Political Songs You Like

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

I'm not too concerned about political themes in mainstream music, so I'd just like a discussion of favorite political songs.

My votes go for Husker Du's "Turn On The News" and probally Sonic Youth's "Youth Against Fascism".

― mallory bourgeois (painter man), Friday, 10 January 2003 02:35 (twenty-two years ago)

How about 'Political Songs You're Not Aware Are Political Songs You Like'?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 10 January 2003 02:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Go for it.

― mallory bourgeois (painter man), Friday, 10 January 2003 02:37 (twenty-two years ago)

this some seriously schizo twist of thread: simultaneous awareness and unawareness of one and the same thing required
my health insurance just wouldnae cover this, i pass

― t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Friday, 10 January 2003 03:07 (twenty-two years ago)

i didn't know the "sweetest girl" by Scritti Politti was about Althusser until recently...does that count?

― gaz (gaz), Friday, 10 January 2003 03:14 (twenty-two years ago)

I didn't know that either. Does that count?!

― mallory bourgeois (painter man), Friday, 10 January 2003 03:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Music with words is whack. Can chord changes be political?

-Matt, being more difficult than he should be on his first day...

― Matt Maxwell (Matt M.), Friday, 10 January 2003 03:18 (twenty-two years ago)

I didn't know that either. Does that count?!

only if you like it.

― gaz (gaz), Friday, 10 January 2003 03:20 (twenty-two years ago)

lots of songs by McCarthy

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Friday, 10 January 2003 04:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh Bondage Up Yours! for Ned's category.

― nebbesh (nebbesh), Friday, 10 January 2003 04:09 (twenty-two years ago)

television:drug of the nation

― robin (robin), Friday, 10 January 2003 05:33 (twenty-two years ago)

television:drug of the nation

so on the money the money's screaming "get off me!"

― Charlie (Charlie), Friday, 10 January 2003 05:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Wham Rap!

― Tom (Groke), Friday, 10 January 2003 10:35 (twenty-two years ago)

ha, beat me to it...

The Fire This Time 'At Least Native American People Know Exactly How They've Been Fucked Around' then

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 10 January 2003 11:47 (twenty-two years ago)

pretty much a good chunk of my record collection...
most minutemen songs...

joe mccarthys ghost
this aint no picnic
working men are pissed

the list is quite frankly endless...

gang of four
pop group

this could get as big as that big list post earlier this week if I don't stop now.

― simon 803 (simon 803), Friday, 10 January 2003 13:07 (twenty-two years ago)

"The Jazz Butcher -vs- The Prime Minister" & "President Reagan's Birthday Present" - The Jazz Butcher

Can chord changes be political?
.. Yeah - wha did I read recently about an anti-gay song where the chords were "F-A-G" ..?

― dave225 (Dave225), Friday, 10 January 2003 13:13 (twenty-two years ago)

I wonder gas anyone done an anti-establishment song with the chords A-C-A-B

― Macattack (Macattack), Friday, 10 January 2003 13:53 (twenty-two years ago)

(Insert Genesis joke.)

― dave225 (Dave225), Friday, 10 January 2003 14:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Frontline by Stevie Wonder

― Dave Fischer, Friday, 10 January 2003 14:24 (twenty-two years ago)

''most minutemen songs...''

yes!

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Friday, 10 January 2003 14:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Talking Heads "Don't Worry About the Government"
Operation Ivy "Room Without a Window"
System of a Down "War?", "Prison Song", "Deer Dance"
Fishbone's "If I Were A..." rant-jams
And every John Lennon, Bob Marley, and Fela Kuti song EVER.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Friday, 10 January 2003 14:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Okay, if i must. "War Dance", Killing Joke.

And it's A-B-A-C-A-B.

-Matt, who owns neither of those albums.

― Matt Maxwell (Matt M.), Friday, 10 January 2003 15:11 (twenty-two years ago)

"Shipbuilding" must be the song with which I can answer most threads...

Many Gang of Four songs are absolutely phantastic. So powerful.

BTW: I almost hate the rather uninspired "Nuclear War" EP by Yo La Tengo (one of my fave bands). Four versions of a crap song that really is too much.

― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Friday, 10 January 2003 15:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Robert Wyatt, just about everything from him.

― Colin Meeder (Mert), Friday, 10 January 2003 15:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Add "London Calling" to my list.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Friday, 10 January 2003 15:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Butric Acid - Consolidated.
I don't even agree with the message but damm its a good song.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Friday, 10 January 2003 15:24 (twenty-two years ago)

THE QUEEN IS DEAD

― the pinefox, Friday, 10 January 2003 15:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Pete Seeger at Carnegie Hall illustrates the civil rights movement better than any text i've encountered.

