If there’s one thing rock stars like more than driving expensive cars into swimming pools while on angel dust, it’s writing tunes about how gosh darned unfair society can be. The history of the latter tendency is exhaustively tracked in British music writer Dorian Lynskey’s new tome, 33 Revolutions Per Minute: A History of Protest Songs, from Billie Holliday to Green Day, which is out this week.
The 550-plus page tome serves as a reminder that many of the greatest tunes of all-time found their authors objecting to one societal ill or another, and I’ve embedded a tiny selection of the (at times righteously potty-mouthed) tracks Lynskey writes about below. But what do you think is the greatest protest song of all-time?
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More from EW.com:
Tom Morello’s favorite protest songs
Musicians release war protest songs
None of those videos are supported for mobile devices haha I don’t know whch songs they are. I guess I’ll check back on the home computer Later tonight ._.
Without a doubt, the all time best are: “Blowin in the Wind”-Bob Dylan, “Androgynous”-The Replacements, & “Sunday Bloody Sunday”-U2.
Oh and I’m not entirely sure if this counts, but Sam Cooke’s “A Change Gonna Come”.
Oh yeah I keep forgetting ones, like “Anarchy in the U.K.”-Sex Pistols, “Piss Factory”-Patti Smith, and “What’s Going On?”-Marvin Gaye.
Oh and of course how could I forget “Teenage Riot”-Sonic Youth! Sorry I’m like taking up a whole f*cking page here.
OK one more post: “This Land Is Your Land”-Woody Gunthrie, “One Tree Hill”-U2, and “Silly Eye Color Generalizations”-Regina Spektor (rebel against generalizations!).
Ohh Wow, stunning pieurtcs! I love them. Misha looks so beautiful and Ben looks dashing. Great work Sher! Yes I agree great lighting! Looking forward to the next episode of Wengy and Mish.
“Uptown girl” for sure
LMAO that was hilarious.
“Which Side Are You On.” Bare none.
How about almost anything by Bad Religion? Except that EW apparently doesn’t know Bad Religion exists. And has for 30 years now.
Fight the Power doesn’t appear to protest anything other than not liking John Wayne or Elvis. fight what “power”? PG & E? Con Ed? furthermore it has no melody and the music’s just machines.
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised seems to say that a revolution won’t be on tv. ok…so what?
Strange Fruit is a gorgeous song with a haunting poetic lyric and is a timeless protest song. Blowing In the Wind is also a beauty. Marley’s song and Lennon’s are simple but are rousing with strong hooks. the rap stuff is just nonsense.
the best protest song of all time is either Ohio by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young or Fight for Your Right To Party by The Beastie Boys
“Someday We Will All Be Free” by Donny Hathaway, “What’s Going On” Marvin Gaye and “F the Police” by N.W.A.
Yes, What’s Going On. I just posted that below.
“Wer’e not Going To Take It” by Twisted Sister is my personal protest anthem..lol!
“Fortunate Son” by CCR
What he said ^^^
great call.
Check out Todd Snider’s version. Different from the original, mournful, but I think it is as good.
Virtually anything by the Clash.
Marvin Gaye — What’s Going On
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To me, it has to be both Fight The Power by Public Enemy & American Idiot by Green Day.
Fish Cheer. Or Ohio by CSN for very personal reasons.
I’m Not Ready To Make Nice by the Dixie Chicks. That counts, right?
Sex Pistols’ “God Save The Queen” or Neil Young’s “Rockin’ In The Free World”. Because nothing yells “protest” like a really, really loud and noisy guitar.