“You Went the Wrong Way, Old King Louie” - Allan Sherman
If you’re gonna fight the power why not do it old school!
The Isley Brothers – Fight the Power, Pts. 1 & 2 Lyrics
From the album - Life in the Food Chain by Tonio K.
- The Funky Western Civilization
“Well there’s a riot in the courthouse
There’s a fire in the street
There’s a sinner bein’ trampled
By a thousand pious feet
There’s a baby every minute
Bein’ born without a chance
Now don’t that make you want
To jump right up and start to dance?”
“They put Jesus on a cross
They put a hole in J.F.K
They put Hitler in the driver’s seat
And looked the other way
Now they’ve got poison in the water
And the whole world in a trance
But just because we’re hypnotized
That don’t mean we can’t dance”
Also Tonio K. - The Ballad of the Night the Clocks All Quit (And the Government Failed) "
Really pertinent but my linking via my new phone is wonky.
Some of their music is borderline unlistenable, although there are a few snappy tunes among the Youtube performances, but I’d suggest Pussy Riot as being the only genuine rebellious band worth the name.
They would be followed by a large patch of daylight, then the bands previously suggested in a posturing, shouty peleton far behind, gurning for the cameras and sticking their tongues out and showing how rebellious they are. Record company limos will be waiting to collect them at the end, so its okay.
The worst an American, English-speaking or W. European band is likely to ever experience might be a police warning, a stern memo from their record company or not being stocked by Walmart. The stakes are so low, its easy to do meaningless rebellion, by just being contrary for the sake of it. In contrast Pussy Riot members actually get arrested by Putin goons for performing, serve jail time in grim conditions and were even declared an extremist organisation in Russia just a few weeks back. These stakes are real and consequential. Suck on that, Joe Strummer.
PS Anything early by Gil Scott-Heron, Midnight Oil singles like US Forces, Maralinga, Power and the Passion, Blue Sky Mine and Beds are Burning would also fit the bill.
No Bob Marley: Get up Stand Up?
I was thinking of I’m So Bored with the USA, actually.
Dead Kennedys - “Saturday Night Holocaust”
Blind Willie Johnson - “If I had My Way I’d Tear The Building Down”
Stereolab - “Les Yper Sound”
Heh, missed copying the new link on the last example. Can’t edit, of course.
Tim Minchin - “Revolting Children” (from Matilda)
I’m now listening to Bob Marley’s “Rastaman Vibration”, “War” came up and I was reminded of this thread. Perfect song for it.
I just heard “Stand” on the radio and, as always, it makes me feel as joyful as it does defiant:
