Can you guess who's still standing?
Prior to Bill Clinton, the most contentious president was arguably Ronald Reagan. He was highly conservative, and was criticized for increasing federal debt, spurring the war on drugs, and opposing labor unions.
The Ramones criticized a foolish move by Reagan in their song 'Bonzo Goes to Bitburg.' On a trip to West Germany, Reagan paid a visit to a Bitburg cemetery where many Nazi soldiers were buried.
Prince wrote the song 'Ronnie, Talk to Russia,' appealing to the president to make peace with Russia and end the Cold War before a nuclear attack.
Tupac Shakur and his rap group wrote the song 'Letter to the President' in 1999. He attacked the president for his failure to improve life for black Americans.
Pink released the song 'Dear Mr. President' in 2006. It was written as an open letter to President Bush, challenging the war, the prison system, and his views on women's rights and LGBT rights.
The current US president is one of the most 'serenaded' presidents in history. A wide range of artists have lined up to take their crack at Donald Trump.
Eminem released his strange eight-minute song 'Campaign Speech' in 2016, shortly before Trump was elected.
Scottish band Franz Ferdinand wrote the song 'Demagogue' about Trump. A demagogue is a leader who gains support by appealing to people's desires and prejudices rather than with rational arguments.
English band Genesis released the song 'Land of Confusion' in 1986. The video hit harder than the song did, showing a clumsy puppet version of Reagan bumbling around and causing mass destruction.
Rapper Killer Mike released a song criticizing Reagan in 2012. 'Reagan' draws comparisons between Ronald Reagan and all the presidents who followed, accusing them of being puppets.
Jimmy Eat World went with a similar theme in their song 'My Enemy.' They warned against the consequences of using fear to polarize the population and gain support.
The indie band wrote the song ‘Million Dollar Loan' in 2015, lampooning Trump for his claim that he's a self-made businessman who started out with only a "small loan" from his father.
Demi Lovato debuted her song 'Commander in Chief' at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards. The song criticizes Trump very directly, accusing him of spinning lies and acting for personal gain.
Jimmy Eat World released their song 'Futures' just before Bush's re-election in 2005. It expresses hope for better things in November, the election month. The overall theme of the song seems to be taking matters into your own hands and standing up for your future.
Bright Eyes released the song 'When the President Talks to God' the year of Bush's re-election, roasting the president for his claim that he talks to God.
Before his death, Nipsey Hussle recorded the song 'FDT' with rapper YG. FDT stands for "f–k Donald Trump." This one really speaks for itself!
The band Gorillaz released their song 'Hallelujah Money' the night before Trump's inauguration. The haunting song references the building of walls and seems to herald the apocalypse.
Canadian band Arcade Fire debuted their song 'I Give You Power’ from a speaker in a helicopter circling Trump's inauguration!
The song was recorded a year before Trump's election, but already referenced the danger of fake news and the rise of authoritarian power.
The lyrics accuse Nixon of failing to deliver on his promises to make things better, leaving his people suffering and frustrated.
Elton John's song 'Postcards from Richard Nixon' explores the president's fall from grace and the many mistakes he made, all through the eyes of a young Elton John arriving in the US with the dream of becoming a star.
(Mercury News) (NME)
Some stars aren't afraid to take to the streets and show their discontent with the status quo! Find out which celebrities have been arrested while protesting.
While she sang, the word 'VOTE' was displayed in giant letters on the screen behind her.
Music has always been a medium for protest and the incitement of change. Musicians have earned greater freedom to express themselves as the years have passed, and today almost anything goes!
Prior to Donald Trump's election in 2016, a large section of the music community organized a protest called "30 days, 30 songs." Every day of the month before the election, one artist would release an anti-Trump song they had written. But generations before them used their voices for the same purpose, albeit in a less organized fashion! Click through the following gallery to see which daring artists released protest anthems about US presidents.
The best presidential protest songs in history
These artists expressed their disappointment through music
MUSIC Politics
Music has always been a medium for protest and the incitement of change. Musicians have earned greater freedom to express themselves as the years have passed, and today almost anything goes!
Prior to Donald Trump's election in 2016, a large section of the music community organized a protest called "30 days, 30 songs." Every day of the month before the election, one artist would release an anti-Trump song they had written. But generations before them used their voices for the same purpose, albeit in a less organized fashion! Click through the following gallery to see which daring artists released protest anthems about US presidents.