ABSTRACT
What makes a song of social or political protest effective? Does it foreground the lyrics, with minimal instrumentation, perhaps using an already familiar tune, lest the audience be distracted from the intended message? Does the songwriter attempt first to hook and reel listeners in with a catchy and danceable beat, hoping that the lyrical content will eventually sink in? Does it simply report the facts, or present the message in an earnest, sensitive, and deeply felt way, or does it make use of literary devices such as analogy, metaphor, irony, or satire to frame the content? This chapter explores competing strategies to convey a message of sociopolitical protest in song, with an emphasis on the presence (or absence) of humor, using examples drawn from a range of genres, issues, and eras.
