Songs protesting the democratic system
By Caroline Ho, Arts Editor
If thereâs one good (or at least slightly-less-terrible) thing about times of political turmoil and mass dissatisfaction, itâs that we at least get a lot of good music out of it. Political crises have inspired a lot of subversive songs by artists voicing their anger at the system. These songs can be interpreted as calls to take to the streets in protest, or as outlets for a listenerâs own sense of outrage.
B.Y.O.B. â System of a Down (2005)
The title is short for âBring Your Own Bombs,â and even though it was written to specifically address the USâs role in the Iraq War, itâs pretty applicable as a song about the majority being misled by the government. The dark, party-like attitude of the music video and the upbeat tempo of the song are interrupted by vocalist Serj Tankianâs frantically-paced demand of âWhy donât presidents fight the war?/Why do they always send the poor?â
System of a Down has also just announced that they have about 15 songs lined up for their new album that will be released in 2017, their first album since 2005, and itâs probably a safe bet that Trump references will make their way in.
Kingdom of Zod â Billy Talent (2014)
At Rock am Ring in Germany this June, Billy Talent introduced âKingdom of Zodâ by dedicating it to the âmost terrifying person on the planetââand that was before he had nuclear power. The Mississauga-based band have said in interviews that this song was written about Rob Ford, but lyrics like âslamming the doors of democracy on those who are not the sameâ are also uncomfortably fitting for Trump. âKingdom of Zodâ is about a corrupt politician embroiled in numerous scandals, yet to the incomprehension of a few skeptical onlookers, the public still lets itself be manipulated by Mayor Zodâs lies. Itâs also a poignant message about the role of the media: Every new scandal thatâs uncovered only thrusts Zod further into the spotlight.
A Gentlemenâs Coup â Rise Against (2011)
Rise Against is known for the straight edge lifestyle and prominent activism of its members, and the bandâs entire Endgame album is about the consequences of political inaction, specifically the irreversible damages of climate change. âA Gentlemenâs Coupâ is the perfect theme song for those Trump supporters who were fed up with the system and saw a radical shift in leadership as the only way to cause actual change in the government. The lyrics describe a movement that seized power to raise a leader from entirely outside the political establishmentâbut society is now subjected to the new leaderâs authoritarian interests. Those who voted for Trump largely because they were angry at big business and corrupt politicians might be pleased that they managed to âseize the throne,â but if they really wanted transformation, perhaps they âshould have burned it to the ground.â
Sleep Now in the Fire â Rage Against The Machine (1999)
No list of angry-at-the-establishment anthems would be complete without at least one Rage Against the Machine song. Itâs hard to pick just one, but âSleep Now in the Fireâ is pretty apt for describing capitalistic greed and the empty promises of freedom-touting America. As Zack de la Rocha sings âThe party blessed me with its future/And I protect it with fire,â itâs only too easy to imagine Trump in this role.
But the most chillingly relatable part of âSleep Now in the Fireâ occurs about a minute into the music video, where there is a quick frame of a man holding a sign that says âDonald J Trump for President 2000.â Over 17 years ago it was an absurd idea, a satirical suggestion of the most extreme limits of democracy. Who would have guessed that rap rock could predict the future so accurately?
