This page is dedicated to good quality music, either in contemporary form or historical, that offers significant social and political commentary. For instance, much of the “protest music” of the Vietnam War has become timeless because of its important social impact on the American consciousness. It should be noted that the music on this page may be praised for its content and contribution, but may also be critically assessed.
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March 31, 2007 at 7:10 pm |
There’s a song by the Indie Rock group, Bright Eyes entitled, “When the President Talks to God” and discusses how President George W. Bush is a Christian and how many of his actions done during his two terms doesn’t quite reflect on Christian values. Here are the lyrics to them to give you an idea:
“When the president talks to God
Are the conversations brief or long?
Does he ask to rape our women’s’ rights
And send poor farm kids off to die?
Does God suggest an oil hike
When the president talks to God?
When the president talks to God
Are the consonants all hard or soft?
Is he resolute all down the line?
Is every issue black or white?
Does what God say ever change his mind
When the president talks to God?
When the president talks to God
Does he fake that drawl or merely nod?
Agree which convicts should be killed?
Where prisons should be built and filled?
Which voter fraud must be concealed
When the president talks to God?
When the president talks to God
I wonder which one plays the better cop
We should find some jobs. the ghetto’s broke
No, they’re lazy, George, I say we don’t
Just give ‘em more liquor stores and dirty coke
That’s what God recommends
When the president talks to God
Do they drink near beer and go play golf
While they pick which countries to invade
Which Muslim souls still can be saved?
I guess god just calls a spade a spade
When the president talks to God
When the president talks to God
Does he ever think that maybe he’s not?
That that voice is just inside his head
When he kneels next to the presidential bed
Does he ever smell his own bullshit
When the president talks to God?
I doubt it”
April 1, 2007 at 1:07 am |
Thanks for the information, Bobby. I’ll add it to my collection of protest songs. If you’re interested in a list of Vietnam War protest songs, let me know.
April 2, 2007 at 12:55 am |
Bobby, those lyrics remind me of the interview someone did with Pres. Bush shortly after we invaded Iraq where he admitted that his father had advised against military action at that point because we had no exit strategy. But, Pres. Bush said, he decided to go in because he listens to a higher authority; God. Sounds kind of like Jihad, don’t you think?
Neil Young, who never stopped writing protest music, has a new CD out titled “Living with War.” Some of the song titles are Let’s Impeach the President, Shock and Awe, Flags of Freedom, and Looking for a Leader. I haven’t heard it yet, when I went to Borders to listen to it a couple of weeks ago they told me it was sold out.
A recent CD that comes to mind that definitely has significant political and social commentary is Green Day’s 2004 American Idiot. It also happens to be one of my favorite CDs of all time. It deals with the power of the media, apathy, disillusionment with suburban life and anger over our leaders’ choices, among other things. These messages aren’t always delivered especially poignantly, but usually in angry, blistering shouts or choruses, punk-rock style. Most of their messages leave room for interpretation.
Musically, I think it’s a mini masterpiece. People who’ve only downloaded or listened to the two or three songs that were overplayed (and edited) on the radio, one of which is the lamest song on the CD, Wake me When September Ends (which I’m pretty sure is about the aftermath of 9/11) have missed a lot. The CD contains like 12 more tracks, a couple of which contain four or five songs terrifically melded together, rock-opera style. The CD contains some old-school rock and punk elements including the rock-opera style of a story line throughout featuring a couple of repeating characters, but I’ll be honest, that’s all a little confusing. But who cares, because the music is great; high-energy, high-amp blistering guitars, vocals and pounding drum beats. A couple of songs, for example, I’m absolutely certain were inspired by The Ramones, especially my favorite track, St. Jimmy.
I’ve heard that some rap music has some worthy social commentary, does anybody have any examples?
April 2, 2007 at 2:36 am |
Lori,
There is a debate raging in the hip hop community on whether this form of music is political or social in nature. Kanye West, to the extent that he can be called a hip hop artist, is known for his choice words for the Bush administration. Some of his music reflects that. Some argue that since its inception hip hop has been intrinsically political in its commentary on gang violence and the reality of street life and the racism that perpetuates it.
Here is the link to an NPR report on hip hop music and its social/political value:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1961349
Also, a very important scholar by the name of John McWhorter, referred to throughout this weblog, is writing a book on hip hop and its impact on race relations.