A couple of weeks ago, for homework, my daughter needed to find a song with lyrics that aptly represent social inequity, injustice, environmental damage….basically a song that should make you stop and think about this world of ours.
John Lennon’s Imagine (1971) of course came to mind.
But I personally prefer Julian Lennon’s Saltwater (1991)
My daughter jumped up with Michael Jackson’s Earth Song (1995)
One of my all time favourite bands, Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Fortunate Son (1969)
And of course there is Bob Dylan’s Blowin’ In The Wind (1962)
How about Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas Time (1984)
Or USA for Africa’s We Are The World (1985)
http://youtu.be/OoDY8ce_3zk
An absolute personal favourite of mine is The Kink’s Apeman (1970)
More recently there’s been Pink’s Dear Mr President (2006)
But my daughter in the end chose Joni Mitchell’s Big Yellow Taxi (1970)
Considering my vintage (1974 baby) and the music I like I wasn’t surprised to see any songs I selected are as old or even older than me.
I suppose more recently you can look at Green Day and Living End but punk music has always been anti-establisment. That’s the whole point.
What is a little deflating is for all the protest, awareness, conscience riddled songs, has much actually been done?
Social inequity, injustice, environmental damage is still here. Has the discussion and action on these issues not progressed at all? Is it a 2 steps forward, 1 step back type of situation?
George Brandis I’m looking at you – 1 step back man.
Can we truly expect progress or is this all just a cyclical generation gap whinge?
In 1969 Jefferson Airplane’s Volunteers says “One generation got old, one generation got soul”.
In 1997 Living End sang, “Our generation gap means the war is never done” in Prisoner of Society.
Who are we rising up against? Ourselves?
Are we fighting against a generation or an ideology? Does ideology change with age?
“I hope I die before I get old” My Generation (1965) by The Who.
If you can point me in the direction of some more recent protest songs, I’d love to hear them.
