If you can dance to it does it still count as a political song? The early songs by That Petrol Emotion worked on both the brain and the dancefloor and for me it was a potent combination.

Most of the songs that worked for me in a political sense did so when I was in my late teens, early twenties when you're beginning to realize how fucked up the world is and there's not a helluva lot you can do about it. It's then invigorating to realize that there are other like minded souls out there that are raging against the machine and encouraging each of us to do something about our predicament.

Unfortunately just like the artists, who also tend to be more "political" in their youth, as we grow older our ideals tend to become compromised and we get tired of kicking the pricks. Can't say either that there are too many out there making music of a political nature but perhaps the baby boomers said the same thing of the music in my heyday.

Fave political songs: (couldn't do just 5)

Peter Gabriel - Biko
Elvis Costello - Oliver's Army
The Specials - Ghost Town
The Clash - The Call Up
Midnight Oil - Best of Both Worlds
Billy Bragg - Help Save the Youth of America
The Jam - That's Entertainment
That Petrol Emotion - Big Decision
Public Enemy - Fight the Power
Boogie Down Productions - Stop the Violence
The Men They Couldn't Hang - Ironmasters