Where Are The Songs That Reflect Our Current Times?

[Aero]

In the 60's and 70s, when America was going through a war that many didn't believe we should be fighting, a lot of young people protested by putting out music that reflected the times and their opinions on the war. Some examples:

Fortunate Song by Clearance Clearwater Revival
Turn, Turn, Turn by The Byrds
What's Going On? by Marvin Gaye
Give Peace A Chance by John Lennon
Unknown Soldier by The Doors

And now that we live in a world that is in current unrest, bad economical shape, and with wars being fought in the Middle East, I'm surprised not to hear any songs that mirror what's going on right now. Are there singers/bands that have put out these types of songs and they just haven't hit the radio? Do you think someone behind the curtain is trying to make sure we never hear this music by keeping it off the radio?

Discuss.

 

[Lynch]

Re: Where Are The Songs That Relect Our Current Times?

And now that we live in a world that is in current unrest, bad economical shape, and with wars being fought in the Middle East....

* The world has been unrest for as long as I can remember

* As for the middle east? Well, that region has been at war since the beginning of time. There's really nothing new going on there other than the weapons used now are far more advanced to the sticks and rocks that were used a few millenia ago.

I'm surprised not to hear any songs that mirror what's going on right now. Are there singers/bands that have put out these types of songs and they just haven't hit the radio? Do you think someone behind the curtain is trying to make sure we never hear this music by keeping it off the radio?

Discuss.

There are plenty of songs out there bitching and moaning about "the man", war, etc. Check out System of A Down as a perfect example. pretty sure that about half of their catalog is griping about those very topics.

 

[Lynch]

Re: Where Are The Songs That Relect Our Current Times?

Here's a little list of songs (borrowed from Wikipedia) regarding songs that are directly related to any of the following: 9/11, The War on Terror, Iraq/Afghan Wars

