Top Ten Protest/Political Pop Culture Songs

Politics. It's not all about elections and debates. It's about social movement. It's about activism. Some of the greatest politically minded people in history were not politicians or Judges. They have been the artist, the poet, and the musician. So in honor of the political musician, here is a list of my Ten Best Protest/Political Pop Culture Songs.

10) "99 Luft Baloons" by Nena 1983 - The English version of this song is entitled "99 Red Balloons". This female led German group had a number one hit in the early eighties about an accidental Nuclear War between the Soviet Union and the United States. With heavy synthesizers and a catchy beat, the lyrics dictate a somber message painfully realized at the end of the song.

9) "Say it Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud)" by James Brown 1968 - Even though he has permanently left the stage, he will always be known as "The Hardest Working Man in Showbusiness" During the racial turmoil of the sixties, Brown came up with this theme that has empowered Black Americans for decades. "Say it Loud" dictates the need for respect and black self reliance. Brown was not only an icon in music, he was also a Civil Right's Pioneer.

8) "One Tin Soldier" by Coven 1971- This song was originally written in 1969 by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter. However, the Coven version of this song is commonly referred to as the theme song to the seventies cult movie classic "The Legend of Billy Jack". "One Tin Soldier" has a strong message opposing war and preaches the need for peace. References to religion and materialism are brought in as contributing factors to the causes of war. The meaning of the one tin soldier is the person that goes against mind control and other vices to do what is right.

7) "Fortunate Son" by Creedance Clearwater Revival 1969 - The anger and frustration in John Fogarty's voice and lyrics are very clear in this classic rock radio staple. He wrote this song as a protest against the Vietnam War and how wealthy and politically connected young men got out of serving in combat. Unfortunately, this song rings true today as the poor and the middle class are fighting in the Iraq War. Whereas many of the wealthy (Big Business) and politicians who support this war don't have family fighting overseas.

6) "Strange Fruit" by Billie Holliday 1939 - The song's lyrics were based on a poem by a Jewish poet named Abel Meeropol, who went by the penname of Lewis Allen. He was inspired to write the poem as a result of viewing a brutal photograph of a lynching of two black men in Marion, Indiana in 1930. Billie Holliday eventually sang the poem and it became her most popular song. The song soon became an anthem against the lynching of Americans of African descent in the following decades. "Southern trees bear strange fruit, Blood on the leaves and blood at the root, Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze, Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees." When these lyrics are heard with Holliday's heartfelt and stirring voice, the words chill you to the bone.

5) "Ohio" by Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young 1970 - This song is a sad account of the 1970 Kent State University shootings. It was released weeks after the infamous massacre by National Guard troops of college students at an Vietnam War protest. The guitar work and the opening line of "Tin Soldiers and Nixon Coming, we're finally on our own" put this song in a sharp attack mode. This song probably best defined the antagonistic feeling of many against the Vietnam War.

4) "What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye 1971 - A decade before he did his "Sexual Healing," Marvin Gaye approached Motown founder Barry Gordy about doing an album of political songs. Gordy thought his star singer was insane. Gaye may have indeed been a little crazy but they say genius is closely akin to insanity and what resulted was one if his biggest hits of his career. Gaye's soulful singing gave "What's Going On" a somber feeling that perfectly depicted the country's division over the Vietnam War, racism and inner city struggle.

3) "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" by Marvin Gaye 1971 - Marvin Gaye is the only artist to make it twice on this list with a song that politically was before it's time. "Birds dying, fish full of mercury, oil on the seas," this is all rhetoric of present day environmental activists regarding "Global Warming" and excess pollution. However, the Motown legend was singing about it in his usual souflul manner long before it became a major political issue.

2) "Eve of Destruction" by Barry McGuire 1965 - His voice sounded like he was on week long binge of cigarettes and stale coffee. However, McGuire had a number one hit with this powerful song warning of the end of days. Written by P.F. Sloan, decades later we still have turmoil in the Mideast, problems with Red China, Civil Rights issues and frustration with the political system. The song gives off a doomsdays aura and the desperation in McGuire's voice resonates with every word of this song.

1) "Give Peace A Chance" by the Plastic Ono Band 1969 - John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono protested the Vietnam War in various ways. Their 1969 press conference in bed in for Peace made international news but it is perhaps this cheesy song with a simplistic chorus that best exemplified their quest out for world peace. This song is so basic and uncomplicated a fourth grade class could have written and recorded it. This song didn't even crack the top ten singles chart in the United States when it was released. However, a number one song is not always an indicator of how big an impact a song can have. This song is the most popular song at anti-war protests across the globe thus making it the greatest Protest/Political Song of all time. Sometimes, all it takes is a simple catchy phrase that can spark a social revolution.