Many of us are unhappy about how our government is run but only the very brave dare to pen songs about it. Over the last forty years several groups have taken to the stage to voice their opinions on society, racism and social equality and many anti-establishment songs have become die hard classics which have gone down in the history books. Here are some of the best.

Killing in the Name by Rage Against the Machine

Killing in the Name was released in 1992 by rap metal band Rage Against the Machine, known for their anti-establishment songs and is centred about racism in society, notably in the security services.

 

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8de2W3rtZsA]

Anarchy in the UK by the Sex Pistols

Seventies, British band the Sex Pistols were known for their anarchist songs and Anarchy in the UK is full of swear words and violent references, which shocked many at the time.

 

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8szRgIcYlY]

F**K tha Police by N.W.A.

This protest song by American rap group N.W.A. managed to make the Rolling Stones list of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time coming in at 417. The song focuses on the relationship between the American Police and black youths and the title has become a slogan among black society since its release in 1988.

 

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2YgZX9Thm0]

The War Song by Culture Club

The War Song, was relatively mainstream compared to some of the entries on this list and was a hugely popular song in both Britain and America. It debuted on the 1984 album Waking Up with the House on Fire, which bar The War Song, was a huge disappointment to fans and critics alike.

 

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3Ps8mOcCBY]

Give Peace a Chance by Plastic Ono Band

John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono were well known peace activists and this is reflected in Give Peace a Chance and written by John Lennon, apparently while he was on honeymoon.

 

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkZC7sqImaM]

Fight The Power by Public Enemy

Fight the Power was written for 80’s film Do The Right Thing when director Spike Lee asked band Public Enemy to write and perform an ‘angry and defiant song’ about the racial tension in certain areas of New York.

 

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PaoLy7PHwk]

White Riot by The Clash

White Riot is the debut song that many people associate with 70’s Punk band, The Clash. As you would expect, the song centres around the social classes, equality and race and is now considered a classic anti-anarchist.

 

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoJYM3krDWQ]

Prisoner of Society by The Living End

The song was released in 1997 and was so successful if became the best selling single of the 90’s in Australia. It has even made it on to game Guitar Hero and, as the name suggests, encourages people not to be controlled by society and stand up for what they believe in.

 

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVtD4qMy5Hc]

God Save the Queen by Sex Pistols

One of the most famous anti-establishment songs of all time God Save the Queen has now become a classic, however at the time it was shunned by British radio and was rumoured to have annoyed the Royal Family immensely.

 

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtUH2YSFlVU]

System by Crass

Littered with profanities, System is a message to the authorities from punk rock band Crass about the class divide in Britain. The 70’s group appealed to a very niche audience and didn’t consider themselves a typical punk band, shunning youth culture entirely.

 

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hdz13EjRwXw]

Television, The Drug Of The Nation by The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy

The American hip hop band rebels against the influence of the mass media, especially the effect our living room boxes have on society and the nations opinions and beliefs. They were very popular in the 90’s and all their albums had an anti-anarchy theme.

 

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvlbZWZWz0M]

Save the Country by The 5^th Dimension

The 5th Dimension are not a band you would expect to appear in an anti-establishment sing list, however, after Kennedy’s assassination in 1968, songwriter Laura Nyro wrote about her reaction to the event. The song was picked up by The 5^th Dimension and became a worldwide hit.

 

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTuwAo5sUik]

This article was irresponsibly contributed by online recruitment directory, Agency Central. Not that we’d ever condone office rage; but if you did, these would be the songs to do it to.

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