― christoff (christoff), Friday, 10 January 2003 15:31 (twenty-two years ago)

'Is it because I'm black' by Syl Johnson

'Tramp the dirt down' by Elvis Costello

'A change is gonna come' by Sam Cooke

'Lonesome death of Hattie Carroll' by Bob Dylan

anything by Curtis Mayfield

agree with the Minutemen

― James Ball (James Ball), Friday, 10 January 2003 15:47 (twenty-two years ago)

"The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" also.

Fear of a Black Planet and It'll Take a Nation of Millions..., as well, no diggitty.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Friday, 10 January 2003 15:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Right on both counts Nick.

― James Ball (James Ball), Friday, 10 January 2003 16:04 (twenty-two years ago)

"Free Nelson Mandela" - Special AKA

― maria b (maria b), Friday, 10 January 2003 18:38 (twenty-two years ago)

television:drug of the nation
Thanx robin. Its about frigging time that Michael Franti got some props.

― Lord Custos Omega (Lord Custos Omega), Friday, 10 January 2003 18:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I had no idea the Beatles' "Blackbird" was about the forced desegregation of the South (Macca said this recently), and knowing that, it makes me like the song more (it was also the first song I learned how to play on guitar).

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Friday, 10 January 2003 18:46 (twenty-two years ago)

"Indian Reservation" by the Raiders
"Homeless" by Old Skull

― Arthur (Arthur), Friday, 10 January 2003 18:50 (twenty-two years ago)

And "99 Red Balloons" by Nena.

― Arthur (Arthur), Friday, 10 January 2003 18:51 (twenty-two years ago)

-What's Going On (the whole album) by Marvin Gaye
-Not quite in the same league, but "Elizabeth My Dear" by the Roses

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Friday, 10 January 2003 18:59 (twenty-two years ago)

"Political Song for Michael Jackson to Sing"

Can anybody explain how "London Calling" is political? Not trying to be snide, I just don't think of it as one of the Clash's more political numbers.

Boogie Down Productions, "You Must Learn" also "Why Is That?"
James Brown, "Say It Loud I'm Black and I'm Proud"
This Heat, most all of Deceit
Camper Van Beethoven, "Sweethearts"
Dead C., most all of Eusa Kills
Bob Dylan, "Hurricane"
Gang of Four, "Armalite Rifle"
Gate, most all of Amerika
the Charlie Haden/Liberation Music Orchestra record
Mr. Woody Guthrie
Phil Ochs, that one song about Nixon, well most all Phil Ochs I guess
Noah Howard, "Message to South Africa"
that Uncle Dave Macon song about Al Smith
Killdozer, "Turkey Shoot" and "Final Market"
better John Lennon politcal song is "Gimme Some Truth"
Love, "The Red Telephone"
Prince, "1999"
here's a doozy: Nico, "Deutschland Uber Alles"
Red Crayola, "War Sucks"
all of Bob Reid's Africa Is Calling Me
Sunny Murray, "Black Art"
Frederic Rzewski, "Coming Together" and "Attica"
Archie Shepp, "Poem for Malcom"
Penderecki, "Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima"
Circle X, "Some Things Don't Grow Back"

― hstencil, Friday, 10 January 2003 19:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Midnight Oil, "Beds Are Burning" and "Blue Sky Mine"

― Vinnie (vprabhu), Friday, 10 January 2003 19:59 (twenty-two years ago)

I second "Homeless" by Old Skull. Hell yeah!

― maria b (maria b), Friday, 10 January 2003 20:02 (twenty-two years ago)

"California Uber-Alice" (yes, I'm sure it's mispelled...please clue me in on correct spelling of this)

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Friday, 10 January 2003 20:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Lots of stuff by Dog Faced Hermans, the Ex, Fugazi, and Eugene Chadbourne.

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 10 January 2003 20:06 (twenty-two years ago)

California Über Alles

― Amateurist (amateurist), Friday, 10 January 2003 20:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh yeah, forgot "Time Zone/World Destruction" by Bambaata/Rotten. Is that hip-hop? Is my non-hip-hop cred shattered?

-Matt, who owns it on VINYL, another of my pet peccadilloes.

― Matt Maxwell (Matt M.), Saturday, 11 January 2003 00:36 (twenty-two years ago)

four months pass...

