Protest Songs

Spoken Words, Male vocals… Key: Em Tempo: ~65 BPM Feel: Slow, heavy, almost like a heartbeat dragging Chord Progression (loop through most of the song) Em – C – G – D Let it ring, Don’t rush the strum

Turn this into a song with chords (guitar/piano), adapt it into a blues, soul, or indie style or make it a dialogue-style duet (D vs G) which could be powerful on stage, male voice

Key: Dm Tempo: Free → settles around 70 BPM Feel: Starts spoken/free, then locks into pulse Guitar (main loop): Dm – Bb – F – C (but don’t loop mechanically—break it) Male voice

Indie, slow, keyboard, drums, sax, acoustic guitars… Am – F – C – G (slow, reflective) Keep the guitar fingerpicked and minimal in verses; let her voice be intimate, almost whispering, • Chorus can swell slightly with soft synth or strings to underline the emotional lift of “I hold on, I breathe, I fight, ” • Bridge could be spoken or softly sung to heighten tension and the mother’s fear, • Tempo: slow (around 60–70 BPM) to let each word land

Slow tempo, mourning blues feel, girl voice, acoustic guitar Am – F – C – G

Afrobeat, male vocals, drums, guitars, bass, cymbals, tambourine

Rock, indie rock, male vocals, clean, electric, ambient, fast, dramatic

rock, indie rock, male vocals, clean, electric, ambient, male vocals, dramatic, indie rock, simple

Mid-tempo Afrobeat groove, earthy percussion with talking drum and shakers, rubbery bass locking in with clean electric guitar licks, Call-and-response male vocals with a small chorus, horns punching accents in the hook, Verses stay lean and percussive, chorus swells with layered chants and subtle organ pads, building a simmering protest energy that still keeps hips moving