In 1984, former South African president Nelson Mandela was convicted for sabotage after challenging the prevalent apartheid system in South Africa. English ska-punk band The Specials released "Nelson Mandela" in hopes of providing clarity on Mandela's efforts during an era where the public was given an image of Mandela as a man of treason. The song's success in creating protest unity is credited to its catchy rhythmic pop bounce and the repetitive, distinct message: "Free Nelson Mandela."

English rock band Radiohead's "Idioteque" falls under the category of protest songs in an unconventional way. Though the song doesn't feature outright lyrics in favor of a social movement, "Idioteque" lyricizes a story of a fictional apocalyptic wasteland, with various references to nuclear war and human destruction. The track is often associated with the climate crisis movement, indicating a warning of a future after the growth of excessive global extremes in temperature.

Released in 1984, "Ohio" is a classic political protest track that centralizes one particular attack into a nationwide call for action. After the tragedies of the Kent State University school shooting, where four students lost their lives, Young recorded "Ohio" as a reaction to gun violence growth and an anthem of justification against moving forward with the Vietnam War. The result is the peak of politically active songwriting, a piece that remains relevant in ethics even today.

After the events of 9/11, a detrimental effect of the nationwide fear of terrorist attacks was racism against citizens of Asian descent. In response, George W. Bush led America into the Iraq war, furthering existing tensions within the country. English rock band Green Day's "American Idiot" attacks the consequential ideas of fear and xenophobia that ran prevalent in America due to biased media coverage of the Iraq war. The band has been known for its political activism, often using its music to directly promote political movements.

The rock track "W.M.A." by alternative rock band Pearl Jam, released in 1993, discusses the brunt of police brutality and systemic racism in the American justice system. The acronym "W.M.A." stands for 'White Male American,' a character portrayed to have inherent privilege based on the color of his skin, particularly when it comes to encounters with the police. Lead vocalist Eddie Vedder wrote the song after witnessing some Black and Indian men getting harrassed by police in the street outside Pearl Jam's studio; in the song, he declares "police stopped my brother again" in alliance with those fighting stigmatization by the police.