Just saw this on the Folk-DJ mailing list i’m on. I’ll write more about ‘unpopular music’ protest songs that are available on the web soon, but this is interesting none-the-less.
Protest Songs Finally Get Airplay
By: Randy Dotinga – [San Diego] North County Times
Wednesday, August 4, 2004
More than three decades ago, artists such as Joan Baez,
Edwin Starr and Crosby Stills Nash & Young took on the
Vietnam War in their music. Many of their songs remain
staples of classic rock today, even if their meanings
are lost to new listeners who don’t realize that
Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Who’ll Stop the Rain”
is about long lists of dead soldiers or that Buffalo
Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth” celebrates dissent.
Now the country is at war again, and the nation turns
its lonely eyes to musicians, who have responded with
—- well, not a whole lot. If you hear a song about
the conflict on the radio these days, chances are good
that you’re listening to a stirring patriotic tribute
on a country music station.
More here