Dem
47
GOP
53
Here is the question we put before readers last week:
M.C. in Drogheda, Ireland, asks: Nineteenth-century Irish patriot Thomas Davis approved of, and acted on, Andrew Fletcher's comment of more than a century earlier: "Give me the making of a people's songs, and I care not who makes its laws."
Who in the USA is writing suitable songs for these times? And what song or songs?
And here are some of the answers we got in response:
J.C. in St. Louis, MO: July 4th being not so far in the past, it might not surprise readers that I was discussing America and music recently, in what turned out to be a fascinating conversation with a couple friends about what song or small collection of songs might capture the hope and despair and identity of the country we love. The proposals ranged from classic anthems to deep-cut ballads, universal sing-alongs to slice-of-life imagist poems.
The suggestions became a five-hour playlist that collectively tells a necessarily incomplete but nonetheless multifarious story of America, from Childish Gambino's searing megahit "This Is America" and the sardonic "Walmart" to Jesse Welles to the simmering "Backlash Blues" by Nina Simone and the timeless "Revolution" by the Beatles; from "Old Man Trump" to "America's Sweetheart" to "Working Class Hero" to "America (You're Freaking Me Out)" and more. There are a hundred songs we should've brought up and didn't think of in the heat of the moment, but I trust the readers of this site will fill in some of the gaps.
G.R. in Carol Stream, IL: Boy howdy, I can't wait to read the answers! Maybe we can make a playlist.
In matters of American music, if you answer Beyoncé, you will always be at least close to right.
However, although the first Trump Catastrophe provoked much great music (for example, The Decemberists' album I'll Be Your Girl), we are only 215 days into the second Trump Catastrophe, and maybe there hasn't been enough time for the good stuff to percolate yet. Maybe Queen B has something up her sleeve. Colin Meloy, a nation turns its lonely ears to you!
R.E.M. in Brooklyn, NY: Randy Rainbow.
M.P. in Ft. Worth, TX: It's funny, because "suitable songs for these times" might be interpreted as American songs that lean into the crass, the callous, the incurious, the narcissistic, and/or obsessive consumerism. We've got a deep bench of songs fueled by those "values."
But if we're talking about songwriters writing, at this moment, about the strife, suffering (and soul) in this nation, I'd go with Jeff Tweedy and Wilco. They aren't traditional protest or folk singers. By no means is their entire catalog political; far from it. But there are any number of powerful intersections. There's the work they did (with Billy Bragg) writing music to unrecorded Woody Guthrie lyrics. There are collaborations with President Obama, Stephen Colbert, and George Saunders, an author whose biting works of fiction explore American absurdity. There's the slew of songs written by Tweedy for Mavis Staples, beginning with the album You Are Not Alone, which won a Grammy for Best Americana Album. There's "All Lives, You Say?" the song written in response to the deadly, white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, with proceeds being directed to the Southern Poverty Law Center. There's the album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, recorded in early 2001, but offering lyrics unnervingly prescient about the attacks to come. Most recently, there's the double album Cruel Country. The title track dives into the paradox of trying to remain hopeful and patriotic: "I love my country / stupid and cruel / Red, white, and blue." Another early track laments: "There is no middle when the other side / Would rather kill than compromise."
R.P. in Salt Lake City, UT: A friend recently shared a short video by Jesse Welles: "The List." We need a John Prine, Tom Lehrer, John Lennon for our times. Jesse's wordsmithing and tunes have some echoes of all three.
A.B. in Lynn, MA: I think Jesse Welles is one of the finest new folk songwriters, and he's been able to tap into a cultural pulse that's been building for some time. I found him during the summer of 2024, first on YouTube and later Instagram. He's known for recording outside in green forests.
Think of him as a mixture of John Prine and Phil Ochs, but still his own man. A protest songwriter for a new generation, maybe. He's very fast with his songs, too.
Here are two examples; I highly recommend him: "Friends" and "War isn't Murder."
A.S. in Black Mountain, NC: Jesse Welles is OUR source for lyrics/music that fight the power. And YouTube provides a way to listen to his music. His songs, challenging and revealing the current situation, are intricate and take serious listening to discern the message. That is what I like about them.
L.S. in Black Mountain, NC: Jesse Welles! The new Bob Dylan.
L.H. in Chicago, IL: I would have to nominate Jill Sobule. Unfortunately, she is no longer writing (present tense) because she tragically died in a house fire just a few months ago.
These two seem especially relevant to the current political climate, and the latter is particularly poignant following her passing, the same way that Jim Croce's "I Got A Name" was following his: "(When They Say We Want Our) America Back" and "(It Was) A Good Life."
C.K. in Haymarket, VA: I love protest music SO MUCH!
Nahko Bear and Medicine for the People had some great stuff around 2016. I have not really listened to their new stuff. Nahko is part Native American, part Black, part Pilipino, and part Puerto Rican, so some of the music is directed to one or more of those minority groups. Some is directed to people trashing the planet. They often recorded songs in acoustic folk-sounding style, and again in metal rock style, and again in rap style. I prefer the acoustic ones, myself. Here are a few really good ones: "Love Letters to God," "Dear Brother," "Aloha Ke Akua" and "Great Spirit."
I also love Rising Appalachia's song "Resilient" and Michael Franti's song "Show Me Your Peace Sign."
I also love songs by Mamuse: "Power of Kindness," "You're not Crazy" and "Soul Sister." Mamuse's music is less protest and more good for the soul.
Also good for the soul is Ziggy Marley's "Love is My Religion"—again, I definitely prefer the acoustic version.
This is a GREAT topic!
D.H. in Tucson, AZ: The artist that best fits from my experience is Carsie Blanton.
I discovered her several years ago. She has an impressive YouTube footprint with "Rich People" and "Ugly Nasty Commie Bitch" being representative. I've been to a couple live shows where Carsie led raucous sing-alongs with "Fight The Power" vibes. She has to be part of the soundtrack for the resistance!
D.E. in Ann Arbor, MI: Here are two. These both actually date from Trump I, but are totally applicable today. They both concern how one should live under a fascist regime: Darden Smith's "Love Will Win The War" and May Erlewine's "Shine On."
J.E.S. in Sedona, AZ: Excellent reader question from M.C. in Drogheda this week, especially for those (few?) of us who are both political wonks and hardcore music geeks. (I've worked as a Federal employee for the American defense industry and as a newspaper music critic at different times in my career, a fairly unique binary, in my experience). The two choices of response for me were pretty instantly clear:
First, Chicago-bred industrial mainstays Ministry. Frontman Alain "Uncle Al" Jourgensen has long noted that he does his very best work when the GOP controls the White House, and he has something specific to react to in his songs. Ministry's Bush Sr.-era album Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs, is one of the most trenchant political takedowns ever, in addition to being one of the most influential industrial albums ever released. Jourgensen (a Cuban-American, for added right-wing annoyance) has also been in top form throughout the Trump era, especially with Ministry's AmeriKKKant (2018) and Hopiumforthemasses (2024). Like Gavin Newsom in recent months, he fully appreciates the power of intelligent mockery of bullies in power, and it's in especially full effect on that most recent album. Recommended sample tracks, all from Hopiumforthemasses: "Aryan Embarrassment," "Goddamn White Trash" and "Cult of Suffering."
Second, New York-based songwriter (and longtime Ramones associate) Jed Davis is an extraordinary tunesmith with decades' worth of splendid releases with a variety of bands and collaborators since the mid-1990s. While he doesn't focus specifically or consistently on political matters, on those occasions he does, he hits the mark with alacrity and precision and humor, and he does it all with fabulous earworm tunes and incredible studio skill. His most recent album, Love Is A Many-Tentacled Thing, contains a scathing take-down of the Lone Star State's right-wing culture, and a 2017 single/video with one of his bands, The Hanslick Rebellion, is a stellar exploration into the ways we feel about our electoral choices and the ways we respond, both when we win, and when we lose. He also does a superb job of documenting/satirizing the artificial generational divides that underpin much political discourse in modern America, and which are often deconstructed to ridiculous degrees in social media-fueled information spaces. Recommended sample tracks: "Put A Little Texas On It" (Jed Davis), "Who'll Apologize for This Disaster Of A Life?" (The Hanslick Rebellion) and "God Bless Us Anyway" (Collider).
