For every cause, there’s probably a protest song. (Example: USDemocrazy staffers are waiting for approval to release their protest song, “Please, Editor, Take a Shower.”)
Musicians are always looking for ways to help out in the ways they can… And since they usually have more appealing voices than, say, most U.S. Senators, their causes are able to get a lot of attention.
For this week’s Film Festival, we’ve compiled all sorts of protest songs for your inner rebel. Let us know in the comments what your favorite is!
Given the controversy that is war, we’ll kick off with a couple to do with just that:
That’s Donovan singing “Universal Soldier” – a song with compelling lyrics about who goes to war and what’s worth the fight, released in 1965.
Next up, there’s Pearl Jam with “World Wide Suicide” which was released in 2006 as a response to the war in Iraq and criticizes the U.S. government and the detriments of war in general:
This a classic song by German one-hit-wonder, Nena. Her “99 Red Balloons” talks of the Cold War “worry worry, super-scurry” and the video features some sweet ’80s outfits. But really, pay attention to the lyrics that emphasize the tension between the nations affected by the Cold War. (Watch the German “99 Luftballons” here.)
And protest songs aren’t limited just to major international issues. Dave Carroll wrote the song “United Breaks Guitars” to call out United Airlines’ poor handling of both his instrument and his customer service complaint when he found out his guitar was broken. (It’s pretty catchy.)
And some songs that raise awareness of issues aren’t necessarily “protest” songs. Take “We Are the World,” for instance. The United Support of Artists for Africa, led by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson, produced this song in 1985 to gain support for the elimination of disease and hunger in Africa.
“We Are the World” was recently redone to raise funds for Haiti’s earthquake victims, with an entirely new chorus of mega-stars. This version received mixed reviews upon its release, but the message of coming together to help others in need remained.
Kanye West joined in the protest against conflict diamonds with the visually stirring “Diamonds from Sierra Leone:”
And, it’s not a protest party without mentioning the economy, like Billy Joel did in “Allentown.” The lyrics of the song depict a city upset over the shutting down of its cornerstone steel industry, and some relate the song to a protest of Reaganomics.
Which is your favorite? What would you add to this list? Let us know!
