Guest che Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 Now I did a search and there seemed to be no thread on protest music, so if there is then let me know and I will join the discussion. Now I like this type of music, music and songs that articulate a cause or agenda, or just simply music that protests against one thing or another. For me I like Leadbelly, Bessie Smith, Billy Bragg, Joan Biaz etc. So who do you think is the best or the kind of protest music that you like? Che. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
etherbored Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 Phil Ochs - still the best topical songwriter ever - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzmoose Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 It is too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDK Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 Um... Bob Dylan. You mighta heard of him... B-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzmoose Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 Um... Bob Dylan. You mighta heard of him... B-) Yeah, that's the bastard that stole Soul Stream's guitarist! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest che Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 Um... Bob Dylan. You mighta heard of him... B-) Yes I have heard of BD, but in many ways I think there is much more to protest muisc than BD. Bob, like Miles went through many phases and moved beyond the protest phase. Phil Ochs is interesting, he was a radical and led the way, but then he was forgotton by the public and became depressed. I like much of his music, it is a pity that people do not discuss his contributons more. Neil Young, well great album and I like his music very much but would you class him as a protest singer? Beyong Ohio what is the protest? Che. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcello Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 In the Jazz field can we count Gene McDaniels? "Compared To What " (Les McCann & Eddie Harris) "Silent Majority" ( Eddie Harris - Live at Newport ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmitry Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 Is that the one where McDaniels complains of a bad can of peas or sardines or something? I had that album. Didn't inspire me to run home to my tv to watch the revolution, if you know what I mean. How about this one - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundog Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 Beyong Ohio what is the protest? ...This Notes For You Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7/4 Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfricaBrass Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit" still haunts me. My favorite protest singer was Woody Guthrie. One album of his that I find very interesting is: Ballads of Sacco & Vanzetti Bob Dylan in his protest phase was amazing. His "Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll" brings often brings tears to my eyes. He captured the humanity of the woman and her plight versus the spoiled lack of humanity of the murderer in a very real way. I tried to get into Phil Ochs, but couldn't. I don't know the reason why. I only bought the A&M best of, so that might have been past his prime. As for Joan Biaz, I don't like her because of a story a very good friend of mine told me years ago. Her brother was returning from the Vietnam war (he was DRAFTED - he DIDN'T WANT TO GO), and when he arrived at the airport, Joan Biaz SPIT ON HIM. If that story is true (which I see no reason for it not to be), then FUCK YOU JOAN BIAZ - I WISH THEY COULD'VE DRAFTED YOUR ASS. I have no problem fighting the power, but she had no right to do this to this man. It's not like he started the war or even wanted to go. I don't really go for Billy Bragg or any modern protest singers I've heard. To me a lot of them are just obnoxious; I can't get past that and I miss out on their lyrics. Maybe it's that I feel I'm being talked down to. I like a protest singer that weaves a tale that inspires me to change my mind or motivates me to become active against a wrongdoing. Don't even get me started on Rage Against the Machine. I went to high school with those guys. Heck, I even jammed with Zack (when he was a really BAD drummer). We all lived in highly sheltered in Irvine, California. If you've ever read interviews about Zack being oppressed because of his race; he wasn't, he was way more popular than I was (and I had tons of friends). I just can't stand arrogant fakes and that's what they come across as to me. Be honest, if you grew up with money and had a change of heart, that's one thing. But to play that you've been oppressed when you weren't is pathetic. Heck, you should have seen their bassist when he was in high school band called Crystal Pystal... total hair farmers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundog Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 Don't even get me started on Rage Against the Machine. I went to high school with those guys. I actually went to school with Tom Morello. My brother was pretty good friends with him back in the day.... small world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfricaBrass Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 Don't even get me started on Rage Against the Machine. I went to high school with those guys. I actually went to school with Tom Morello. My brother was pretty good friends with him back in the day.... small world. I never met him, but I've heard really good things about him. He is a interesting guitarist. I only knew Zack and Tim. It is a small world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest che Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 You know I like Bruce Springsteen, who paints a very diferent picture of the American dream. Or maybe the great Paul Robeson a man who really protested against the times. Wonderful. Che. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minew Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 (edited) The Fugs! On ESP, no less. http://www.thefugs.com/history_fugs.html Edited February 25, 2005 by minew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest che Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 "I don't really go for Billy Bragg or any modern protest singers I've heard. To me a lot of them are just obnoxious; I can't get past that and I miss out on their lyrics. Maybe it's that I feel I'm being talked down to. I like a protest singer that weaves a tale that inspires me to change my mind or motivates me to become active against a wrongdoing." Billy Bragg is one of the people who defined protest music in the UK. He articulated a time, a time with Reagan and Thatcher when it seemed ok to be greedy and indifferent. Billy sang songs about ordinary people, people who seemed alienated and lost and who did not share the dream. I read Billy Bragg as a poet on the urban masses, who sang about the kind of feelings and ideas I had at the time "Just because you dress like this dosen't mean you're a communist' Che. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfricaBrass Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 "I don't really go for Billy Bragg or any modern protest singers I've heard. To me a lot of them are just obnoxious; I can't get past that and I miss out on their lyrics. Maybe it's that I feel I'm being talked down to. I like a protest singer that weaves a tale that inspires me to change my mind or motivates me to become active against a wrongdoing." Billy Bragg is one of the people who defined protest music in the UK. He articulated a time, a time with Reagan and Thatcher when it seemed ok to be greedy and indifferent. Billy sang songs about ordinary people, people who seemed alienated and lost and who did not share the dream. I read Billy Bragg as a poet on the urban masses, who sang about the kind of feelings and ideas I had at the time "Just because you dress like this dosen't mean you're a communist' Che. I know I'm unfair in my assessment of Billy Bragg. Most of my opinions have come from soundbytes, etc... I have that Mermaid Avenue cd he did with Wilco (I've never listened to it). I'll give it a play and listen with an open mind. Billy Bragg is one of the people who defined protest music in the UK. He articulated a time, a time with Reagan and Thatcher when it seemed ok to be greedy and indifferent. Billy sang songs about ordinary people, people who seemed alienated and lost and who did not share the dream. It is okay to be greedy and indifferent today... Check out the Wal Mart thread. I still appreciate most protest singers even if I don't love their style. I have the utmost respect for someone who truly fights for those without a voice. I forgot about Springsteen. My dad loved his music when I was growing up. His early work really seemed to say a lot about what was happening. I guess the Born In the USA album's success affected my view of him. I know he was against the rah rah Reagan stuff, the album was lumped into that category. The subsequent work I have heard hasn't been as protest oriented (I could be wrong, having not heard it all). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nemo7 Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 How'z'bout Gil Scott-Heroin?...and now it's winter in amerika...pretty awful damn coool today, too, come to think of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest che Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 How'z'bout Gil Scott-Heroin?...and now it's winter in amerika...pretty awful damn coool today, too, come to think of it. I recall listening, as a student to the song "The revolution cannot be televised" what a great social critic B-) Che. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzmoose Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 How'z'bout Gil Scott-Heroin?...and now it's winter in amerika...pretty awful damn coool today, too, come to think of it. Yeah, that one could have been written today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest che Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 I" forgot about Springsteen. My dad loved his music when I was growing up. His early work really seemed to say a lot about what was happening. I guess the Born In the USA album's success affected my view of him. I know he was against the rah rah Reagan stuff, the album was lumped into that category. The subsequent work I have heard hasn't been as protest oriented (I could be wrong, having not heard it all). " In my view Bruce Springsteen ranks along side Bob Dylan, as one of America's significant protest singers. Many of his songs are full of loss and alienation. of dreams that are not quite met, even though I live in the UK, I can almost feel the loss of identity and hope that many of the people in his songs seem to feel. Check out the album 'Nebraska' for a great example of this. Che. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Lark Ascending Posted February 26, 2005 Report Share Posted February 26, 2005 Billy Bragg is one of the people who defined protest music in the UK. Well, he defined it to the 80s generation. He was following in the footsteps of hundreds of others - McColl, Gaughan, Rosselson etc - people whose music he covered and acknowledged. I've never been too taken by him though I've heard one or two of his songs sung by others and they have sounded great (Levi Stubbs Tears as done by Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin for example). I feel the same about Springsteen - can't relate to the bombast but when Emmylou Harris has sung some of his songs they are very affecting. I like seeing Bragg on things like 'Question Time'. He's articulate and unstuffy. And a great champion of folk music all round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest che Posted February 26, 2005 Report Share Posted February 26, 2005 Good points Bev. Yes Bragg was at his peak in the 80's a kind on 'man of his time', less political now, well in terms of his singing anyway. But he has moved into the media more and is involved in the debate on constitutional change here in the UK. Che. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Lark Ascending Posted February 26, 2005 Report Share Posted February 26, 2005 I've always found political songsters who just do political a bit wearing after a time. It can get so earnest, rather 'right-on'. What works for me is the singer who explores a range of human experience - the political can really pack a punch then. Martin Carthy is exemplary this way - most of what he does is traditional but the choices he makes often have political undertones. And then he can unleash a contemporary song that just floors you. Dick Gaughan is much more 'in your face' with his politics but can then do breathtakingly beautiful love songs or traditional tunes. Robert Wyatt also comes to mind. One thing I like about his political music is that it rarely sounds agitprop - in fact it comes across as extremely melancholoy, a sort of sadness at the failures of the socialist dream to to translate into political reality. I get the impression that Bragg felt his early career was getting a bit one-dimensional; as I understand it he broadened to much wider human themes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_forumlogo.png.a607ef20a6e0c299ab2aa6443aa1f32e.png)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.