Category: Rock & Pop

Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan was the first musician to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature, quite the recognition for the poetry of his lyrics and his global impact.  Though he has put out a huge repertoire of songs and covered many topics, some of his folks songs from the 1960s have become standards for singing about peace. … Read more »

John Lennon

Of course, John Lennon is known most for being one of the Beatles, but his iconic peace songs were produced during his solo career or with the Plastic Ono Band. “Imagine” has become an anthem for the hope of a world without destructive divisions.  It has become more than a song; it is an evocation… Read more »

Mai Khoi

Vietnamese folk singer Mai Khoi was arrested in March 2018 after returning from a tour in Europe (click here for the BBC report on her arrest).  She has a pop song about Vietnamese girls and her love for Vietnam, but has turned into a searing critic of repression of freedom of speech.  With her new… Read more »

Cranberries’ “Zombie”

I stumbled across The Cranberries on the NPR Tiny Desk Concerts.  They played their hit “Zombie” from the ’90s.  This Irish band was obviously coming from their own context in a song with strong words about the pain of violence and the deathly numbing of our brains as we silence ourselves: “When the violence causes… Read more »

“Peace Over Violence”

“Peace over Violence” (Towards a peaceful Zimbabwe 2018 National Elections) Article by Lance Muteyo Elections in Zimbabwe have been characterised by massive politically-motivated violence which has left a lot of ‘scars’ in communities. History tells us that politically-motivated violence occurs in every society at some point during its existence. Be it in time of independence… Read more »