23 Songs Every Millennial Activist Should Have On A Protest Playlist | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

23 Songs Every Millennial Activist Should Have On A Protest Playlist

These are the songs I will be blasting this weekend at the March For Our Lives.

1399
23 Songs Every Millennial Activist Should Have On A Protest Playlist
Wikimedia Commons

The tradition of the protest song is as old as the protest itself.

Across the world, over the centuries, they have always existed in some form or another.

Where there is a protest there is music. In that spirit, here are the songs that will definitely be on my playlist during the March For Our Lives last weekend.

1. "Dear Mr. President" by P!nk

 

Written shortly after George W. Bush was elected, it is scary how relevant this song remains. This song is timeless, largely due to the perfectly simple framing device: a perfectly earnest plea for answers from a concerned citizen.

2. "We The People" by A Tribe Called Quest

  This song, in contrast, is entirely a product of its time, as the band has confirmed, and as anyone can hear on the chorus.

3. "The Times They Are a-Changin'" by Bob Dylan

And then there's this, the protest song of all protest songs. Its inclusion on this list should surprise no one.

4. "No Guns Allowed" by Snoop Lion ft. Drake and Cori B

The title of this one is a little on the nose, but it is well-written, and it brings up a topic not often addressed in this type of song: mental health.

5. "Teenagers" by My Chemical Romance

Teenagers are forces for change, more than most of us realize, and I hope when we march, we "scare the living shit" out of legislators who never thought to take us seriously. This song also deals with a potential shooter's mindset in the second verse.

6. "Ignorance" by Paramore

  That undeniable chorus has never felt more relevant.

7. "Holiday" by Green Day

I couldn't make this list without including a song from American Idiot, and this fist-pumping condemnation of the "hollow lies" of politicians was the obvious choice.

8. "Pumped Up Kicks" by Foster the People

 

This is ostensibly an odd choice for this list — a song where the protagonist is a school shooter — but the song does a lot to explain the variety of things that may lead to mental instability, abuse, isolation and self-hatred chief among them.

9. "My Shot" from The Hamilton Mixtape (Various Artists)

This beats the original for this list because while they both carry the revolutionary spirit, the details in each verse of the remix make it truly vital.

10. "Mi Gente" by J.Balvin and Willy William

As much as I enjoy a good, angry protest song, I am aware of important it is to show and advocate unity during a protest. Here is the first song in that spirit. (Also, yes, I chose the one without Beyonce. Don't kill me.)

11. "American Oxygen" by Rihanna

This march, and indeed all protests, showcase a belief in the fundamental value of democracy. Surely this is why the right to protest was included in the Bill of Rights. We the people want our voices heard, and we will make it so.

12. "The World Will Know" by Newsies OBC

Judging by the media reaction to Parkland and the march, the world will be made fully aware of our action Saturday. The impact will be for time to tell.

13. "Water Guns" by Todrick Hall ft. Jordin Sparks

  This, my favorite song on the list comes to us by way of Youtuber Todrick Hall. Written and performed in the hours after the Pulse shooting, it is a poignant plea for an end to the senseless violence.

14. "Vivir Mi Vida" by Jennifer Lopez

I couldn't find the cover on Youtube, so this is a placeholder. I thought the slower, more thoughtful take was fitting.

15. "Born For This" by Paramore

This is an ode to hope and going after what you want, regardless of the consequences. The bonus: it makes me feel energized whenever I hear it.

16. "Disappear" by Dear Evan Hansen

 

The message is simple here: everyone matters. That goes for all marching as well as all who feel isolated and alone.

17. "Kids in America" by Kim Wilde

 

Aside from being an 80's classic, it also speaks to the way youth can affect waves of changes over generations.

18. "All That's Known" by Spring Awakening Cast

 

This song is about a young man learning to think for himself, and of particular interest, in this case, is the lyric "Money is their idol." In fact, the reprise in the finale works even better than the original, as it is about the same young man learning to cope with tragedy and carry the memory of his loved ones with him always.

19. "Rise Up" by Andra Day

 

This is another song whose inclusion requires precisely no explanation.

20. "El Mismo Sol" by Alvaro Soler ft. Jenifer Lopez

 

I listen to this song almost every day, and there's a reason why. It is a catchy, beautiful song about global unity. The diversity shown in the crowds protesting speaks to the prevalence of this issue in modern-day America. It affects you, no matter who you are.

21. "Found/Tonight" by Ben Platt and Lin Manuel Miranda

 

This song was recorded by each musical's original leading man in tribute to both victims and the march, and it doubles down on the messages of both: you are not alone in this, and history will remember what you do by your protest.

22. "Careful" by Paramore

Are you tired of waiting around for change and swallowing false truths? This is your anthem.

23. "Thoughts and Prayers" by grandson

Undoubtedly the newest song on this list, this track takes to ask the trite "thoughts and prayers" posts that often clog social media after a tragedy, as well as the inaction attached.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

142023
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

34501
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

10 Hygiene Tips For All College Athletes

College athletes, it's time we talk about sports hygiene.

30919
Woman doing pull-ups on bars with sun shining behind her.

I got a request to talk about college athletes hygiene so here it is.

College athletes, I get it, you are busy! From class, to morning workouts, to study table, to practice, and more. But that does not excuse the fact that your hygiene comes first! Here are some tips when it comes to taking care of your self.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments