Protest music is more than just a man with a guitar
Protest music isn't just a folk singer with a guitar. There are great protest songs from practically every genre: hip-hop, soul, country, rock — and even classical.
See the listeners' list of songs
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An exhibit at the University of Minnesota's Wilson and Music Library this month is examining the role protest music has played in many different causes.
As part of the exhibit, Prof. Mark Pedelty is holding a teach-in today. There will be discussion and performances, including one by Pedelty's band Hypoxic Punks.
A sampling of some notable protest songs:
The lyrics of "Which Side Are You On?" were written by Florence Reece, the wife of a union organizer, in response to the 1931 miners' strike in Harlan County, Ky. It's set to the hymn "Lay the Lily Low":
Neil Young wrote "Ohio" in response to the 1970 Kent State shootings:
Frederic Rzewski wrote "The People United Will Never Be Defeated!" to support Chileans living under the dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet:
"What's Going On" was written by Obie Benson and Marvin Gaye in response to the social and poltical conflicts of 1969:
Thao Nguyen wrote the song "We The Common (For Valerie Bolden)" after meeting women in prison through her work with the California Coalition for Women Prisoners. (See a video of Nguyen performing the song at a protest rally against overcrowding in the state's prison system outside the Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla, Calif.):
THE SONGS: Listeners and readers sent in an extended protest mix: