Protest music is something we’re seeing a very welcome resurgence of in recent times; between the fierce racial commentary being delivered by A.B. Original, or the latest political messages cropping up in response to the U.S. elections, political issues are well and truly in the scopes of a lot of artists right now.
There are few more outspoken names in Australian music than Ezekiel Ox, the Superheist, Full Scale and Over-Reactor frontman with a penchant for speaking out on political issues such as racism and police brutality, and a politically-charged EP named Proper Gander just released. Who better, then, to talk political music and protest songs with?
Ezekiel has given us a shortlist of his absolute favourite political songs, from Aussie representatives like A.B. Original and the recently-returned icons Midnight Oil, to classic entries from Rage Against The Machine and Bob Dylan, to get us in the fighting spirit as we wade deeper into 2017.
If these protest tunes have you fired up to release some anger, you can catch Ezekiel Ox playing his Proper Gander EP in full in Sydney on Friday March 24 and in Melbourne on Saturday April 1, and pick up Proper Gander here.
Ezekiel Ox gets political at Northcote Social Club in 2016
‘Get Up Stand Up’ – The Wailers
Key lyric: “Don’t give up the fight”
When I listen to this track, it washes over me with a mellow, joyous musical energy. It deals with the mightiest of ideas: that we must forget the afterlife and never stop fighting for a better world here and now. Such a great sing along chorus, and a good chant for rallies too. Spark one up as you listen, blow the smoke in the system’s face!
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‘Anarchy OK’ – Cog
Key lyric: “I’ve got five hundred bucks, outta here, executing anarchy”
A band that have always been more in the conspiracy theory camp, Cog’s vision for a world without rulers reaches it peak on this track from their masterpiece The New Normal. The character in the song is ducking and weaving through the park, planning to leave it all behind, whilst the workers have their money stolen by ‘someone’. It’s a broad brush they paint with, but the political picture is rich and full.
‘Power And The Passion’ – Midnight Oil
Key lyric: “Sometimes you’ve got to take the hardest line”
The Oils are back, and I’m sure this one will be in set list. A clear lyrical influence on the Cog boys, this track once again sketches as opposed to explains. Something’s not right, and the time has come to stand up without compromise. It references to Whitlam’s dismissal, it’s clear that the answer lies outside party politics. One has to wonder, what will be running through Peter Garrett’s head as he sings this one again?
‘Take The Power Back’ – Rage Against The Machine
Key Lyric: “Gotta get it together man/Like a motherfucking Weatherman”
This track is literally a call to arms, slamming the “eurocentric” school system and demanding the listener fights back now. The musicality that RATM brought to protest music, the muscular, driving and funky combination was really important. Rage sound like the very point you fight back, when you march, when you win, but they also sprinkle it with real history and education, which is helpful.
‘Master Of War’ – Bob Dylan
Key lyric: “I’ll stand o’er your grave till I’m sure that you’re dead”
This track is brutal in the most folky way. A young Dylan speaks directly from the head and the heart to the “Masters” who build the bombs and guns, then lie and cheat their way through life, sending the poor off to die. It closes with Dylan wishing their death. About as radical as Dylan ever got, I often cover this one.
‘Report To The Mist’ – A.B Original
Key lyric: “Fuck the police is the least I’m gonna say”
When Trials and Briggs dropped their debut album Reclaim Australia last year it was a real breath of fresh air. It was urban, tough, unapologetic and musically brilliant. This is the stand out track for me, with it’s chin-jutting, fuck you attitude and articulate angry attacks on the Australian police forces, this song is the down-under version of NWA’s ‘Fuck The Police’.
‘War’ – Edwin Starr
Key Lyric: “War can’t give life, it can only take it away!”
I’ve always loved this jam for it’s simple, up front and no bullshit approach to the topic. In a world where political actors and opportunists will say “It’s complicated” or “It’s difficult to understand” when trying to justify another illegal invasion and occupation, Edwin Starr simply says all that needs to be said, war is good for nothing! Awesome funk to it as well, with an important tambourine line for added dancibility.
‘No Lives Matter’ – Body Count
Key lyric: “Don’t fall for the bait and switch, racism is real, but not it”
This crushing track floored me when it came out the other day. It begins with Ice-T in spoken word mode, is one of the strongest songs against identity politics I have ever heard. T and his band of headbangers lay down the law, invoking working class consciousness and demanding that we put our differences behind us to fight the ruling class, not each other. This song is as dangerous to the system as it gets.
‘The Majority’ – Mammal
Key Lyric: “They wanna cool you down/put some ice on your anger”
When I wrote the lyrics to this song, I wanted to be able to put the words faggot, nigger and bitch in context. It was not that well received by certain members of the band. This song makes the same point as Body Count’s ‘No Live Matter’, that together we form a big enough group that they can’t fuck with us. It’s also got some great riffage and beats courtesy of my Mammal band mates. I managed to get it played on triple j too, so there’s a win!
‘Strength Beyond Strength’ – Pantera
Key lyric: “The president in submission holds out his hand on the television and draws back a stump”
This track being included on my list may surprise many, but the opening track from Pantera’s explosive Billboard #1 charting album is an anarchist’s dream. The violence of the music acting as a threat, and Anselmo growling about legalising weed on America’s “pristine streets”, it reeks of those taking what they are rightfully owed and refusing to sit back and cop it.
Ezekiel Ox live dates
Friday 24 March – Factory Floor, Sydney NSW
Tickets
Saturday 1 April – The Evelyn Hotel, Melbourne VIC
Tickets
