Yesterday in this space I asked the question, “Where are the Protest Songs?” Is the genre dead and gone or just not in my musical sphere? After all I am in my 60’s. It’s likely I might not be tuned into the hip stuff.
Several of my readers came to the rescue with titles of modern protest songs. I was familiar with a couple of them, but honestly, I didn’t realize they actually WERE protest songs. Too much listening to loud rock and roll in my youth might’ve impacted my ability to hear the lyrics. But now that I’ve been pointed in the right direction, I can hear these songs for what they are.
First, here’s a video clip from the Australian group, Midnight Oil, called Beds are Burning. My blogging friend Barbara at https://balindseyblog.wordpress.com/ brought it to my attention.
Barbara provided this information: “Beds are Burning is arguably the most resonantly subversive artistic gesture ever made by Australians. Released by the country’s biggest rock group just months before Australia marked, on 26 January 1988, the 200th anniversary of the first fleet’s arrival in Sydney, it ensured that the dominant soundtrack of our bicentennial year would be a song which reminded that the country we were celebrating was founded on pillage and genocide.”
Another blogging friend, Marty at snakesinthegrassblog.com pointed me in the direction of musician Steve Earle’s The Revolution Starts Now, released in 2004.
Both of these songs fill the protest song bill, and they both remain relevant.
My blogging friend Zoolon at zoolonhub.com is a talented musician who shared one of his original pieces, Sunlight and the Dust. It’s a mighty fine song of the protest genre and deserves a listen. By the way, Zoolon does all the instrumentation as well as the vocals. I told you he was talented.
https://zoolon.bandcamp.com/track/sunlight-and-the-dust
I’m going to continue scouting out more protest songs. If you know of one that speaks to today’s issues please pass it along. We need anthems. We need rallying points. We need righteous anger set to music.
Peace, people.
Praying for Eyebrowz 
You have opened up such a rich vein here, Leslie. The timing of Beds are Burning was wonderful
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I had totally forgotten about the song. It might be even more relevant now than it was when first released.
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Thanks for that inclusion. Means a lot. I have got a couple of more protest songs in the locker. This is one I wrote, prompted last year by watching Trump on TV. https://zoolon.bandcamp.com/track/ticking-clock
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Well done!
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Thanks.
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I did think of Zoolon when I talked about great indy music
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He’s got several that fit the bill.
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Doesn’t he just. Sorry Leslie, been away for a few days. xxxxx
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You deserve a break! Are you ok?
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I am yes. Thank you my darling. I just thought a break away from it all xxxxxxxxxxx
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Speaking of breaks, I haven’t seen anything from Inese in a long time. I know you follow her. Have you heard from her?
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“The Revolution Starts Now” is a mainstay for my gym workout on my iPod. 🙂 – Marty
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It’s a great song. I’m not going to work out or anything radical like that, though….
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I spoke to her maybe a month or so ago but I haven’t heard now that I think about it, unless there were posts while I was away there but obvi not if you’re asking.
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None. I’ve been worried.
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I checked her twitter account. She was tweeting a few weeks back. I know she sometimes goes to ground fro various reasons and stays off social media. It could be one of these times xxxx
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Thanks for checking. I feel a bit of relief.
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