politically motivated music
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Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation
Forum Description: Discuss specific prog bands and their members or a specific sub-genre
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=22593
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Topic: politically motivated music
Posted By: BebieM
Subject: politically motivated music
Date Posted: April 30 2006 at 12:07
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Do you know of any politically motivated music? As a form of political expression and participation? I need this for a school project. Thanks |
Replies:
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: April 30 2006 at 12:11
| 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... |
Posted By: Psychedelia
Date Posted: April 30 2006 at 12:13
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Not from Prog music but the Manic Street Preachers did some fantastic stuff. Especially earlier stuff. Kinesis are very political as well
------------- Another emotional suicide, overdosed on sentiment and pride |
Posted By: NotAProghead
Date Posted: April 30 2006 at 12:22
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Songs of many Italian bands are about political/social problems.
I think Andrea Cortese, ANDREW and other guys from Italy can say more. ------------- Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour) |
Posted By: freebird
Date Posted: April 30 2006 at 12:54
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Ghost Rider wrote:Posted By: _sam_
Date Posted: April 30 2006 at 12:58
| 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... |
Posted By: Syzygy
Date Posted: April 30 2006 at 13:41
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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. ------------- 'Like so many of you I've got my doubts about how much to contribute to the already rich among us...' Robert Wyatt, Gloria Gloom |
Posted By: Moatilliatta
Date Posted: April 30 2006 at 13:57
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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.
I also believe Area is political, but I have yet to learn their language, so I can't say much beyond that.
Dream Theater has some political songs. "The Great Debate," for example, tackles the issue of stem cell research, and it's done from both perspecitves.
That's all I can think of for now. ------------- www.last.fm/user/ThisCenotaph  
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Posted By: Zepology101
Date Posted: April 30 2006 at 17:31
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Green Day's American Idiot. the most obvious example ------------- 
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Posted By: FragileDT
Date Posted: April 30 2006 at 17:36
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. ------------- One likes to believe In the freedom of music But glittering prizes And endless Compromises Shatter the illusion Of integrity |
Posted By: andrea
Date Posted: April 30 2006 at 17:41
Area and Osanna were politically engaged with the left wing...
There were also groups engaged with the right wing like La Compagnia dell'Anello...
In the Italian progressive scene you can find many songs that deal with social and political problems... try, for instance, the albums "Io sono nato libero" by BMS or "Contrappunti" by Le Orme...
There's a concept album of I Giganti that is completely dedicated to a story of Mafia...
http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16814&KW=giganti - http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16814&KW=giganti
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Posted By: Wilcey
Date Posted: April 30 2006 at 18:38
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not at all prog, but if you want politics, try some Billy Brag (read his book too!)
P-C |
Posted By: Abalaea4
Date Posted: April 30 2006 at 18:58
| check out eloy's first album |
Posted By: freebird
Date Posted: May 01 2006 at 01:27
Rush are from Canada (eh!) - how right wing could they be?
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Posted By: ClemofNazareth
Date Posted: May 01 2006 at 02:23
Could you be more specific what you are looking for? I would say about 80% of all modern western music is about one of four things - sex, politics, religion, or emotional turmoil (which usually has something to do with the other three). Much of what's left falls into various progressive categories, although there are certainly some examples of political progsters.
You want xenophobic nationalism? Try Toby Keith.
Other types of nationalism? Neil Young, John Mellancamp (sometimes)
skinhead neo-nazism? Prussian Blue
anti-monarchy? "God Save the Queen" - Sex Pistols
Are you looking for a certain genre or era? Or an overall historical type of thing? If it's the latter, start with Barry McGuire's "Eve of Destruction" and go from there.
My top 10 political protest songs-
Barry McGuire "Eve of Destruction"
Creedance Clearwater Revival "Fortunate Son" Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young "Ohio"Dead Kennedys "California Uber Alles" Buffalo Springfield "For What it's Worth" Marvin Gaye "What's Goin' On"
Arlo Guthrie "Alice's Restaurant" Jackson Browne "Lives in the Balance" Rage Against the Machine "Killing in the Name"
Marillion "Forgotten Sons" Black Sabbath "War Pigs" Moby "Make Love F**k War"
Okay, that's more than 10, but it's a good start. If you're looking for political songs that aren't necessarily about war, try The Pogues - Birmingham Six"
Nina Simone "Mississippi Goddamn" Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young "Chicago" Isley Brothers "Fight the Power" Samy Hagar "I Can't Drive 55" (okay, that's really dated and pretty specific, but...) Artists Against Apartheid "Sun City" The Specials "Free Nelson Mandela" Manfed Mann "Brothers and Sisters of Africa/Africa Suite" Kansas "Cheyenne Anthem" Cat Stevens "Peace Train" Patti Smith "Rock and Roll Nig**r" Fearless Iranians from Hell "Surfin' in the Persian Gulf" Gang of Four "At Home He's a Tourist" That ought to get you started anyway.... ------------- "Peace is the only battle worth waging." Albert Camus |
Posted By: KoS
Date Posted: May 01 2006 at 02:32
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Pain of Salvation - One Hour by the Concrete lake |
Posted By: Sacred 22
Date Posted: May 01 2006 at 03:57
| Gates of Delirium by YES is a tune that deals with all the war that was going on in the 60's and 70's. |
Posted By: Paul K.
Date Posted: May 01 2006 at 05:02
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Go for NSBM and NS Pagan metal. These bands express right-wing political views.
Also SOAD is very political. ------------- Weasels ripped my flesh |
Posted By: andrea
Date Posted: May 01 2006 at 17:59
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Probably you'll find this thread very interesting...
http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=22238 - http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=22238
Another Italian band very involved in politcal issues are Stormy Six that are being discussed for inclusion on PA...
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