The Ongoing History of New Music, Episode 757: Protest and Dissent

Sometimes people get so pissed off or so inspired by something that they just have to sing about it. This is the protest song, an artform that has been with us for centuries. It’s music that encourages political and social change. And if done right—and if circumstances are correct—the song can mobilize people to take action, lift spirits and annoy (or even scare) authorities of the establishment.

Protest music comes in all forms: classical, folk, reggae, pop, hip hop and, of course, rock. It can rail against war, demand social justice, call out politicians and petition for greater rights for women, minorities, labour and the marginalized.The singers and musicians behind this music may be regarded as thought leaders, social influencers and even prophets—and least for a time. What I’d like to go is go through the history of protest in

What I’d like to go is go through the history of protest in song from the world of alt-rock, those times when a loud guitar becomes tool for making things better—for everyone.

Songs from this week’s show include:

• Dropkick Murphys, “Fortunate Son”
• MC5, “Kick Out the Jams”
• Sex Pistols, “God Save the Queen”
• Clash, “Guns of Brixton”
• DOA, “My Old Man’s a Bum”
• English Beat, “Stand Down Margaret”
• The Smiths, “The Queen is Dead”
• Rage Against the Machine, “Killing in the Name”
• Green Day, “Wake Me When September Ends”

The Ongoing History of New Music can be heard on the following stations:

• 102.1 The Edge/Toronto – Sunday night at 7
• Live 88-5/Ottawa
• 107.5 Dave-FM/Kitchener
• FM96/London – Sunday night at 7, Monday night at 11
• The Drive/Kingston
• 98.1 The Bridge/Lethbridge – Saturday night at 6, Sunday morning at 10am
• Rock 97.7/Grand Prairie – Sunday nights at 6.
• 92X/Calgary
• Sonic 102.9/Edmonton
• The Zone/Victoria
• The Fox/Vancouver
• Live 105/Halifax

We’re still looking for more affiliates in Kamloops, Kelowna, Regina, Saskatoon, Brandon, Windsor,  Montreal, Charlottetown, Moncton, Fredericton, and St John’s and anywhere else with a transmitter. If you’re in any of those markets and you want the show, lemme know and I’ll see what I can do.

If you’re in the US and you want to stream the show, I wish I could help. A performing rights organization called SESAC has made threatening noises about suing non-American radio stations who dare stream into the US without paying crazy fees. Most Canadian broadcasters had no choice but to geo-block their streams. But hey, if you know of an American station that would like to take the show, contact me and we’ll make it a priority.

OneFM in Singapore says they’ll take the show sometime in June.