I've seen a lot on blogs all over the Web recently where people have been complaining that there are so few musicians writing new protest songs these days, particularly given our current political climate. Of course there are plenty of new songs coming out that were written in protest to the war and the Bush administration, this list touches on just a few of the great new topical tunes out there.
11. "Line in the Sand" - Lucy Kaplansky
Lucy Kaplansky has written some of the most fantastic songs of protest since 9/11, including her tribute to that day - "Land of the Living" - but this one in particular stands out: "Another bomb lights up the night of someone's vision of paradise but it's just a wasted sacrifice that fuels the hate on the other side."Puchase/Download "Line In The Sand"
12. "Commander" - Girlyman
This 2004 tune by folk-pop trio Girlyman is a scathing song about George Bush, God, and the war, and the ongoing triangle drawn by the media and the administration: "You may be commander but you don't believe it."Purchase/Download "Commander"
13. "We Will Not Be Divided" - Dan Bern
In old-fashioned folk style, Dan Bern included this one on his 2004 in-time-for-elections CD Anthems. It's a great sing-along that lists off all the organizations and communities throughout American history that stand as proof of the indivisibility of humanity: "From the halls of Montezuma to the coal mines of Beaver Falls, Socialist Workers, MoveOn.org, Greenpeace, the Capitol Mall, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, United Fruit, the PTA, we wil not be divided ..."14. "No Bomb is Smart" - SONiA
This great song is from SONiA's 2004 CD by the same name, but is now available in a dance mix. SONiA's band Disappear Fear is known largely for their catchy tunes about social issues, so it's no surprise that she's made this list. "No Bomb is Smart" embodies the values of protest in the clearest, most simple manner: "I'm not gonna watch this silently in pain."Purchase/Download "No Bomb Is Smart"
15. "When the President Talks to God" - Bright Eyes
Like many of the protest songs emerging from this political climate, Bright Eyes' tune takes a look at George Bush's religious beliefs, raising interesting and important questions in this scalding topical tune: "When the president talks to God, do they ... pick which countries to invade ..."Purchase/Download "When the President Talks to God"
16. "Bomb the World" - Michael Franti
Hip-hop/folk/reggae/funk/rock poet Michael Franti wrote "Bomb the World soon after 9/11, and it has become somewhat of an anthem in the protest communities, repeating the integral phrase, "You can bomb the world to pieces, but you can't bomb it into peace."Purchase/Download "Bomb The World"
What's Your Favorite Protest Song?
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