People have the power
TASK 5 (CLASSROOM) - PEOPLE HAVE
THE POWER
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translate some stanzas
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explain what the author’s message is
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prepare a short presentation about a world event in the 1980s and deliver it in front of the class
Do you know what a protest song is? Can you name any protest song? Have you ever heard about Patti Smith?
A protest song is a song that expresses disapproval and it is usually a part of a movement to change society. Many protest songs have lyrics that directly call for change, while others
use humour or irony to make their point. Besides, they can be folk, classical, commercial, rap or any other music style.
Famous contemporary artists like Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar sing protest songs, as we will see. But some songs
from years ago are still very popular today, like, Imagine
by John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
Another well-know protest song of all time is People Have
the Power, by Patti Smith, an American poet, songwriter
and performer that often uses her work to get public attention on social or human rights topics.
Let's listen to this song and read the lyrics (in English
and Spanish) .
This song was written in 1988, but its message is universal. In a magazine interview, Patti said:
I want people to sing my song all over the world to inspire them for different causes. And it has happened. I’ve walked in marches all over the world where people spontaneously started singing it, you
know, whether it’s been in Paris or with
the Palestinians or, you know, in Spain
or New York City, or Washington D.C.