Particularist Genres on Universal Themes!
The Globe has an article bemoaning the lack of universal and uniting theme songs in reference to a concert in honour of Peter Seger’s 90th birthday. True enough, but then again, the nature of music preferences and diffusion technologies means there is less a monopoly on style and language and concurrently a decrease in diversity on the airwaves because of corporate ads. Also, interesting to note the kids on the stage with Peter were the biggies and anglo.
There is a ton of great protest music that appears under many guises, languages and genres! As I was reading and posting a comment (that has not yet been posted!) I listened to Jean Leloup, Manu Chao, les Cowboys Fringrants, Ani Difranco, M.I.A., Michael Franti and Chumbawamba. I then went and looked up an earlier post featuring the Peace not War compilations. Such good stuff! Then I discovered Peace not War TV and the New Pollutants: Blast the World 2 Space Dance Against the War video. Awesome!
I would say, the themes, tunes, rhythms, languages they are a chagin’ but not the spirit! We just need to reclaim the spaces for them to get heard!
