Joan Baez – The Ongoing History of Protest Music

Neil Young (with Joan Baez & Maggie Rogers) Performs Rockin’ In The Free World at Fighting Oligarchy Rally

Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have been touring across America holding large "Fighting Oligarchy" rallies. The rallies protest the political influence of billionaires and big corporations. They also spoke out…

CJ Baker April 13, 2025

Protest Music Hall of Fame

Protest Music Hall of Fame: We Shall Overcome – Pete Seeger and Joan Baez

Joan Baez performing at the March on Washington, August 28, 1963. Photo Credit: Scherman, Rowland, U.S. Information Agency. Press and Publications Service "We shall live in peaceWe shall live in peaceWe…

CJ Baker March 14, 2025

Protest Music Hall of Fame

Protest Music Hall of Fame: Joe Hill

October 7, 1879- November 19, 1915 "Don't waste time mourning, organize!" Joe Hill was born Joel Hägglund in Sweden before immigrating to America in 1902. He changed his name to…

CJ Baker March 11, 2025

Reviews

Review of Renegade Dreamers: A Documentary Film By Karen Kramer

Film image of folk-singer Matt Pless appearing at a peace rally. Back in the 1950s and 60s, New York's Greenwich Village played a role in establishing the counterculture with its…

CJ Baker May 24, 2019

Protest Music Hall of Fame

Protest Music Hall of Fame 2018 Inductees

As part of an online archival project a poll was posted to nominate artists, songs, and albums that have made considerable contributions to the historical development of protest music. Based…

CJ Baker December 4, 2018

2018: The Year In Protest Music Songs Lists

Protest Songs of 2018 Playlist

I previously posted a list of the 30 best protest albums of 2018. The following list of songs won't be as detailed. Also it won't be a strict list of…

CJ Baker July 2, 2018

2018: The Year In Protest Music Songs Lists

The Top 30 Protest Albums of 2018 (So Far)

The current political climate has become a fertile breeding ground for protest music. Even artists that are generally not known for their politics are writing music that is becoming more…

CJ Baker July 1, 2018

Daily Dose of Protest

Daily Dose of Protest: The Great Correction – Joan Baez

On March 2, 2018, folk music icon and activist Joan Baez released her first album in ten years, Whistle Down The Wind. She also announced that it will be her…

CJ Baker April 7, 2018

Songs Lists

10 Civil Rights Protest Songs of the 20th Century

Music has long been a powerful medium to protest the social injustices faced by humankind. For example, many of the anthems of the civil rights movement of the 50s and…

CJ Baker January 30, 2018