In every region of the world, music is used daily as a tool for expanding human rights and resisting authoritarianism—but this is due entirely to the public, not the music business
I believe that this country needs a counter culture to spawn more protest music. I am sure that there is protest music out there, but I have not heard any of it yet.
The unlimited power of music against slavery, fascism and dictatorship is the theme of my upcoming online class, "Music as Resistance" focusing on Brazil over the last 5 centuries. Thank you, Ted! https://www.jovisan.net/music-as-resistance.html
yes i have been noticing the power of music and using it myself in my newsletters / DJ sounds and events are pretty much worldwide as far as i can tell / a proliferation of genres and subgenres and new genres / it has been a renaissance for me and for many other people / rap is everywhere likewise / even saudi arabia / the kids are doing it because they can / it's a great cultural tsunami wave of good vibes and human connections / it's still underwater but about to break one of these days
You certainly make strong points for protest music still being used effectively around the world to strengthen and promote causes, but where are the popular artists and protest songs demanding changes here in the U.S.? They HAVE disappeared. It's no "illusion based on the indifference of the music business." None of the past American icons of the protest movement (Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Peter,Paul and Mary, C,S,N &Y, et al) were considered "commercial" performers, yet they got their messages out and became popular in spite of that. In fact, each of these artists DID make money for their labels by being known as anti-establishment figures. I have closely followed music for the last five decades, and have been surprised (disappointed?) to realize that it's not just the music industry to be blamed for this contemporary lack of response, but it's a general indifference on the part of the writers and performers to make a musical statement that could be controversial (excluding rap music, which speaks more directly to a black audience, rather than having a more universal appeal). Artists are rarely willing to make a stand the way they used to in the past. That's the point that hurts more than anything. "Where have all the flowers gone . . . long time passing?" Gone . . . just gone. In the 21st century, music overall has given up the fight and died.
Unfortunately, none of it is happening on the US pop charts as it once was. We went through an entire Trump presidency with no memorable protest song in the mainstream realm. And artists were not happy about that president. I don't think Twitter is nearly as powerful but I'm afraid that's where the ire is being expressed. In an echo chamber. The last protest song I remember in popular culture was "Megalomaniac" by Incubus. It was a powerful song with a stunning music video that got heavy rotation from Mtv. Where are the mainstream hip-hop songs speaking up against Trump and the landscape he's left behind? People were so outraged about George Floyd's death but all Cardi B wanted to talk about was her wet-ass pussy.
Love songs might have been some sort of artistic weapon in the past, but not in the last decades. I found Zappa's words explain it in a very accurate way:
"Love songs create an unrealistic idealistic idea of love that you never can achieve in real life. The very idea of "love" is ridiculous, since I think that most people go for sex instead of love".
We humans tend to glamorize anything in our animal department and make a big deal out of it, but at the end of the day it's just our animal nature. We are so obsessed by what our instincts have to offer, though that we can't help to make and listen to songs about it every day.
I think love songs have become nothing but the product of a sad lack of creativity, imagination and open-mindedness.
A protest song without a social movement makes as much noise as a tree falling in a vacuum. The artists that created protest songs that resonated across the culture at large arose from subcultural groups that initially at least were larger than they and then through their artistry and charisma coalesced these subcultures around themselves and built an audience large enough (or at least committed enough) to attract the attention of the “music industry.” Bob Dylan is emblematic of this situation, at least at the start of his career, and one could also fit Aretha Franklin, James Brown, and Curtis Mayfield into this template at certain points of their careers. These artist could shape mass movements (at least for a moment) because they were building on a solid and committed base.
I am not sure how this feedback loop develops in the post-Modern/digital age—it certainly is not accessible to music that draws from the traditions of the previous era. Plenty of “jazz” musicians who trace their lineages of influences back to the Black Radical Music of the 60’s and 70’s make protest and oppositional music to this day, but this music has a very small social base and has almost no resonance. That the examples you cite are all from the de-colonizing world are "no accident" as the Marxists used to say. The only social movements in the "West" that aren't fully demoralized are fascist in nature, and fascism is not typically associated with great music (unless you dig the "Horse Wessel Song," Nazi black metal, and flag waving Country music.)