"Taxman"

― ayn rand, Wednesday, 21 May 2003 21:09 (twenty-two years ago)

"Swastika Eyes"

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 21:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Randy Newman, "Political Science"

― cis (cis), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 21:37 (twenty-two years ago)

(yes, yes. this's the thread my good doctor advised i keep away from)

― t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 22:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Pink Floyd, _Animals_, all of it, though it's more
socio-political, and semi-focused on the recording industry.
And strident socialist Roger Waters, at one point, seems to
attack homeless people?!

― Squirrel_Police (Squirrel_Police), Thursday, 22 May 2003 01:48 (twenty-two years ago)

"Keep On Rocking in the Free World"

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Thursday, 22 May 2003 20:15 (twenty-two years ago)

The Mekons. Actual political/social thought, rather than just "Conservatism's BAD, m'kay?". The Mekons point to the way things should be, as well as pointing out what's currently wrong.

― Andrew Norman, Friday, 23 May 2003 08:21 (twenty-two years ago)

uhhh, Academy Fight Song and By The Time I Get To Arizona.

― Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Friday, 23 May 2003 08:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Bring it down - The Redskins

― flowersdie (flowersdie), Friday, 23 May 2003 09:07 (twenty-two years ago)

seven months pass...

Check out this band..... Johnny Philko
http://www.JohnnyPhilko.org

― Billy, Monday, 5 January 2004 04:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Beware of the Boys!

― sym (shmuel), Monday, 5 January 2004 07:38 (twenty-one years ago)

"Husker Du's "Turn On The News""

I wouldn't really call that political. It's just about how shit everything is.

Elvis Costello - Oliver's Army
H-Block 101 - Aunty Pauline

― Sasha (sgh), Tuesday, 6 January 2004 03:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue - Toby Keith
http://images.usatoday.com/life/_photos/2002/2002-06-13-inside-toby-keith.jpg

GO AMERICA!!! WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

"Now this nation that I love has fallen under attack
A mighty sucker punch came flying in from somewhere in the back
Soon as we can see clearly through our big black eye,
Man we lit up your world like the forth of July"

― tom cleveland (tom cleveland), Tuesday, 6 January 2004 05:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Big Dumb Ape - C.S. Lewis Jr.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Friday, 9 January 2004 10:43 (twenty-one years ago)

"Kick over the statues" - The Redskins

― mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 9 January 2004 11:04 (twenty-one years ago)

two months pass...

Toby Keith's song is just commercial exploitation. And it shows that he has no clue as to what happened and that money is more important to him than the truth.

And Ayn Rand sucks. (The actual Ayn Rand, that is)

MY VOTES:
Dead Kennedys "Holiday In Cambodia" "Police Truck" "Kill The Poor"
Laibach "Life Is Life"
The Clash "Tommy Gun" "Safe European Home"
Reagan Youth "New Aryans" "Jesus Was A Communist" "Reagan Youth" (one of the best lines ever: "We are the sons of Reagan HEIL/ We are the godforsaken HEIL/ The Right is our religion, We watch television, it programs our programmed minds!") "It's A Beautiful Day" (a great song about complacency) "Urban Savages" (by the way, if you don't have a sense of humour you may not understand their biting irony - so you best avoid this band)
Ramones "Bonzo Goes To Bitburg"
Crass "Do They Owe Us A Living?" (short answer: yes!) "Smash The Mac"
The Kinks "God's Children" (a good touchy-feelie universal love song that still gets to me)
Pulp "Mis-Shapes" "Common People" (ok, though these songs aren't exactly political, that is their strengths - they're political from a personal perspective - and they're fucking great! Both songs are about class consciousness.)
Bob Dylan "The Times They Are A-Changing" "Subterranean Homesick Blues"
The Southern Death Cult (the first incarnation of The Cult) "Moya"
XTC "The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead"
Black Sabbath "Children of the Grave" "War Pigs" (anti-war dirge rock from the metal pioneers)

― Philip Gomez, Tuesday, 16 March 2004 22:51 (twenty-one years ago)

RATM to thread

― Jay Kid (Jay K), Tuesday, 16 March 2004 22:53 (twenty-one years ago)

The Kinks "God's Children" (a good touchy-feelie universal love song that still gets to me)

not sure i'd call that one a touchy-feely love song. it is, rather, a quiet and lovely rant against medical transplants.

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Tuesday, 16 March 2004 23:09 (twenty-one years ago)

one year passes...

descendents "m-16"

― Ian John50n (orion), Friday, 20 May 2005 19:38 (twenty years ago)

You see I like Billy Bragg so rather a lot I would say...

― elwisty (elwisty), Friday, 20 May 2005 21:13 (twenty years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.