Humor about protest songs

My favorite protest songs from the 60s and early 70s

Welcome, everyone, to a bonus post in this series about my favorite protest songs from the sixties and early seventies.

If you’re new, here’s a list (with links) of what we’ve covered so far:

• “Blowin’ in the Wind” by Bob Dylan (1963)

• “Masters of War” by Judy Collins (1963)

• “Eve of Destruction” by Barry McGuire (1965)

• “For What It’s Worth (Stop, Hey What’s That Sound)” by Buffalo Springfield (1966)

• “Gimme Shelter” by the Rolling Stones (1969)

• “Sweet Cherry Wine” by Tommy James & the Shondells (1969)

• “Give Peace a Chance” by the Plastic Ono Band (1969)

• “Big Yellow Taxi” by Joni Mitchell (1970)

• “Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)” by the Temptations (1970)

• “Ohio” by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (1970)

• “War” by Edwin Starr (1970)

• “Signs” by the Five Man Electrical Band (1971)

• “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye (1971).

Today I’m sharing some humor about protest songs, thanks to readers who brought some examples to my attention. This week seems like a good time.

Herewith for your enjoyment are four comedians bringing us their own unique take on protest songs — Jack Black, Hugh Laurie, Ricky Gervais, and Tom Lehrer.

Sticking it to the Man

As substitute teacher Dewey Finn tells the kids in School of Rock, the whole point of rock and roll is sticking it to “the Man” who’s screwing up the world and making everyone’s lives miserable.

Rock and roll is about protesting the perfidy of atrocious authority figures, so by Dewey’s definition all rock and roll songs are protest songs.

The other thing — did you know there is a rare blood disease called “stick-it-to-de-man-neosis”? Something I’ve suffered from my entire life, according to my mom.

Thanks to reader adrienneep for reminding me of some great scenes in this classic film, starring Jack Black in a role that fits him to a ‘T’, and who brings his musical chops as part of the comedy rock duo Tenacious D to the role.

Kudos also to director Richard Linklater, the fabulous Joan Cusack as “the Man,” and the uber-talented kids learning that the best way to protest bad authorities is —indeed and always — to play kickass rock and roll.

In this short clip, Dewey gives the kids, and us, his “stick it to the man” philosophy on life and music:

Protest song satire from Hugh Laurie

You probably know the brilliant Hugh Laurie from House, or Blackadder, or Jeeves and Wooster, or as the cranky airplane seatmate who told Rachel off on Friends as she rushed across the Atlantic to stop Ross’s wedding to Emily.

But this clip is from Hugh’s comedy sketch series with the equally brilliant Stephen Fry called A Bit of Fry and Laurie. Even the other musicians are amusing in this protest song satire, and, as usual, Hugh is a hoot.

Ricky Gervais punctures protest songs

John Lennon and Yoko Ono, the Culture Club, Billy Joel, Bob Geldof, and the Special A.K.A. all come in for skewering by Ricky Gervais in this bit about protest songs from his Politics show.

If you’ve seen any of his comedy, you know he doesn’t hold back and nothing is off-limits. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Tom Lehrer’s protest against protest songs

Thanks to Jackie Ralston for her post in response to this series and to NickS (WA)’s piece on “What makes a good protest song?”.

As Jackie tells us, “the radio station in [her] mind started playing a snarky retort” —Tom Lehrer’s “The Folk Song Army.”

We have to listen to that radio station in our minds that makes fun of the inanities that we regularly encounter in daily life — including protest songs that, as Tom Lehrer points out, are so “serious” that the artists feel they have the right to violate the principles of good songs.

Clearly, Tom don’t think so, bra.

I’ll be back next with a list of honorable mentions in this protest song series, so stay tuned, hang in there, dude, and keep it real.