It is not nostalgia for this 71 year old to want political protest songs — it is because I have stayed alive and active and care about the state of the world.
But US protest — not just the music — has been neutered with satisfied consumer complacency. Where are the The Fugs, Phil Ochs, Pete Seeger, Nina Simone, Marvin Gaye, etc.
Trent Reznor, Springsteen, but 2 major acts with protest songs in their canon. But I ask this—has a song ever changed anyone's mind? Which one and how? Not saying it hasn't...but tell me about it, if you would. Just because people are being arrested for making a song, doesn't mean the songs is actually creating change. To wit: jazz musicians now feel inclined to name songs and themes that have protest implications. But strip away the title, does the music actually SAY anything you could connect to a cause? or is it just...good music that buoys the spirit? I believe in protest songs, but I cast a quizzical eye at overly broad prognoses on their efficacy. Perhaps their greatest power is galvanizing energy within a group that's already made up their mind what they believe. I'd love to see an article on how a song actually led to political advancement.
Andy Alexis commented on This land is Your land: The verse that got left out of your elementary school songbook: As I was walkin' - I saw a sign there And that sign said - no tress passin' But on the other side .... it didn't say nothin! Now that side was made for you and me!
Excellent article...it would be interesting if you could talk about the protest song in Latin America, in Central America, in Mexico...from now on I will be very grateful, considering that many artists of American origin traveled with their protest songs to these latitudes. ..Example...Joan Baez. Dean Cyril Reed etc. And they sang in Spanish...
The dangerous love song topples empires...
I believe that this country needs a counter culture to spawn more protest music. I am sure that there is protest music out there, but I have not heard any of it yet.
Even Taylor Swift's songs You Need to Calm Down and The Man have political implications.
I was told by a Brazilian friend of mine who is a singer that the Bossa Novas of Jobim etc were also seen as protest songs.
The unlimited power of music against slavery, fascism and dictatorship is the theme of my upcoming online class, "Music as Resistance" focusing on Brazil over the last 5 centuries. Thank you, Ted! https://www.jovisan.net/music-as-resistance.html
yes i have been noticing the power of music and using it myself in my newsletters / DJ sounds and events are pretty much worldwide as far as i can tell / a proliferation of genres and subgenres and new genres / it has been a renaissance for me and for many other people / rap is everywhere likewise / even saudi arabia / the kids are doing it because they can / it's a great cultural tsunami wave of good vibes and human connections / it's still underwater but about to break one of these days
In Puerto Rico protesters march and sing to the native rhythm called plena.
You certainly make strong points for protest music still being used effectively around the world to strengthen and promote causes, but where are the popular artists and protest songs demanding changes here in the U.S.? They HAVE disappeared. It's no "illusion based on the indifference of the music business." None of the past American icons of the protest movement (Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Peter,Paul and Mary, C,S,N &Y, et al) were considered "commercial" performers, yet they got their messages out and became popular in spite of that. In fact, each of these artists DID make money for their labels by being known as anti-establishment figures. I have closely followed music for the last five decades, and have been surprised (disappointed?) to realize that it's not just the music industry to be blamed for this contemporary lack of response, but it's a general indifference on the part of the writers and performers to make a musical statement that could be controversial (excluding rap music, which speaks more directly to a black audience, rather than having a more universal appeal). Artists are rarely willing to make a stand the way they used to in the past. That's the point that hurts more than anything. "Where have all the flowers gone . . . long time passing?" Gone . . . just gone. In the 21st century, music overall has given up the fight and died.
