Opinions please: Protest Singers

Subject: RE: Opinions please
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 03:34 PM

I would also add John Flynn to the top of Deb C's list, as well as people like Rod MacDonald, SONia, Ani DiFranco as well as the "old guard" such as Tom Paxton, Kim & Reggie Harris, Utah Phillips and many others who are out there on the lines. I hear numerous "protest" or "topical" songs from a variety of artists, not all of who specialize in that type of music.

I think selective memory also tends to cloud our memories. I would turn Kendall's question around and ask "who were the protest singers in the 1960's?"    Sure I remember songs from people like Joan Baez, Phil Ochs, Peter LaFarge, Peter,Paul & Mary and Buffy Sainte-Marie, but even these artists did more than just sing. They appeared in demonstrations and worked for change.   If we think back on the 1960's, there were LESS outlets for this type of music in the media. Certainly top-40 radio wasn't playing the protest songs of Phil Ochs. The outlets were the WBAI's and college radio stations of the day, and the same outlets exist today.

I challenge that there are just as many artists today involved in such causes. Folk music may not be as "mainstream" as it once was, but there are still musicians singing about important issues.   As for the pop music world, it isn't just Britney and Justin. There are messages getting out from some artists, just as they did in the 60's.

Subject: RE: Opinions please
From: Ed.
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 03:32 PM

Rap sucks

Does it? I hate it myself, but loads of young people love it. Who are we to argue with them?

Subject: RE: Opinions please
From: Kim C
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 03:29 PM

I'm not going to side with Jerry or with Ed but I have to say, that most of the rap music I have been hearing on mainstream radio in my particular market (Nashville, TN) is, in fact, sex-related. (Nelly... 50 Cent... Missy Elliot) I do realize, however, that's only a small part of what's being recorded and sold.

Regarding Missy Elliot, though, it's kind of interesting to hear a woman addressing subjects that have been traditionally addressed by men. But that's another story.

Back to regular programming.

Subject: RE: Opinions please
From: GUEST,Clint Keller
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 03:27 PM

I just found out that Tom Morello, guitarist for Rage Against the Machine ("a politically charged rock band" and my grand daughter's favorite group) until they broke up and now playing in Audioslave, has recently begun performing folk songs as the Nightwatchman.

This, he says is "..an extension of my politics. Then again, some of the songs are not explicitly political... Once you prick the vein you never know what is going to come out."

Two years ago he formed Axis of Justice, an organization to "…bridge between progressive-minded musicians, fans of rock & rap music, and local grassroots organizations."

There's an interview in the January 2004 issue of The Progressive and that's where I got all this.

He says "People will read a book or pamphlet only once, but a song they can sing again and again in their heads."

Sounds to me he's on the right track; I want to check him out farther.

And it seems to me it's the men with pens who give instructions to the men with swords. For instance, all our soldiers in the Near East didn't just suddenly decide to go there on their own; our Fearless Leaders are well known to have "other priorities" than using the sword themselves. And they're dangerous.

clint

Subject: RE: Opinions please
From: GUEST,Martin Gibson
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 03:26 PM

Hey Ed

I'm informed and not really prejudiced.

Rap sucks. Jerry's right.

Subject: RE: Opinions please
From: Ed.
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 03:18 PM

Jerry,

I'm not a rap fan myself, but your comment is uninformed and prejudiced.

I'd have expected better from you.

Subject: RE: Opinions please
From: harpgirl
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 03:17 PM

Kendall, for my money, John McCutcheon fills this bill but as he notes, the songs that we call protest songs don't pay the bills because they aren't popular. But you can hear some of his wonderful Protest songs on his website.

Subject: RE: Opinions please
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 03:14 PM

Rap used to be be more protest than it is now... seems like the primary protest is now that guys aren't getting enough

Jerry

Subject: RE: Opinions please
From: Cluin
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 03:05 PM

I blame the media.

And the church.

And my parents.

And Elvis.




But not William Shatner.

Subject: RE: Opinions please
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 02:54 PM

" The centre cannot hold."

That implies there ever was a centre...

Subject: RE: Opinions please
From: fat B****rd
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 02:50 PM

Good point pdq, Rap seems, of all genres, to enrage some 'catters.
I think the late Joe Strummer made a good point when he said that he tried to persuade people not to vote for the wrong person and if they didn't learn then - then they're not going to now.

Subject: RE: Opinions please
From: pdq
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 02:47 PM

Rap is protest music, Kendall...I'll send you some...and some ear plugs...

Subject: RE: Opinions please
From: Cluin
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 02:46 PM

Because our society has ADD. Things move faster and faster; nobody stops long enough to listen and are mostly wrapped up in their own little worlds because when they look out they are blinded by all the flashy light thingies going off everwhere all the time. The centre cannot hold.

Subject: RE: Opinions please
From: Ed.
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 02:43 PM

Sadly, the pen isn't mightier than the sword.

Small power the word has, and can afford us
Not half so much privilege as the sword does
Anonymous Pamphleteer, 1649

Subject: RE: Opinions please
From: Kim C
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 02:31 PM

I think they're out there - we just don't hear them on the radio. As someone else already said, it's not profitable. Supposedly.

Subject: RE: Opinions please
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 02:23 PM

About the only political/satirical songs I hear are the Capitol Steps on National Public Radio, and that's pretty lite and only happens once a year. Maybe, Kendall, you'll have to write one yourself, release it, and see who shows up at your door.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Opinions please
From: DebC
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 02:18 PM

Hi Kendall,

There are a few. We just aren't hearing about them. Here are four names:

Joe Jencks
Anne Feeney
Chris Chandler
Steve Earl (a wee bit more well-known)

I am sure there are many others, but these are the ones that came to mind just now.

All the best,
Deb Cowan

Subject: RE: Opinions please
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 02:16 PM

More likely cause it didn't change anything then... So why would it be expected to change anything now?

Subject: RE: Opinions please
From: Rapparee
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 02:11 PM

'Cause there's no air time, a LOT of apathy, and no money in it. Sorry if I sound a tad bitter and cynical.

Subject: Opinions please
From: kendall
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 02:06 PM

I don't know what thread heading this should be in, so, I didn't use one. My question is this:

Back in the 60's when our government was out of control, there were more protest singers than you could count. Now, as far as I'm concerned, it is even worse, yet there are no rebels to prove the pen is mightier than the sword. Why?