“The Politicians”
The revolution had guitars. These were its campaign speeches.
When politics met distortion, sparks flew.
Some sang for love. Others sang for change.
From punk’s snarling defiance to the quiet ache of folk protest, these voices didn’t just perform — they testified.
They were the rock prophets of protest, the unfiltered news reporters of rebellion.
While the world spun in chaos, they plugged in, turned up, and made the noise mean something.
This isn’t about polished slogans or party lines — it’s about the B-sides of activism.
Those raw, overlooked tracks where truth slipped through the cracks.
Songs too bold for radio, too real for the mainstream.
The kind that made you feel the revolution under your skin.
The Protest Setlist
The Clash – “1-2 Crush on You” (1978)
Tucked behind “(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais,” this chaotic rush of sound captures punk’s irony — a love song in form, a political jab in spirit.
Because for The Clash, even romance had rebellion beneath it.
U2 – “Spanish Eyes” (1987)
A fiery B-side from The Joshua Tree sessions — full of tension, pulse, and passion.
Written as the band’s fame rose, it hints at their roots: Irish resistance, unity, and the emotional charge of revolution.
Joan Baez – “Saigon Bride” (1967)
A haunting acoustic whisper from the height of the Vietnam War.
This B-side doesn’t shout — it mourns.
A love letter to those lost in conflict, wrapped in delicate resistance.
Rage Against the Machine – “Clear the Lane” (1992)
Before they stormed the mainstream, this B-side carried the spark — raw, unfiltered, dripping with fury.
It’s not just a song; it’s an uprising in rehearsal.
The distortion is the manifesto.
Fela Kuti – “Sorrow Tears and Blood” (1977)
The pulse of Afrobeat rebellion.
Fela didn’t just criticize — he confronted.
This B-side became an anthem for resistance in Nigeria and beyond, turning every horn and drumbeat into protest poetry.
The New Frontliners — Still Flying the Flag
Rebellion didn’t fade with the vinyl hiss — it evolved.
Today’s rock and alt voices still call out corruption, injustice, and apathy, just through new lenses and louder amps.
IDLES – “War” (2020)
A brutal, chaotic eruption — part anti-violence, part anti-hypocrisy.
Their message? Compassion is the loudest weapon.
Hozier – “Nina Cried Power” (2018)
An ode to the old guard — Nina, Mavis, Billie — and a reminder that protest is sacred.
It’s the gospel of resistance reborn for a streaming generation.
Fever 333 – “Burn It” (2019)
Where Rage left off, they picked up — mixing punk, hip-hop, and activism in equal fury.
Every beat is a Molotov cocktail hurled at complacency.
Nova Twins – “Choose Your Fighter” (2022)
London’s fierce duo rewriting what rebellion looks like.
Their distortion is empowerment — their lyrics, protest dressed in glitter and rage.
Run the Jewels ft. Zack de la Rocha – “Close Your Eyes (And Count to Fk)” (2014)**
A riot disguised as a track.
Because rebellion still needs rhythm — and rhythm still needs something to say.
The Message Still Resonates
These weren’t just songs — they were movements in melody.
Each riff and lyric a call to arms, a campaign speech for the soul.
They remind us that rebellion doesn’t always need a ballot — sometimes it just needs a backbeat.
So crank the volume.
Plug into the pulse of protest.
And remember: real change often begins on the flip side.
Must-Hear B-side Playlist: The Politicians
1. The Clash – “1-2 Crush on You”
2. U2 – “Spanish Eyes”
3. Joan Baez – “Saigon Bride” Today’s RnR Roulette featured track. Check out my socials later.
4. Rage Against the Machine – “Clear the Lane”
5. Fela Kuti – “Sorrow Tears and Blood”
6. IDLES – “War”
7. Hozier – “Nina Cried Power”
8. Fever 333 – “Burn It”
9. Nova Twins – “Choose Your Fighter”
10. Run the Jewels ft. Zack de la Rocha – “Close Your Eyes (And Count to F**k)”
Politics ages.
But rebellion — real rebellion — stays young forever.
Because the truth, when played loud enough, never fades.
Today, the revolution plays on.
Join me again on Monday when we dig into rock’s dynamic duos. They didn't just share a stage, they shared a wavelength.
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