• "11th Hour" - Lamb of God (2002)
• "21 Guns" - Green Day (2009)
• "911 For Peace" - Anti-Flag (2002)
• "A Farewell to Arms" - Machine Head 2007
• "Act III Scene 2 (Shakespeare)" - Saul Williams (2004)
• "Afraid to Shoot Strangers" - Iron Maiden (1992)
• "All the Young Fascists" – Shihad (2005)
• "America (Just Say No)" - Alien Stash Tin (2003) - Also covered by Betty Swallaux (2011)
• "America First" - Merle Haggard (2005)
• "American Idiot" – Green Day (2004)
• "American Jesus" - Bad Religion (1993)
• "American Life" – Madonna (2003)
• "Apocalypse Please" - Muse (2004)
• "Audience Of One" – Rise Against (2008)
• "Baghdad" - The Offspring (1991)
• "Beneath The Remains" - Sepultura (1989)
• "Bin Laden" – Immortal Technique (2005)
• "Black Rain - Ozzy Osbourne (2007)
• "Blessed are the Landmines" - Brave Saint Saturn (2008)
• "Bloodsports" – New Model Army (2007)
• "B.O.B"-Outkast(2000)
• "Boom!" – System of a Down (2002)
• "Bush" – David Banner (2003)
• "The Bushes and The President" – Dawn Called Malice (2003)
• "B.Y.O.B." – System of a Down (2005)
• "Can't Happen Here" - Atreyu (2008)
• "Caped Crusader" – Jello Biafra with the Melvins (2004)
• "Capital G" – Nine Inch Nails (2007)
• "Cheney's Toy" - James McMurtry (2008)
• "Cinnamon Girl" - Prince (2004)
• "Civilian Ways" - Rancid (2009)
• "Clenching the Fists of Dissent" - Machine Head (2007)
• "Condi, Condi" - Steve Earle (2004)
• "Confrontation" - OTEP (2008)
• "Day After Tomorrow" - Tom Waits (2004)
• "Dark Side of the Sun" - Tori Amos (2007)
• "Dead Man Walknig" - Bloodsimple (2007)
• "Dear Mr. President" – Pink (2007)
• "Deja Vu (All Over Again)" -John Fogerty (2004)
• "Desert Angel" - Stevie Nicks (1991)
• "Desert Storm" - Devinshire (2009)
• "Devils & Dust" - Bruce Springsteen (2005)
• "Dirty Harry" – Gorillaz (2005)
• "Don't Make Me a Target" – Spoon (2007)
• "The Drums of War" – Jackson Browne (2008)
• "Everybody's Gone to War" – Nerina Pallot (2006)
• "The Empire Strikes First" - Bad Religion (2004)
• "Empty Walls" - Serj Tankian (2007)
• "Exit Strategy" - Valient Thorr (2006)
• "For the Greater Good of God" – Iron Maiden (2006)
• The Rising (album) - Bruce Springsteen (2002) is largely about 9/11
• "F*ck a War" – Geto Boys (1991)
• "Fallujah" - Terry Sutton Conspiracy (2011)
• "Far from Home" - Five Finger Death Punch (2009)
• "Final Transmission" - Street Dogs (2006)
• "Follow The Leader" - Pete Kronowitt (1993)
• "Franco Un-American" - NOFX (2003)
• "Friends in the Armed Forces" - Thursday (2008)
• "George W. Told The Nation" – Tom Paxton (2007)
• "God is not with You !" - Ira dei(2008) Belgium
• "Gulf War Song" -Moxy Früvous (1994)
• "Gunslinger - Avenged Sevenfold (2007)
• "Hammerhead" – The Offspring (2008)
• "The Hand That Feeds" - Nine Inch Nails (2005)
• "Hard-On for War" - Mudhoney (2006)
• "Harrowdown Hill" - Thom Yorke (2006)
• "Hands Held High" – Linkin Park (2007)
• "Heaven is Falling" - Bad Religion (1992)
• "Hero of War" - Rise Against (2008)
• "Hey Ma" – James (2008)
• "Holiday" – Green Day (2004)
• Home to Houston - Steve Earle (2004)
• "The Holidays Are Here (And We're Still at War)" – Brett Dennen (2006)
• "How Much Do You Suck?" - The Jeevas (2003)
• "How Much Longer" – Paul Leary (1991)
• "I Can't Take It No More" - John Fogerty (2007)
• "Illegal Attacks" – Ian Brown (2007)
• "I Saw Him Laying There" – Dawn Called Malice (2003)
• "Jacob's Ladder" - Chumbawumba (2002)
• Jerusalem - Steve Earle (2002)
• Jesus Walks" – Kanye West (2004)
• John Walker's Blues - Steve Earle (2002)
• "Job Well Done" - Rob Lincoln (1991)
• "Kimdir O" - Barış Akarsu
• "Letters From Home" - John Michael Montgomery (2004)
• "Letter From Iraq" - Bouncing Souls (2006)
• "Let Them Eat War" – Bad Religion (2004)
• "Let´s Get Free" - Sheryl Crow (2003)
• "Light Up Ya Lighter" – Michael Franti (2006)
• "Let's Impeach the President" – Neil Young (2006)
• "Mama" - Godsmack (2006)
• "The Man Who Would Be King" - Dio (2004)
• "Midnight Oil" – Dawn Called Malice (2003)
• "Mosh" – Eminem (2004)
• "My Girlfriend is a Lefty" – Dawn Called Malice (2003)
• "No Human No Fly" – April Hole (2002)
• "No More" - Bob Seger (2006)
• "No War" – Esham (2003)
• "Not In My Name" - Saul Williams (2003)
• "Now You've Got Something to Die For" - Lamb of God (2004)
• "On The Backs of Angels" - Dream Theater (2011)
• "On With the Song" - Mary Chapin Carpenter (2007)
• "Out Of Time" - Blur (2003)
• "Open Invitation (I Hate You bin Laden)" Jackyl (2001)
• "Osama Yo' Mama" - Ray Stevens (2002)
• "Overburdened" - Disturbed (2005)
• "Planet of the Rice" – Dawn Called Malice (2003)
• "Please Freeze Me" – Dawn Called Malice (2003)
• "Prophets of War" – Dream Theater (2007)
• "Redemption Day" - Sheryl Crow (1996)
• Rich Man's War - Steve Earle (2004)
• "Sacrificed Sons" – Dream Theater (2005)
• "Sacred Lie" - Disturbed (2005)
• "Saraba" – The Gazette (2004)
• "Shock and Awe" – Neil Young (2006)
• "Skylines and Turnstiles" — My Chemical Romance (2002)
• "Square Dance" - Eminem (2002)
• "Stand Up" – Flobots (2007)
• "Succexy" – Metric (2005)
• "A Taste of Money" – Dawn Called Malice (2003)
• "The General" - Dispatch (1998)
• "The Evil Has Landed" - Testament (2005)
• "Tehran" - The Offspring (1989)
• "This Is War" - 30 Seconds to Mars (2009)
• "Turkey Shoot" – Killdozer (1994)
• "Victory Stinks" - Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine (2011)
• "Violet Hill" - Coldplay (2008)
• "Walk on" - Hilltop Hoods (2003)
• "Wargasm" - L7 (1992)
• "War Is a Wonderful Thing" - Real West (2005)
• "What are we fighthing for" - Live (2003)
• "What Happens Tomorrow" - Duran Duran (2004)
• "What More Can I Give" – Michael Jackson (2001)
• "When the President Talks to God" – Bright Eyes (2005)
• "Where is the Love" - The Black Eyed Peas (Featuring Justin Timberlake) (2004)
• "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" - Alan Jackson (2001)
• "White People For Peace" - Against Me! (2007)
• "White Flag Warrior" - Flobots ft. Tim McIlrath (2010)
• "Wipe that Smile Off Your Face" - Our Lady Peace (2005)
• "World Wide Suicide" - Pearl Jam (2006)
• "Waiting on the World to Change" - John Mayer (2006)
• "Worker Bees" - Billy Talent (2006)
• "WWIII" - KMFDM (2003)
• "People Of The Lie" - KMFDM (2009)
• "Yellowcake" - Ministry (2006)
• "Yellow Ledbetter - Pearl Jam (1992)
• Yo George" - Tori Amos (2007)
• "You Shoulda Killed Me Last Year" - Ice-T (1991)
• "Your Silence" - Suicide Machines (2003)
• "Two Weeks From Twenty" - Yellowcard (2006)

