Give a listen — the protest songs are out there

Boston Globe

18 hours ago

The group sings some of the tried and true songs, such as 'We Shall Not Be Moved,' sometimes with the adaptation 'We Shall Not Be Ruled.' BVOCAL also is introducing new protest anthems, including one that spotlights the five freedoms enshrined in the First Amendment.
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Anyone who is looking for a way to make their voice heard in these trying times is welcome. All singing abilities are welcome. Social justice movements are stronger — more joyful, more resilient, and more powerful — when we sing.
Lisa Gallatin
Arlington
The writer is music director of BVOCAL.
Maybe, as Rebecca Spiess and Alicia Chen lament, protest songs today are not dominating 'the charts,' but perhaps the charts are not the place to look. You can find great young artists writing amazing stuff on Instagram and other apps. A current favorite of mine is Jesse Welles, who will be at the Newport Folk Festival next month. Check him out.
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Catherine Willett
Richmond, N.H.
Rebecca Spiess and Alicia Chen ask, 'Where have all the protest songs gone?'
They are being written as we speak.
Many local songwriters have taken up the task of expressing their outrage, including
To quote the chorus of
Steve Robb
Wayland
A song from 60 years ago, when I was 7 years old, played on my Spotify a few weeks ago. I was driving with my 30-year-old daughter, and we both agreed it could also be a protest song for 2025.
It was the 1965 Barry McGuire hit 'Eve of Destruction,' written by P. F. Sloan.
Paul Ellis
Medford
An edited sampling of online responses to the op-ed:
Great points. I have thought about this a lot lately. We need to create new songs and new institutions to resist the horrific fascism we are enduring. So far there has not been much of an actual movement. But a movement needs its music. And its stars.
SAD04
Shouldn't the deceit and lying by the Biden handlers have justified protest songs? New or old? Neil? The Boss?
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davidwatts
'Anxiety' by Doechii. In the Top 40 and sums up the state of the left in the United States.
Dr.No
There are still people writing them, but you don't hear any of it on corporate radio. Billy Bragg still writes, as does Steve Earle, and I could probably come up with a half dozen other (and younger) names.
user_3558424
Pearl Jam has some good ones. 'React, Respond' is off their most recent album.
Ella Guru
Boston's own Dropkick Murphys have gloriously answered the call with
Concordian
There is nothing to protest. Trump is trying to end wars, not extend them.
deep thinker
With apologies to Janis: Oh Lord won't you buy me a new Tesla car/My friends all drive Hyundais, I can't go as far/Worked hard all my lifetime with Trump as my star/Oh Lord won't you buy me a new Tesla car.
americancitizenatlarge
It's sweet to think about such music and movements from decades past. Tight and right on. However, like modern TV, thousands of offerings from thousands of sources dims one's focus. Perhaps engaging in live communities, on a wider basis, may stem the tide of things like Trump's isolationism, which bleeds through all his layers. Civilization is a precious objective that we need to continue to strive for.
Community_Lift
It's part of the triumph of individual self-centeredness and the death of community.
djnfox
I'm sorry, did you say something? I was looking at cute animal videos on my phone.
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