sound awesome:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_jxKD7X7pw

fellowmortal@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 06 Feb 2024 09:57 collapse

I haven’t heard of these guys - Thanks!

Varyk@sh.itjust.works on 06 Feb 2024 10:01 collapse

I’ve been stuck on them since I first stumbled on them. I cannot recall exactly how that happened.

WastedJobe@feddit.de on 06 Feb 2024 09:55 next collapse

This might not be everyones cup of tea, but metal and hardcore are full of protest music. Heaven Shall Burn for example is lyricly anti-fascist and environmentalist (live video because that show is fucking legendary).

Gojira also slaps.

fellowmortal@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 06 Feb 2024 10:39 next collapse

Holy shit! Thanks - that video is outrageous! These are great

jandar_fett@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 2024 05:53 collapse

Between the Buried and Me, a progressive metal band that is considered legendary, is philosophically political in so much as that most of their albums are about the inevitable decline of humanity and the destruction of everything due to capitalism, greed, regressive ideologies etc. If you’ve never listened to them you should start with the Great Misdirect. Spotify has a live version I think and it is phenomenal.

nightwatch_admin@feddit.nl on 06 Feb 2024 14:10 collapse

lekkerrrrr
saved, thanks!

SuperEars@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 09:59 next collapse

I’m a big fan of Rise Against. Try these tracks out:

  • Architects
  • Welcome to the Breakdown
  • A Gentleman’s Coup
  • Megaphone
  • Holding Patterns

and Bad Religion:

  • American Jesus
  • Meeting of the Minds
  • The Resist Stance
TheDubz87@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 11:02 next collapse

Bad Religion was one of my high-school favorites that has stayed a favorite since. I have every one of their albums saved on my phone.

fellowmortal@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 06 Feb 2024 12:26 next collapse

Listening now! Thanks

punkcoder@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 13:03 collapse

I personally would add: • The Nowhere Generation • Wolves

Shurimal@kbin.social on 06 Feb 2024 10:08 next collapse

Leslie Fish is still writing music. Plus her old works from 1980-s (eg It's Sister Jenny's Turn to Throw the Bomb and Firestorm) are as relevant now as they were 40 years ago.

thepixelfox@kbin.social on 06 Feb 2024 10:14 next collapse

Billy talent are great for political, fuck the government/ big corporations type songs. Not protest songs so much. But it feels pretty on theme. Their messages are great.
Surprise surprise and viking death march are two of my personal favourites songs by them.

fellowmortal@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 06 Feb 2024 10:24 next collapse

I hate to break it to you but Billy Talent formed in 1993! ;)

killeronthecorner@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 10:26 collapse

That album is absolutely killer and I’ve loved BN since I heard Try Honesty many moons ago.

That said … They have been singing about how young people need to fight the system while having one of the most clean, corporate images I can think of for bands in their category.

Watching a 40 year old man dance around an arena in VANs and Atticus hoodies while telling contemporary youth that their generation is a “fucking joke” is peak cringe to me.

Still love the music though. Wish he’d do more heartbreak songs, they’re his forte.

serpineslair@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 11:22 next collapse

Thrash metal has a lot of politics, if that’s your thing.

fellowmortal@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 06 Feb 2024 11:28 collapse

I’ll give it a try - any suggestions?

serpineslair@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 12:47 collapse

If you are starting out with metal, I would recommend Metallica, or Death Angel (albums such as Evil Divide or The Dream Calls For Blood). They have a more mainstream sound. If you enjoy those, either dm me or reply, I can send you more. Or alternatively I have a community: !thrashmetal@lemmy.world, if you wanna check out some less obvious ones.

fellowmortal@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 06 Feb 2024 13:49 collapse

I’ll check in.

sagrotan@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 11:30 next collapse

A lot of German ones these days, hip hop / rock / metal / pop-punk

fellowmortal@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 06 Feb 2024 11:39 collapse

I have a GCSE in German, what would you suggest?

[deleted] on 06 Feb 2024 12:11 collapse
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fellowmortal@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 06 Feb 2024 12:25 collapse

These are good. Thanks

frazorth@feddit.uk on 06 Feb 2024 11:56 next collapse

You mention the UK, so I’ll just drop a couple of names of folks/bands talking about racism, immigration and toxic male culture.

Bob Vylan

We live here - m.youtube.com/watch?v=VFqhJyvly1g

Wicked and Bad - m.youtube.com/watch?v=KRJ-s7jRyAM

Idles

Danny Nedelko - m.youtube.com/watch?v=QkF_G-RF66M

Lambrini Girls

Lads lads lads - m.youtube.com/watch?v=IuLK56UrCL0

There’s a lot of good punk still happening.

fellowmortal@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 06 Feb 2024 12:23 next collapse

Guilty as charged. Good stuff - I’ll look out for these - my new years resolution is to see some live music.

frazorth@feddit.uk on 06 Feb 2024 12:26 collapse

All these bands being UK based, you should have an opportunity to see them.

I don’t know whereabouts in the UK you are, but you could find some new stuff at things like the Futurama festival in Liverpool.

www.cultureliverpool.co.uk/…/futurama-festival/

crypticthree@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 12:38 collapse

I’ll be seeing IDLES in a few months in Texas

frazorth@feddit.uk on 06 Feb 2024 12:46 collapse

Never fight a man with a perm!

ReCursing@kbin.social on 06 Feb 2024 12:47 next collapse

Bob Vylan and Idles are great, will check the Lambrini Girls, thanks

frazorth@feddit.uk on 06 Feb 2024 12:53 collapse

Music created in the UK by people who are fucking furious is still alive and well.

Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes

Sleaford Mods

Kid Kapichi

Panic Shack

ReCursing@kbin.social on 06 Feb 2024 17:25 collapse

I know Sleaford Mods. Will check the others too, thanks

frazorth@feddit.uk on 06 Feb 2024 17:40 collapse

Frank Carter did this lovely little ditty with Joe Talbot from IDLES.

My Town.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=gx59hOw2HcA

fellowmortal@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 06 Feb 2024 13:02 next collapse

@frazorth you’ve got going down rabbit holes … I wonder what I else I can do to scare a tory

frazorth@feddit.uk on 06 Feb 2024 13:21 collapse

Listen to Boris Johnson is a fucking cunt?

m.youtube.com/watch?v=uGwCykQwgTU

Or just Fuck The Tories

m.youtube.com/watch?v=TppbFVcfBcU

EnderMB@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 14:25 collapse

Should also add Hacktivist. A few of their songs are politically charged, and several calls BoJo a cunt.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=YWzwEPYIjYM

frazorth@feddit.uk on 06 Feb 2024 14:35 collapse

Good call.

Jerb322@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 12:00 next collapse

Body Count, Ice T Rage Against the Machine Green Day Tool,more about religion

Bob_Robertson_IX@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 12:18 next collapse

Goddamn White Trash by Ministry is my go-to song for 2024.

fellowmortal@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 06 Feb 2024 12:35 next collapse

Is this the most recent suggestion on here?

PeepinGoodArgs@reddthat.com on 06 Feb 2024 12:44 collapse

That’s good stuff!

Thrawne@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 12:24 next collapse

Dead kennedys:

youtu.be/amTAIjhUjDk?si=qfjvkyGwlgFXoEqs

solitaire@infosec.pub on 07 Feb 2024 08:00 collapse

I was really hoping for the link to be Let’s Lynch the Landlord tbh

mjsaber@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 06 Feb 2024 12:34 next collapse

It’s not as punk, but the last three albums by Metric are brilliant in how they discuss the current state of the world.

fellowmortal@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 06 Feb 2024 12:52 collapse

This is good. It doesn’t have to be punk - I don’t even know what people listen to now…

mjsaber@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 06 Feb 2024 13:40 collapse

Lol me neither

gAlienLifeform@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 13:43 collapse

The internet fractured culture and there is no one thing everyone is watching or listen to anymore and I don’t know how I feel about that

Taco2112@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 12:51 next collapse

If you like Rage Against the Machine, Tom Morello did a solo project called The Nightwatchman that had a lot of great protest songs. I think it’s closer to 15 years old, so not the last 10.

Diotima@kbin.social on 06 Feb 2024 13:03 next collapse

Given that Tiktok is a corporation with likely ties to a government that is not particularly fond of protest, perhaps it is not the best place to find protest music. Having said that, Muse continues to make protest music as they always have. I suppose the problem is that protest music doesn't often get included on music platforms, leaving us with a sanitized version of the musical landscape.

Muscle_Meteor@discuss.tchncs.de on 06 Feb 2024 13:15 next collapse

Right Now - Jesse Roper

FrostyTheDoo@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 13:17 next collapse

This is America - Childish Gambino

Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 20:09 collapse

That was 6 years ago.

Googlyman64@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 2024 01:18 collapse

🧑👨👨‍🦳👴💀

ReeferPirate@lemy.lol on 06 Feb 2024 13:33 next collapse

Toxicity - System of a Down was an incredible album about American exceptionalism and war hungriness. The towers were hit a week after the album was released.

XeroxCool@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 14:51 next collapse

Sheesh, some time in June of 2023, Toxicity’s debut date became closer to 1/1/1980 than present day

ghostdoggtv@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 21:12 next collapse

Every single one of their records is more relevant now than ever.

DigitalTraveler42@lemmy.world on 08 Feb 2024 00:15 collapse

System’s whole catalogue really, they’re basically Rage Against the Machine, but with an Armenian twist and flair, love them, but can’t believe the drummer is a MAGAtard.

gAlienLifeform@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 13:47 next collapse

“George Floyd” by the Log Bay Ramblers is some nice and direct bluegrass folk music

gAlienLifeform@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 13:50 next collapse

Say She She’s “Norma” is all about the end of Roe v Wade

Nomecks@lemmy.ca on 06 Feb 2024 13:50 next collapse

Riot Time - Powerman 5000

some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org on 06 Feb 2024 15:04 collapse

Saw them play several months ago. Surprised they’re still touring. Good show.

gAlienLifeform@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 13:54 next collapse

Sault’s “Foot on Necks” is a great anti police brutality anthem, and a big chunk of all their music has messages like that

theghostie@kbin.social on 06 Feb 2024 13:59 next collapse

Uncle Sam Goddamn - Brother Ali
Ju$t - Run the Jewels (and a lot of their or Killer Mike's songs)
Gang Shit - Marlon Craft
The Guillotine - The Coup
I Wish I Was a Riot Grrrl - Destructo Disk
Nobody's Biz - Four Fists

Some of these being older than 10 years is a real bummer lol

[deleted] on 06 Feb 2024 14:31 next collapse
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LPodyssey07@lemm.ee on 06 Feb 2024 15:49 collapse

Walking In The Snow was the RTJ song that came to mind for me

bingbong@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 07 Feb 2024 01:12 collapse

The music video is amazing

Substance_P@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 14:03 next collapse

I love this question. Perhaps there is also the record labels and mainstream media that prioritize marketability and mass appeal, which most probably would discourage artists from producing overtly political content, the stuff that may be thrown into the controversial or polarizing basket just doesn’t pull in the bucks these days.

fellowmortal@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 06 Feb 2024 14:30 collapse

As it ever was?

edit: it does feel different now - but it has never been easy.

underisk@lemmy.ml on 06 Feb 2024 14:08 next collapse
eupraxia@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 06 Feb 2024 19:50 next collapse

Was just about to post IDLES here myself. It goes and it goes and it goes

gothic_lemons@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 2024 11:08 collapse

Recently found IDLES, amazing band!

