Name some politically charged music groups

[Labrocca]

I know of a few but let's post a few.

ConsolidatedÂ*Â*(techno-dance heavy political)
Rage Against the Machine
Bad Religion

[PittsburghAfterDark]

There's always the throwbacks of the Dead Kennedys and the offshoots of Lard and DOA.

Early rap was more political than the current garbage of bitches, hos and bling.Â*Â*When you go back and listen to some Ice-T, NWA and a few others they always railed against the police and laws they felt discriminated against blacks.

Quite frankly I'm so out of the popular music scene I'd be hard pressed to tell you the content of most music and if it has a message politically or otherwise.Â*Â*I know when idiots like the Dixie Chicks, Morrissey, Bruce Springsteen and others just step up and say Bush sucks.

I think that's kind of telling.Â*Â*Music to me got so bad, so fast that I went from knowing practically every single on the radio and able to name 20 songs getting airplay on "alternative" stations just 5 years ago to not knowing many if any current artists.Â*Â*I think it all started when metal rap and Korn Klones became "alternative" staples.

Now most of my music listening is done on internet radio and listening to j-pop, trance and techno streams without DJ's doesn't ever let you know who the hell you're even listening to.

[Labrocca]

Funny you talk about rap like NWA and Ice-T but you didn't mention the all time best rap political band..PUBLIC ENEMY. I still listen to a "nation of millions".

:-)

DK is cool and I actually saw LARD in a show in NYC years ago with PigFace.

[Alonzo]

Ani difranco is a very political singer. A lot of singers I can think of are activists on certain issues, but not really political. Then there's that guy in my avatar, though he's long dead.

without DJ's doesn't ever let you know who the hell you're even listening to.

It seems like whenever I hear a good song on the radio, 60% of the time they never mention what they played. It's aggravating since I usually never hear it again.

[Churchel]

It seems country is overwhelmed with "national pride" songs.

[Alonzo]

I'm not a fan of country so I don't know the answer to this. Do country songs actually have a conservative equivalent of protest songs? Or are they just anthems? I haven't heard any that deal with specific issues, but I don't listen to it either.

[PittsburghAfterDark]

Jello Biafra and Mojo Nixon

Love Me I'm a Liberal
I cried when they shot John Lennon
Tears ran down my spine
And I cried when I saw "JFK"
As if I'd lost a father of mine
But Malcom-X and Ice-T had it coming
They got what they asked for this time

Chorus:
So love me, love me, love me,
I'm a liberal

I go to pro-choice rallies
Recycle my cans and jars
I'll honk if you love the Dead
Hope those funny Grunge bands become stars
But don't talk about revolution
That's going a little bit to far

Chorus:
So love me, love me, love me,
I'm a liberal

I cheered when Clinton was chosen
My faith in the system reborn
I'll do anything to save our schools
If my taxes aint too much more
And I love Blacks and Gays and Latinos
As long as they don't move next door

Chorus:
So love me, love me, love me,
I'm a liberal

Rush Limbaugh and the L.A.P.D.
Should all hang thier heads in shame
I can't understand where they're at
Arsenio should set them straight
But if neighborhood watch doesn't know you
I hope the cops take your name

Chorus:
So love me, love me, love me,
I'm a liberal

Yeah, I read the New Republican
Rolling Stone and Mother Jones too
If I vote it's a democrat
With a sensible economy view
But when it comes to terrorist Arabs
There is no one more red, white, and blue

Chorus:
So love me, love me, love me,
I'm a liberal

Once I was young and had an attitude
Stickers covered the car I drove in
Even went on some direct actions
When there weren't rent-a-cops to be seen
Ah, but now I've grown older and wiser
And that's why I'm turning you in

Chorus:
So love me, love me, love me,
I'm a liberal

[Deacon]

