Music Monday means we get to spin some GBH music lovers’ top picks for another edition of All Things Considered Turntable.
This week, GBH’s production engineer and producer Dave Goodman joins us again to discuss a few favorite protest songs on his playlist with host Arun Rath. The songs underscore artists’ local connections and mixed feelings on America’s 250th celebration through music. What follows is a lightly edited transcript of their conversation.
Arun Rath: Let’s dive right in with song number one. What have you got queued up for us today?
Dave Goodman: So we’ve got queued up Kemp Harris, originally from a segregated town in North Carolina. Harris has been writing, performing, and teaching in the Boston area for many years. As a musician, he shared the stage with the likes of Koko Taylor, Gil Scott-Heron and Taj Mahal, and been a featured storyteller on an episode of GBH’s Stories from the Stage.
A retired schoolteacher, Kemp Harris pursues music and activism with his band, the Kemp Harris Group, and their latest album is called The America Chronicles. Here’s a little bit of track number 8 called “This Is America.”
Rath: That is something. I don’t know what to compare it to — maybe some Woody Guthrie with Frank Zappa?
Goodman: That’s a fair comparison.
Rath: I’m not sure — some other stuff thrown in there, too, but that’s it. I love that.
Goodman: And it’s a good question, right? This is America, right? I mean, honestly, Arun, I don’t think voters in 2024 expected that a “tough approach to immigration” would lead to ICE officers killing people. And musically, I like songs that ask and then basically answer questions before they’re done.
To name two more songs in this vein, “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye and “Is There Anybody Here” by Phil Ochs. By the way, coming up on August 16, Kemp Harris will join Callie Crossley on Under the Radar with Callie Crossley for a discussion about songwriting and the business of being a musician these days.
Rath: Awesome — looking forward to hearing that. All right, song number two.
Goodman: The next one addresses America’s faults much more directly. It’s called “Make America Go Away,” and it’s written by political folk singer David Rovics.
Now, he’s as human as a musician can be, Arun, touring around the world with his guitar and his songs. But, he also has an artificial intelligence alter ego called Ai Tsuno. That’s “Ai” — spelled A-I — and that’s the female voice you hear on this track.
Rath: Interesting. Generally, I don’t like AI mixing with my music, but that’s kind of an interesting use of it there.
Goodman: Yeah, it is. And I think he gets a mulligan on this. He’s been writing songs and performing in his own voice for many, many years.
I’ve known David Rovics for many years and first met him when he was living in Boston and performing as a busker. He’s now based in Portland, Oregon.
This song, “Make America Go Away,” is pointed and playful, two important ingredients in satirical political music, I think. And he’s prolific. Join his listserv, and he sends you a new song just about every day.
Rath: Wow, that’s awesome. It was actually making me think of, weirdly, Prince. Back in the ’80s and ’90s, his character Camille — which is put through a processor — that is one of his many, many alter egos back in the day.
We’ve got time for one more. What’s song number three on your playlist?
Goodman: So, this third track is from the Cambridge-based group Sol y Canto, led by Rosi and Brian Amador. They sing in Spanish and English, and this song, “Stand Up!,” is much more of an anthem than the others. The Amadors have performed the song at pro-immigrant rallies and outside the ICE detention center in Burlington.
Goodman: You know, Arun, it just occurred to me, they reference an old Big Bill Broonzy song there, “Black, White and Brown” in that song.
Anyway, sometimes topical music ages poorly. Unfortunately for the country, I think “Stand Up!” will be with us for a while.
