This holds true whether the song comes from artists protesting oppressive governments in South Africa (1965’s “Beware, Verwoerd” by Miriam Makeba) or Brazil (1973’s “Calice” by Chico Buarque and Gilberto Gil), Haiti (1992’s “Nanm Nan Boutey” by Boukman Eksperyans) or Egypt (2011’s “Leave” by now-exiled singer Ramy Essam).Īnd it holds equally true for songs that come from artists in San Diego (2007’s “When Did Jesus Become a Republican” by Cindy Lee Berryhill and 2020’s “America” by Rebecca Jade, Erik Canzona and Alfred Howard), or from Los Angeles (2015’s “Alright” by Kendrick Lamar). But songs that are unabashedly political often make the greatest impact.

Woody Guthrie, whose original 1940 version of “This Land is Your Land” decried the social and economic inequities of American life, contended every song could be political, in varying degrees. Holland” examines racism from the perspective of interracial dating by high school students. “Sometimes, you can do more with subtlety,” said the SDSU alum, whose at least partly autobiographical “Mr.

I really like people who do songs that engage with social issues and take them to a different place.” Holland,’ that I think is beautiful and subtle. There’s a new song by (Grammy Award-winning former San Diego singer-songwriter) Gregory Porter called ‘Mr. I like protest songs that are not obvious and not preachy. “Of course, there is a political message - people have been taken from us - that is very moving and really works. It’s just saying: ‘These are lives that have been taken from us. The song is not telling them exactly what to think. “When I first heard ‘Hell You Talmbout,’ I really liked that (it) is a protest song that is not lecturing the listener in a very straightforward way. “It’s an incredible song,” said Byrne, speaking in late July from his New York home. The visceral power of “Hell You Talmbout” inspired Rock & Roll Hall of Famer David Byrne, the co-founder of the band Talking Heads, to perform Monáe’s song as the encore at each concert on his 2018 “American Utopia” concert tour, which last year was transformed into a hit Broadway production, “David Byrne’s American Utopia.”

Kill me heal me soundtrack list