It was a powerful and prescient commentary on the ability music has to rally people to a cause, and Guthrie set a precedent many would follow on the years to come.īefore Guthrie’s rabble-rousing, popular music was very pro-establishment, pro-government and even pro-war. His guitar often spoke the words for him, with the words “ This Machine Destroys Fascists” emblazoned across it. This Oklahoma born singer-songwriter-poet sang in a plain, dead pan drawl that perfectly captured the message he was speaking of fighting to keep America free. That said, we need to acknowledge a true pioneer of the American musical protest movement, Woody Guthrie. There have been plenty of songs, jingles mostly, endorsing individual candidates and causes, but it seems Rather than turn this into a history lesson, we’ll focus on some of the more modern songs that have shaped the musical political climate. I’m sure the first caveman quartet did a scathing tune about Ogg’s lack of leadership in the “ Firegate” debacle. From protest songs to voter campaigns, campaign rallies to musical endorsements and musicians campaigning, there’s been no shortage of love between music and politics.Īs a form of communication, music has always been used to express opinions about matters of the day. On the other hand, however, songwriters have turned to their craft when confronted with social and political unjustness, and give birth to songs that seek to shine a light on the perceived inequities of the day. Historical records are full of examples of songs that laud the achievements of nations, dating all the way back to ancient Egypt.

The relationship between music and politics has existed for centuries, sometimes harmoniously, and other times not as much. While we encourage you all to go out and vote today, we thought it would be a fine time to examine the way music and politics have become strangely entwined. Both seek to inspire their targets, and both have made great use of the other to advance their ideas. Compromise is also the heart of the political process, trying to find common ground and consensus solutions to problems of society through open communication. The heart of music is the interplay of the physical and the mental, as the compromise between them forms a cohesive whole. The very nature of politics is, like music, rooted in conflict and harmony.

Protest songs by pearl jam