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!
Grandson’s entire catalog is riddled with protest songs but the latest album leaned into it fully for better or worse.
I came to make sure grandson was mentioned. Their Soundcloud tagline is something like “the soundtrack to your revolution”.
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.
Check out Jesse Wells
Bruce Springsteen put out this like 2 or 3 days after Pretti died
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.
Adenauer SRP (against the German AfD) (audio, instrumental rendition)
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
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.
No$hu Fuck ICE ICE Baby
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 tearDropkick Murphy just wrote one right?
Thanks for the recc! Just looked it up; link for anyone interested:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mSrDkRm7_78
Citizen I.C.E.
The Neighborhood Kids have put out some recent bangers relevant to u.s. happenings
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oZYB5v69n7w
