Counterculture Anthems

Cafe Society
21

I knew this one would be mentioned soon out of the gate, so I’ll just second it. The rage and sheer incredulity over the Kent State shooting feels as raw as if it just happened yesterday, every time you listen to it. One of the greatest protest songs of all time.

And then ol’ Neil comes out with ‘Rockin’ in the Free World’ during the Bush Sr. years, an anthem just dripping with bitterness and sarcasm:

We got a thousand points of light
For the homeless man
We got a kinder, gentler machine gun hand

Someone was playing ‘Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables’ at a party when I was maybe 16. An eye opener, to say the least. It became one of my favorite albums, and I still give it the occasional nostalgia listen to this day.

22

I’ll see your Rape Me and add Smells Like Teen Spirit

23

Teenage Head.

“Four Dead In Ohio” would be an excellent state motto to be displayed on Ohio license plates.

24

The counterculture anthem that has stood the test of time is “We shall overcome.”

I believe it was Terry Pratchett who wrote that you start out by singing it at other people, then grow older and find people are singing it at you.

25

Gil Scott Heron 's The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.

(It’ll be posted on Twitter instead.)

26

You want counterculture Dylan, you want this:

27

For me the “Feel Like I’m Fixin’ to Die Rag” by Country Joe and the Fish is the first that came to mind.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqeLZ-oDc8g

28

And let’s not forget “Masters Of War” where he deconstructs and unmasks the military industrial complex like no other before or after, with a spite and disgust especially in the damning last verse that’s unmatched. He was 21 when he wrote it.

29

Great song, definitely counter-culture…but I can’t say it makes me want to storm something.

But THIS does. Pretty much anything by RATM fits. I’d add the obvious choice Wake Up.

My #1 “tear down the system” song. I’d put PE’s Fight the Power in front of 911 though.

For my own contribution, The Tubes and their anthem of excess and lost teenagers:

30

I was scrolling to the end of the thread, increasingly amazed that nobody had mentioned it, and you beat me by eight minutes. It is the anti-authority anthem of the last thirty-odd years.

31

“White Punks On Dope” is just great, but I like the Nina Hagen Band’s cover “TV-Glotzer” even better. It’s also a counterculture anthem, parodying TV consumption in a similar vein as Frank Zappa’s “I’m the Slime”:

32

I wouldn’t argue with that.

33

Here’s one from the sixties.

34

“You said you’d change the Constitution, well, you know
We all wanna change your head
You tell me it’s the institution, well, you know
You’d better free your mind instead
'Cuz if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao,
You ain’t gonna make it with anyone anyhow!”

35

I think this one counts. ACCEPT. BALLS TO THE WALL.

36

[slight hijack] I’m stunned to never have seen this performance of “Revolution”. I thought that between the broadcast of “All You Need Is Love” and the Rooftop Concert there hadn’t been any live footage from the Beatles. What TV show was this from? [/sh]

37

The Revolution promo film was shown on The Smothers Brothers show 10/6/68

38

It debuted, however, on UK’s Top of the Pops.

39

Thanks to both of you. :blush:

40

Buffy Saint-Marie, “Universal Soldier,” including Donovan’s cover
Jonathan Edwards, “Sunshine”
Five Man Electrical Band, “I’m a Stranger Here”
The Animals, “Sky Pilot”
John Lennon, “Working Class Hero”
The Strawbs, “Part of the Union” This one is tricky: it has often been said that this is a heavy-handed slam at unions, but the Strawbs denied that and British unionists often sing it, perhaps ironically. It is a pretty close take-off on Woody Guthrie’s “Union Maid,” which itself uses the melody of “Little Red Wing.” Oscar Brand claimed he suggested the tune to Woody, and maybe he did; he did record a “bawdy” version of it, wherein the “Indian maid” Little Red Wing cuts off the penis of the Indian “buck” who tried to rape her.
Sorry, TMI. I’m avoiding work.