Political Music?

sukiroseessence — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 23:42:21 -0700

I need music to do with politics and radical social ideologies. I already have pretty much all of A Thousand Suns by Linkin Park on the playlist (always spoken to me as a story about a society ruled by an unfair ruler) but I need more. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Re: Political Music?

encantado — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 03:52:56 -0700

Muse's music is heavy with political messages, especially those of revolution - Assassin, Take A Bow, Exo-Politics and Uprising are some that come to mind. I've heard Rage Against The Machine's songs focus heavily on anti-government themes, though I've never listened to them personally. My inner theatre geek is also screaming at me that La Vie Boheme B from Rent is a great song about 'radical social ideologies', even though that's probably not the sort of music you're after. Good luck!

Re: Political Music?

kertwang — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 05:35:35 -0700

The Clash.

Re: Political Music?

myyearinlists — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 05:57:25 -0700

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists. Shake the Sheets and Living with the Living are two amazing albums with some awesome political themes. Also check out Thom Yorke's The Eraser, particularly "Harrowdown Hill." Cheers if you can tell what it's about without looking it up...

Re: Political Music?

ennika — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:55:47 -0700

If social criticism from the (far?) left is something you'd be interested in, check out Geoff Berner (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knnLr65EeGg).

Re: Political Music?

FoxyMoron — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:27:42 -0700

Second Rage Against the Machine for revolutionary ideations, and I'll add Bad Religion for general abstract dissent. for RATM, "No Shelter" is a great one that is very relevant to modern Western life for Bad Religion "Sorrow" is great for abstract rebuke of humanity itself

Re: Political Music?

Owlor — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:30:47 -0700

Try the Wolfe tones, they are an irish folk band, which is quite far from punk or linkin park, but which can give you a different perspective, their song has a very pro-IRA and somewhat nationalistic flair, and I do not necesserily condone their message, to be clear. but it works well as an example of political music that is not angry punk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXzhEokVn0s&feature=related

Re: Political Music?

trickystick — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:50:43 -0700

I would say Serj Tankian/System of a Down, but they are more of the criticising the USA's actions type of political music, not really radical out-there political ideologies. They sure do sound angry and like a call to arms though >.>

Re: Political Music?

lasalle202 — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:03:26 -0700

Pete Seeger Melvina Reynolds Billy Bragg all of the 60's protest movement songs (Joan Baez, early Dylan, "We shall overcome"" et al) and many of the classic rock/funk songs of the early 70's

Re: Political Music?

Saille — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 19:39:38 -0700

Some Michael Franti and Spearhead songs are good for that purpose...Yell Fire and Listener Supported both come to mind.

Re: Political Music?

Hailey — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 20:59:50 -0700

Ani DiFranco. Your Next Bold Move and Paradigm both make good starting points.

Re: Political Music?

inyourdirtiestpants — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:25:28 -0700

I don't know if this will help, but I hope it does. Propagandhi http://youtu.be/RzPAEoEPb9Y Anti-Flag http://youtu.be/PynWTLeUJRA Leftover Crack http://youtu.be/jxG1STI3SDo Pennywise http://youtu.be/H-Yihs6S0Ac Strike Anywhere http://youtu.be/6ejrM1wR6Ow NOFX http://youtu.be/LzpTmcq7nBg a lot of punk music discusses political themes. if you like this style/genre, let me know. i can probably put together some more for you given the time. :)

Re: Political Music?

tyrantswine — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:48:21 -0700

Rage Against the Machine v. Public Enemy feat. Moby http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=RkgP_HFfCf4#t=72s The Clash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2aItuM1-J4 Future of the Left http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvWG6RvXQUw Sodom http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUIce4FGvfM&feature=related Kreator http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dR7xBj0bDD8

Re: Political Music?

Cecile_Bouquet — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:10:49 -0700

you probably won't understand anything of it, but try propaganda songs from the GDR (? I mean the German Democratic Republic, you know, East Germany). They are very political, my sister is actually currently writing a seminare paper on their nursery rhymes since they are pretty political. Too bad you don't understand any of those lyrics :(

Re: Political Music?