 

[Berserker]

Re: Where Are The Songs That Relect Our Current Times?

* The world has been unrest for as long as I can remember

I completely agree, but I thought discussing politics was against the rules of the site.

 

[Aero]

Re: Where Are The Songs That Relect Our Current Times?

I completely agree, but I thought discussing politics was against the rules of the site.

It's not meant to be a discussion of politics but since you mentioned it, I didn't find anything about that in the rules.

At any rate, I didn't want to discuss politics, but simply find music that reflects the current times. "American Idiot" by Green Day was a good example from that list that I forgot about.

 

[Berserker]

Re: Where Are The Songs That Relect Our Current Times?

We do not allow any discussions of a political or religious nature.

quote from the rules, first link on the site at the top:

http://www.classicrockforums.com/forum/f50/rules-guidelines-6718/

It's definitely in there, and as Lynch was saying there is no shortage of these songs.

 

[StarThrower]

Re: Where Are The Songs That Relect Our Current Times?

Michael Franti and Spearhead.

I guess "we" can't talk about Bob Dylan's music on this site. That would be too political or religious? Give me a break!

That's what artists do. They speak their mind in public.

 

[Vehicle]

Re: Where Are The Songs That Relect Our Current Times?

• "11th Hour" - Lamb of God (2002)
• "21 Guns" - Green Day (2009)
• "911 For Peace" - Anti-Flag (2002)
• "A Farewell to Arms" - Machine Head 2007
• "Act III Scene 2 (Shakespeare)" - Saul Williams (2004)
• "Afraid to Shoot Strangers" - Iron Maiden (1992)
• "All the Young Fascists" – Shihad (2005)
• "America (Just Say No)" - Alien Stash Tin (2003) - Also covered by Betty Swallaux (2011)
• "America First" - Merle Haggard (2005)
• "American Idiot" – Green Day (2004)
• "American Jesus" - Bad Religion (1993)
• "American Life" – Madonna (2003)
• "Apocalypse Please" - Muse (2004)
• "Audience Of One" – Rise Against (2008)
• "Baghdad" - The Offspring (1991)
• "Beneath The Remains" - Sepultura (1989)
• "Bin Laden" – Immortal Technique (2005)
• "Black Rain - Ozzy Osbourne (2007)
• "Blessed are the Landmines" - Brave Saint Saturn (2008)
• "Bloodsports" – New Model Army (2007)
• "B.O.B"-Outkast(2000)
• "Boom!" – System of a Down (2002)
• "Bush" – David Banner (2003)
• "The Bushes and The President" – Dawn Called Malice (2003)
• "B.Y.O.B." – System of a Down (2005)
• "Can't Happen Here" - Atreyu (2008)
• "Caped Crusader" – Jello Biafra with the Melvins (2004)
• "Capital G" – Nine Inch Nails (2007)
• "Cheney's Toy" - James McMurtry (2008)
• "Cinnamon Girl" - Prince (2004)
• "Civilian Ways" - Rancid (2009)
• "Clenching the Fists of Dissent" - Machine Head (2007)
• "Condi, Condi" - Steve Earle (2004)
• "Confrontation" - OTEP (2008)
• "Day After Tomorrow" - Tom Waits (2004)
• "Dark Side of the Sun" - Tori Amos (2007)
• "Dead Man Walknig" - Bloodsimple (2007)
• "Dear Mr. President" – Pink (2007)
• "Deja Vu (All Over Again)" -John Fogerty (2004)
• "Desert Angel" - Stevie Nicks (1991)
• "Desert Storm" - Devinshire (2009)
• "Devils & Dust" - Bruce Springsteen (2005)
• "Dirty Harry" – Gorillaz (2005)
• "Don't Make Me a Target" – Spoon (2007)
• "The Drums of War" – Jackson Browne (2008)
• "Everybody's Gone to War" – Nerina Pallot (2006)
• "The Empire Strikes First" - Bad Religion (2004)
• "Empty Walls" - Serj Tankian (2007)
• "Exit Strategy" - Valient Thorr (2006)
• "For the Greater Good of God" – Iron Maiden (2006)
• The Rising (album) - Bruce Springsteen (2002) is largely about 9/11
• "F*ck a War" – Geto Boys (1991)
• "Fallujah" - Terry Sutton Conspiracy (2011)
• "Far from Home" - Five Finger Death Punch (2009)
• "Final Transmission" - Street Dogs (2006)
• "Follow The Leader" - Pete Kronowitt (1993)
• "Franco Un-American" - NOFX (2003)
• "Friends in the Armed Forces" - Thursday (2008)
• "George W. Told The Nation" – Tom Paxton (2007)
