What Is The Meaning Of Protest Song

Upon first hearing the phrase “protest song” I immediately thought of songs and chants that are sung during picket lines and at rallies. I first believed that protest songs must directly address an issue that the artist or group of people wish to see changed in the near future. After doing some research I found that protest songs do not explicitly state that they are wishing for change. The song “Paper Planes” by M.I.A, or Mathangi Arulpragasm, is by my definition of the phrase, a protest song. This song was written in 2007, just a year after Mathangi Arulpragasm could not get a work visa into the United States due to racial profiling. According to In the Limelight and Under the Microscope: Forms and Functions of Female Celebrity by Su Holmes
The song was released and instantly became popular because of its catchy chorus. “Paper Planes” was also used in the preview for the movie “Slumdog Millionaire”, making it all the more popular. Many children would walk the streets singing the song, unknowing of its true meanings. Parents looked up the lyrics to the song and begin to protest it because of what they thought they meant. Many people believed that the song was showing support for violence and gang activity. M.I.A released a statement explaining her experiences and her intentions for the song. She believed that too many people were being negatively racially profiled. She used the lyrics of the song and her previous experiences to write a song that made it seem as if every immigrant that came into the United States was up to no good. She used the song to show people an extreme example of the things many believe to be true when they racially profile. The extreme popularity of the song allowed her to release her message, show the people how ridiculous their accusations can be, and lobby for a change in
This change can come from direct statements addressing a necessity for a change, or indirectly as “Paper Planes” does. Many songs make it very apparent that the artist is asking for a change. The song “Be Free” by J.Cole uses its lyrics to make it apparent to the listener that J.Cole is asking for some kind of change. The lyrics “All we want to do is break the chains off/All we want to do is be free” (Be Free J.Cole) show the need for a change in order for the people to finally be free and treated equally. These lyrics do not directly say “we need change to be free”, but they make it very apparent that J.Cole is asking for change. “Paper Planes” on the other hand makes an indirect suggestion. The lyrics and the use of satire to create an extreme example of an immigrant that fits the stereotypes of those that racially profile allow the audience to see that a change in thinking is necessary. The song does not explicitly state that racial profiling is bad, it does, however, allow us to see the ridiculousness of our assumptions. The use of lyrics such as “Sometimes I think sitting on trains/Every stop I get to I'm clicking my gun/Everyone's a winner we're making that fame/bonafide hustler making my name” (Paper Planes M.I.A) show how unlikely and extreme the stereotypes made against immigrants are. These lyrics require knowledge about the situation and the topic before you can understand what they actually mean. They do not directly say