Where's Joan Baez?

Joan Baez, where are you? Music industry, where are you? I just wanted to make a quick note this morning that I can't believe there isn't a popular song or artist that's speaking out against the war on a grand scale. Sure, there are songs by Bruce Springsteen and countless others, but nothing anthemic. Most of the anti-war songs are remakes from decades ago. The Dixie Chicks are protesting in their own way, but its self-righteous.

If the music industry can produce such superhits as "The Macarena", "The Thong Song", and "Who Let the Dogs Out" I'd like to see just one out of the top 20 on billboard capturing the zeigeist of disatisfaction and frustration about the war, the mishandling of Katrina, and every other damn thing the administration and congress is doing now. There are some top songs out there now that are metaphorically veiled critiques (such as Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy"[and awesome video links]), but nothing with true cojones [another awesome video link].

Where oh where is the "Killing in the Name", "Fuck tha Police", "911 is a Joke", "Cop Killer", "Fortunate Son", "Get Up Stand Up", "Bullet in the Blue Sky", or "Sunday Bloody Sunday"? America has a rich tradition of protest songs and the music industry is betraying it.

End note: Where oh where has my Air America gone? Also, I've been pondering why we call this the "War in Iraq". Definitely a telling naming choice.