Protest songs speak to people in ways other music just doesn’t. I grew up during a time when there was a flurry of protest music. From the Vietnam War to the march on Washington and Martin Luther King, Jr. My earliest exposure to music was mixed with songs of protest.
Music gets to everyone. It can motivate people to act towards peace or war. Come up with a catchy tune and a slogan and people will be singing along in no time. I was born in the midst of the protests against the Vietnam War and learned many of the songs without even realizing they were protest songs.
The Era of Protest Songs: Vietnam War
My father was a fan of folk music and had a collection of the popular artists of the day: Joan Baez, Peter, Paul and Mary, Pete Seeger and others. The radio played the hits of the day and many were protest songs. Woodstock artists filled the airwaves before and after the war.
I learned Blowin’ In The Wind, like many kids my age, because it was popular. Although I didn’t know what it meant at the time, it did get me thinking how many deaths does it take until we know too many have died? Heavy subjects for a young child.
My father played guitar and would sing some of these songs for us. The music at my Catholic church also changed and Blowin’ In the Winds was sung in the service. That was radical for those days. Many changes brought about by the protest movements.
Marvin Gaye Protests
Protest songs also tackled the issue of race. I heard Marvin Gaye’s song, What’s Goin’ On, and did not realize it at the time what he was really saying but the culture did. A pop singer comes out with strong lyrics against racism and the record company wanted it squashed it before it was released. The song was a sensation. Seems like it opened the door for others to voice their concerns through music.
Hear Me Roar – Women in Protest
If you haven’t heard or Helen Reddy, check out her song I Am Woman. Again, this was a protest song. Very catchy and it catapulted Helen Reddy to fame. It was during the time of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). I heard about the ERA but was far too young to know the issues. I remember that song, though! It may not have changed my mind but I do remember commercials changing at the time. There was a perfume at the time, Enjoli. It started out with a woman singing about how she could hold down a job, be a mother and still be sexy with their perfume. That was different. The questions about motherhood and stay-at-home-moms was being questioned in a big way. This was one song that captured that sentiment.
Protest Songs in Our Time
Some of this may be just considered Dad Rock these days but the impact has lasted decades. Classic Rock stations till play these songs exposing them to the generation of today. What about the protest songs of today? There certainly is a lot of protesting going on. I wonder what will stand the test of time and be stuck in the memory of some young kid now. Maybe it will inspire someone to make music as an adult that will carry on the issues.