Occupy Wall Street is causing a stir in New York City, with the seeming revival of the hippy movement from the 1960s in full swing. These protests have even trickled down to Charlotte, NC — once considered the banking capital of the United States — where 500 people gathered to sit out their consternation with wall street greed, the debt crisis, and corruption in all sectors of the financial industry. Since we’re here to talk about folk music, we can’t help but recall the popularity of the protest songs of decades past, even as we brace ourselves for its unwanted resurgence. Rather like bell bottoms, we appreciate that they existed, but we are thankful that no one is wearing them now.
Here is an infographic with some of the most popular folk ballads and protest music in the history of the USA. From homeland security to home security, you will find the all-American themes of these songs to be at once familiar and dreaded. Well, some of them. The hippy ones, perhaps. Check out the titles, the artists, and the stats. Think about how this might happen again as a modern reflection of the protest culture revival that is taking place in America. Let us know what you think.
