Just came across a great website, which I think is fairly new, called Great Protest Songs. Written by a father and son team, the site covers protest songs, peace songs, freedom songs, anti war songs and political songs with links to YouTube clips and a blog. They also have a facebook page. Check it out here - its great!
Further Information
Great Protest Songs < http://www.greatprotestsongs.com/ > at 12 September 2011
Showing posts with label Wicked Wesbites. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wicked Wesbites. Show all posts
Monday, September 12, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
UNESCO
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) recently launched a new website hosting research on creative industries around the world. Some of the papers are a little old but it is good to see some attempts at collating the information into one space. You can access the site here.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Rouge Sounds David Weir
I am reading a thesis by David Weir about post 9/11 political mashups and thought you might like to check out some of his music before I post about it (I've nearly read it all) - check out The Redemption of George W and Howard Repents in particular - his MySpace profile is here.
The Redemption of George W
Howard Repents
The Redemption of George W
Find more artists like RogueSounds at Myspace Music
Howard Repents
Find more artists like RogueSounds at Myspace Music
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Wicked Websites: Union Songs
Check out this collection of union songs and poems - there are over 700 of them!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Free Music Archive.
I am a few days from really being back on this space but thought to let you know about the Free Music Archive. This site was started by WFMU, a freeform radio station in the United States.
The latest Creative Commons newsletter advises that the site was launched in April 2009. It hosts tracks available as free downloads using a number of licenses including Creative Commons. Users can download from a catalogue of 8,659 tracks (it was launched with 5,000 songs).
The site looks good but has some way to go in terms of growth and development. Nine thousand tracks is a good start but small compared to other sites such as Jamendo which, at present, hosts some 20,478 albums.
Like Jamendo, the Free Music Archive seeks to embrace new business models. It is intended that links will be provided enabling users to buy the full album and/or giving users the option of tipping an artist by making a deposit to the artists’ PayPal account (from what I can see these are not yet in place). Artist profiles also include tourdates allowing fans to both enjoy their art and support creators/performers by attending concerts.
Another good thing about the site is the album/track descriptions - these are much more detailed than what is found on many other sites including iTunes, eMusic and file sharing networks. The search function allows for key word searching of both the descriptions and the tracks which is a big improvement in terms of the architecture needed to help listeners find political music. One could well imagine the power of combing this design attribute with a much larger catalogue.
This site is in its infancy but is one to watch in the future.Take a look around and be exposed to some new independent artists. But be careful first to check that the license conditions permit uses that suit your needs.
More Information
Free Music Archive <http://freemusicarchive.org/>
Jamendo <http://www.jamendo.com/en/>
The latest Creative Commons newsletter advises that the site was launched in April 2009. It hosts tracks available as free downloads using a number of licenses including Creative Commons. Users can download from a catalogue of 8,659 tracks (it was launched with 5,000 songs).
The site looks good but has some way to go in terms of growth and development. Nine thousand tracks is a good start but small compared to other sites such as Jamendo which, at present, hosts some 20,478 albums.
Like Jamendo, the Free Music Archive seeks to embrace new business models. It is intended that links will be provided enabling users to buy the full album and/or giving users the option of tipping an artist by making a deposit to the artists’ PayPal account (from what I can see these are not yet in place). Artist profiles also include tourdates allowing fans to both enjoy their art and support creators/performers by attending concerts.
Another good thing about the site is the album/track descriptions - these are much more detailed than what is found on many other sites including iTunes, eMusic and file sharing networks. The search function allows for key word searching of both the descriptions and the tracks which is a big improvement in terms of the architecture needed to help listeners find political music. One could well imagine the power of combing this design attribute with a much larger catalogue.
This site is in its infancy but is one to watch in the future.Take a look around and be exposed to some new independent artists. But be careful first to check that the license conditions permit uses that suit your needs.
More Information
Free Music Archive <http://freemusicarchive.org/>
Jamendo <http://www.jamendo.com/en/>
Monday, June 23, 2008
Wicked Website: M.U.S.E.
I came across the website for Musicians United to Save the Environment recently and was excited to read about this organisation and their endeavours. MUSE is a non profit association set up and run my musicians interested in protecting the environment.
They release compilations of music, sell merchandising and hold live performances, directing the profits to fund environmental protection and sustainability projects within the United States.
The have a list of over twenty organisations they have supported so far on their website. Most recently they helped to fund the 18th annual Heartwood Forest Council which they describe as the ‘largest annual gathering of citizens from across the Eastern, Midwestern, and Southern United States’ who care about the health and well-being of their nation's forests.
In describing the birth of the organisation, Walkin’ Jim Stoltz states:
When I first proposed the idea for a non-profit organization to Craig Wagner in January of 1997, I saw a group of concerned musicians coming together to release a series of compilations benefiting various environmental causes. I felt that our community of eco-musicians could make a better, organized impact in helping some of the small non-profits that do so much good with so little funding. In my travels as a touring musician I work a lot with groups that give 200%. They’ve got heart and soul volunteers that dedicate much of their free time to the cause of protecting the Planet. Why not put music to work to help these kind(s) of organizations?
This is fantastic example of musicians working together to support political action. The artists involved often gather inspiration from the environment around them and issues relating to the preservation of natural resources. Music as an art form helps to educate others and as a commodity can be used to raise funds and provide financial assistance to organisations working toward a sustainable future.
