Urbanista Mag brings you the first episode in a new series of podcasts from Amsterdam & Pele frontman Ian Prowse and Mick Ord – Misadventures in Music
In this episode the the guys discuss protest songs with Mick and Ian choosing a powerful mix of artists that inspired them from the Punk and New Wave era.
The discussion casts an insight on what it was like hearing and seeing bands such as The Jam & The Clash for the 1st time and why anger played such a huge part in the success of Punk Bands across the UK and USA. But more so, how the music became a channel of information and opinion you didn’t get through mainstream TV and News.
What is protest music?
For Ian and Mick, protest music derives from many narratives, but fundamentally the songs discussed have been created in protest of how countries are governed and how classes differ.
This podcast discusses how music has been a voice for anti-racism, socialism and oppression.
Our presenters talk about South American liberation, communism and the Northern Irish troubles. They discuss Apartheid and ask the question; was it morally right for musicians such as Queen and Elton John to tour South Africa during that time? Even black artists such as Ray Charles and the Real Thing toured South Africa during an international boycott protesting apartheid.
The discussion moves on to Ireland and uses U2’s Sunday Bloody Sunday as an example of the troubles at the time. Bono and drummer Larry Mullen explained that song was not directly about the indecent in Londonderry where British paratroopers opened fire, resulting in 13 deaths.
Bono famously introduced “Sunday Bloody Sunday” as “This is not a rebel song, this song is…” and Sinéad offers up a play on that introduction titling this song “This is a Rebel Song”. It’s a love song, but it is about Ireland, and that becomes clear. But the title serves to remind us that it is a rebel song, in case we missed it in the lyrics. And perhaps offered a chance to be seen as being opposed to U2 yet again in the media.
Playlist
The Clash – Washington Bullets.
Special AKA – Nelson Mandela
NWA – f**k Tha Police
U2 – Sunday, Bloody Sunday
Sinead O’Conner – This is a Rebel Song
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