[Music] Favourite political song!

[Stato]

Funnily enough, I bought a copy of Dorian Lynskey's history of protest songs today: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/mar/20/33-revolutions-minute-protest-songs.

Also noticed the SWP selling papers, which seemed like a throwback and reminded me that, although they weren't the most successful political party of all time, they did have one of the greatest house bands.

All of the album, but this was the first song I heard:

 

[Hamilton]

 

[Hamilton]

 

[Bakero]

 

[Stato]

Shame that the single edit removed the really biting verse of this classic. "Like a dog lying in the corner..." and "You will never understand how it feels to live your life with no meaning of control". It's a class war anthem that a lot of people just sing along to.

 

[pb21]

 

[1066familyman]

 

[Stato]

I'm currently reading 'Kliph Nesterof's 'Outrageous' which traces the long long history of the culture wars in entertainment. There's some great stuff in there that highlights the links between the current right wing extremists in power in the US and the John Birchers, KKK and Heritage Society.

There's also an explanation of the history of 'Amos 'n' Andy'. I was aware that it was a 1950s US stereotyping comedy TV show, but didn't know that it had started on radio with the two white creators, both former minstrel performers, and the sons of confederate veterans, playing the characters, nor that they were accused of plagiarising an act by two black comedians: Miller and Lyles. The TV version was the creation of the white duo, but cast black actors to play the roles. The NAACP spent a long time campaigning against the radio show, but the TV version, although perpetuating racist stereotypes, was one of the very few shows employing black actors. It's given me a bit more context to this Michael Franti polemic:

 

[1066familyman]

This doesn't reference it specifically, but it's worth reading up on the Coral Garden Massacre, to realise what Rasta has had to go through in Jamaica.

 

[Ooh it’s a corner]

 

[Robinjakarta]

 

[Bob!]

 

[loz]

 

[Stato]

Woody Guthrie was inspired to write a poem expressing his outrage that media reports of this 1948 plane accident listed the names of the crew and called everyone else just 'Deportees'. It was later put to music by Martin Hoffman, popularised by Pete Seeger and recorded by lots of different artists. Nearly 80 years on, it could hardly be more relevant. I've always liked Sweet Honey In The Rock's version:

 

[loz]

 

[Dick Head]

 

[loz]

And from Brighton The poison girls.

 

[joydivisionovengloves]

The best. Brings tears to my eyes every time.

 

[joydivisionovengloves]

Mark from the Mob lives over a field from me at http://rockawaypark.co.uk he's one of the loveliest people Ive ever met.
Get yourself there, it's ace.

 

[loz]

And this bloke, whoever he is ??