More Information
M.U.S.E. <http://www.musemusic.org/index.php?pr=Home_Page> at23 June 2008
M.U.S.E. Music Makes a Difference Blog <http://www.musemusic.org/index.php?pr=Music_Makes_A_Difference> at 23 June 2008
They release compilations of music, sell merchandising and hold live performances, directing the profits to fund environmental protection and sustainability projects within the United States.
The have a list of over twenty organisations they have supported so far on their website. Most recently they helped to fund the 18th annual Heartwood Forest Council which they describe as the ‘largest annual gathering of citizens from across the Eastern, Midwestern, and Southern United States’ who care about the health and well-being of their nation's forests.
In describing the birth of the organisation, Walkin’ Jim Stoltz states:
When I first proposed the idea for a non-profit organization to Craig Wagner in January of 1997, I saw a group of concerned musicians coming together to release a series of compilations benefiting various environmental causes. I felt that our community of eco-musicians could make a better, organized impact in helping some of the small non-profits that do so much good with so little funding. In my travels as a touring musician I work a lot with groups that give 200%. They’ve got heart and soul volunteers that dedicate much of their free time to the cause of protecting the Planet. Why not put music to work to help these kind(s) of organizations?
This is fantastic example of musicians working together to support political action. The artists involved often gather inspiration from the environment around them and issues relating to the preservation of natural resources. Music as an art form helps to educate others and as a commodity can be used to raise funds and provide financial assistance to organisations working toward a sustainable future.
More Information
M.U.S.E. <http://www.musemusic.org/index.php?pr=Home_Page> at23 June 2008
M.U.S.E. Music Makes a Difference Blog <http://www.musemusic.org/index.php?pr=Music_Makes_A_Difference> at 23 June 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Wicked Websites: BlueKingBrown
In addition to the Song of the Moment segment I started last week I have decided to also add another ongoing category of posts, which for want of a better term, I will be calling Wicked Websites.
I was watching my favourite TV show last night (I don’t watch a lot of television but this one is a must for anyone who hasn’t seen it…) Spicks and Specks is a music quiz show on Australia’s ABC. Each week they have four guests – two for each team plus two team captains, who battle it out for the glory of having answered the most music trivia questions.
Last night they had Natalie Pa'apa'a on who is the lead singer of BlueKingBrown and she gave a short example of a song they are recording for their new album. The band started out busking on the streets of Byron Bay (not far from where I live) and are known for their very politically motivating music. Natalie explained that lyrics, regardless of the message within them, can never communicate or produce social change unless there is that initial reaction and identification with melody, rhythm or some other element of the music.
I have been scouring the ABC website to find a clip from last night but so far not much luck. However, a quick visit to Blue King Brown’s website site demonstrates a lot about the types of political issues they are interested in and often write about.
They have activism pages dedicated to the: Environment, Indigenous Affairs, NGO’s & Aid Work, Radical Laws Policies and Political Issues, Activism Through Art, Food & Produce, Indy Media, Fair Trade, So No to Nuclear Weapons, and In Our Region: East Timor.
I have loved their music for a long time and it forms some of the core music I refer to and use as a bench mark when considering my ‘scale of political music’ – it is most certainly up the end of ‘most political’.
Take a good look around their site, listen to some of their music (they have a few clips on YouTube which look to have been uploaded by the band) and as they say: Educate Yourself, Inform Your Networks, Act Now!
Further Reading:
ABC, Spicks and Specks: <http://www.abc.net.au/tv/spicksandspecks/default.htm> at 19 June 2008
BlueKingBrown: <http://www.bluekingbrown.com/index.html > at 19 June 2008
BlueKingBrownTV: <http://www.youtube.com/user/bluekingbrownTV> at 19 June 2008
I was watching my favourite TV show last night (I don’t watch a lot of television but this one is a must for anyone who hasn’t seen it…) Spicks and Specks is a music quiz show on Australia’s ABC. Each week they have four guests – two for each team plus two team captains, who battle it out for the glory of having answered the most music trivia questions.
Last night they had Natalie Pa'apa'a on who is the lead singer of BlueKingBrown and she gave a short example of a song they are recording for their new album. The band started out busking on the streets of Byron Bay (not far from where I live) and are known for their very politically motivating music. Natalie explained that lyrics, regardless of the message within them, can never communicate or produce social change unless there is that initial reaction and identification with melody, rhythm or some other element of the music.
I have been scouring the ABC website to find a clip from last night but so far not much luck. However, a quick visit to Blue King Brown’s website site demonstrates a lot about the types of political issues they are interested in and often write about.
They have activism pages dedicated to the: Environment, Indigenous Affairs, NGO’s & Aid Work, Radical Laws Policies and Political Issues, Activism Through Art, Food & Produce, Indy Media, Fair Trade, So No to Nuclear Weapons, and In Our Region: East Timor.
I have loved their music for a long time and it forms some of the core music I refer to and use as a bench mark when considering my ‘scale of political music’ – it is most certainly up the end of ‘most political’.
Take a good look around their site, listen to some of their music (they have a few clips on YouTube which look to have been uploaded by the band) and as they say: Educate Yourself, Inform Your Networks, Act Now!
Further Reading:
ABC, Spicks and Specks: <http://www.abc.net.au/tv/spicksandspecks/default.htm> at 19 June 2008
BlueKingBrown: <http://www.bluekingbrown.com/index.html > at 19 June 2008
BlueKingBrownTV: <http://www.youtube.com/user/bluekingbrownTV> at 19 June 2008
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