This is a thread i have been wantign to make for awhile!

My favorite type of songs are political/social songs, and i am always looking for some i don't have

Anywho i will name some of my favorites[IT'S A TON!!! So i will try to keep it short ]

And you guys give me your favorites cause as said always looking for some to add to the ole ipod

In no order

1. Bob Dylan- Masters Of War

2. Robert Wyatt- Shipbuilding

3. Nina Simone- Missipi Goddam

4. Nas, Jadakiss, Styles P, Common- Why(Remix)

5. Saul Williams- The Pledge

6. The Clash- Call Up

7. Edwin Star- War

8. Bob Marley- Them Belly Full(But We Still Hungry)

9. W.A.S.P- The Headless Children

10. Dead Kennedys- Holiday In Cambodia

11. MIA- 10 Dollar

12. Rage Against The Machine- Vietnow

13. Marvin Gaye- Inner City Blues(Make Me Wanna Holler)

14. Bob Dylan- Lonesome Death Of Hattie Caroll

15. Sam Stone- John Pine

16. Public Enemy- Power To The People

17. Bruce Springsteen- Long Walk Home

18. Barry McGuire: "Eve of Destruction"

19. Lauryn Hill- Social Drugs

20. Stevie Wonder- Big Brother

21. Leonard Cohen: "The Partisan"

22. Li Youyuan: "The East is Red (东方红)"

23. The Police: "Invisible Sun"

24. U2- God's Country

25. The Police: "Invisible Sun"

26. Woody Guthrie- This Land Is Your Land

27. Guns N Roses- Civil War

28. Tracy Chapman- Across The Lines

29. Billie Holiday- Strange Fruit

30. Big Black Buck- Donnie

31. George Michael- Mothers Pride

32. Say It Loud- James Brown

33. Bad Religion- The Voice Of GOD Is Government

34. Alice Cooper- Elected

35. Jackson Browne- The Drums Of War

36. Living Colour- Open Letter To A Landlord

37. Red Hot Chili Peppers- Power Of Equality

38. Prince- America

39. Choking Victim- Fuck America

40. Peter Gabriel- Biko

• Marvin - You're the Man (politicians)
• Stevie - He's Misstra Know It All (politicians)
• The Young Rascals - People Got to Be Free (anti-racism)
• Ike & Tina - Workin' Together (anti-racism)
• Janet - Livin' in a World We Didn't Make (guns; violence)
• Public Enemy - Welcome to the Terrordome (anti-racism, anti-oppression)
• Diana - Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand) (anti-racism)
• Elvis - If I Can Dream (anti-racism)
• JB - I Don't Want Nobody to Give Me Nothing (Open Up the Door I'll Get It Myself) (empowerment)
• Parliament - Chocolate City (empowerment)
• Prince - Sign O' the Times (drug abuse, guns, violence)
• 2Pac - Brenda's Got a Baby (child molestation, teenage pregnancy, prostitution)
• Kool G. Rap - Riker's Island (jail)
• Scarface & Ice Cube - The Hand of the Dead Body (anti-racism, anti-oppression, anti-police brutality)
• Billy Paul - Am I Black Enough For Ya? (empowerment)
• Funkadelic - March to the Witch's Castle (anti-war)
• Outkast - Toilet Tisha (drug abuse)
• MJ - They Don't Really Care About Us (anti-racism, anti-oppression, anti-police brutality)
• Chi-Lites - For God's Sakes, Give More Power to the People (empowerment)
• The O'Jays - Give the People What They Want (empowerment)
• En Vogue - Free Your Mind (anti-racism, empowerment)
• The Wailers - 400 Years (anti-oppression)
• Lauryn Hill - Rebel (anti-oppression)
• CCR - Fortunate Son (anti-war)
• The Impressions - We're a Winner (empowerment)
• The Supremes - Love Child (teenage pregnancy; illegtimate pregnancy)
• Martha and the Vandellas - I Should Be Proud (anti-war)
• The Temptations - Ball of Confusion (anti-racism, anti-war, inner city)
• Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - Wake Up Everybody (empowerment)
• Gil Scott Heron & Brian Jackson - The Bottle (inner city)
• Edwin Starr - War (anti-war)
• MC Lyte - Poor Georgie (drunk driving)

[Edited 4/29/12 23:05pm]

Man of War-Jacksons

The War Song-Culture Club

alphastreet said:

Man of War-Jacksons

The War Song-Culture Club

Forgot all about The War Song

''War is stupid and people are stupid & love means nothing ''

John Lennon Working Class Hero, Imagine (etc)

Bob Dylan - Like A Rolling Stone, Hurricane, The Times They Are A-Changin' (etc)

Stevie Wonder.. all of Innervisions.

[Edited 5/8/12 8:13am]

alphastreet said:

Man of War-Jacksons

The War Song-Culture Club

I heard Culture Club hated that song and the entire album that accompanied it.

mjscarousal said:

Forgot about this one... It's my favorite song of his. Always has been...

Timmy84 said:

alphastreet said:

Man of War-Jacksons

The War Song-Culture Club

I heard Culture Club hated that song and the entire album that accompanied it.

Culture Club need to fuck each other some more then that song is a part of my babyhood and I won't let them spoil it

Timmy84 said:

• Marvin - You're the Man
• Stevie - He's Misstra Know It All
• The Young Rascals - People Got to Be Free
• Ike & Tina - Workin' Together
• Janet - Livin' in a World We Didn't Make
• Public Enemy - Welcome to the Terrordome
• Diana - Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)
• Elvis - If I Can Dream
• JB - I Don't Want Nobody to Give Me Nothing (Open Up the Door I'll Get It Myself)
• Parliament - Chocolate City
• Prince - Sign O' the Times
• 2Pac - Brenda's Got a Baby
• Kool G. Rap - Riker's Island
• Scarface & Ice Cube - The Hand of the Dead Body
• Billy Paul - Am I Black Enough For Ya?
• Funkadelic - March to the Witch's Castle
• Outkast - Toilet Tisha
• MJ - They Don't Really Care About Us
• Chi-Lites - For God's Sakes, Give More Power to the People
• The O'Jays - Give the People What They Want
• En Vogue - Free Your Mind
• The Wailers - 400 Years
• Lauryn Hill - Rebel
• CCR - Fortunate Son
• The Impressions - We're a Winner
• The Supremes - Love Child
• Martha and the Vandellas - I Should Be Proud
• The Temptations - Ball of Confusion
• Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - Wake Up Everybody
• Gil Scott Heron & Brian Jackson - The Bottle
• Edwin Starr - War
• MC Lyte - Poor Georgie

Ahhh shit! good catch Timmy. Chocolate city would Probably be in my top 100. Marvin You're The MAN would be a top 100 as well. 2pac i was thinking of putting Changes or Brendas got a baby... but both are great.

Timmy84 said:

alphastreet said:

Man of War-Jacksons

The War Song-Culture Club

I heard Culture Club hated that song and the entire album that accompanied it.

Yeah they said it was a rush effort after the HUGE success of the last 2. It isn't a great album but i dig a few tracks.

Why didn't Timmy or Guns list Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" ... too obvious? Actually, that whole album I think qualifies as 'political/social', and it's all great, too.

[Edited 4/29/12 23:04pm]

CrabalockerFishwife said:

All of John Lennon's... and shame on you for not having any on your list. I know you've listened to him.

Working Class Hero, Imagine, Instant Karma, Power To The People, Happy X-Mas (War Is Over), Gimme Some Truth, I Found Out [not sure if this one counts.. more about religion], and all the others...

Bob Dylan has done a lot of great ones too.

Oh, and Stevie Wonder.. all of Innervisions.

yes i do love me some John.

Working Class Hero & Woman is the niger of the world are prolly his 2 best politial/social songs imo.

Imagine.. good song, overplayed & eh

CrabalockerFishwife said:

Why didn't Timmy or Guns list Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" ... too obvious? Actually, that whole album I think qualifies as 'political/social', and it's all great, too.

