In the wake of disaster, artists respond. In times of fear and confusion, many of us turn to music for comfort, solidarity, and strength. In response to Donald Trump’s fear-mongering campaign and now his terrifying, blatantly human-rights-violating presidency, musicians have put out songs and albums in direct defiance of him and all he represents, in many cases with a portion of the sales’ going to the ACLU and other worthy organizations fighting for justice. These songs join a long history of protest music in America and around the world, and like those tunes of the years and decades past, provide a worthy soundtrack to fighting the good fight.
The playlist compiled here combines songs old and new to create an inclusive soundtrack to the resistance. It features a little bit of everything, from riot grrrl feminist anthems to odes to black excellence; from folksy peaceful protest jams to tirades against the government; from songs for self-care to lamentations of impending doom.
The revolution takes all kinds of people, and all kinds of music. In the coming days we’ll need all the motivation we can muster, so crank up your speakers and get ready to fight.
- “FDT (Fuck Donald Trump)” — YG and Nipsey Hussle
- “Tiny Hands” — Fiona Apple*
- “Mr. Tangerine Man” — Wesley Stace
- “Million Dollar Loan” — Death Cab for Cutie
- “The Donald” — A Tribe Called Quest
- “Demagogue” — Franz Ferdinand
- “The Internet” — Tacocat
- “Nasty Grrls” — Childbirth
- “None of Your Business” — Salt-N-Pepa
- “Run The World (Girls)” — Beyonce
- “We Won’t Go Back” — Love Always*
- “Blood in the Boardroom” — Ani Difranco
- “Baby I’m An Anarchist” — Against Me!
- “Smile More” — Deap Valley
- “You Don’t Own Me” — Leslie Gore
- “Hwages” — Majedalesa*
- “Hot Topic” — Le Tigre
- “Q.U.E.E.N.” — Janelle Monáe ft. Erykah Badu
- “Alright” — Kendrick Lamar
- “My President” — Jeezy ft. Nas
- “Keep Ya Head Up” — 2Pac
- “We the People…” — A Tribe Called Quest
- “U.N.I.T.Y.” — Queen Latifah
- “Born this Way” — Lady Gaga
- “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” — R.E.M.
- “The World (Is Going Up in Flames)” — Charles Bradley
- “Eve of Destruction” — Barry McGuire
- “This Is Not America” — David Bowie
- “This Land is Your Land” — Woody Guthrie
- “(What’s so Funny ‘bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding” by Nick Lowe
- “Blowin’ In the Wind” — Bob Dylan
- “A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke
- “Simple Song of Freedom” — Bobby Darin
- “Give Peace A Chance” — John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band
- “Sic of Elephants” — Andrew Bird & Jim James
- “Children of Privilege” — Joe Purdy
- “Why Is It So Hard” — Charles Bradley
- “Baltimore” — Prince ft. Eryn Allen Kane*
- “Happy New Year (Prince Can’t Die Again)” — Mac McCaughan*
- “Dear Mr. President” — 4 Non Blondes
- “Killing in the Name” — Rage Against the Machine
- “Despierta — Filthy Friends
- “Face Up and Sing” — Ani Difranco
- “Revolution 9.01” — Danbert Nobacon & The Axis of Dissent
- “Smoke ‘Em Out” — CocoRosie ft. ANOHNI
- “Movin Backwards” — A Tribe Called Quest
- “Troubled Times” — Green Day
- “Use Your Voice” — H20
- “White People for Peace” — Against Me!
- “Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves” — Eurythmics ft. Aretha Franklin
- “Changes” — 2Pac
- “Man in the Mirror” — Michael Jackson
- “The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song” — The Flaming Lips
- “Democracy” — Leonard Cohen
- “Land of the Free” — Joey Bada$$
- “Before You Vote” — Thao Nguyen
- “Gimme Some Truth” — John Lennon
- “Hurricane” — Bob Dylan
- “Strange Fruit” — Billie Holiday
- “Quiet” — MILCK
- “Talkin’ Bout A Revolution” — Tracy Chapman
- “Standing in the Way of Control” — Gossip
- “I Give You Power” — Arcade Fire feat. Mavis Staples
- “Power to the People” — John Lennon
- “If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next” — Main Street Preachers
- “Idioteque” — Radiohead
- “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” — Gil Scott-Heron
- “Chicago” — Graham Nash
- “What’s Goin’ On” — Marvin Gaye
- “Brother What Happened?” — Muddy Magnolias
- “Immigraniada” — Gogol Bordello
- “Fuck Tha Police” — NWA
- “Take the Power Back” — Rage Against the Machine
- “Get Up Stand Up” — Bob Marley & the Wailers
- “In Water We Trust – Mni Wiconi (#NoDAPL)” — Askultura ft. Kuyayky & Pedro ‘el criollito’ Erazo
- “Power Of Love” — Loa McJungles*
- “Fight the Power” — Public Enemy
- “Beds Are Burning” — Midnight Oil
- “Locker Room Talk” — Cold War Kids
- “Hallelujah Money” — Gorillaz feat. Benjamin Clementine*
- “Right Right Now Now” — Beastie Boys
- “Pull Up the People” — M.I.A.
- “2100” — Run the Jewels ft. BOOTS
- “We Got The” — Beastie Boys
- “Volunteers” — Jefferson Airplane
- “Everyday People” — Sly & the Family Stone
- “Free Enterprise” — Rick Ross ft. John Legend
- “Mississippi Goddam” — Nina Simone
- “We Shall Overcome” — Pete Seeger
- “Don’t Ever Take Away My Freedom” — Peter Yarrow
- “Freedom” — Beyoncé ft. Kendrick Lamar*
- “Robbin Hood Theory” — Gang Starr
- “List of Demands (Reparations)” — Saul Williams
- “Glory” — Common ft. John Legend
- “Sad News” — Swizz Beatz ft. Scarface
- “What It Means” — Drive-By Truckers
- “Love Me, I’m a Liberal” — Jello Biafra & Mojo Nixon
- “The Charade” — D’Angelo
- “Cry No More” — Rhiannon Giddens*
- “Know Your Rights” — The Clash
- “I’m Afraid of Americans” — David Bowie
- *not currently available on spotify; can be streamed elsewhere or purchased via links below
Looking to support or purchase good music for a good cause? Look here:
- https://www.songsforstandingrock.com/
- http://www.30days30songs.com/
- http://www.quasiband.com/
- https://barsuk.bandcamp.com/album/sad-a-barsuk-records-compilation-for-the-aclu
What songs would you add to this list? Comment or tweet us @litdarling with suggestions!
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