Do you think there's no good protest music these days? So did I, until I started looking for it. The truth is, it’s always been out there, but it's sometimes just a bit difficult to find. Every month, I search it out, listen to it all, then round up the best of it that relates to that month’s political news. Here’s the round-up for March 2023.
1. LONNIE HOLLEY - OH ME OH MY
On March 11, on the US Capitol, featuring former President Donald Trump, reached the top spot on the iTunes music charts. Not everyone was impressed. “Let the sonsabitches rot in jail for what they tried to do,” sings radical US folk singer , released days earlier. Also condemning the kind of that fuelled the January 6 attack is the , released on March 10. On it, he recounts how he is still suffering night terrors, at the age of 73, from his time at an Alabama juvenile correctional facility that tortured poor, Black children. A fortnight later, Black country singer , which tells the story of John Howard Griffin, a white author who was severely beaten as a “traitor” after he posed as Black to highlight racism.
2. OL SING BLONG PLANTESEN - OL SING BLONG PLANTESEN
On March 21, people felt the legacy of another John Howard when they celebrated Harmony Day. Outside Australia, the day is marked as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. But in 1999, then-Australian Prime Minister , because he didn't like the “Black armband view of history” that looked at Australia's past and current racism. One album that does just that is Ol Sing Blong Plantesen. Released on March 3, it chronicles songs from the South Sea Islander slaves who worked Queensland’s cane fields. Two days after its release, Labor Senator by urging his own government to stop the “national disgrace” of Indigenous deaths in custody. And on March 23, Indigenous Senator as she protested, saying transphobes were not welcome on Aboriginal land.
3. FEVER RAY - RADICAL ROMANTICS
Also from Swedish experimental artist Fever Ray, released on March 10. On its opening track “What They Call Us”, the revered socialist musician asks: “Did you hear what they call us? Did you hear what they said? My plan was flexible. Don't get stuck anywhere.” Asked about it, they said: “. Being brought up as a girl and not having the words for understanding what you are, it’s just something very itchy. And every time you try to break out from that you’re being punished in some way.” On March 21,trans rights protesters were punished heavily for their beliefs when they were assaulted by Christian thugs at a rally for the bigoted One Nation party in Sydney. Two days later, sports governing body from competing in elite female competitions if they have gone through male puberty.
4. JEN CLOHER - I AM THE RIVER, THE RIVER IS ME
On March 3, queer Melbourne-based indie musician Jen Cloher released her new album, which . The video for lead single “Mana Takatapui” features people prominent in queer Maori culture (takatapuitanga), including NZ Greens MP Dr Elizabeth Kerekere, activist Quack Pirihi, drag queen trio The Tiwhas, non-binary model Tangaroa Paul and noted choreographer and dancer Jacob Tamata. Describing the acclaimed record, Cloher said: “A person who identifies as ‘, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender... On a walk with a queer, trans Samoan friend, I told them of my new discovery. I took a deep breath remembering the speaker on my [Maori Dictionary] app and said 'takatapui' aloud for the first time. A sense of belonging ensued, like a question being answered. There was a warmth in my chest, the feeling was pride."
5. VARIOUS ARTISTS - WOMAN, LIFE, FREEDOM
On March 8, unionists in Iran joined oppressed women worldwide in marching for women’s rights on International Women’s Day. To mark the day, electronic about their non-profit compilation album, Woman, Life, Freedom. The record takes its name from the protests that arose over the death last year ofJina Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman arrested by Iran's morality police for not wearing a hijab. “As Iranian women artists, we had a deep desire to contribute to the uprisings by using our platform to raise awareness within the music industry,” they said. “That is what sparked the initial idea for the compilation; to gather and release the music of fellow Iranian women artists. Overall, the characteristic of Apranik Records – our record label that started as a result of this project – is that of power, defiance, ferocity and inspiration of women.”
6. LOS FASTIDIOS - REVOLT
Power, defiance and ferocity were also in full effect throughout March as the French protested attempts to raise France’s retirement age from 62 to 64. The protests came as , which condemns “patriarchy, bigotry and social determinism”. Across the border on March 7, insanely catchy , which is about as fun as protest music gets. Its football terrace chant “Antifa Hooligans Ska” crucifies fascists as . Elsewhere in Europe, — revered for his radical work with electronic-punk genre-blenders Refused — put out an innovative album with a “post-punk dream team” of musicians known as Fake Names. “Kick the scraps off the table,” it seethes. “Give just enough so that we are able to work ourselves to death.”
7. DAWN RAY’D - TO KNOW THE LIGHT
Such lyrics will resonate with impoverished British workers, who struck nationwide on March 15 just before it was revealed that their Prime Minister, of dollars from his non-political work. Days later, British anarchist black metal band Dawn Ray’d released their new album, which blowtorches . “The men who stole our lives cannot be allowed to enjoy their prize,” they froth on “Requital”. “A spiteful pull at a thread of wool will see the shirt now spoiled.” Similar sentiments could be found on the , released on March 10. And as workers worldwide rallied for pay rises in line with inflation, , Workers States & Heartbreaks. “Quit your job, don't give a toss,” he raps on “Quit Your Job”. “Go kick your boss right in the gut.”
8. SLEAFORD MODS - UK GRIM
Such straight talk is the bread-and-butter of , UK Grim, on March 10. “You're all getting mugged by the aristocracy,” they spit on “Right Wing Beast”. “But what’s gone on, what can I see? You’re all getting mugged by the right wing beast.” Their fellow Brits , showed they’d lost none of their fire on their new acoustic album, out on March 10. On “Wake The World” they sing: “So I took a look around to see who’s still listening. Found them swaddled in lies they find so comforting. The electric eye will always tell you so. Don't want the truth around me, no, I don’t want to know. So tell me when, oh, when are we gonna wake the world?” There seemed little chance of that on March 10, when the BBC suspended soccer presenter Gary Lineker for tweeting about refugees.
9. SAINT LEVANT - FROM GAZA, WITH LOVE
One refugee who’d appreciate Lineker’s outspokenness is Palestinian musician Saint Levant, who grew up playing soccer in refugee camps. His new album, From Gaza With Love, released on March 10, , as he admits he quickly falls deeply in love with women. “It’s a bad thing, right? Because you shouldn’t find home in another person,” he said. “But I do find myself doing that because I’m so scattered and I don’t necessarily feel like I have a place to call home.” Addressing another Palestine is US poet , released on March 24, draws the dots between Palestinians and February’s environment-wrecking, health-endangering, chemical-burning train crash in East Palestine, Ohio. “Today the town of East Palestine will know the skies of wartime,” he fumes, “wear the shoes of Palestine, and know the smell of war crimes.”
10. FORMIDABLE VEGETABLE - MICRO BIOME
Trying to stop such was the March 20 , which delivered a “final warning” for humanity. But it was later revealed that an earlier draft of the report urging people to shift to a plant-based diet had been . On March 10, West Australian band Formidable Vegetable released their brilliant new album, pushing the kind of message deleted from the IPCC report. Basically, if you locked mega-selling children’s band The Wiggles in a permaculture allotment and force-fed them macrobiotic food for a month, the resulting record would sound like this. Yet even may need educating. on stage at a Canadian music awards ceremony on March 14, she responded simply: “Get the fuck off, bitch.”
Video:Jen Cloher - Mana Takatāpui (Official Video) -.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Mat Ward has been writing for鶹ӳsince 2009. He also wroteandmakespolitical music.You can stream ordownload, freefor a limited time.
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