Social protest musics

Author: Guilherme Breda

Reviewer: Maria Clara Westphalen

Musics of social protest have already their place in the musical market. Great artists achieved success singing and writing lyrics that criticize society or government. Today, that kind of music seems to dont have the same place.

Social protest musics achieved huge popularity in some moments that an excluded social group could raise their voices. In Latin America, the boom of those musics was among the 50’s and the 70’s. Those musics had indirect critics mainly because the vicious dictatorships that rule the countries. In Brazil especially, the end of censorship in 80’s, opened a new place to musics with very critic lyrics. In USA, the social protest musics acquired fame during the 60’s and 70’s because the Vietnam War. However, in the 80’s and 90’s, the Rap became the main rhythm of protest. With explicit lyrics, the Rap denounced the violence above poor and black people. The same happened in Brazil in 80’s with the Funk Carioca.

Some artists that became popular with social protest musics:

2Pac

Bob Marley

Caetano Veloso

Charly Garcia

Chico Buarque

Cidinho e Doca

Fito Paez

Gabriel o Pensador

Ice-T

John Lennon

Legião Urbana

Leon Gieco

Mercedes Sosa

N.W.A.

Public Enemy

Raul Seixas

Titãs

Victor Jara

Violeta Parra