Personally, I hate it when bands get political. To me, it seems calculating and self-important, even when I mostly agree with the topics (unions are cool, war is bad) of most protest songs. But that’s me. Prolific magazine really digs protest tracks, so much so that they have listed the ten best protest songs of the 21st century. Number one: “2 + 2= 5” by Radiohead, off of Hail to the Thief.
The obvious problem with that choice is that Prolific is working on the assumption that Hail is completely about politics, which Thom Yorke and company have claimed is false. At any rate, it’s a great song and a decent pick. Among the others chosen were “When the President Talks to God” by Conor Oberst, “Intervention” by Arcade Fire, and “World Wide Suicide” by Pearl Jam. For the full list, click here.
Arcade Fire »
Conor Oberst »
Pearl Jam »
Radiohead »
I like the Radiohead song as the first pick. I think songs can be political even if they don't directly reference specific political points. Almost all of Radiohead is "political" in the wider sense, but then the question gets to be: what isn't? (Maybe everything is, though...)
But I agree with you, Andrew, most self-conscious protest songs are boring, sidney, boring.