When Music Meets Resistance

By Tia

When we have a week like the one we just experienced, I find myself struggling to do the most basic of tasks.

I am either thrust into a depression that leaves my house in disarray, friendships strained, and the will to leave my house nonexistent. Other times I find myself so charged and ready to spring into action that I still want to abandon all the things and focus solely on the fight for our country’s soul and democracy. Obviously living in these two extremes isn’t healthy or helpful to anyone and, since it doesn’t appear to be slowing down, I have had to find my own way to cope with the new reality we live in.

You know how they say, “if it aint broke, don’t fix it”? Well sometimes they are right. When I was a kid–though I didn’t realize at the time–I used music to help me through learning disabilities, abusive parents, and bullying. Now as an adult, when this regime throws me into “fight or flight” like I was as a kid, I instinctively begin looking for music.

I desperately need to find music that brings me hope when I feel my lowest. Songs that speak to my soul when words escape me and I am caught gutted and broken. A shared lament that helps me to know I am not alone.  And I need songs that match my anger and energy, to help me process it and put those emotions to good use. Instead of throwing Molotov cocktails, I can aggressively clean and organize something, or listen to the songs as I make protest signs.

The American Psychiatric Association points to the power that music has to heal trauma and build resilience, explaining that by “engaging in music-making activities, such as drumming circles, songwriting, or group singing can facilitate emotional release, promote self-reflection and create a sense of community.”

This is a huge reason why music is sung in churches, funerals, protests, and vigils. Music isn’t just lyrics and melodies. It has a soul that begs to be heard, felt, experienced and then shared. It’s this soul that inspires me to invite–no, encourage readers to curate your own playlist(s) of Resistance songs.

Make a Playlist

A playlist is a collection of songs picked by you or others typically for a set purpose. It is an available feature on any music streaming platform such as Spotify, Apple Music, Google Music, Tidal, Qobuz, etc.

By curating your own playlist, you are creating a “snapshot” of sorts of who you are and what you need in this moment. The practice of searching for songs, finding new artists and genres that excite you and touch YOUR soul is part of the process of healing and resilience building. Find what speaks to your truth and experience. It’s deeply personal, which is why its value is in taking the time to curate your own lists instead of using others.’  

Create an F-ing Awful News Week playlist or a Fight the Oligarchy list to rally yourself. A Be Still My Soul playlist to sit with your feelings and pick yourself back up. A Protest Sign Making playlist. Then share it with friends and share a piece of yourself with them.

Ask friends what they listen to and get new ideas from them. I have been told by the elders that listening to music used to be an experience shared in a single room together. How can we bring that back?

All this to say, music has a way of giving us words when we can’t find them. Our bodies sync up to music to create a harmony that can only be understood after it is experienced. Finding the right song can bring your body and mind into balance.

So, go forth and build your Resistance Playlist or your Resilience Playlist. Below you will find a brief explanation on how to start and where to look. I even included a few of my favorites.

Get Started

1. Create playlist – Every platform is different, but every platform can do it. A quick Google or YouTube video search can help you out. Search “How to create a playlist on [insert platform: Apple Music, YouTube, etc.].”
2. Head start – I was delighted to find that resistance playlists already existed. Searching “Resistance Music”, “Resistance Playlist” is a great way to start.
3. Listen – listen to a song on the list. If you like the song, add it to your created playlist.
4. Similar artists – If you find artists that you enjoy (like Dropkick Murphys), most platforms will point you to additional artists that share similarities to them.
5. Have fun – there is no bad playlist!

Resources

• The Ongoing History of Protest Music  – a website dedicated to the wonderful art of protest music.
• Youtube Video Playlists: e.g. Here’s a list of classic Protest & Political Songs
• The Resistance – a YouTube channel dedicated to making songs that inspire people and using humor to call out the absurdity of this regime. Great for a laugh in the midst of all the chaos.

Artists to Explore

• Dropkick Murphys – Irish American rock band that recently did an album of Woody Guthrie’s songs called This Machine Still Kills Fascists.
• Jesse Wells – American folk artists recently featured on The Late Show.
• John Mellencamp – A rock artist with several topical songs including an album called Freedom’s Road.
• Tracy Chapman – “Talkin’ Bout a Revolution”
• The Honeydrippers – They had a banger back in the day with “Impeach the President”
• Cake
• Bob Dylan
• Edwin Starr
• John Lennon
• Joan Baez
• MDC
• Bob Marley
• Joni Mitchell
• Arlo Guthrie
• Grateful Dead
• The Beatles
• The Interrupters
• Pete Seeger
• Creedence Clearwater Revival
• The Jimmie Hendrix Band
• The Cranberries
• Macklemore
• Earth to Eve
• The Neighborhood Kids
• Black Eyed Peas
• Fleetwood Mac
• Demi Lovato
• Woody Guthrie

There are so many other artists and I don’t mean to leave anyone out. Feel free to add suggestions in the comments!

Tia is a member of the COIN Comms Team, and Dunes City Indivisible.

Disclaimer: Self Care posts are shared for information purposes only, and are never intended as individual medical advice nor as a substitute for healthcare services.

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