Tag Archives: protest music

Hong Kong’s Hip Hop Anthem: Bauhinia Rhapsody 洋紫荊狂想曲 (video)

It has been almost 6 months now since people of Hong Kong started protesting their own government and its corrupt relationship with China. It started with an extradition bill in relation to China but now the protests continue against police violence and government corruption.

People have been hurt, people have died and a lot of people are angry. The anger is no wonder, when Hong Kong was handed over to China in 1997 from a colonizing, far away government (the UK), the island got a certain autonomy that included having their own currency, free press and speech, their unique culture and more.

This was to no liking to China. And so the relationship between the two has been intense ever since. Hong Kong are standing their ground because they want to keep their autonomy, their heritage and their values and be separate from the mainland behemoth that is China.

New Video: Taiwanese Rapper Dwagie Supporting Hong Kong Protesters

Music has played a big part in the recent protests in Hong Kong. People have chanted together, in the thousands, songs of democracy and unity. Hong Kong is different from China. People everywhere want to keep their freedom and just as people in China are oppressed Hong Kong citizens want to hold on to their democracy – and not become part of the authoritarian mainland.

“Rock n Roll For Blocking Coal” – Compilation Album Vs. Coal Mines And Corrupt Old Ways

The title pretty much says it all. This new compilation album features musicians and poets who see activism as something intertwined with their music endeavors.

“The music and poetry on this album are from artists who don’t see their creative pursuits as separate from politics.”

Many of the album’s songs were recorded right in the protest pit, around the campfire and during the peaceful, direct action.

One of the main fights for Frontline Action On Coal, or FLAC, has been to block the building of the Carmichael Coal Mine in the Galilee Basin (Australia). #StopAdani is their focus as they believe this mine will harm the indigenous communities in the area.

Palestinian Protest Musician Jowan Safadi Releases ‘Super White Man’ (Video)

Roughly 1 year ago we covered the fundraising efforts of Palestinian protest musician Jowan Safadi. At the time he had 2 new albums in the works and now he contacted Shouts HQ’s to let us know of the success of the albums. Now he has released a new single titled ‘Super White Man’ (الرجل الأبيض الخارق) that comes in a beautiful animated video package.

A veteran of the protest music scene, Safadi has been writing music for the past 20 years about his experience as an artist and human being living in Palestine territories.

See also: “Palestinian Protest Musician Raising Funds For 2 New Albums”

Safadi wrote us a message about how his songs had traveled across the Arab world and its protests:

“…first of all allow me to thank you for the support with the album crowdfunding, a year ago. It came out and had a decent success. Songs featured there were played in the Lebanon revolution and protests around the Arab world.”

In ‘Super White Man’ Safadi addresses the powers that oppress and inflict perpetual pain onto people. Safadi himself has been arrested, tortured and oppressed by Israel, Jordan and other authorities and in the song he paint as picture of his experience in order to raise awareness of the issue.

“They told me everything about the holocaust
but no one told why I should pay the cost
They played wars and told me that I lost
and all the losers were forced to flee
Oh, super white man
Salamo alikom (peace upon you)
How does it feel
to solve your problem
and create one for me
and when… will I be free?”

– from Super White Man by Jowan Safadi (2019)

Cover photo credits: Jowan Safadi Facebook