BreadOven@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 2024 02:13 collapse

Gotta love the AJJs.

cmhickman358@thelemmy.club on 06 Feb 2024 14:18 next collapse

Poor Man’s Poison has put out a few good political/social songs recently, I’m not sure if I would call them “protest” but still fairly close

Feed The Machine

Give And Take

Pratai@lemmy.ca on 06 Feb 2024 14:29 next collapse

Wait… we should be outraged?

fellowmortal@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 06 Feb 2024 14:39 collapse

I feel like I should. (edit:accent)

TheDoctorDonna@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 14:34 next collapse

The Offspring. Americana, Stuff is Messed up, the Kids Aren’t Alright…

sonovebitch@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 14:44 next collapse

Someone sent me this one recently, and the lyrics are interesting.

“Rich Men North of Richmond” by Oliver Anthony

some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org on 06 Feb 2024 15:03 next collapse

Questionable politics. Not sure the intent, but this raised some red flags last year in various circles. Google will turn them up.

fellowmortal@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 06 Feb 2024 15:52 collapse

I have been trying to remember this one.

EssentialCoffee@midwest.social on 06 Feb 2024 14:49 next collapse

Well, NPR did an entire article of 20 protest songs that came out in 2020. Looks like they might have made a Spotify playlist of them at one point too.

Here are 30 protest albums that came out in the first half of 2022

Here are 50 protest songs from 2023.

These are just results from pretty simple Google searches. ‘protest songs year’.

fellowmortal@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 06 Feb 2024 15:19 collapse

Hmm… using google to find anti-establishment songs… ;)

RizzRustbolt@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 19:07 collapse

And then listening to the Spotify playlist…

some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org on 06 Feb 2024 15:03 next collapse

Old School Pig, by Tilt.

Shapillon@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 15:05 next collapse

Moscow Death Brigade for example

SVcross@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 15:25 next collapse

La Bala - Juana Fé

TheLongPrice@lemmy.one on 06 Feb 2024 15:28 next collapse

New, political, angry

Spy - Bootlicker

youtu.be/z57PP1Kh00s?si=gTT0NMamA4Dy7HH_

BreadOven@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 2024 02:12 collapse

Well I found a new band to listen to. I just wish they would have kept that energy at like 30s, and just ended at 1 minute.

Thanks for the recommendation though.

TehBamski@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 16:57 next collapse

The Muslims - Fuck These Fuckin Fascists

Cowbee@lemmy.ml on 06 Feb 2024 17:07 next collapse

Ashenspire - Hostile Architecture

Chat Pile - God’s Country

2 recent albums I’ve been slapping. Dangerously spicy at times, and unapologetic.

iamericandre@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 17:08 next collapse

Pretty much anything by minutemen but a personal favorite youtu.be/7zjcut9IQRM?si=aAh3wqGp2WjzqwGA

kerrigan778@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 20:14 next collapse

Billy Bragg is still making bangers

macrocephalic@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 2024 10:58 collapse

I don’t know if I’d call his new stuff “bangers”.

kerrigan778@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 2024 22:55 collapse

I mean, a lot of meh too but I thought Bridges Not Walls was a great EP

Geobloke@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 20:22 next collapse

For the UK specifically I’d recommend Bob Vylan

fellowmortal@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 06 Feb 2024 23:02 next collapse

thanks - I’m checking some of the live dates.

Geobloke@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 2024 00:33 collapse

He’s a mix of punk, rap and grime in that order, but he’s very angry and very political

AFC1886VCC@reddthat.com on 07 Feb 2024 07:42 collapse

Bob Vylan is top notch.

Zoomboingding@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 20:33 next collapse

2020 Visions by Michael Guy Bowman is about the insurrection

KingJalopy@lemm.ee on 06 Feb 2024 13:59 next collapse

Check out Propagandhi

radicallife@lemm.ee on 06 Feb 2024 14:07 next collapse

This thread should be a Spotify playlist!

yokonzo@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 21:27 next collapse

