Punk hat als musikalisches Genre das Aufbegehren gegen das Establishment als raison d’être und so den Protestsong in seiner DNA eingeschrieben. Allerdings sind Verahndlungen über den Anarcho-Syndikalismus in Crass-Songs dann doch eher preaching to the coverted, so dass man die gesellschaftliche Kraft von politischem Pop-Punk gerade nicht unterschätzen darf. Hier erreicht Punk nun mal Ecken, die ihm sonst verschlossen blieben (und wohl auch eine jüngere Ziegruppe, die durch Punktexte ihre erst politische Prägung erhalten).
Anti-Flag sind Pop-Punk im besten Sinn, spielen wie Green Day in den 90ern und arbeiten gerade jetzt, aufgestachelt durch die Trump-Präsidentschaft und die umsichgreifende White Supremacy – Tendenzen, verstärkt mit politischen Texten im Pop-Punk-Kleid: “Just ’cause you don’t know you’re racist / You don’t get a pass for your ignorance”

Wir haben Ant-Flag nach den fünf wichtigsten Protestsongs gefragt:

Sam Cooke – A Change Is Gonna Come

The civil rights movement in America in the 1960’s was fueled by art and artists. This song is proof that delivery can fuel message to heights beyond imagine. Fighting for social, economic and racial justice is a fight that never ends, it maybe has never sounded as beautiful as Sam made it with this track.

NWA – Fuck The Police

This is the song that politicized me. I was roughly 9 or 10 years old when I heard it. I hated the way the police treated my brother and my family, this song was the first music I heard that allowed me to direct that anger and frustration. Plus being that young and hearing the word FUCK so powerfully sung was beyond liberating.

Strike Anywhere – Sunset on 32nd Street

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DkdKvK3s1I

Just a perfect example of the power of punk rock storytelling. Being a voice of empathy, trying putting yourself in the place of another, caring about more than just yourself. The sonics of this track are inspiring, the lyrics are legendary.

Dead Kennedy’s – Straight A’s

This song was perfect for me in high school. I was looking for affirmation of my feeling that not being like everyone else was ok. I wanted to know that not fitting in the mold set in front of me didn’t mean I was broken.

The Homeless Gospel Choir – Normal

I am proud to call Derek my friend, this track just further solidified my love for him. He completely encapsulated what it means to find punk rock in your formidable years, what it means to take solidarity with LGBTQ communities, people of color, refugees, immigrants, all of those scapegoated by the powerful. It’s ok to be free to be yourself!

(Auswahl: Bassist/Sänger Chris #2)

Mehr aus dieser Reihe:
* Xao Seffcheque. Five Favourites im Postpunk
* Der Nino aus Wien. Five Favourites im Austropop
* Carsten Friedrichs (Superpunk, Die Liga der gewöhnlichen Gentlemen). Five Favourites im Northern Soul
* Candelilla. Five Favourites im Hip-Hop
* HGichT. Five Favourites der Drogensongs
* Judith Holofernes. Five Favourite Lyricists