About Protest Songs
Cambridge expresses the idea of a protest song as ‘a song that expresses disapproval,
usually about a political subject’
There is no real beginning to protest songs, many have used songs
to express emotions for years using simple and well-known songs or hymns during
war and slavery to uplift spirits. ‘Free America’ by Joseph Warren is claimed
to be the first in America, however there have been many others than may not
have necessarily been recorded. Protest songs developed as more genres appeared
and have been adapted to fit many styles such as soul and rap.
Overall most songs contain strength in their songs (are preferably
rock or rap or more defined in the amount of power they possess, however more
common genres like pop are more likely to reach a wider audience due to the
charts and more focus on the tune). The songs are usually paired with a surge
of issues to protest about (presidential announcements, rights movements, and
world issues such as 9/11). They are usually aimed to raise awareness to those who
this issue doesn’t affect and gain more support in therefore speaking out
against the issue. Usually either are politically charged and aimed at the
government or focused on marginalised groups and the struggles they face.
Recently however, there has been another big change to the
way protest songs can get around, where virality across the internet spreads
ideas and concepts a lot faster than word of mouth as before. It can also be
argued that control has dropped in what can be spoken about, and whereas before
when songs can be turned down or refused publication (like in Billie Holiday’s ‘Strange
Fruit’ which was turned down by her original record label due to fears of
repercussions), people can now take matters into their own hands and more
easily spread the message through means of YouTube or other social media
platforms.
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