Anything by flobots, old stuff or new is pretty political

Thermal_shocked@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 21:33 next collapse

one of my favorite groups is Mischief Brew from Philly. Very folksy, anti-cop, anti everything government lol

boycott me

Old Tyme Memry

Farewell Goodfellows

Roll me through the gates of hell

Every Town will Celebrate

Socsa@sh.itjust.works on 06 Feb 2024 21:47 next collapse

Bro Killer Mike just won a Grammy

RGB3x3@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 2024 10:34 collapse

He won three! Imo, for the most boring song on his new album, but whatever. But that album is highly political

mlg@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 2024 22:15 next collapse

The fast paced Ukrainian version of In The Army Now which protests military marketing and conscription (directed at USA)

Laga Reh (translations required lol) which protests Pakistani government complacency in allowing foreign powers (cough USA cough) to dictate the country at the expense of progress and “disappearing” of any local opposition.

fellowmortal@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 06 Feb 2024 22:51 collapse

Thanks for these - really interesting stuff that I couldn’t have just happened upon!

Vespair@lemm.ee on 07 Feb 2024 02:08 next collapse

Does this count?

CaptainHowdy@lemm.ee on 07 Feb 2024 02:28 next collapse

Stand Out Riot is an incredible ska/hardcore band with mostly political lyrics. They are from UK so I don’t get all of the references, but they are fucking awesome anyway.

pineapplelover@lemm.ee on 07 Feb 2024 02:38 next collapse

Like most or even all of punk

Dkarma@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 2024 02:55 next collapse

you mean everything rage against the machine has ever done?

Kolanaki@yiffit.net on 07 Feb 2024 07:02 next collapse

Some of those that work forces,

Are the same that burn crosses!

macrocephalic@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 2024 10:55 collapse

You know that RATMs big albums were over 25 years ago, right?

[deleted] on 07 Feb 2024 14:04 collapse
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RedAggroBest@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 2024 02:57 next collapse

Maybe I’m late but I recommend Speak by Queensryche, it’s about revolution. The entire album Operation Mindcrime is a rail against religion and capitalism told through a character recruited into an underground revolution. It’s very good and a song that contains the lines “educate the masses” and “burn the Whitehouse down” gets a thumbs up from me

Pratai@lemmy.ca on 08 Feb 2024 19:50 collapse

Spreading the Disrase also…

Fighting fire with empty words While the banks get fat and the poor stay poor And the rich get rich and the cops get paid To look away as the one percent rules America

They were talking about the 1% LONG before it was popular to do so.

federatingIsTooHard@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 2024 03:07 next collapse

revolution by Tracy chapman

federatingIsTooHard@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 2024 03:08 next collapse

anything by the coup

SoleInvictus@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 2024 04:56 next collapse

This has been true for over thirty years but most people sadly have never heard of them.

throbbing_banjo@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 2024 10:42 collapse

Fuck yes, this is the answer right here.

electric_nan@lemmy.ml on 07 Feb 2024 03:11 next collapse

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJufERGv9Sk

Rap Against Dictatorship. Check out their other videos.

Hikermick@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 2024 03:27 next collapse

This thought has occurred to me recently. What is this generation’s soundtrack? What is the music everyone will look on and say it defined the time?

RGB3x3@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 2024 10:32 next collapse

There isn’t one so much these days because streaming has given everyone their own particular music bubble. And stuff can still get insanely popular, but there aren’t hits that everyone talks about anymore.

macrocephalic@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 2024 10:57 next collapse

You won’t know until it’s long passed. Time is the best curator.

nyctre@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 2024 13:45 collapse

Despacito, the fox, Gangnam style, shape of you, cruel summer, blinding lights, etc.

jacksilver@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 2024 04:04 next collapse

Born in the USA

I didn’t see this mentioned so wanted to add it. Most people think of it as pro USA, but the lyrics paint a very different message.

