Despite the size of the current anti-war movement, new protest
music is nowhere near as prevalent as it was in the Vietnam War
era, when mainstream radio stations played many songs critical of
the government. This apparent lack of new peace anthems has more to
do with consolidation in the radio business than with any lack of
creativity or anti-war sentiment on the part of performing artists.
Despite the stranglehold companies like ClearChannel (which owns
over 1200 stations across the U.S.) have on the nation?s radio
playlists, musicians are singing out against the war. You
just won?t hear their music on the air. But you can find them
online. The Centre for Political Song, in Glasgow, Scotland, has
compiled an impressive list of new anti-war tunes that spans the
globe from Australia to the U.S., and genres from hip-hop to
country. Follow the links to the latest offerings from the likes of
Chuck D, REM, Paul Weller, Michael Franti, Chumbawamba, George
Michael, Country Bumpkin and the Hogs, and Yusuf Islam (a.k.a. Cat
Stevens) who has just remade ?Peace Train.? You may just find
something to download and play at your next peace rally.
?Leif Utne
Go there>>
http://polsong.gcal.ac.uk
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