Songs of Protest: More Songs Emerge After Donald Trump's Election, But Who Cares

Ever since Donald Trump submitted his candidature to run for the President of America, he has been protested by many all over the America. Now that he has taken over as the new president, the protests have turned fierce and, interestingly, quite melodious in some cases --through songs of protest.

According to The Globe and Mail, these protests not only include campaigns like the "Women's March," which took place in Washington D.C. on the Inauguration Day of the new president but also feature songs of protest against his reign. Lily Allen, the pop star from Britain, released a song "I'm So Tired of America" as a cover for Rufus Wainwright's "Going to a Town," protesting Donald Trump's election. It also comprises of black and white video footage from the Women's March in London. Similarly, the Canadian singer-cum-lyricist David Clayton Thomas posted his new creation "Ode to the Donald" on YouTube. Apart from this, the left-wing supporter musician Billy Bragg has also released an anti-Trump version of Bob Dylan's protest song "The Times They Are A-Changin".

The question, though, remains whether or not these protest songs are being listened to. Many think that the impact of these songs are not as great as their creators want it to be. Ranging from the Canadian rock band Arcade Fire's latest offering "I Give You Power," featuring vocals from civil-rights supporter singer Mavis Staples to Fiona Apple's Anti-Trump song "Tiny Hands", and from Moby's "Trump is on your side" sympathizing with the Trump supporters to Joel Plaskett's latest number "Blank Cheque", all speak of the protests against Donald Trump but to no effect.

According to Westword, songs of protest have a long history in the circuit of politics and beyond. The band Creedence Clearwater Revival came out with "Fortunate Son" at the time of the Vietnam War, sung by John Fogerty. Singer Beth Ditto wrote "Standing In The Way of Control" in protest of the same-sex marriage control amendment brought in by President George W. Bush while Pink Floyd came out with "Another Brick in the Wall" that became an anthem when the Berlin Wall came down. Johnny Rotten's sarcastic lyrics framed Sex Pistols' "God Save the Queen" in accordance to Queen Elizabeth's 25^th Anniversary celebrations while the working class was suffering from economic crisis, and Radiohead's "Idiotique," fuelled by the lyrics from Thom Yorke, speaks volumes of his unhappiness regarding climatic change, natural disaster and war.

Apart from the above-mentioned names, many stalwarts from the music industry like U2, Gil Scott-Heron, Bruce Springsteen, Midnight Oil, Rage Against The Machine, and many more came out with various songs of protest from time to time.

Songs of protest have a long lasting relationship with politics, war and other contemporary topics that encircle everyday human lives. Given their impact on people, they can be a powerful instrument of peaceful opposition.

TagsDonald Trump, President-elect, Protest, Song, US President Donal Trump