The Ongoing History of New Music, episode 1074: A brief history of protest music (part 2)

Sometimes they call out specific people, organizations, and issues. In other cases, they’re couched in metaphors and stories. But make no mistake: this music is about “us” and “them,” and the “them” needs to be addressed.

This kind of music has never gone away and is still very much with us. Despite that, a lot of people ask, “Whatever happened to protest songs?”

Nothing. They’re right here. And they’ve always been right in front of us. Let me explain. This is a brief history of protest music, part two.

Songs heard on this show:

• U2, Sunday Bloody Sunday
• Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Two Tribes
• Midnight Oil, Beds are Burning
• Rage Against the Machine, Killing in the Name
• Sleater-Kinney, Call the Doctor
• Bikini Kill, Rebel Girls
• Childish Gambino, This is America
• System of a Down, BOYB
• The Linda Lindas, Racist Sexist Boy

Here’s Eric Wilhite’s playlist.

The Ongoing History of New Music can be heard on these stations.

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• FM96/London – Sunday nights at 8pm
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• The Zone/Victoria – Sunday at 9am and 9pm
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• The Goat Network/Interior BC
• Surge 105/Halifax – Sunday at 7pm
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