• AOL
  • MAIL
    • You might also like: 
    • Music | 
    • Movies | 
    • TV | 
    • Celebrity
    •  and More
    • Main
    • News
    • Features
      • The Hit List
      • Spinner Interview
      • Potent Quotables
      • Guest Blogger
    • Songs
      • MP3 of the Day
      • Listening Party
      • What's That Song?
    • Videos
      • The Interface
      • Sessions
      • Video of the Day
    • Our Widgets
      • iPhone App
      • Radio Toolbar
    • Send Feedback

    Spinner Exclusives

    • The Interface - Live Performances
    • Listening Parties - New CDS for Free
    • Spinner Radio
    • Listening Parties - New CDS for Free

    Features

    • Bad Song, Good Band
    • Bands With Brothers
    • Banned Bands
    • Outrageous Tribute Bands
    • Sad Songs
    • Worst Lyrics Ever

    All Categories

    • Spinner Says(7)
    • All About Jazz(26)
    • Clash of the Cover Art(1)
    • Lyrics(4)
    • Music A-Z(24)
    • New Releases(53)
    • Quizzes & Trivia(2)
    • Album(110)
    • Around the World(147)
    • Book Club(57)
    • Canada(318)
    • Celebrity Doppelganger(13)
    • Clash of the Cover Songs(45)
    • Coming Out Stories(20)
    • Concerts and Tours(1666)
    • Count Five(63)
    • Country(45)
    • Electronic(274)
    • Exclusive(2432)
    • Free MP3 Download of the Day(898)
    • Grammy Awards(87)
    • Guest Blogger(61)
    • Holy Hell(644)
    • I Fought the Law(31)
    • I Freakin' Love This Song(238)
    • Jazz(16)
    • Laugh, Rage, Cry(6)
    • Movies(163)
    • Music Appreciation(50)
    • New Music(304)
    • News(4713)
    • Politics as Usual(19)
    • Pop Culture(40)
    • Potent Quotables(613)
    • R.I.P.(184)
    • Road Report(17)
    • Rock Almanac(366)
    • Rock Hall(29)
    • RPM(25)
    • Schwag Hag(37)
    • Songs(201)
    • Spinner Interview(110)
    • Television(94)
    • The Chum Bucket(606)
    • The Crap Stack(17)
    • The Hit List(1128)
    • Total Dick Move(2)
    • Twisted Tales(125)
    • UK(512)
    • Video(923)
    • Video of the Day(707)
    • Wacked News(190)
    • What's That Song?(79)

    20 Protest Songs That Matter: No. 2

    • Posted   by Spinner Staff
    • Comments (13)
    Print |  Email More

    'Fight the Power'
    --Public Enemy (1989)

    Rebelling Against: Racism!

    The song that traced all that's wrong with America to... stamp collecting? ("Most of my heroes don't appear on no stamp!") PE's most famous joint -- the key audio component of Spike Lee's anatomy-of-a-riot film 'Do the Right Thing' -- has since become an all-purpose anthem of opposition.
    Previous Next

    Listen to 'Fight the Power'

    Buy it on iTunes
    • Filed under: The Hit List
    • Share & Bookmark :
      Print |  Email More

    Reader Comments(1 of 1)

    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    thomasat 2-26-2008

    WHERE THE FUCK IS ANTI-FLAG! OR BAD RELIGION there are litterally like only two anti flag songs that ARENT protest songs? also Leftover Crack's "Nazi white trash" and "gay rude boys unite" would have been great but their a little extream for most kinda makes RAGE look childish and thats saying alot!

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Robat 7-15-2007

    I also see flaws in the list, but, in defense of rap music, let me just say that if some of you were to focus more on what some of these rappers are saying,rather than what they look like, you might find that there is a message in there.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    jreesersat 7-15-2007

    Terrible list-except for the Phil Ochs song. What about the following:
    Where Have All the Flowers Gone-Kingston Trio (written by Pete Seeger)
    Sky Pilot-Animals
    I Feel-Like-I'm Fixin'to Die Rag-Country Joe & the Fish
    Positively 4th street-Bob Dylan
    Blowin' In the Wind-Peter, Paul & Mary (written by Bob Dylan as was the next one)
    Tutn Turn Turn-Byrds
    Fortunate Son-CCR
    Who'll Stop the Rain-CCR
    Get Together-Youngbloods
    San Francisco-Scott McKenzie

    You definitely did not do justice to the 60's.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportHigh Ranked

    Bill and Patat 7-15-2007

    At least this song has substance and meaning unlike today's rap that is all about three things: Money, Drugs, and P***y. And Flavor Flav needs to hang it up at 48 instead of acting like a horny schoolkid.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Ritaat 7-15-2007

    again bob dylan should have made the list. he wrote many songs on racism.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    twandererat 7-15-2007

    How can you have a rebelion song that doesnt have "killing in the name of" OR anthing else by Rage Agaisnt The Machine!!