The Atari's


As I walk beneath the valley
I shall fear no evil
for thanks to King George and his rainbow cabinet
today murder is legal
God I know that it's wrong
to kill my brother for what he hasn't done
and as the planes blacken the sky
it sounds like heaven is falling
it sounds like heaven is falling
you promises me a new day a'dawning
I've seen a thousand points of light
like so many points of hatred, shame and horror
God I want to be a man
but I don't want to die with a rifle in my hand
and as the planes blacken the sky
it sounds like heaven is falling
it sounds like heaven is falling
you promised me a new day a'dawning
well nothing here looks new to me
but a score of mothers' sons
caught 'tween the devil and the deep blue sea

Rise Against:

Break through the undertow, your hands I can't seem to find,
pollution burns my tongue, cough words I can't speak so I

stop my struggling, then I float to the surface,
fill my lungs with air, then let it out

I give it all, this is the reason why I sing,
So give it all, 'cause it's these reasons that belong to me

Rock bottoms where we live, and still we dig these trenches,
to bury ourselves in them, backs breaking under tension

For far too long these voices, muffled by distances,
it's time to come to our senses, up from the dirt

We give it all, this is the reason why I sing,
So give it all, it's these reasons that belong to me

Breathe (breathe), the air we give (give), the life we live (live), our pulses racing distances,
(breathe) so wet my tongue (give), break into song (live), through seas of competition

So please believe your eyes, a sacrifice,
is not what we had in our minds,
I'm coming home tonight, home tonight

We give it all, this is the reason why I sing,
So give it all, it's these reasons that belong to me

Today I offer all myself to this I'm living for my dying wish,
I give it all, now there's a reason, there's a reason, to give it all


Both are on the Rock Against Bush CD :)

[Alonzo]

Never heard that version of "love me I'm a liberal". Odd that they updated a lot of things but kept in jfk.


Ani Difranco

"Hello Birmingham"

hold me down
i am floating away
into the overcast skies
over my home town
on election day

what is it about birmingham?
what is it about buffalo?
did the hate filled wanna build bunkers
in your beautiful red earth
they want to build them
in our shiny white snow

now i've drawn closed the curtain
in this little booth where the truth has no place
to stand
and i am feeling oh so powerless
in this stupid booth with this useless
little lever in my hand
and outside my city is bracing
for the next killing thing
standing by the bridge and praying
for the next doctor
martin
luther
king

it was just one shot
through the kitchen window
it was just two miles from here
if you fly like a crow
a bullet came to visit a doctor
in his one safe place
a bullet ensuring the right to life
whizzed past his kid and his wife
and knocked his glasses
right off of his face

and the blood poured off the pulpit
yeah the blood poured down the picket lines
yeah, the hatred was immediate
and the vengence was divine
so they went and stuffed god
down the barrel of a gun
and after him
they stuffed his only son

hello birmingham
it's buffalo
i heard you had some trouble
down there again
and i'm just calling to let to know
that someone understands

i was once escorted
through the doors of a clinic
by a man in a bulletproof vest
and no bombs went off that day
so i am still here to say
birmingham
i'm wishing you all of my best
oh birmingham
i'm wishing you all of my best
oh birmingham
i'm wishing you all of my best
on this election day

[Labrocca]

Anyone listen to Killing Joke? I seen them in a show like 15 years ago..it was awesome. Been a fan ever since. I just popped a couple CD's in...

Money is Not Our God (lyrics) from Extremeties, Dirt, and Various Repressed Emotions.

Nine tenths of the law than sic
Is possesion
Life expressed in matter is a blasphemy
Success defined by aquisition stinks!
So busy trying to make a living i forgot about living
Yes i do
So busy trying to make a living i forget about life
The best things i found in life were my birthright
Green fields mean more to me than a brand new car
Will you swap your hi-fi for a clear blue sky?
Will you cash in all your shares for Gods clean air?
Is your answer yes,or no,to these painful truths?
Is your answer yes,or no,to these painful truths?
Do you grovel to your master?
Do you beg like a dog?
First things first,repeat to yourself
AHHH MONEY!, Money is not our GOD!
Mine!
The best things in life are free
Mine!
I own the beach and the blazing sunset
Mine!
I own the waves and the fresh air
Mine!
I drink the milk of the stars in this beautiful moment
Say to yourself
ALL THESE THINGS ARE MINE!
Repeat after me!
Money's not our God
Do you grovel to your master?
Do you beg like a dog?
First things first,repeat to yourself
AHHH MONEY!