Unfortunately, none of it is happening on the US pop charts as it once was. We went through an entire Trump presidency with no memorable protest song in the mainstream realm. And artists were not happy about that president. I don't think Twitter is nearly as powerful but I'm afraid that's where the ire is being expressed. In an echo chamber. The last protest song I remember in popular culture was "Megalomaniac" by Incubus. It was a powerful song with a stunning music video that got heavy rotation from Mtv. Where are the mainstream hip-hop songs speaking up against Trump and the landscape he's left behind? People were so outraged about George Floyd's death but all Cardi B wanted to talk about was her wet-ass pussy.
Excellent article!
There's one thing I totally disagree, though.
Love songs might have been some sort of artistic weapon in the past, but not in the last decades. I found Zappa's words explain it in a very accurate way:
"Love songs create an unrealistic idealistic idea of love that you never can achieve in real life. The very idea of "love" is ridiculous, since I think that most people go for sex instead of love".
We humans tend to glamorize anything in our animal department and make a big deal out of it, but at the end of the day it's just our animal nature. We are so obsessed by what our instincts have to offer, though that we can't help to make and listen to songs about it every day.
I think love songs have become nothing but the product of a sad lack of creativity, imagination and open-mindedness.
A protest song without a social movement makes as much noise as a tree falling in a vacuum. The artists that created protest songs that resonated across the culture at large arose from subcultural groups that initially at least were larger than they and then through their artistry and charisma coalesced these subcultures around themselves and built an audience large enough (or at least committed enough) to attract the attention of the “music industry.” Bob Dylan is emblematic of this situation, at least at the start of his career, and one could also fit Aretha Franklin, James Brown, and Curtis Mayfield into this template at certain points of their careers. These artist could shape mass movements (at least for a moment) because they were building on a solid and committed base.
I am not sure how this feedback loop develops in the post-Modern/digital age—it certainly is not accessible to music that draws from the traditions of the previous era. Plenty of “jazz” musicians who trace their lineages of influences back to the Black Radical Music of the 60’s and 70’s make protest and oppositional music to this day, but this music has a very small social base and has almost no resonance. That the examples you cite are all from the de-colonizing world are "no accident" as the Marxists used to say. The only social movements in the "West" that aren't fully demoralized are fascist in nature, and fascism is not typically associated with great music (unless you dig the "Horse Wessel Song," Nazi black metal, and flag waving Country music.)
It is not nostalgia for this 71 year old to want political protest songs — it is because I have stayed alive and active and care about the state of the world.
But US protest — not just the music — has been neutered with satisfied consumer complacency. Where are the The Fugs, Phil Ochs, Pete Seeger, Nina Simone, Marvin Gaye, etc.
Your article reminded me of Milt Gabler who produced Billie Holiday's recording of Strange Fruit after Columbia declined.
Trent Reznor, Springsteen, but 2 major acts with protest songs in their canon. But I ask this—has a song ever changed anyone's mind? Which one and how? Not saying it hasn't...but tell me about it, if you would. Just because people are being arrested for making a song, doesn't mean the songs is actually creating change. To wit: jazz musicians now feel inclined to name songs and themes that have protest implications. But strip away the title, does the music actually SAY anything you could connect to a cause? or is it just...good music that buoys the spirit? I believe in protest songs, but I cast a quizzical eye at overly broad prognoses on their efficacy. Perhaps their greatest power is galvanizing energy within a group that's already made up their mind what they believe. I'd love to see an article on how a song actually led to political advancement.
Andy Alexis commented on This land is Your land: The verse that got left out of your elementary school songbook: As I was walkin' - I saw a sign there And that sign said - no tress passin' But on the other side .... it didn't say nothin! Now that side was made for you and me!
Excellent article...it would be interesting if you could talk about the protest song in Latin America, in Central America, in Mexico...from now on I will be very grateful, considering that many artists of American origin traveled with their protest songs to these latitudes. ..Example...Joan Baez. Dean Cyril Reed etc. And they sang in Spanish...