Dissent: Where Is The Love?
October 10th, 2008 | by Scott |The social turbulence of the 60s combined with the Vietnam War to produce a heyday for protest songs. We could spend months talking just about the glut of socially aware tunes that emerged out of those short period of time.
By comparison, the frequency and popularity of protest songs seems to have waned quite considerably over the last 30+ years. However, there has always been a consistent thread of dissent in popular music regardless of the time. Jackson Browne’s work against nuclear proliferation in the 70s yielded to Mellencamp’s awareness of the farmer’s plight in the 80s.
However, in the last few years there has been a resurgence of artists expressing their sentiments on war, the economy, torture and other issues.
One of my favorite tunes to emerge in the anti-war category was “Where Is The Love?” by the Black Eyed Peas. Typically this is not my style of music, but the driving beat, the catchy tune and the lyrics lamenting a more aggressive nationalistic tone resonated with me. will.i.am, creator of the internet phenomenon of early 2008 entitled “Yes We Can” cowrote the song and expressed some of the emotions he felt in the aftermath of 9/11. A stirring song is the result:
7 Responses to “Dissent: Where Is The Love?”
By LukeD on Oct 10, 2008 | Reply
Okay, definitely some solid thoughts in the song (I’m a fan of the chorus in particular), but I’ve never liked the song. I just can’t get by the inanity of the first two lines:
“What’s wrong with the world, mama
People livin’ like they ain’t got no mamas?”
By Mark on Oct 10, 2008 | Reply
One of my favorite songs.
By Mark 0 on Oct 10, 2008 | Reply
What is the fascination with protest songs?
By Jonathan on Oct 10, 2008 | Reply
Hey, if it’s a choice between protest songs and “My Humps”, I’ll take the former.
By Ed on Oct 11, 2008 | Reply
Scott, I hope you don’t mind me dropping in uninvited, but I appreciate the thoughtful discussion going on in your blog. You are a great host.
I have to vote for one of my favorites, “Last Plane Out” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyTdtf0LFMk&feature=related )by Toy Matinee, the little band that never was. Curiously, the song (from 1990) is still as relevant today as when first penned. Maybe that is the mark of a good protest song, continued relevance.
Kevin Gilbert’s death was a loss to us all. Had he lived, it would be interesting to see what he would have done artistically with the last 8 years or so.
Then, too, there is John Fogerty, but that is a whole other post. I’ve always liked “Fortunate Son” and his latest album is not elegant, but it is passionate . . .
Thanks for the space.
By Scott on Oct 11, 2008 | Reply
Ed, welcome to my blog. Tracy speaks highly of you. Please, feel welcome to comment at any time.
I think that you are right that continued relevance is an important factor for one makes a truly great protest song. The specific instance might be but a moment in time but the overall theme cuts across the years.
I have Fortunate Son on my list to share in the coming days.
By Mark 0 on Oct 20, 2008 | Reply
http://aarontippin.musiccitynetworks.com/?inc=5&news_id=13986
My protest song.