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Dandy Highwaymanat 7-15-2007

    Well twanderer & jreesers, because...... "California, Uber Allais!"

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Dandy Highwaymanat 7-15-2007

    Here, in case your panties wadded up too tight. "Uber Alles"

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    NNihipali00at 8-18-2007

    The entire album "It takes a Nation of Millions to hold us back" is filled with Protest songs.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    marleymagicat 9-30-2007

    PE is perfect for the list. no matter how much flav sold out.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Aidanat 12-10-2007

    Dandy Highwayman: Well twanderer & jreesers, because...... "California, Uber Allais!"
    What does this even mean? California Uber Alles is a great song, so what? You think being a punk fanboy makes you better than everyone else? As DK said, NAZI PUNKS F*** OFF!!

    RATM should definitely be here. Name a song and it should be on the list. Here are a few examples:
    Voice of the Voiceless
    Know Your Enemy
    Maria
    Wake Up
    Sleep Now In The Fire

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    jwiggat 12-12-2007

    Lame list. How about Once I Was???

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Johnny LaRueat 12-12-2007

    Its NOT a protest song because its not a SONG. It is mere yelling and chanting. Public Enemy is a joke, not 911. This "joint" doth SUCK.

    Reply

    Add your comments

    • New Users
    • Returning Users
    • AOL/AIM Screenname

    If you are posting a comment for the first time, please enter your name and email address in the fields above. Your name will be displayed with your comment. Your email address will never be displayed.

    Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Off-topic, promotional or otherwise inappropriateinappropriate comments will be removed.

    When you enter your name and email address for the first time, you'll be sent a link to confirm your comment, as well as a password. To leave another comment, just use that password.

    Follow US

    Facebook
    Twitter
    RSS
    • Contact Us
    • Send News Tips
    • Advertise with Us

    Shop Now

    Listen to Full CDs

    • Hot Chip, 'One Life Stand'
    • Sade, 'Soldier of Love'Massive Attack, 'Heligoland'
    • Return of the Wu & Friends
    • Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds
    • All Spinner Full CDs

    Relevant Posts

    • The Grammy Awards' Biggest Mistakes (14 days ago - 16 Comments)
    • Rock Hall May Change Rules to Induct Bigger Names in 2011 (35 days ago - 15 Comments)
    • Public Enemy Hit Hard Times With New Album (55 days ago - 1 Comment)
    • 'All Access' Project Lets Students Film Concert Documentary (55 days ago - 1 Comment)

    Billboard

    • 1: Break, Three Days Grace
    • 2: Uprising, Muse
    • 3: Your Decision, Alice In Chains
    • 4: If You Only Knew, Shinedown
    • 5: (If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To, Weezer
    • See All Top 100 Rock Albums at

    Hottest Artists on Tour: Lady GaGa, Taylor Swift, Pink, Black Eyed Peas, Kid Cudi,

    Also on AOL

    Quick Links

    • Celebrity Tattoos
    • Celebrities Without Makeup
    • Slipknot Masks
    • Christmas Music
    • 50s Music
    • 60s Music
    • 90s Music
    • 70s Music
    • 80s Music
    • Best Songs Of 2008
    • Horrorcore
    • Michael Jackson Songs

    Also on AOL Music

    • Concert Tickets
    • Country Music
    • Grammys
    • Hip Hop Music
    • Lyrics
    • Metal Music
    • Music News
    • Music Videos
    • New Music Releases
    • Online Radio
    • PopEater

    Blogs on AOL

    • Autoblog
    • Be Red
    • BloggingStocks
    • Cinematical
    • DownloadSquad
    • Engadget
    • Fanhouse
    • Joystiq
    • StyleList
    • TMZ

    More on AOL

    • African-American Culture
    • AOL Video
    • Breaking News
    • CityGuide
    • Food
    • Love
    • Media Player
    • Musica Latina
    • Pixcetera
    • Singles
    • Wallet Pop

    More on AOL

    • Television
    • Movies
    • Money
    • Mapquest
    • Horoscopes
    • Health
    • AOL Latino
    • Games
    • SHOUTcast

    Help Links

    • Advertise With Us
    • Mail
    • Notify AOL
    • Privacy Policy
    • Search
    • Terms of Service
    • Trademarks
    • Follow Spinner on Twitter
    • The Interface
    • Free Mp3
    • Full CDs
    • RSS
    • Terms of Use

    Spinner.com © 2009 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.