For example:

Got in a little hometown jam So they put a rifle in my hand Sent me off to a foreign land To go and kill the yellow man

Nyanix@lemmy.ca on 07 Feb 2024 05:08 next collapse

Womanarchist by Bad Cop/Bad Cop is pretty excellent

UmeU@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 2024 06:27 next collapse

Nofx - you’re wrong:

You’re wrong about virtues of Christianity And you’re wrong if you agree with Sean Hannity If you think that pride is about nationality, you’re wrong

You’re wrong when you imprison people turning tricks And you’re wrong about trickle down economics If you think that punk rock doesn’t mix with politics, you’re wrong

You’re wrong for hating queers and eating steers If you kill for the thrill of the hunt You’re wrong 'bout wearing fur and not hating Ann Coulter Cause she’s a cunted cunt

You’re wrong if you celebrate Columbus Day And You’re wrong if you think there will be a Judgement Day If you’re a charter member of the NRA, you’re wrong

You’re wrong if you support capital punishment And you’re wrong if you don’t question your government If you think her reproductive rights are inconsequent, you’re wrong

You’re wrong fighting Jihad, your blind faith in God Your religions are all flawed You’re wrong about drug use, when its not abuse I hope you never reproduce

You’re getting high on the downlow A victim of Cointelpro You’re wrong and will probably never know

Obi@sopuli.xyz on 07 Feb 2024 07:59 collapse

NOFX has been around for like 100 years, they’re the old guard, they’re just still active (and alive) somehow haha.

markus@sh.itjust.works on 07 Feb 2024 08:40 collapse

They are currently playing their last tour.

DrownedRats@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 2024 06:49 next collapse

I’ve always liked “universal soldier” by Donovan

hex_m_hell@slrpnk.net on 07 Feb 2024 08:11 next collapse

Oskar Barnack ∞ Oscar Grant -Blue Scholars

Bonus in Dutch - Bent Je Bang - Hang Youth

pearable@lemmy.ml on 07 Feb 2024 08:50 next collapse

Freedom is a Verb by Daniel Kahn and the Painted Bird is a favorite of mine

frezik@midwest.social on 07 Feb 2024 09:21 next collapse

Garbage - No gods no masters. Whole album is shamelessly political.

The men who rule the world Have made a fucking mess The history of power The worship of success The king is in the counting house He’s chairman of the board The women who crowd the courtrooms All accused of being whores

Flax_vert@feddit.uk on 07 Feb 2024 09:52 next collapse

Dégénération

A French Quebec song about how the world is going and how Gen Z has been neglected

chrizzly@feddit.de on 07 Feb 2024 10:29 next collapse

How about some Billy Talent? Love them musically, but lyrically they are equally strong. Some songs that come to mind are: -Reckless paradise -Kingdom of Zod -Surprise surprise -Dead silence

Additionally I’d add Paramore’s ‘The news’ from their recent album.

gothic_lemons@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 2024 11:15 next collapse

Pokemon Liberation Army pokemonliberationarmy.bandcamp.com/album/tm101

Billy Talent

Distillers

Bad Cop, Bad Cop

So many more but I gotta dip

Sharptooth

The Baboon Show

The Halluci Nation - (Pretty cool Hip Hop group)

hydrospanner@lemmy.world on 08 Feb 2024 04:35 collapse

Oh man I need to dig out my old Distillers stuff and listen to it again!

GiddyGap@lemm.ee on 07 Feb 2024 11:50 next collapse

Most stuff mentioned here is from artists few people know. We need the big names to step up and take a stand.

nyctre@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 2024 13:35 collapse

I can already see it: Taylor Swift - Fuck tha police

The weekend - War

Beyoncé - Get up, Stand up

Bieber - give peace a chance

Drake - the revolution will not be televised

And Ariana Grande - I hate the rich

Trainguyrom@reddthat.com on 07 Feb 2024 13:02 next collapse

I listen to a lot of punk music so obviously it’s strongly political. Here’s just a few off the top of my head:

  • White People for Peace by Against Me!
  • Unprotected Sex With Multiple Partners by Against Me!
  • Survivor Guilt by Rise Against
  • State of the Union by Rise Against
  • The Eco-Terrorist In Me by Rise Against
  • 45 by Sum41
  • Empty Walls by Serj Tankian
  • Prison Song by System of a Down
  • Christian Nationalist by Anti-Flag
  • Die for your Government by Anti-Flag
  • 72 hookers by NOFX
  • Please Play This Song on the Radio by NOFX
  • Fuck Euphemism by NOFX
  • Take Back the Power by The Interrupters
  • Quarantine by Blink 182

