Songs that have had some political meaning in history

[Rusco]

Couldn't get any better name for the thread...

Well yea, there are of course political songs and lyrics from political bands, but here I'm thinking about songs that have had a meaning in politics, war or other power struggles and been used for some mission to achieve something.
I think maybe Shush might know about this kind of history?

Here's one I know: It's called Säkkijärven Polkka, a very well known traditional accordion song in Finland, and in some parts of Russia I'd guess.

As a person called Sofknsad stated out in the comments of the YouTube link above, "This song was used as a "weapon" during ww2. Russians had mined the city of Viipuri with radio controlled mines and Finnish agents found out the used radio frequencies and played this song on radio untill the batteries of the mines run out and the city was saved."


...If you know a story that's connected to some spectacular song in similar manner or other,
please post them here and tell more about it.

Cheers.

[Pol]

Ok this is the original version of flower of Scotland, written at the time by fairly obscure folk band. It was of course reworked and went on to become our national anthem. The reworked version became instantly popular in the early 70s as fight for Scottish independence gained strength don't forget at this time Scottish people had to accept god save the queen as their anthem with its anti Scottish verse. Some people might say that the song is anti English with its past battle cries of sending king Edward back home but don't forget it also states " those days are past now and in the past they must remain"

Do I like it, well not really its a bit droll and jingoistic, but it does fill you will a certain amount of pride and is definitely a million times better than god save the queen

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XiyLuv3GSs4

[Pumpkin]

Fantastic idea for a thread!

Angelic Upstarts about "Solidarity" in Communist Poland:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owrVQebWCtc

Many examples from Rush, including this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyhW2v0NDM0

A Billie Holiday classic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4ZyuULy9zs

One of a good few from Neil Young:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-b76yiqO1E

Quite something for its time:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DcdONaKSQM

An oldie about the original Americans:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ6RjP7MlXk

Stevie Wonder wrote many a fine tune about political and social activism back in the day. This is probably one of his best:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99gNYaz6YaM

Finally, Siouxsie pulls no punches here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YP-ZUbSmkRM

[Bunny]

Ok this is the original version of flower of Scotland, written at the time by fairly obscure folk band. It was of course reworked and went on to become our national anthem. The reworked version became instantly popular in the early 70s as fight for Scottish independence gained strength don't forget at this time Scottish people had to accept god save the queen as their anthem with its anti Scottish verse. Some people might say that the song is anti English with its past battle cries of sending king Edward back home but don't forget it also states " those days are past now and in the past they must remain"

Do I like it, well not really its a bit droll and jingoistic, but it does fill you will a certain amount of pride and is definitely a million times better than god save the queen

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XiyLuv3GSs4

It isnt just the Scottish who have had to suffer God Save the Queen!!! Cant think of any of the songs but you could argue that any of the music used for psychological warfare by the USA also had a political end. Albeit a very grey one.

[Pol]

The crass answer to spirit of the Falklands

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oAga3ZQ0BxU

How does it feel  ?

[Master Ray]

The Pogues - Streets Of Sorrow / Birmingham Six?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2lFGeT-kBI

[Amandistan]

The Pogues - Streets Of Sorrow / Birmingham Six?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2lFGeT-kBI

One of the best examples

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbcsOzmVmy0
This video further explains just how it made an impact. It made the the people wrongly accused feel better. Yes, the IRA was a terrorist group but this is no better than the way innocent muslims were treated after 9/11. 


Also Tramp the Dirt Down by Elvis Costello was pretty powerful.  In that era of music.

the 1960s is another era that generated fantastic protest songs.   

[Rusco]

Yea, in 1960's there were some quite harsh examples. Like during the propaganda of Vietnam War.

Cant think of any of the songs but you could argue that any of the music used for psychological warfare by the USA also had a political end. Albeit a very grey one.

How about this one? I don't know - is it just me thinking, but once I saw a documentary from TV about the Vietnam War and there were those American soldiers posing with cigs on mouth in a live clip and putting card game cards; aces etc. to the skulls of their dead foes in a jungle. And there was playing this song. Well, of course it was put there just for the document but to me it left this vision in my mind for forever when I hear the song. 

[ldopas]

Well the political ones are fairly obvious the left and right are always doing them; Costello, Weller, Red Wedge. So can I stretch "political" to "important issues for us all"?

So let's not be obvious;

Gwen Guthrie - Cant Love You Tonight   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HckYXWeVFV4

Marxman - All About Eve (brilliant track)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lh5AewIe4fs

Michael Franti & Spearhead - Positive  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGslLbl9jlk 

Gil Scott Heron - Winter In America  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2zKdIcOV5s   (Genius)

Grand Funk Railroad - Save The Land  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pdbw1Ekzd3Q  (Ok loud and crass...but I love a bit of GFR!    )