[shaun]

System of a Down is a politically charged band. Solider side. Attack, and Dreaming are politically charged songs by SOAD that I can think of.

[Mayberry]

Do country songs actually have a conservative equivalent of protest songs? Or are they just anthems? Mostly anthems. If there are any protest songs, I'm not really aware of them. Country folk (except for the Dixie Freaks) aren't really the protesting kind. We prefer action.

[Alonzo]

Mostly anthems...... We prefer action.


:D

[bobbylien]

Bad religion is probably the most politically charged music group.. ever. Every single song is about politcs, its really sickening. I don't get my political views from musicians. I think green day just did it to help sales. lol like when blink-182 had a vote for kerry thing up on their homepage.. who would take political advice from partyboy Tom Delounge. At least they had the class not to take politics into their music though! Yellowcard really disapointed me with their last album and especially the song Two Weeks From Twenty, which was a great song, aside from the obvious politics involved. Dashboard Confessional has actually produced a song about the war and our soldiers in its recently released album Dusk and Summer(lol i think its their first non-love song.. ever). They seem to have done it with class though, they laid out the stress and horrors our young men are going through without a political bias like other bands have.
If you can't tell I listen to a lot of pop-punk and alternative.

[Mayberry]

Well it seems that country music has entered the political fray. Diamond Rio recently put out a song called "In God We Trust". It's an excellent song. You can imagine the firestorm this one will cause with the Liberals. I tried to attach it but the forum won't let me. Copyright stuff, I guess. I received it in an e-mail that's been going around, so if you would like to hear it, PM me with your address and I'll pass it on.

[Alonzo]

I doubt a country song will raise much concern, and I doubt liberals care much about such an unknown country song. They tend not to be in the cd burning crowd anyway.

Though, I admit I lack knowledge regarding country music. It's a pretty dead genre in the areas I've lived in, and always crammed into a tiny section in the corner of record stores. My grandfather was about the only one I know who liked country music, outside of the few singer who try to appeal to the younger generation (ie. shania twain, dixie chicks etc.)

edit: I looked it up and couldn't find the lyrics. Snopes says it was only sung once and was considered offensive to anyone who wasn't christian.

[Mayberry]

considered offensive to anyone who wasn't christian. Probably so. It basically talks about the removal of the Pledge of Alliegence from schools, removal of God from public buildings, etc... Being in Texas I've grown up on country music, and a lot of it has a pretty conservative tone, but this is the first one I've heard that outright condemns the removal of God from society. It's very anti-liberal, which is the reason for my previous comment.

[Labrocca]

I would vote Rage Against The Machine to be the most politically charged group. Even their name is political. I used to like the band now I can't stand them...album after album of the same drool.

[T.J. Wolfe]

Dead Prez (rap)
The Coup (rap)
Operation Ivy (has quite a few political songs)
Propagandhi
Unified Castro

[lily]

I'd have to go with Roger Waters, Amused to Death....but then I'm partail to Floyd.

[Cobra]

Green Day, they have some political stuff American idiot and Holiday being two off the top of my head.

[crimzonsol]

Several Bands I listen to:

Lamb Of God (Death Metal)
- Now You've Got SomeThing To Die For
Sex Pistols (If you do not know who they are you've got problems)
- Anarchy in the UK
Anti-Flag (Real Punk)
-All songs
The Clash (Punk)
-London Calling
Bad Brains (Hardcore Punk)
-Pay To Cum
Black Flag (Hardcore Punk)
-Drinking & Driving
Disturbed (Metal
-Land Of Confusion
Dope (Metal)
- American Apathy Album
Drop Kick Murphys' (Punk)
-Your A Rebel
Marilyn Manson
-Beautiful People
Megadeth (Metal)
-Peace Sells. . .But Who's Buying
Orphaned Land (Jewish Metal)
-Nora El Nora
Our Lady Peace (Rock)
- Al Genina (Leave A Light On)
Pennywise (Punk)
-Perfect People
Propaghandi (Punk)
-Anything By Them
Sepultra (Death Metal)
-Teritory
Slayer (Thrash Metal)
-Jihad
And Many More

[jafar00]

Nobody mentioned Midnight Oil? I guess I'm feeling a bit old amongst all these newcomers hehe ;)

Midnight Oil - When the Generals Talk

Up there on the platform
He is speaking to the people
The people are responding
With clapping and a cheering
But the meaning of the message
Not revealed to those assembled
They're taken for a ride
Taken in his stride

CHORUS
When the generals talk
You better listen to him
When the generals talk
You better do what he say

There's a rumour in the ranking
Someone talking insurrection
So the general has a purge
'Cos he wants to win elections
With the certain satisfaction
That the people are appeased
Long live the revolution
The general's very pleased

CHORUS

Sitting on the fence both ears to the ground
The fat cats still push the thin cats around

CHORUS

[Professor]

System of a Down is a politically charged band. Solider side. Attack, and Dreaming are politically charged songs by SOAD that I can think of.


They aren't so much a politcal band, more of a social commentary band. I've been saying it since their first cd, then about a year ago on the radio the dj says the band says the same thing!

Lab- I like old Rage Against the Machine. The newer songs are bad.


Sex Pistols (If you do not know who they are you've got problems)


No, I've never heard of them. Who are they?



j/k:P
I just wanted to screw with you.

[jafar00]

New Version thats more topical hehehe

Midnight Oil - When the Decider Talks

Up there on the platform
He is speaking to the people
The people are responding
With clapping and a cheering
But the meaning of the message
Not revealed to those assembled
They're taken for a ride
Taken in his stride

CHORUS
When the Decider talks
You better listen to him
When the Decider talks
You better do what he say

There's a rumour in the ranking
Someone talking insurrection
So the Decider has a Surge
'Cos he wants to win elections
With the certain satisfaction
That the people are appeased
Long live the revolution
The Decider's very pleased

CHORUS

Sitting on the fence both ears to the ground
The fat cats still push the thin cats around

CHORUS

[crimzonsol]

Lamb of God
Now You've Got Something to Die For

Lyrics:
Now you've got something to die for,
Now you've got something to die for.
Infidel, Imperial.
Lust for blood, a blind crusade,
Apocalyptic, we count the days.

Bombs to set the people free, blood to feed the dollar tree,
Flags for coffins on the screen, oil for the machine.
Army of liberation, gunpoint indoctrination,
The fires of sedation,
Fulfill the prophecy.
Now you've got something to die for,
Now you've got something to die for.
Send the children to the fire, sons and daughters stack the pyre,
Stoke the flame of the empire, live to lie another day,
Face of hypocrisy, raping democracy,
Apocalyptic, we count the days.

We'll never get out of this hole, until we've dug our own grave,
And drug the rest down with us, the burning home of the brave,
Burn.
Now you've got something to die for,
Now you've got something to die for.


Anti-Flag
This Is the End (For You My Friend)

"This Is The End (For You My Friend)"

Seems every station on the TV
is selling something no one can be
If every page was torn from the magazine
would cash still drive the media machine?
The products, damage and pursuit are endless
identity can leave you selfless

We will not witness this anymore
This is the end for you my friend
I can't forgive, I won't forget
on and on, we sing our songs and
on and on, the wars wage on and
on and on, we sing our songs for more
for more

Your eyes are open but you can't see
your mouth is moving but you don't speak
a blitzkrieg of images to break your will
I hope you choke on every pill

We will not witness this anymore
This is the end for you my friend
I can't forgive, I won't forget
on and on, we sing our songs and
on and on, the wars wage on and
on and on, we sing our songs for more

We will not witness this anymore
This is the end for you my friend
I can't forgive, I won't forget...

This is the end for you my friend
I can't forgive, I won't forget
On and on, we sing our songs and
On and on, the wars wage on and
On and on, we sing our songs and
On and on, the wars wage on and
On and on, we sing our songs and
On and on, your wars wage on and
On and on, we sing our songs for more
We sing our songs for more