I tried to include a bit of variety and not all be anti-war songs from/about the Bush era. A couple are about the music industry specifically, and one is a musical rant about kink culture (and it’s not the one you think based on the title!) I’m also a big Rise Against fan so I tried to pull out some non-singles from accross many years since basically any song by them has a good political message. I highly recommend looking up the lyrics to all of these after the first listen or better during the second listen

disheveledWallaby@lemmy.ml on 07 Feb 2024 23:18 next collapse

If you like punk, Leftover Crack has a bunch.

piped.video/watch?v=toTm1FDtMsM

Chickenslippers@lemmy.world on 08 Feb 2024 11:53 collapse

Nofx is doing their retirement tour right now and it makes me super sad I won’t be able to go

Persen@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 2024 13:12 next collapse

I don’t know if thease two are protest songs, but they are near enough: Plavi orkestar - Fa Fa Fašista, Bijelo dugme - Pljuni i zapjevaj moja Jugoslavijo

Edit: They are yugoslavian, so not that relevant now.

BeanieBeetle@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 2024 13:18 next collapse

Ren Gill is a lyrical genius. Highly recommend.

Pulptastic@midwest.social on 07 Feb 2024 13:49 next collapse

Is Antiflag still around?

Tier1BuildABear@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 2024 14:15 next collapse

GRANDSON, GRANDSON, GRANDSON EVERY DAY. You’ve probably heard them, I love Dirty

DigitalTraveler42@lemmy.world on 08 Feb 2024 00:32 next collapse

Gary Clarke Jr. Has some good protest songs, especially for a blues musician, including a remake of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young’s Ohio.

Municipal Waste is great for some hardcore, there’s actually a bunch of hardcore bands that have some excellent protest songs.

Then you have Ice-T’s Body Count.

Lamb of God’s albums post-Randy’s time in a Czech prison have been full of social commentary, far more than the earlier albums.

I’ve seen people highlight Killer Mike’s Grammy wins, but his other group Run the Jewels is pretty much the biggest name in protest rap these days.

Then you have Kendrick Lamar, possibly the best rapper of his generation, absolutely one of the greatest story tellers of rap, period.

Overall there’s a lot of pop, metal, rock, rap and other genres who have some prominent names and many lesser known names who are putting out good angry music.

Then you have Ice Cube putting out Arrest the President then proceeding to talk about voting for that same president.🤦‍♂️

pjwestin@lemmy.world on 08 Feb 2024 13:49 next collapse

Since I haven’t seen him mentioned yet, Ted Leo is still making albums.

Adulated_Aspersion@lemmy.world on 08 Feb 2024 17:26 collapse

Tyler Childers - Long Violent History

It’s the worst that it’s been since the last time it happened It’s happening again right in front of our eyes There’s updated footage, wild speculation Tall tales and hearsay and absolute lies

Been passed off as factual, when actually the actual Causes they’re awkwardly blocking the way Keeping us all from enjoyin’ our evening Shoving its roots through the screens in our face

Now, what would you get if you heard my opinion Conjecturin’ on matters that I ain’t never dreamed In all my born days as a white boy from Hickman Based on the way that the world’s been to me?

It’s called me belligerent, it’s took me for ignorant But it ain’t never once made me scared just to be Could you imagine just constantly worryin’ Kickin’ and fightin’, beggin’ to breathe?

How many boys could they haul off this mountain Shoot full of holes, cuffed and layin’ in the streets ‘Til we come into town in a stark ravin’ anger Looking for answers and armed to the teeth?

Thirty-ought-sixes, Papaw’s old pistol How many, you reckon, would it be, four or five? Or would that be the start of a long, violent history Of tucking our tails as we try to abide?

Or would that be the start of a long, violent history Of tucking our tails as we try to abide?