Protest tunes bubble up as war's popularity sinks

[babylonsister]

http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2006-05-17-protest-songs_x.htm

By Edna Gundersen, USA TODAY
Initially, music's response to the war in Iraq stirred little more than sounds of silence.

Today, outraged artists are mouthing off in songs that don't stop with appeals for peace, love and understanding.

Let's Impeach the President is one of the incendiary titles on Neil Young's Living with War, a potent set of songs slamming the Bush administration. It opens in Billboard next week at No. 15 after selling 60,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Paul Simon's Surprise, landing one notch ahead with sales of 61,000, includes the tune Wartime Prayers, which observes that "people hungry for the voice of God hear lunatics and liars." It's Simon's highest chart ranking in the SoundScan era. Opening sales for both are considered substantial for veteran acts shunned by radio.

Younger artists also are finding that politics and profits aren't mutually exclusive. Pink's I'm Not Dead, which has sold 327,000 copies since April 4, features an eloquent but scathing indictment, Dear Mr. President.

Pearl Jam's self-titled album, which entered at No. 2, has sold 365,000 copies in two weeks, partly on the strength of World Wide Suicide, a ferocious swipe at leaders who "tell you to pray while the devil's on their shoulder."

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[Faygo Kid]

1. Music is a vital part of the struggle

Neil Young and Paul Simon? Great, but more Pink, and there's plenty of room to get involved, young musicians. I can't be critical, because I have no idea what's up with current music, but there can never be too much music questioning power, and it's crucially important now.

[babylonsister]

2. I agree! Music moves the masses, and could get the younger

generation involved!

[RufusEarl]

3. Anti-music

well i guess it's all alright, but the bottom line is still the bottom line. And perhaps it will open the eyes of some young people, but until young people have to deal with the war personally it just noise.

I got involved in the 60's because my government left me no choice, todays youth have choices and hopefully they will continue to keep making the right choice and stay out of the military.

Perhaps if the anti war music of today does any good besides bring wealth and fame to the performers, maybe it'll keep some young people from joining up. And that ain't a bad thing, so rock on!