The Case Against Protest Music
By: If Ever You Re Listening
Tags: Music, Woodie Guthrie, Protest, Tracy Chapman, Sjw

The Case Against Protest Music

The difference between great protest music and sloppy virtue-signaling

Photo by Vladimir Fedotov on Unsplash

Protest music is inherently offensive and thought-provoking. Music intentionally steers people away. Protest music that balances impact and seriousness is far and few between. Despite these challenges, some artists get it right. For example, Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” is expertly executed. Unfortunately, most protest music is sloppy and annoying to hear. Instead of persuading the listener, it is antagonizing them. This piece will attempt to find that balance.

Oversaturating the Market

Proponents of protest music believe that big artists hide behind their stardom. Stars like Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, and Drake are more concerned with mindless party music than progressive political messages. If that were true, and popular mainstream artists never spoke out on important issues, then this article would not exist. In reality, the opposite is true. From “Express Yourself” to “If I Were A Man” mainstream elites have always and will continue to speak for marginalized and underrepresented communities. A lot of artists feel like “the other”. Therefore, music is their most effective communication medium. There is no lack of protest music in the mainstream. The reality is that the sub-genre is currently saturating the market.

The Ethos of Music

Protest music contradicts music’s ethos. Music is meant to expose feelings both known and unknown. It is supposed to unite people despite their difference. Bad protest music sets people apart and creates “us’s” and “them’s”. To be clear, this is not a blatant rebuke of all protest music. Nor is this against protests music’s necessity in society. If protest music is going to properly balance accessibility and entertainment then there are some general tips to adopt.

Tips For Effective Protest Music

While inequality and oppression warrant societal and political backlash, protest music doesn’t have to contribute to the response. However, if artists are adamant then here are some protest music guidelines. For one, artists should use intimate stories to show compassion and understanding. Second, musicians should relate to the opposing side and find common ground. Joyner Lucas’s successfully implemented this on his single “I’m Not Racist”. Furthermore, Joni Mitchel used clever wordplay and incredible wit on her classic protest song, “Big Yellow Taxi”. Billie Holiday captured America’s hearts and minds through thought-provoking metaphors on “Strange Fruit”. Sometimes protest songs are just too catchy to ignore. For example, Woodie Guthrie’s “This Lands is Your land” is an undeniable jam. Unfortunately, these songs are the exception. Still, when making poignant protest music, future artists should use them as guideposts.

Obviously, people feel obliged to make protests music during the current administration. It is not clear however if people are just following a trend or genuinely concerned about some issues. Generally, the output has been sloppy and derivative. It’s hard to hear authentic protest music from its cheap imitation. Despite these challenges, there is always hope. If artists empathize with opponents and creativity spread their music protest music can enter a new golden era.