politically motivated music

There is a whole subgenre of prog which is called RIO (Rock in Opposition), having very strong political (i.e. left-wing) leanings. Besides, Pink Floyd's "Animals" has a very strong political content, and also Queensryche's "Operation: Mindcrime". Just off the top of my head...

Songs of many Italian bands are about political/social problems.

The thrash-metal band "Rage Against The Machine" had a great deal of politically-charged music; you could research them, but there's a lot of material that might be inappropiate for a school paper...

I know Godspeed You Black Emperor and A Silver Mt. Zion are political bands of sorts, but, especially with the all instrumental Godspeed, I don't know exactly what they have to say.

Syzygy wrote: Check out the 'Prog and Socialism' thread.   Good places to start could be Matching Mole's Little Red Record and Nothing Can Stop Us by Robert Wyatt. Wyatt was a member of the Communist Party of Great Britain for many years, and a lot of his work is informed by his political beliefs - those two albums are probably the most explicit. Henry Cow - In Praise of Learning and Art Bears - The World As It Is Today explore similar political territory.   Rush have been influenced by right wing 'philosopher' Ayn Rand, which you could include for the sake of balance, but their politics are not so explicitly expressed through their music. I can't think of any other prog bands/performers in prog whose music has been informed by right wing beliefs, but I'm sure there must have been some.

Rush may have been influenced by a right wing writer, but their views are most definitely left-wing (or liberal as you may call it.) Their political references are pretty obvious throughout the majority of their songs also. Always talking about unity and opposing oppression, you could easily do Rush for a politically driven music report. Pink Floyd comes to mind as the obvious choice though (though almost every prog band has an anti-war song.)
    

EDIT: You could also do "Get 'em out by Friday" by Genesis. That would be an excellent song for politically driven music. You can also relate the song to how the United States abuses workers in the same matter today, in order to keep cheaper prices for the American Public in such places as Wal Mart and Fast food restaurants.
    

Edited by FragileDT - April 30 2006 at 17:38

not at all prog, but if you want politics, try some Billy Brag (read his book too!)

P-C

FragileDT wrote: Syzygy wrote: Check out the 'Prog and Socialism' thread.   Good places to start could be Matching Mole's Little Red Record and Nothing Can Stop Us by Robert Wyatt. Wyatt was a member of the Communist Party of Great Britain for many years, and a lot of his work is informed by his political beliefs - those two albums are probably the most explicit. Henry Cow - In Praise of Learning and Art Bears - The World As It Is Today explore similar political territory.   Rush have been influenced by right wing 'philosopher' Ayn Rand, which you could include for the sake of balance, but their politics are not so explicitly expressed through their music. I can't think of any other prog bands/performers in prog whose music has been informed by right wing beliefs, but I'm sure there must have been some. Rush may have been influenced by a right wing writer, but their views are most definitely left-wing (or liberal as you may call it.) Their political references are pretty obvious throughout the majority of their songs also. Always talking about unity and opposing oppression, you could easily do Rush for a politically driven music report. Pink Floyd comes to mind as the obvious choice though (though almost every prog band has an anti-war song.)      EDIT: You could also do "Get 'em out by Friday" by Genesis. That would be an excellent song for politically driven music. You can also relate the song to how the United States abuses workers in the same matter today, in order to keep cheaper prices for the American Public in such places as Wal Mart and Fast food restaurants.

Pain of Salvation - One Hour by the Concrete lake

Go for NSBM and NS Pagan metal. These bands express right-wing political views.

Also SOAD is very political.