CPS

Archive News-2002

Robb Johnson releases new album
26th November 2002
Prolific political songwriter Robb Johnson has recently released a new album entitled Maximum Respect which contains 14 songs for animal rights.

Mugabe spin doctors release album
25th November 2002
President Robert Mugabe's spin doctors have produced an album of songs praising the President and his controversial programme of land reform. The resultant CD is entitled Third Chimurenga (Third Revolution).

Song criticizes government of Zimbabwe
25th November 2002
Zimbabwean Zimbabwean singer Bekithemba Khumalo's song The President is a Thief offers a scathing critique of President Robert Mugabe's government. Taken from the album Taking him Away.

Alternative Kenyan national anthem?
25th November 2002
Recently in Kenya at music concerts and festivals, crowds were heard singing Nchi ya Kitu Kidogo, (The Land of Petty Corruption). Written by 28 year old Eric Wainaina. the song has virtually become an alternative national anthem expressing the widespread desire to live in a democratic and corruption-free society.

Protest song criticises Mexican President
25th November 2002
A song entitled Chronicle of a Change, by Los Tigres del Norte, attacks the administration of Mexico's President Vicente Fox. The song is not being played on the radio in Mexico.

Gordon Brown taxation policies under fire in song
22nd November 2002
Gordon Brown's taxation policies have come under fire in a song by Kenny Jones (of Small Faces and The Who fame) and Rick Wills (of Foreigner): "You give with one hand and take it with the other, shatter your dreams then you run for cover, got me hanging on to your every single word."  

Song parodies failures of German government
12th November 2002
German comedian Elmar Brandt reached number one with The Tax Song, a parody based on the international hit The Ketchup Song, condemning the German government's failure to honour pre-election promises: "There is no tax I cannot collect, I want your bank notes, your sweaters, your cash and your piggy banks". Renegade entertainer Stefan Raab has also released a song about Mr Schroder.

Do you, Mr Jones?: new publication on Bob Dylan
8th November 2002
A collection of 14 essays poets and professors on Bob Dylan entitled Do you, Mr Jones? was complied by Prof Neil Corcoran of St Andrew university.

Is Protest Music Dead?
24th October 2002
Jeff Chang asks the perennial question: Is Protest Music Dead?

Protest song critiques consumerism
24th October 2002
Consumption by Toby Slater offers a critique of consumerism including the brands Starbucks, Coca cola, Gap, Domino's Pizza, Body Shop, Marlboro, Microsoft.

Musical Intifadah opposes Israel occupation of Palestine
17th October 2002
A website featuring song material opposing Israel occupation of Palestine. The Musical Intifadah features songs by Doc Jazz entitled Home (for Jenin), Make a Change, Intifada and includes songs by David Rovics, Savage Rose, Jim Page.

Songwriter takes swipe at sectarianism in football
26th August 2002
Political songwriter Hugh Jordan latest song dealt with Northern Irish, and Glasgow Celtic, footballer Neil Lennon's decision to quit international football because of a sectarian death threat.

Russian pop band praise Putin
26th August 2002
Someone Like Putin by Russian pop band Singing Together (Poyushchiye Vmeste) has dominated the Russian airwaves. The song idolises Russian President Vladimir Putin: "Someone like Putin, full of strength/Someone like Putin, who doesn't drink/Someone like Putin, who doesn't hurt me/Someone like Putin, who won't run away."

Censorship for hip hop track
23rd August 2002
Hip-hop artist Sarah Jones filed a lawsuit against the United States' Federal Communications Commission after they proposed a $7,000 fine against Portland radio station KBOO FM for broadcasting her song Revolution. FCC claimed the song contains "unmistakable patently offensive sexual references". Critics claim this decision effectively prevents other non commercial radio broadcasters from playing the song.
Steve Earle song criticised as unpatriotic
25 July 2002
Controversy has surrounded John Walker's Blues by singer-songwriter Steve Earle. Deemed both unpatriotic and provocative, the song taken from the album Jerusalem is written from the perspective of American Taliban John Walker Lindh. 21-year-old Californian John Walker Lindh was captured by U.S. forces in Afghanistan and pleaded guilty to fighting alongside the Taliban militia.

Political parody from Mark Hoolihan
19th July 2002
The official humour archive of Mark Hoolihan contains a number of political song parodies on George Bush, Osama Bin Laden, Jorg Haider and many more.

Madeleine Kane pens another political parody
3rd July 2002
Madeleine Kane is the author of numerous political song parodies. Songs include Bush and Tony (To the tune of Love and Marriage), Bush and his Shadow (To the tune of Me And My Shadow), I'm Dubya The President (To the tune of I'm Popeye The Sailor Man) and Ashcroft's Favourite Things (To the tune of My Favourite Things).

Gridline sparks protest song
2nd July 2002
REVOLT (Rural England Fighting Overhead Line Transmission) represents public concerns about National Grid's proposed 50 mile line of giant pylons through Cleveland and North Yorkshire skirting the North Yorkshire Moors National Park. In support of the campaign, REVOLT released the song Better Way by David Nicholls.

Political parody from Capitol Steps
2nd July 2002
Capitol Steps are prolific political song parody writers; they have released 24 albums including When Bush Comes To Shove - Songs of 2002,  One Bush, Two Bush, Old Bush, New Bush - Songs of 2001 and It's Not Over 'Til The First Lady Sings - Songs of 2000.

Political parodies from The Half-Baked Institute
2nd July 2002
The Half-Baked Institute offers a selection of US political parodies including Consent of the Governed, Civil Rights, Unconstitutional Laws and the Clinton Years.

Controversy over George Michael song
2nd July 2002
George Michael's single Shoot the Dog offers a critique of US foreign policy and perceived British acquiescence. The video for the song depicts Tony Blair as a poodle being cosseted by US President George Bush. Michael asserts that the song is a piece of political satire and does not reflect anti-American sentiment: "I feel that in a time when public debate is being suppressed, even something as trivial as a pop song can be a good thing. "

Proposed rent increase sparks protest song
28th June 2002
During May Day celebration's in Loganlea miners' welfare club, campaigners against a proposed rent increase of five pounds expressed their discontent through song. Retired miner Sheb Singleton, who had received a letter threatening legal action over his rent arrears, adapted the well known Tom Jones' song Delilah. Steve Nimmo remembered the impromptu cries of "Forgive me Delilah, I'm not paying my fiver" and a resounding chorus of "Why, Why, Why a Fiver". 

South African songwriter accused of racism
27th June 2002
Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA) has banned Mbongeni Ngema's song AmaNdiya from public broadcast stating that, under the broadcasting code, the song constituted racial hate speech with incitement to harm. In AmaNdiya (Zulu for Indian), Ngema portrays South Africans of Indian origin as oppressors of black Africans: "Oh brothers, Oh my fellow brothers. We need strong and brave men to confront Indians. This situation is very difficult, Indians do not want to change, whites were far better than Indians. Even Mandela has failed to convince them to change."

Political satire from Mike Silverstein
26th June 2002
Mike Silverstein writes satirical poems and songs including The Battle Hymn of The Stock Trader (based on Battle Hymm of the Republic) and The Auditor's Song (based on The Tarriers Song).

Peace songs from Jym Mooney & Carol Lee Hopkins
26th June 2002
Jym Mooney & Carol Lee Hopkins are songwriters from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Their album One Ball Of Clay - Songs Of Peace And Hope brings together a collection of peace songs from Milwaukee songwriters.

Political folk music from Ray Korona
25th June 2002
Ray Korona and the Ray Korona Band write and sing political folk music, labour songs, environmental songs and love songs. Their songs deal with a variety of current affairs issues including the US Supreme Court ruling that the Boy Scouts of America can remove gay boys scouts and refuse membership to admit gay kids (Gay Free Boy Scouts), a health care rights song, (Send me an ambulance), and Sanctions CD dealing with the effects of the sanctions against Iraq on the lives of ordinary people.

Calabrian mafia songs cause controversy
16th April 2002
The  CD Il Canto di Malavita - La Musica della Mafia (Songs of a Life of Crime - The Music of the Mafia) by PIAS Recordings, features a selection of widely unknown and previously never published Calabrian Mafia songs. The CD includes songs such as Blood Cries for Blood, The Traitors and Law of Honour.

Peace Child Israel use song to promote peace
3rd April 2002
Peace Child Israel is an organisation founded in 1988 which uses drama and song to educate and promote tolerance and education for coexistence between Jews and Arabs. Listen to the song We Brought Peace Upon Us

John Ashcroft pens patriotic song
25 February 2002
US Attorney General, John Ashcroft, by ending speeches and meetings in the Department of Justice with renditions of the patriotic song he wrote, Let the Eagle Soar and listen to sound clip.

Updated: 19 March, 2007 | Site editor | Legal