[Edited 4/29/12 23:04pm]

I think the entire album qualifies for sure But inner city blues is my personal fav.

mjscarousal said:

Not in my tops for sure, but still a good song

Hell, it's a shame this was barely a top 30 hit. To me this song is more important than Billy Jean or Thriller or Bad or Ben or Smooth Criminal. Lyrical wise

I think lyrically This, Man In The Mirror & Earth Song where his best singles:P

[Edited 4/29/12 23:37pm]

CrabalockerFishwife said:

Why didn't Timmy or Guns list Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" ... too obvious? Actually, that whole album I think qualifies as 'political/social', and it's all great, too.

[Edited 4/29/12 23:04pm]

Dude I wasn't gonna list every Marvin/Stevie song that had already been named countless times. Fuck that.

I forgot to mention

Grandmaster Flash- Beat Street, It's A Shame, Vice & The message

Gunsnhalen said:

CrabalockerFishwife said:

All of John Lennon's... and shame on you for not having any on your list. I know you've listened to him.

Working Class Hero, Imagine, Instant Karma, Power To The People, Happy X-Mas (War Is Over), Gimme Some Truth, I Found Out [not sure if this one counts.. more about religion], and all the others...

Bob Dylan has done a lot of great ones too.

Oh, and Stevie Wonder.. all of Innervisions.

yes i do love me some John.

Working Class Hero & Woman is the niger of the world are prolly his 2 best politial/social songs imo.

Imagine.. good song, overplayed & eh

I was never a fan of Lennon's and Dylan's social messages to be frank.

Gunsnhalen said:

Imagine.. good song, overplayed & eh

It doesn't matter how overplayed that song is.. it doesn't get old. But I guess lyrically, it's not as powerful as 'Working Class Hero'.

I've never consider 'Woman Is The Nigger Of The World' one of his best, though.. I think Yoko's 'Sisters, O Sisters' is a much better song..

Gunsnhalen said:

I forgot to mention

Grandmaster Flash- Beat Street, It's A Shame, Vice & The message

The Message and White Lines were two of the earliest message songs in hip-hop.

Gunsnhalen said:

Timmy84 said:

I heard Culture Club hated that song and the entire album that accompanied it.

Yeah they said it was a rush effort after the HUGE success of the last 2. It isn't a great album but i dig a few tracks.

Yeah they were still touring when they put the album out.

Timmy84 said:

Gunsnhalen said:

yes i do love me some John.

Working Class Hero & Woman is the niger of the world are prolly his 2 best politial/social songs imo.

Imagine.. good song, overplayed & eh

I was never a fan of Lennon's and Dylan's social messages to be frank.

To each his own, i always respect your opinion

Bob is my favorite artist tied with Stevie so i adore his politcal songs. John i do love but.... eh i think he can be overrated in some aspects.

Timmy84 said:

Gunsnhalen said:

Yeah they said it was a rush effort after the HUGE success of the last 2. It isn't a great album but i dig a few tracks.

Yeah they were still touring when they put the album out.

What is with people saying overexposure killed them?

Surely they could not have been exposed more than Price, Bruce, Madonna, Lionel Richie, Huey Lewis or any of those huge around the time.

Rihanna is overexposed as fuck but she still sales

Gunsnhalen said:

Timmy84 said:

