WatchMojo's Top 10 songs that criticize America

For the TLDW:

10. This is America - Childish Gambino (talked about this one not long ago)

9. What's Going On - Marvin Gaye

8. The Revolution Will Not Be Televised - Gil Scott-Heron

7. The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carol - Bob Dylan

6. Fortunate Son - Creedence Clearwater Revival

5. Fight the Power - Public Enemy

4. Sleep Now in the Fire - Rage Against the Machine

3. Rockin' in the Free World - Neil Young

2. Mississippi Goddam - Nina Simone

1. Born in the USA - Bruce Springsteen

Honorable mentions: Bullet the Blue Sky - U2, For What It's Worth - Buffalo Springfield, Strange Fruit - Blue Holiday

Again, I know WatchMojo has a reputation, but here is one of their more interesting lists. Of course, look at the comments and it's all "WatchMojo hates America", when that's not the case at all.

While I'm glad that This is America and Born in the USA made the list. I'd add:

American Idiot - Green Day

Pink Houses - John Mellencamp

March of the Pigs - Nine Inch Nails

What song critical of America would you add?

1

I'm pleasantly surprised at the diversity in the list. Still, I'm disappointed to not see Bruce Hornsby's The Way It Is.

Good call on American Idiot.

These are more critical of America and the US in general, not strictly the government (though some are!). But when you say "critical" these are what come to mind.

If There's Hell Below We're All Gonna Go - Curtis Mayfield

Old Devils - William Elliot Whitmore political corruption

William Elliot Whitmore -Johnny Law corruption in law enforcement

2 Live Crew - Banned in the USA censorship

Lorde - Royals consumerism, commentary on the American music industry

Foster the People - Pumped Up Kicks school shootings, troubled youth. "all the other kids...better run faster than my bullet"

Against Me! - Baby, I'm an Anarchist about protesting. "You have faith in the elephant and jackass. And to you, solidarity's a four letter word"..."We march together for the eight-hour day"

Defiance, Ohio - Hey Kathleen, are you hungry? American frustration, apathy

Cobra Skulls - Cobracoustic anti-war, messing with foreign governments.

Andrew Jackson Jihad - People Pt 2 how people are terrible, society is terrible, mental illness is terrible

Mischief Brew - Thanks, Bastards! abuse of power, protesting.

Metallica - One anti-war. Based on the book Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo.

Eh if other countries mattered then they'd have critical songs as well.

Obvious punch at the moon landing being "fake" and the spread of American culture across other countries.

And a rough translation of the lyrics:

We're all living in America
America is wonderful
We're all living in America
America, America

When there's dancing I want to lead
Even if you're whirling around alone
Let yourselves be controlled a little
I'll show you how it really goes

We're making a nice round dance
Freedom is playing on all violins
Music is coming out of the White House
And Mickey Mouse is standing in front of Paris

We're all living in America
America is wonderful
We're all living in America
America, America

I know moves that are very useful
And I will protect you from missteps
And whoever doesn't want to dance at the end
doesn't know yet that they must

We're making a nice round dance
I will show you the way
Santa Claus is coming to Africa
And Mickey Mouse is standing in front of Paris

We're all living in America
America is wonderful
We're all living in America
America, America
We're all living in America
Coca-Cola, Wonderbra
We're all living in America
America, America

This is not a love song
This is not a love song
I don't sing my mother tongue
No, This is not a love song

We're all living in America
America is wonderful
We're all living in America
America, America
We're all living in America
Coca-Cola, sometimes war
We're all living in America
America, America