The playlist of the resistance

"He slammed "King Trump's private army" in his new song, "Streets Of Minneapolis," singing: "In chants of 'ICE out now' / Our city's heart and soul persists / Through broken glass and bloody tears / On the streets of Minneapolis.""

"Protest comes naturally to punk-inspired artists like the Dropkick Murphys or Green Day. Others take a more tongue-in-cheek approach like Grammy-nominated singer Jesse Welles, who has racked up more than 26.6 million TikTok likes with biting folk songs that have earned him comparisons to Woody Guthrie. "If you're lackin' control and authority / Come with me and hunt down minorities / Join ICE," Welles sings."

"But modern protest music also comes in the voices of people who receive no fame or royalties and whose pitch isn't always perfect. The a cappella voices and wailing horns of groups like Singing Resistance and Brass Solidarity are the live playlists of protests in the Twin Cities. A Singing Resistance organizer told CNN's Anderson Cooper that music is a vehicle for demonstrators' grief, rage and strength. "It's a way to gather our courage," the organizer said. Noriko Manabe, a professor of music theory at Indiana University who analyzes the sounds of resistance, says she's observed a surge in protest singing at the Minneapolis demonstrations. She says "it makes a lot of sense" for people to come together in song at this moment, noting music was a key element of demonstrations during the U.S. Civil Rights movement. It "can be diffusing," Manabe says."

Musicians across genres are producing songs that oppose the Trump administration and express solidarity with Minneapolis protesters. Established artists like Bruce Springsteen and punk bands deliver direct political critiques, while satirical folk performers such as Jesse Welles reach large online audiences. Local, nonprofessional ensembles and horn bands supply on-the-ground soundtracks at demonstrations, providing a cappella chants and wailing horns. Organizers describe music as a vehicle for grief, rage, courage and communal strength. Scholars note increased protest singing reminiscent of the Civil Rights era and emphasize music’s role in diffusing tension and reinforcing collective resolve during sustained demonstrations.

Read at Axios