• Marvin - You're the Man
• Stevie - He's Misstra Know It All
• The Young Rascals - People Got to Be Free
• Ike & Tina - Workin' Together
• Janet - Livin' in a World We Didn't Make
• Public Enemy - Welcome to the Terrordome
• Diana - Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)
• Elvis - If I Can Dream
• JB - I Don't Want Nobody to Give Me Nothing (Open Up the Door I'll Get It Myself)
• Parliament - Chocolate City
• Prince - Sign O' the Times
• 2Pac - Brenda's Got a Baby
• Kool G. Rap - Riker's Island
• Scarface & Ice Cube - The Hand of the Dead Body
• Billy Paul - Am I Black Enough For Ya?
• Funkadelic - March to the Witch's Castle
• Outkast - Toilet Tisha
• MJ - They Don't Really Care About Us
• Chi-Lites - For God's Sakes, Give More Power to the People
• The O'Jays - Give the People What They Want
• En Vogue - Free Your Mind
• The Wailers - 400 Years
• Lauryn Hill - Rebel
• CCR - Fortunate Son
• The Impressions - We're a Winner
• The Supremes - Love Child
• Martha and the Vandellas - I Should Be Proud
• The Temptations - Ball of Confusion
• Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - Wake Up Everybody
• Gil Scott Heron & Brian Jackson - The Bottle
• Edwin Starr - War
• MC Lyte - Poor Georgie

Ahhh shit! good catch Timmy. Chocolate city would Probably be in my top 100. Marvin You're The MAN would be a top 100 as well. 2pac i was thinking of putting Changes or Brendas got a baby... but both are great.

I almost typed Trapped (jail, anti-oppression) or Keep Your Head Up (empowerment) for 2Pac's. Like I said I wasn't gonna list every song they did that had a political/social message. Same with MJ.

I forgot to mention Willie Hutch's "Brother's Gonna Work It Out" (empowerment).

Gunsnhalen said:

Timmy84 said:

Yeah they were still touring when they put the album out.

What is with people saying overexposure killed them?

Surely they could not have been exposed more than Price, Bruce, Madonna, Lionel Richie, Huey Lewis or any of those huge around the time.

Rihanna is overexposed as fuck but she still sales

I didn't say overexposure. I said they were spent. Some artists couldn't handle releasing all those albums and they had to work too. Culture Club weren't built like that.

Timmy84 said:

Gunsnhalen said:

What is with people saying overexposure killed them?

Surely they could not have been exposed more than Price, Bruce, Madonna, Lionel Richie, Huey Lewis or any of those huge around the time.

Rihanna is overexposed as fuck but she still sales

I didn't say overexposure. I said they were spent. Some artists couldn't handle releasing all those albums and they had to work too. Culture Club weren't built like that.

oh no, not u boo boo i mean like MTV & the band themselves said that on there BTM

Gunsnhalen said:

Timmy84 said:

I didn't say overexposure. I said they were spent. Some artists couldn't handle releasing all those albums and they had to work too. Culture Club weren't built like that.

oh no, not u boo boo i mean like MTV & the band themselves said that on there BTM

Oh. I guess the band just didn't wanna do an album at that point. I think the songs off Colour By Numbers were still fresh when they put out the third album so they didn't really put pressure on promoting it.

oh!

Also wanna add

Megadeth- Holy Wars(The Punishment Due)

Pete Seeger- Where Have All The Flowers Gone

Sinead ''O'' Conner- Black Boys On Mopeds

Tom Robinson- Glad To Be Gay

[Edited 4/29/12 23:22pm]

Carl Bean - I Was Born This Way (empowerment)

Madonna - Express Yourself (empowerment)

Phil Collins - Another Day in Paradise (homelessness)

Billie Holiday - Strange Fruit (anti-oppression)

Lyn Collins - Think (About It) (empowerment)

Tina Turner - Steel Claw (anti-authority, politicians)

The Isley Brothers - Fight the Power (anti-authority, empowerment)

Timmy84 said:

Carl Bean - I Was Born This Way (empowerment)

Madonna - Express Yourself (empowerment)

Phil Collins - Another Day in Paradise (homelessness)

Billie Holiday - Strange Fruit (anti-oppression)

Lyn Collins - Think (About It) (empowerment)

Tina Turner - Steel Claw (anti-authority, politicians)

The Isley Brothers - Fight the Power (anti-authority, empowerment)

You are on a role

Steel Claw is my 2nd fav Tina song:P love it! her voice on that is not to be fucked with

Another Day In Paradise was the last number 1 of the 80's i believe?, i heard that song was played like crazy on MTV back in the day