• "God is not with You !" - Ira dei(2008) Belgium
• "Gulf War Song" -Moxy Früvous (1994)
• "Gunslinger - Avenged Sevenfold (2007)
• "Hammerhead" – The Offspring (2008)
• "The Hand That Feeds" - Nine Inch Nails (2005)
• "Hard-On for War" - Mudhoney (2006)
• "Harrowdown Hill" - Thom Yorke (2006)
• "Hands Held High" – Linkin Park (2007)
• "Heaven is Falling" - Bad Religion (1992)
• "Hero of War" - Rise Against (2008)
• "Hey Ma" – James (2008)
• "Holiday" – Green Day (2004)
• Home to Houston - Steve Earle (2004)
• "The Holidays Are Here (And We're Still at War)" – Brett Dennen (2006)
• "How Much Do You Suck?" - The Jeevas (2003)
• "How Much Longer" – Paul Leary (1991)
• "I Can't Take It No More" - John Fogerty (2007)
• "Illegal Attacks" – Ian Brown (2007)
• "I Saw Him Laying There" – Dawn Called Malice (2003)
• "Jacob's Ladder" - Chumbawumba (2002)
• Jerusalem - Steve Earle (2002)
• Jesus Walks" – Kanye West (2004)
• John Walker's Blues - Steve Earle (2002)
• "Job Well Done" - Rob Lincoln (1991)
• "Kimdir O" - Barış Akarsu
• "Letters From Home" - John Michael Montgomery (2004)
• "Letter From Iraq" - Bouncing Souls (2006)
• "Let Them Eat War" – Bad Religion (2004)
• "Let´s Get Free" - Sheryl Crow (2003)
• "Light Up Ya Lighter" – Michael Franti (2006)
• "Let's Impeach the President" – Neil Young (2006)
• "Mama" - Godsmack (2006)
• "The Man Who Would Be King" - Dio (2004)
• "Midnight Oil" – Dawn Called Malice (2003)
• "Mosh" – Eminem (2004)
• "My Girlfriend is a Lefty" – Dawn Called Malice (2003)
• "No Human No Fly" – April Hole (2002)
• "No More" - Bob Seger (2006)
• "No War" – Esham (2003)
• "Not In My Name" - Saul Williams (2003)
• "Now You've Got Something to Die For" - Lamb of God (2004)
• "On The Backs of Angels" - Dream Theater (2011)
• "On With the Song" - Mary Chapin Carpenter (2007)
• "Out Of Time" - Blur (2003)
• "Open Invitation (I Hate You bin Laden)" Jackyl (2001)
• "Osama Yo' Mama" - Ray Stevens (2002)
• "Overburdened" - Disturbed (2005)
• "Planet of the Rice" – Dawn Called Malice (2003)
• "Please Freeze Me" – Dawn Called Malice (2003)
• "Prophets of War" – Dream Theater (2007)
• "Redemption Day" - Sheryl Crow (1996)
• Rich Man's War - Steve Earle (2004)
• "Sacrificed Sons" – Dream Theater (2005)
• "Sacred Lie" - Disturbed (2005)
• "Saraba" – The Gazette (2004)
• "Shock and Awe" – Neil Young (2006)
• "Skylines and Turnstiles" — My Chemical Romance (2002)
• "Square Dance" - Eminem (2002)
• "Stand Up" – Flobots (2007)
• "Succexy" – Metric (2005)
• "A Taste of Money" – Dawn Called Malice (2003)
• "The General" - Dispatch (1998)
• "The Evil Has Landed" - Testament (2005)
• "Tehran" - The Offspring (1989)
• "This Is War" - 30 Seconds to Mars (2009)
• "Turkey Shoot" – Killdozer (1994)
• "Victory Stinks" - Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine (2011)
• "Violet Hill" - Coldplay (2008)
• "Walk on" - Hilltop Hoods (2003)
• "Wargasm" - L7 (1992)
• "War Is a Wonderful Thing" - Real West (2005)
• "What are we fighthing for" - Live (2003)
• "What Happens Tomorrow" - Duran Duran (2004)
• "What More Can I Give" – Michael Jackson (2001)
• "When the President Talks to God" – Bright Eyes (2005)
• "Where is the Love" - The Black Eyed Peas (Featuring Justin Timberlake) (2004)
• "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" - Alan Jackson (2001)
• "White People For Peace" - Against Me! (2007)
• "White Flag Warrior" - Flobots ft. Tim McIlrath (2010)
• "Wipe that Smile Off Your Face" - Our Lady Peace (2005)
• "World Wide Suicide" - Pearl Jam (2006)
• "Waiting on the World to Change" - John Mayer (2006)
• "Worker Bees" - Billy Talent (2006)
• "WWIII" - KMFDM (2003)
• "People Of The Lie" - KMFDM (2009)
• "Yellowcake" - Ministry (2006)
• "Yellow Ledbetter - Pearl Jam (1992)
• Yo George" - Tori Amos (2007)
• "You Shoulda Killed Me Last Year" - Ice-T (1991)
• "Your Silence" - Suicide Machines (2003)
• "Two Weeks From Twenty" - Yellowcard (2006)