The_Halla — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 11:44:04 -0700

I'll try to avoid redundancies, because there are some great suggestions above. Hip-hop and urban: Gil Scott-Heron: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised Public Enemy Common Blue Scholars Flobots Tim Fite: Over the Counterculture (available for free on his website--he decided it would be hypocritical to sell the album) Marvin Gaye: What's Goin' On Sly and the Family Stone The Roots: Phrenology Rock and alternative: Steve Earle: "John Walker Blues" John Vanderslice: The Emerald City Neil Young: "Alabama", "Southern Man", "Pocahontas", Living With War Frank Turner: "Glory Hallelujah" The Sex Pistols: Never Mind the Bollocks Jack Johnson (yes, that Jack Johnson. Listen more closely to some of his lyrics...) The Arcade Fire: Neon Bible

Re: Political Music?

The_Halla — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 11:44:56 -0700

Oops, forgot an obvious one: most of John Lennon's solo career.

Re: Political Music?

Emmejo — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 13:30:10 -0700

Anything by Blackfire. ( http://www.blackfire.net/ ) Although it is very high-energy, so staying in your seat in order to write may become an issue. Definitely check out pretty much anything by The Clash and Billy Bragg, too.

Re: Political Music?

Allicat232 — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:13:48 -0800

Adding to this for anyone, like me, who's starting the new year with a new project and has realised that they don't have very much music fit for writing revolution. I'm a fan of music where you can really hear the lyrics. No angry shouty noises for me! Anyhoo, check out these; Frank Turner - I know he's been mentioned already, but I wanted to add my current writing faves. 'Love Ire + Song', 'I Still Believe', and 'Thatcher F***ed the Kids'. Les Miserables - Heck, it's the soundtrack to a tale about the French Revolution! In particular 'ABC Café/Red and Black', 'Do You Hear The People Sing', 'One Day More', the Attack & Battle tracks... Half the musical really! Seconding the OPs Linkin Park mention, although I only have an older album; Minutes to Midnight. 'Hands Held High' is a modern political statement. 'No More Sorrow' is too shouty for my taste, but the lyrics are inspiring when I'm in a revolutionary mood writing-wise. I'm sure there's plenty more I could offer, but I killed my old laptop. When I've recovered my old iTunes library I'll have a look see.

Re: Political Music?

DeathOfScythes — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:30:48 -0800

Folk music tends to be about as political as it gets. Someone already mentioned Pete Seeger and Niel Young, I'll throw out Utah Phillips , Moxy Fruvous , , Phil Ochs (particularly the timeless "love me, I'm a liberal"), Arlo Guthre, Tom Paxon, and hundreds of others.

Re: Political Music?

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 16:42:59 -0800

What about Rise Against? - they're mostly anti-America, and they focus on a lot of different issues - politics, the world, humanity, and life in general. Try anything of theirs, there has to be a message in it somewhere ("The First Drop", "Black Masks And Gasoline", and "Collapse (Post-Amerika)" are a good start)

Re: Political Music?

dutchbando — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 19:27:45 -0800

I'm a bit surprised nobody has mentioned Green Day yet. 'American Idiot' caused quite a stir on my conservative college campus when it was released. Excellent album. The videos for both 'American Idiot' and 'Holiday' have some pretty spectacular political imagery.

Re: Political Music?

CausticWords — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 11:00:57 -0700

Specifically Anti-War songs that were pretty big are Chicago - by Crosby Stills Nash and Young, and Stop Children, What's that Sound - by Buffalo Springfield. They're pretty good. Also: War - Edwin Starr. Three Dog Night - Black and White. It's definitely about politics. A lot of Al Stewart's music, the best being; Road to Moscow (about the end of WWII in Russia); Warren Harding (about Warren G. Harding, 29th American President); Post World War Two Blues (a fantastic song). Most importantly, Man in Black, by Johnny Cash. Another great song is Don't Get Fooled again - The Who. It's about as political as it gets. For more, just listen to a few songs. A lot of musicians write passionately about politics. You don't have to look very far to find them.