Chris Trotter has spent most of his adult life either engaging in or writing about politics. He was the founding editor of The New Zealand Political Review (1992-2005) and in 2007 authored No Left Turn, a political history of New Zealand. Living in Auckland with his wife and daughter, Chris describes himself as an “Old New Zealander” – i.e. someone who remembers what the country was like before Rogernomics. He has created this blog as an archive for his published work and an outlet for his more elegiac musings. It takes its name from Bowalley Road, which runs past the North Otago farm where he spent the first nine years of his life. Enjoy.
The blogosphere tends to be a very noisy, and all-too-often a very abusive, place. I intend Bowalley Road to be a much quieter, and certainly a more respectful, place. So, if you wish your comments to survive the moderation process, you will have to follow the Bowalley Road Rules. These are based on two very simple principles: Courtesy and Respect. Comments which are defamatory, vituperative, snide or hurtful will be removed, and the commentators responsible permanently banned. Anonymous comments will not be published. Real names are preferred. If this is not possible, however, commentators are asked to use a consistent pseudonym. Comments which are thoughtful, witty, creative and stimulating will be most welcome, becoming a permanent part of the Bowalley Road discourse. However, I do add this warning. If the blog seems in danger of being over-run by the usual far-Right suspects, I reserve the right to simply disable the Comments function, and will keep it that way until the perpetrators find somewhere more appropriate to vent their collective spleen.
Until the next generation of protest singers find their voices (my apologies if I have missed them) I guess we have to roll out the old ones to galvanize the working masses.
Here's another old trouper (71 years old and still belting them out) with a strong message. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKmAb1gNN74&feature=related
Here's one of leading activist singer-songwriters of the 'next generation': David Rovics. He has dozens of songs available online at http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_music.cfm?bandID=111310
6 comments:
Until the next generation of protest singers find their voices (my apologies if I have missed them) I guess we have to roll out the old ones to galvanize the working masses.
Here's another old trouper (71 years old and still belting them out) with a strong message.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKmAb1gNN74&feature=related
Redgum, known for more than anti Vietnam war songs, defunct but the songs still resonate. They sing better than Bragg too.
Chris, if you don't already know it then I'm sure 'The Contract' will appeal to you.
It was written in the mid-1990s to celebrate the centenary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress.
There are Google links to the original but I rather like Roberts' version, which is almost maternal while retaining the militant tone of the original.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNxx7q_3LLU
Here's one of leading activist singer-songwriters of the 'next generation': David Rovics. He has dozens of songs available online at http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_music.cfm?bandID=111310
If you want modern day protest songs, I'm afraid you'll have to listen to some hip hop, rather than hammy acoustic guitar ballads.
Nothing acoustic about Billy, Alex. Hammy? Only occasionally ;-)
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