Best protest songs: No. 20, “Volunteers” - Jefferson Airplane
By Jim
Sunday, October 12th, 2008 at 11:05 pm in Jefferson Airplane, Top 25 Protest Songs of All Time, Volunteers.
In honor of this election year, I am looking back at the 25 greatest protest songs of all time. I’m starting with No. 25 and working my way up. Note: Each artist was only eligible to have one song make the list. To read past entries on this list, click here.
20, “Volunteers,” Jefferson Airplane (1969)
The Bay Area was the epicenter for so many different political and social movements in the late ‘60s. It was also, somewhat arguably, the focal point of the musical universe during that period. Those two factors combined, with striking results, on the title track to the Airplane’s sixth album. The storyline was fairly simple, detailing a changing of the guard between generations, but it was told with complete and absolute conviction.
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October 13th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Jim, I tried to follow the links from your story, but one doesn’t work and one dumps you into a page with no link to the 25 top protest songs. Ain’t tech great?
There are so many songs you left out - and it’s always hard to get to 25, but i think there are better choices for many of your slots. Here are a few - 10 minutes of thinking:
Masters of War is great, and belongs, but so is Only A Pawn In Their Game - and more subtle and intellectually challenging to boot.
You Can’t Be Too Strong - Graham Parker takes on abortion - with an unexpected PoV.
I Ain’t Marching Any More - Phil Ochs with the qunitessential personal antiwar song of his time.
They Dance Alone - Sting vs Pinochet
Lives in the Balance - no Jackson Browne? shame
And what about Bruuuce? Last to Die For a Mistake, Streets of Philadelphia
Killing of Georgie - Rod Stewart - not so hot, but got a lot of airplay on what then was not an easy position
Needle and The Damage Done - a tough message to hear - although I can’t fault Ohio, simpleminded as it was
The Way It Is - Bruce Hornsby
Political Science - Randy Newman
That’s enough- we could go on. Thanks for stimulating the conversation!