Protest isn't dead - is the protest song?

  • Thread starter Thread starter cardiff jon
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I tend to keep preachy moral plays out of my music.

Some people can't help it. I'm thankful Dylan couldn't. He wrote some great tunes ("Pawn In their Game" and "Halls of Red Wing" come to mind) in that protesting, social commentary genre and I'm glad we have them.

Nowadays though, it seems almost pretentious (not to mention obvious) to sing about the world's troubles or political misdoings with a specific agenda in mind. I know I'm instantly turned off...FWIW.
 
Ok, but did you listen to the song, Stone P? I'm trying to help get someone I know out of jail.
 
I can't listen to the song at work but that sounds like a good reason to write.

I hope the song does what you intended for it.

Unless your buddy is in jail for a good reason.
 
I like a good protest song -but like all songs there has to be something original there - I have heard enough anti war songs I could cry, but then one comes up which is done better and differently to the masses of similar songs and I love it (I can think of a good one I heard in the last year that was mind blowingly good)

Billy Bragg is king (just so you know where I am coming from)!

I listened to yours - Songwriting-wise I liked the tune (sung melody) and the words sounded (the words were mostly engaging but I think you need to tell your story in about half the verses). Musically I would say the guitar riff and drum somehow sounded a bit ploddy (just a bit slow or needs some ticking cymbal there to give it something faster that I can latch onto)

I hope this helps
 
I wish somebody like Phil Ochs (circa early 60's - before he 'went electric') was around today.
 
I don't think its what you say but how you say it and I do believe their is room in todays world for protest songs.
Saying that, I tend to now write mostly comical or bluesy feel good tunes and some unrequitted love songs, I protested in vain for way to long.
 
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