I was thinking about how Bruce Springsteen is the only artist I know of who has written a protest song lately and I was wondering if anyone else had any good recommendations since… 2016 or so.
Edit: so many great recommendations! Thank you all!
Billy bragg has a great song about the twin cities. It’s a spin on that “first they came for” poem, but instead of the “and i said nothing because…” bit it has “so I got in their face!”
Check out Jesse Wells
Just about any song by Jesse Welles these days…
A few examples:
I cannot tell you how happy I am that this man exists.
Came to say this, upvoted.
He had kind of a shit take after Kirk got murked tbh
“CEOs come and go and one just went”
Referring to the United healthcare CEO in the song United Health.
It’s the kind of wordplay boomers loved with Dylan. But it’s fresh, current, enticing, and it holds a sharp edge. In 50 years I hope we remember Welles as fondly.
I don’t know, but Green Day and Rise Against are two bands I like that do political music and both are still active.
Maybe subconsciously that’s one reason I like Japanese rock; it doesn’t feel as influenced by current events as western music does.
Bruce Springsteen put out this like 2 or 3 days after Pretti died
Syria has a few from 2011 يا حيف - سميح شقير جامعات بلا شبيحة [ نص تفاحة - محل زغير ومسكر بدنا نعبي الزنزانات الساروت - ساقط ساقط يابشاؤ Qashush , singing in the riots Qashush in the riots again post 2012 it escalated into a Civil War and the songs became about the civil war !
Not exactly what you asked, but I think it’s important to note how old protest songs are still so relevant. I listen to a lot of 1980s music (in fact, presently playing my 80s playlist, just went from Tiffany to Belinda Carlisle) and older music.
Listen to the 1971 song Won’t Get Fooled Again by British band The Who. I’m sure most of you have heard it. Listen to what he said 55 years ago and imagine it was written this year, and see how relevant it is.
Agree on old songs still having power in this context. Doesn’t feel old to me, Soup is Good Food by Dead Kennedys may as well have come out in 2025 instead of 1985.
No$hu Fuck ICE ICE Baby
https://massiveattack.bandcamp.com/album/boots-on-the-ground
https://zealandardor.bandcamp.com/album/wake-of-a-nation-ep - the opening track Vigil is flawless but the entire band’s discography is top tier.
https://runthejewels.bandcamp.com/track/close-your-eyes-and-count-to-fuck-feat-zack-de-la-rocha
Adenauer SRP (against the German AfD) (audio, instrumental rendition)
Not sure if it’d be your thing I like some Nascar Aloe stuff. His stuff is pretty out there. Loud, distorted and glitchy. He’s the only more recent artist I can think of that is brutally outspoken on some of this stuff that I actually listen to.
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Planet B
Lyrics:
[Verse 1]
Open your eyes and light the fluid
Get into it, petrol siphon
Low on meals, browning fields
Bury children[Chorus 1]
Urbanization
Scarification
Population exodus
There is no Planet B
Open your eyes and see
[Guitar Solo][Verse 2]
Open your eyes and shoot the dingo
While this shit goes out the window
Multi-factions
Rusting tractors
Dying hero[Chorus 2]
Only way through is colonization
Acclimatization
Population exodus
Monetization
Civilization
The operation has begun
There is no Planet B[Bridge]
Patient seasons
Blacked out for ages
Dreaming of cake
Snowflakes blanket
Old deserts
Outskirts disperse
Earth is a blank verse
Last hearse
Dry nurse
(Oh!)[Refrain]
Open your eyes and see
There is no Planet B
There is no Planet B
There is no Planet B
There is no Planet B
There is no Planet B
There is no Planet B
There is no Planet B
There is no Planet B
Open your eyes and see[Outro]
Sinners are grinners, ear to ear
Baby Jesus sheds a tear
