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Current Political and /or World Affairs Songs


windy1

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Back in the 60's and early 70's a large majority of songs were about Vietnam, anti-patriotism, world peace and love, and racial equality. I don't listen to a lot of "new" music and I just wondered what is out there now.

Of course I've heard U2 and Springsteen, but I consider them more my generation. Toby Keith has done well commercializing patriotism. I've heard one song that I was fairly impressed by: My Vietnam by Pink.

Educate me please. ;)

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Well, even though they're a little old, they're still kickin' out the tunes (and release a new album so soon that I can taste it!! (Jr knows who I'm talkin' bout now ::)

R.E.M.!!

They have great political commentary in their stuff. In fact the single that they released a couple years ago 'Bad Day' is one of my favorite politically charged songs ever.

"We're dug in deep the price is steep"

"Sure all men are created equal, here's the church, here's the steeple"

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It seems like many of the Protest/Political songs that come out these days seem forced - nothing like "Ohio" or "Sunday Bloody Sunday."

My theory is that we're sick of politics, and no one can say anything we don't already know. Most of us listen to music for entertainment and inspiration, and a protest song is the equivalent of the guy who ruins a perfectly good discussion by asking what everyone thinks of George Bush.

I respect artists like Pearl Jam, Springsteen and R.E.M. for speaking their mind through their art, but what was the last overtly political song that really stuck in your head?

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TP recently posted a song on the "Rap is Crap" board by the Black Eyed Peas called "Where is the Love?" It's not a protest song, but it laments the state of the world.

Also, "Calling All Angels" by Train is a comment on the general state of things in the world as well.

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I don't necessarily mean protest songs. Some of the songs of the 60's and 70's made you think, and sometomes gave you the nudge to do something good. With the Vietnam-like war we have now and the state of the world why aren't artists picking up on this? I can't believe they just don't care. I think it's just the commercialism of music now.

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Protesting in music, is just plain stupid. No one cares, and you're not rebelious.

"Fight for your right to paaaaarteh" :rockon:

There is something to that, though. After all the protesting is done, most of these guys go back to their mansions and castles, fashion shows, and photo shoots for magazines that advertise for companies that partake in the oppression of the people :rockon:

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what was the last overtly political song that really stuck in your head?

Rage Against the Machine. Just about all of their songs are too preachy in advising the problems with Cuba, nobody in the states cares & it gets annoying if you listen to any of their albums in full. I respect that they try to get a message out through song, but it needs to stop at a certain point. I feel the same way with a lot of P.O.D.'s material, that it too moralizes too much about God.

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:doh:

How could I have forgot about this song, well the whole album really.

Tom Petty's 'The Last DJ', the song (and album) may not be directly 'political' but it sure as hell is a protest song.

This song was huge as far as impact goes as well, for it showed many people the evils of radio big business(and big business in general)

'Well you can't turn him into a company man

you can't turn him into a whore'

'As we settle for mediocrity

all the boys upstairs wanna see

How much we'll pay for what we used to get for free'

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Operation: Mindcrime by Queensrÿche has a lot of political commentary.

Operation: Mindcrime mostly addresses the comparisons between communism & democracy, It takes a further look into the Cold War providing a statement towards the corruption in our legal system, that not everything goes as said. A significant part of the album deals with the issue of evangelist bribery & the sins of religious figures. The whole concept of the album is highly based on the perceptive book ?1984? by George Orwell.

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