protest songs: timeless and timely
AIMS:
- Explore starting points for protest songs
- Finding the 'People's Voice'; techniques for writing protest music
- Write your own protest song
Those in power write the history and those who suffer write the songs.
Frank Harte
Starting points
On your pads write a protest banner, what aren't you happy about?
- Try an find a topic that matters to you
- See if your banner slogan could form the basis for a lyric
- Better still, see if your slogan could be your main hook in the song (you are going to write...)
Automatic writing time: now that you have your topic/slogan take two minutes to write some flash lyrics. DOn't think too hard and DON'T edit
Finding the peoples voice: techniques for writing protest music
Listen to the examples below and follow the lyrics. Answer the questions below on your post its. One post it for each question. Add to the board.
- What are they protesting?
- Which musical features can you identify?
- Which genres are used?
- How do these songs achieve their aim? Do they work as protest songs?
Songwriting challenge: write your own protest song (SMALL GROUPS)
- Start with your slogan and/or flash lyric
- Put your slogan/lyric to music
- Aim for a sing-a-long phrase or hook
- if you can write the first verse and/or chorus
- If you can go further, come up with a verse/chorus structure
Perform and peer appraise
When listening to other groups provide feedback on:
- How well does the piece work as a protest song?
- Is the lyric/melody well constructed?
- Is it memorable?
- What is the next step? How can you make it better?