Two Weeks of Protest Music (September 2-September 15)

Here is a sampling of some of the notable socially conscious music released in the last two weeks. Songs and Videos: Bang Bang – The Avett Brothers “Bang Bang” is the latest track off the veteran folk-rock band’s upcoming tenth album Closer Than Together, due out October 4th. Even though the band doesn’t consider the album political, many of the […]

Learn more →

Protest Music of the Week (July 8-14)

Right now we will highlight a few socially conscious videos and tunes released this week. Songs and Videos: The OG – A Tribe Called Red featuring Black Bear The latest single from the Indigenous Canadian EDM group is dedicated to Romeo Saganash, an Indigenous Member of Parliament. The tune samples a Saganash speech where he called out Candian Prime Minister […]

Learn more →

Daily Dose of Protest: I Made An Abortion – Pussy Riot

I just posted the weekly update of protest music and missed a brand new video by Pussy Riot. With the recent oppressive abortion law just passed in Alabama, there shouldn’t be any surprise that the Russian collective would make some kind of statement. The message of the thirty-six-second audio and visual presentation is self-explanatory. It features the tune “225” by […]

Learn more →

Daily Dose of Protest: Track About Good Cop – Pussy Riot

On July 15, 2018, four members of the Russian activist group Pussy Riot ran on the field wearing police outfits during the second half of the FIFA World Cup finals, which was taking place in Russia. Their motivation was to draw attention to the human right abuses in Russia. Olga Pahtusova, Olga Kuracheva, Nika Nikulshina, Peter Verzilov were all jailed for […]

Learn more →

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 the tunes I feel were the best. It is more of an index of some the best 2018 protest songs that I featured as a Daily Dose of Protest. Below […]

Learn more →

The Future Is Female: 10 Women Artists Who Are Transforming Protest Music

“R.I.P. Patriarchy” The following inscription appeared on a tombstone which was featured on the cover of Petra Glynt’s 2017 album This Trip. There is a renaissance of socially conscious female artists who are playing a role in not only trying to restructure a male dominated music industry, but society. Right now we are going to focus on ten women artists […]

Learn more →

Daily Dose of Protest: Bad Apples – Pussy Riot and Dave Sitek

The Russian activists / music collective continue to rally against political corruption on their collaboration with TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek. The song lyrics start off critiquing superficial music with the lyric “you thought that I just made this for the club – No way!” It goes on to denounce those that are “drunk on power” and it provides […]

Learn more →

10 Protest Songs About Donald Trump

Back in November 2016 I started writing a book on the historical developments of protest music tentatively titled 500 Songs of Protests. Writing about music’s link to a variety of protest movements while the US election was winding down and then witnessing the aftermath of the results, made for an interesting climate to write about this subject. Within this backdrop there […]

Learn more →

Top 50 Protest Songs of 2017

This is a continuation of the 2017: The Year In Protest series. Previous entries include Top 40 Protest Albums, Top 5 Protest EPs, and Top 12 Protest Music Videos. Now we’ll look at 50 tunes that helped provide the soundtrack of the 2017 protest movement. 50: What Makes Us Great – Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers (featuring Bruce Springsteen) Journeyman […]

Learn more →

Top 12 Protest Music Videos of 2017

The jaded cynic may dismiss music videos as simply promotional vehicles to help a musician go viral and to increase their net worth. Even though that synopsis is often accurate, when done properly music videos can be elevated to a fine art, capable of making profound statements. With socially conscious music the visuals can also reinforce the lyrical impact. Here is […]

Learn more →