A group that calls themselves the “No Arena in Chinatown Solidarity” group failed miserably creating a protest song by ripping the Miley Cyrus song “Wrecking Ball” in order to aid their efforts against the Philadelphia 76ers building a new arena that would neighbor Chinatown.

I know it’s a VERY hot topic so please, save your gripes for the comment section.

I’m just here to review the protest music video, why it’s beyond corny, and if anything, makes me want to take the side of the Philadelphia 76ers building a new arena next to their beloved, historic neighborhood.

Kidding, kind of. But anyways, I also have a list of how protest songs should be written below. So relax, please.

NACS: No More Wrecking Balls – A Protest Against The Philadelphia 76ers

Oof..that was just tough to watch.

Sorry everyone, that’s just a bad music video and protest song. If you have a problem with that, then I’m sorry. I really am sorry (not really sorry at all) but feel free to hit the comment section and yell at me. I promise you I’ll read every one and leave it completely open for anything to voice their opinions on the topic, unlike PhillyCAM, who conveniently disabled them on the YouTube video above.

My Top 5 Protest Songs

Creedence Clearwater Revival: Fortunate Son

John Fogerty served in the Army Reserves and wrote the song about how the elite members of society made sure their own children never made their way to Vietnam. Like most great protest songs, it’s as relevant today as it was on the day of its release.

Rage Against The Machine: Killing In The Name

Rage released “Killing in the Name” as their debut single in 1992, a high-energy song about racism, police brutality and defiance.

“Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me.”

Bob Dylan: The Times They Are A Changin’

Bob Dylan released this classic just weeks after John F Kennedy’s death and just a few months before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 passed. It was a time of tectonic cultural shifts, and Dylan summed it up in a three-minute folk song.

Buffalo Springfield: For What It’s Worth

In solidarity with the Sunset Strip hippies who fought police over potential curfews, Stephen Sills penned “For What It’s Worth”.

No Doubt: Just A Girl

Yes. It’s a protest song. Gwen Stefani standing up to the male dominated music industry. Girl power, baby.

TO BE VERY CLEAR: I definitely do not want to knock over peoples homes or hurt small businesses in Philadelphia. That would be bad for everyone involved, obviously.

However, I think it’s fair to be very clear on where the proposed arena is being built.

76 Place is adjacent to Chinatown by a block or two, depending on what they plan on doing with the Greyhound bus station. I haven’t been keeping up with the latest news because honestly, I don’t give a shit, but it looks like the Sixers are willing to relocate the Greyhound terminal on Filbert Street to another location.

So again, just to be sure we’re all on the same page, the Sixers’ plan is to build an arena on the plot of land between Market, Filbert, 10th, and 11th streets, meaning they are not bringing “wrecking balls” into Chinatown, they are doing it right next door. 

Sure, I can understand why Chinatown residents can be mad but making these poorly written and produced protest videos while raging hell in city development meetings really isn’t helping their case.

Also, I never hear anyone on that side of things propose another site for a new arena. Do they have any alternative plans to bring to the table or are they going to pretend the area that residents call “Market East” or “The Gallery” after years of calling it “The Fashion District” failed miserably is a nice section of right outside center city Philadelphia?

Who knows. Don’t care. I want the 76ers to play in the Navy Yard along with the Philadelphia Union. Don’t yell at me.

If you want to read up about the arena and all the media coverage about it, check out Crossing Broad.

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