As a bonus thought: Before Electoral-Vote.com became my go-to news source soon after your establishment in 2004, I had depended on The Economist for most of my American political news, valuing the perspective and distance that came from a magazine helmed abroad. In similar fashion, while you were looking for American artists in the question, I must commend the U.K.'s Barry Andrews of Shriekback for the most spot-on accurate dismantling of MAGA media culture that I've ever heard in song form, "Baby Floods the Zone" from 2023's Bowlahoola album.
Rock on!
J.P. in Sedro Woolley, WA: Al Jourgensen of Ministry is one of the most influential musicians/producers of the last 50 years. The band's latest album Hopiumforthemasses is a direct attack on Trumpism.
Industrial music is rooted in anti-fascist political and social commentary. Since the 1980's bands like Skinny Puppy, Front Line Assembly, KMFDM and Ministry have aggressively criticized the Republican Christian Nationalists and their cruel, hypocritical agenda.
I saw Ministry perform "Goddamn White Trash" off the new album last year. It was cathartic to stand in a massive, energized crowd and watch Jourgensen visually and lyrically eviscerate Trump and his deluded followers.
Then again, when I listen to songs from the 90's like Marilyn Manson's "Irresponsible Hate Anthem," it's disheartening to feel it's more relevant than ever, and was perhaps even prophetic.
S.E.Z. in New Haven, CT: I just discovered Ben Folds. I have listened to a few of his songs on YouTube, several of which are very touching comments on current U.S. culture and politics. Most of his songs are best categorized as poems set to music:
- "Kristine From The 7th Grade" is about an old friend who has become an internet troll.
- "But Wait, There's More" is about the never-ending Trump Overload.
- "Them That Got" is about how some people do well in a capitalist society, but others do not.
And dozens more songs.
J.H in Parker, AZ: Green Day's "American Idiot" just celebrated its 20th anniversary and it still rings true to me. They've had regular alerts to Christofacism sprinkled into their many albums. If only enough of us had heeded "The Warning" instead on being "Nimrod"(s.) Instead, the country's having a "21st Century Breakdown." What a load of Dookie (which just celebrated its 30th anniversary.)
G.M. in Laurence Harbor, NJ: Public Enemy; their 2020 album had an anti-Trump song, "State of the Union (STFU)."
S.W. in Wimberley, TX: Making the biggest news is none other than Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. His Manchester and Liverpool shows this past May were sold out to massive stadium audiences. The shows in Manchester garnered the major news since they were the first in which Springsteen spoke up but other shows did not see the Boss tamp down. During the introductions to two songs, "Land of Hope and Dreams" and "My City of Ruins," he called out the Trump regime as "corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous." These were major speeches drawing attentive listening audiences. In following shows, he continued to speak out, drawing the ire of Trump in his boutique social media platform. Trump called for an investigation into both Springsteen and Taylor Swift.
A.H. in Newberg, OR: I am a child of the 60's & 70's, an unreconstructed hippie, and a grouchy old curmudgeon. I still carry my draft card (I am 4-A; you have done your time, Uncle Sugar doesn't want you no more)!
In no particular order:
- Crosby Stills Nash & Young: "Ohio"
- Credence Clearwater Revival: "Fortunate Son"
- Bob Dylan: "The Times They Are A-Changin" and "Masters of War"
- Woody Guthrie: "This Land Is Your Land"
- Pete Seeger: "We Shall Overcome" and "Waist Deep In The Big Muddy"
- Barry McGuire: "Eve of Destruction"
- Marvin Gaye: "What's Goin' On"
- Buffy Sainte-Marie: "Universal Soldier"
- Joan Baez: "We Shall Overcome" and "Where Have All the Flowers Gone"
- Bruce Springsteen: "Born In The U.S.A."
- Peter, Paul and Mary: "Blowin' In The Wind" and "If I Had a Hammer"
- Country Joe McDonald: "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag"
I realize that many of the songs were written by other than the singers listed. They are 50-60 years old, but they still send a powerful message to us through the mists of time. I still prefer the must, crust and dust of my youth. I am not a "Swiftie" and I don't know the current music. I will revert back to my old tried and true!
Here is the question for next week:
M.R. in Lowell, MA, asks: I am going to start teaching full time at a university this fall. Any suggestions?
Submit your answers to comments@electoral-vote.com, preferably with subject line "Teaching Assistance"!