4 | Songs YOU Can’t Ignore

''I carelessly picked the first subject on the list...Anarchy. But little did I know at the time that it would lead me down a path to punk rock music that would shift my teenage world''

This week Joi from The Radio Room adds her favourite political songs to our playlist ! You already know her, but in case you don’t - Joi (pronounced as Jo-Ee) is a video collage artist, music curator and DIY Radio Show Producer.

Joi has worked in various mediums and her artwork has been displayed in various locations such as the Joslyn Museum, The Kaneko, Chicago’s Union Station, Millwork Commons and the Cadillac Theatre. Check out the video collage that’s on public display on her YouTube channel.

All of Joi’s art is inspired by song lyrics, so it’s no surprise to many that she has a radio show. Her DIY radio show, Electric Radio Club began in 2021 where Joi combines her love of music curation and deep thinking to create motivational mixtapes. You can listen to her indie/alternative-based radio show, Electric Radio Club on Mixcloud.

Electric Radio Club also airs on the free-form station ElectroMagnetic Radio on Friday mornings at 10 am CST.

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Joi:

Sex Pistols - Anarchy in the UK

I guess I have to start where my journey with political music began in High school AP Euro History class circa 2000.The only reason I liked school was to be with my friends. I didn’t care to sit in a class all day. As I doodled on my desk in history class, my teacher told us about our next presentation project and that we could pick whichever subject we wanted from a list. He passed around a list of subjects that were in alphabetical order for the class to choose from. By the time the sheet got handed to me, I carelessly picked the first subject on the list.......Anarchy. But little did I know at the time that it would lead me down a path to punk rock music that would shift my teenage world.

My teacher even let me play the Sex Pistols during my presentation on anarchy.

Thank you, Mr. Clark. You’ll go down in history for being one cool teacher.

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The Fugees - (tracks four and five) Zealots and The Beast

“Another MC loses life tonight, Lord, I beg that you not pray to Jesus Christ, Oh Lord, father don’t let him bury me”

Like many others in the 90s, I fell for The Fugees cover of Roberta Flack’s Killing Me Softly. A time of Parental Advisory stickers on CDs and to my surprise, my parents allowed me to purchase the album, The Score. I am not a rap music connoisseur but I think the album The Score is ahead of its time. It’s like a more prestige art school version of Public Enemy’s Fight The Power or N.W.A’s Fuck the Police.

I was a pre-teen living in the suburbs and The Fugees brought me into their world and it woke me up. The songs Zealots and The Beast effortlessly blend together like one song.

The opening lyrics of the song Zealots sum up what both songs are about, “Another MC loses life tonight, Lord, I beg that you not pray to Jesus Christ, Oh Lord, father don’t let him bury me”.

As an old soul, I was instantly attracted to the song Zealots that samples the iconic romance song by The Flamingos’ I Only Have Eyes for You. At the end of the Zealots track, there’s a lot of yelling and arguing with suspenseful music. I remember feeling very concerned when listening for the first time and had never heard something like that on a record before

Then it transitions into the track, The Beast, which has a playfulness to the melody but the lyrics are based around police violence. This entire album is so political and smart with strategically sampled songs and in my opinion, ahead of the time.

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Ani DiFranco - Adam & Eve

“I just happen to like apples and I’m not afraid of snakes.”

As a teenager, I was more drawn to heavier styles of music. Sure I love slow songs but at the time I wasn’t interested in anything acoustic sounding….until I heard Ani DiFranco. Discovered through a friend, Ani’s lyrics are like miniature poetry slams paired with insanely intricate acoustic guitar playing. Why she is not on a list for one of the best guitar players of our time is beyond me!

She’s folk but in a punk way. The ultimate DIY artist. As a woman, I’m an advocate for women’s equality. This track Adam & Eve feels like a never-ending blame towards women. Not all of her songs are political, but she weaves political advocacy when she tours.

I saw her on tour back in the early 2000s where she performed at specific towns to help encourage voting for the upcoming presidential election.

She’s a force with that acoustic guitar.

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Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Let The Day Begin (original by The Call)

“Here’s to the teachers in the crowded rooms
Here’s to the workers in the fields
Here’s to the preachers of the sacred word
Here’s to the drivers at the wheel”

Sometimes you just need an upbeat song to get you through certain political times and to me, Let the Day Begin is a song of hope.

When I was little, I remember the original music video by the band, The Call, in the late eighties. The reason I remember it was because there were video clips of everyday people.

The band, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, (which I’m a huge fan of) covered this song and their version reminded me about how great the lyrics are.

It’s a timeless song that still resonates today.

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Die Spitz in concert : (current song I love - Throw Yourself on the Sword)

Die Spitz at The Waiting Room, Omaha, NE, 2023, photo by Joi

From Loretta Lynn to Janet Jackson to Sinead O’Connor to Fiona Apple to the Riot Grrrl bands, I have a lengthy list of female musicians across all genres who have written some iconic political songs. I was in search for a new badass group or musician with a give-no-fucks attitude and then I found Die Spitz.

In 2023, I went to see the band Amyl & The Sniffers at one of the smaller music venues in town with the band, Die Spitz as the opening act. There were signs placed everywhere throughout the venue that read:

We do not tolerate Sexual Harassment.

I immediately thought, Oh hell yeah! But also sad that we need signs for this shit?! Die Spitz, a quartet of young twenty somethings from Austin, TX took the stage. The bass player reminded me of Natalie Portman in the movie, The Professional. But the sound that came out of the speakers was nothing short of heavy metal goodness.

Lead singer, Eleanor Livingston, jumped off the stage and made her way through the crowd and climbed on the ledge of the sound board and stood high over the audience like Iggy Pop in that iconic photo carried by the crowd.

She made her way back to the stage through the crowd but something happened.

She climbed back on stage yelling through the mic - “Don’t touch me you motherfucker!” calling and pointing out the offensive audience member who grabbed her. “You!”

And the guy ran out of the club! This band takes no shit and I’m all in for the ride.

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Sintija :

Bad Nerves - Palace & Loner

‘‘A '70's punk with 21st century blues
It's another night in London
A lonely, rich white man, he owns the news
It's another night in London

Why does the Queen get a fucking palace but not me?!’’

Power pop/punk melodies infused with political messages: this song doesn’t need any explanation. If I had to rank a Bad Nerves song in a top three, “Palace” would take the No. 2 spot, while “Dreaming” would be No. 1. What I love about this band is that their music sounds effortless, free, and laidback like The Ramones. I hate using this comparison because everyone says that about Bad Nerves, but it’s true. The lyrics are clever and in some songs more poetic [which is rare for modern punk], and there’s a great balance between a polished and roughened-up sound. I think Bad Nerves is the best modern punk band currently. No other band competes.

This band means a lot to me, and I truly think that this song and actually all of their songs could be included in this playlist. Their newest release “Loner,” warns: “Watch out. They’ll turn your brain to worm food. The daily dose of deadly violence. Ultra mind control.”

All of their songs are political, and that’s why they are special. Bad Nerves create music that goes beyond mere entertainment.

Check out this interview with frontman Bobby Nerves :

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Julian Casablancas - Out of the Blue & 11th Dimension

‘‘The rich or the poor oh
Muslims or Jews oh
When roles are reversed oh
Opinions are too’’

The Strokes have many political songs like ‘‘Oblivious’’, ‘‘Threat of Joy’’ [music video gives it away pretty much], ‘‘New York City Cops’’, ‘‘The End Has No End’’ and many more which I have discussed in the previous post:

Please Stop & Think : Underrated Political Songs by Julian Casablancas

However, I really think that Casablancas’ solo music is underrated. This is the music where he truly delivers strong political messages and uses music as more than just entertainment or art. He truly is a protest musicians especially now with his work in The Voids. However, going back to this week’s selections ‘‘Out of the Blue’’ and ‘‘11th Dimension’’ these songs truly showcase Casablancas’ artistry and attitude, which were much more restrained in The Strokes [at least I think so]. I love the performance below: hidden gem.

‘‘Where cities come together to hate each other in the name of sport;
America, nothing is ever just anything’’

(found this via : darelcare.tumblr.com/post/98652205287/julian-casablancas-performing-11th-dimension-on)

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Just like music, reading daily exercises the brain, improves sleep and reduces stress, so why not read some more?! Check this out: