Song of the Day – U2/The Alarm Protest(ish) Pop

I saw The Alarm play at the UofD field house (maybe 1987). They had a hit with this song, “68 Guns” which has a protest-y vibe that is pure veneer. There is no political message whatsoever. Like Twisted Sister shaking its fist at “the man” signifying nothing, this song amounts to not much more than a catchy hook which seemed right for the time.

Similarly, U2’s “Sunday Bloody Sunday” was the opening track from their 1983 album War, but got won a wider audience in the US when the song and video from the live album “Under a Blood Red Sky” was released in 1984. The song sure sounds protest-y with its militaristic drumbeat, harsh guitar, and melodic harmonies. And while in comparison to other U2 songs it is overtly political, the song and the band took pains to not comment directly on Irish politics. If it is protesting anything it is protesting the need to continue protesting.