Lynch had 'em. Mystery solved.

 

[Lynch]

Re: Where Are The Songs That Relect Our Current Times?

Michael Franti and Spearhead.

I guess "we" can't talk about Bob Dylan's music on this site. That would be too political or religious? Give me a break!

That's what artists do. They speak their mind in public.

Well, personally... I would have no problem if there was no talk of Bob Dylan on ~any~ site , but no, that's not what the rule is about. We used to have a subforum in the Off Topic (non-music) section that was devoted to "serious" discussion ... most of which was involving politics and religion. There were problems with it and the way that people interacted within that section, such as taking individuals' views personally, some personal attacks, bad feelings, etc etc and that spewed out into the rest of the board.

Ultimately and to get to the point, the subject was discussed amongst the board leaders and put to a vote by the members of the site as to whether or not to keep that section open to the public, make it a 'hidden' section that only certain people could be a part of, or simply close that section of the board and essentially "ban" those topics from the rest of the site.

Since that time, there have been threads that somewhat discussed some of those same 'serious discussions' but they usually start out with a music angle. Sometimes those threads are kept civil, other times it turns into a crapfest. When the latter happens, threads have been closed and/or even removed.

Bottom line, if you want to talk about politics or religion or if you have some social agenda items that you'd like to discuss, a google search will give you a thousands of other sites around the world that allow it, accept it or even thrive on that sort of thing. Here, we'd like to stay away from it and keep the normal civility of things just that... civil.



Back on topic, as Vehicle pointed out, the list I pointed out should be a good start into looking at songs of the last 10-12 years (up to 20 years for some due to the '91 Gulf War) which I think should cover the topic of what Aero was looking for.

Hope that helps.

 

[Vehicle]

Re: Where Are The Songs That Relect Our Current Times?

Is there a problem here?