A Caffè ☕️Lattè 2-part Spotlight-

80 Essential

PROTEST SONGS

🪧

of the 1980s

Civil unrest and social commentary have always existed, but during the 1980s, protest songs impacted on popular culture in a way it had in no previous decade. Caffè Lattè looks back on 80 songs that reflect the turbulent period and the causes it championed. Issues included apartheid, inequality, injustice, the environment and government policies.

 

 

80 INTERNATIONALISTS The Style Council

79 LAND OF CONFUSION Genesis

78 HAND IN GLOVE The Smiths

77 CAN YOU FEEL IT The Jacksons

76 LET THE FRANKLIN FLOW Goanna

75 HOMEBREAKERS The Style Council

74 CULT OF PERSONALITY Living Colour

73 HELP SAVE THE YOUTH OF AMERICA Billy Bragg

72 MY BRAIN IS HANGING UPSIDE DOWN Ramones

71 MONKEY GONE TO HEAVEN Pixies

 

70 STOP THE CAVALRY Jona Lewie

69 LOVE OF THE COMMON PEOPLE Paul Young

68 FUNERAL PYRE The Jam

67 FORBIDDEN LOVE The Communards

66 LIVES IN THE BALANCE Jackson Browne

65 THEY DANCE ALONE Sting

64 GENERALS AND MAJORS XTC

63 KNOW YOUR RIGHTS The Clash

62 COME TO MY AID Simply Red

61 FRAGILE Sting

 

60 ROCK THE CASBAH The Clash

59 MEAT IS MURDER The Smiths

58 GOING UNDERGROUND The Jam

57 BEHIND THE WALL Tracy Chapman

56 THIS IS ENGLAND The Clash

55 STARS AND STRIPES OF CORRUPTION The Dead Kennedys

54 STOP THE VIOLENCE Boogie Down Productions

53 PIPES OF PEACE Paul McCartney

52 LUKA Suzanne Vega

51 (WAITING FOR THE) GHOST TRAIN Madness

 

50 HOLIDAY IN CAMBODIA The Dead Kennedys

49 RACIST FRIEND The Specials

48 THERE’S MORE TO LOVE THAN BOY MEETS GIRL

            The Communards

47 IT’S WRONG (APARTHEID) Stevie Wonder

46 ACROSS THE LINES Tracy Chapman

45 BETWEEN THE WARS Billy Bragg

44 ONE Metallica

43 ALL SHE WANTS TO DO IS DANCE Don Henley

42 PEOPLE HAVE THE POWER Patti Smith

41 911 IS A JOKE Public Enemy

40 TOWN CALLED MALICE The Jam

39 READ ABOUT IT Midnight Oil

38 THE LODGERS The Style Council

37 99 LUFTBALLONS Nena

36 BELFAST CHILD Simple Minds

35 BIKO Peter Gabriel

34 I WAS ONLY 19 (A WALK IN THE LIGHT GREEN) Redgum

33 FAST CAR Tracy Chapman

32 ARMY DREAMERS Kate Bush

31 POLICE ON MY BACK The Clash

30 THE LEBANON The Human League

29 ALL GONE AWAY The Style Council

28 RUSSIANS Sting

27 SHORT MEMORY Midnight Oil

26 THE RIVER Bruce Springsteen

25 SOLID ROCK Goanna

24 SHIPBUILDING Elvis Costello & The Attractions

23 REDEMPTION SONG Bob Marley & The Wailers

22 POWER AND THE PASSION Midnight Oil

21 MONEY’S TOO TIGHT (TO MENTION) Simply Red