Spanning three hours, six decades and multiple genres, a playlist curated entirely of songs of protest, of objection and of liberation has come straight from Talking Heads frontman David Byrne.
Shared via the artist’s personal radio station, it’s a gift to listeners who want to feel inspired and empowered.
Talking Heads frontman David Byrne has delivered fans another massive playlist, this time purely focused on songs of protest and liberation.
With songs of racial violence (Billie Holiday’s Strange Fruit), economic injustice (The Specials’ Ghost Town), third-wave feminism (Rebel Yell by Bikini Kill) and international war and conflict (Sunday Bloody Sunday by U2), David Byrne has curated not only an epic playlist, but a lesson in history, in politics and in social justice.
Within the playlist, Byrne has also given voice to those who feel like they’re on the opposing side of resistance warriors:
“I’ve even included a few songs that “protest the protests.” Buck Owens, the classic country artist from Bakersfield, for example, has two songs here. “Rednecks, White Socks and Blue Ribbon Beer,” is a celebration of Americans who feel they are unnoticed, left behind. One might call it a populist anthem, but I think the reference to white socks is intentionally meant to be funny—in effect, it says: “we know who we are, we know how uncool white socks are”.”
Stream the playlist below:
And here’s the tracklist:
1. Here Comes The Change (From the Motion Picture ‘On The Basis of Sex’) – Kesha
2. Ghost Town – The Specials
3. Hurricane – Bob Dylan
4. Billy Austin – Steve Earle & The Dukes
5. Okie From Muskogee – Merle Haggard
6. Sólo le Pido a Dios – Ana Belén
7. Give Peace A Chance – The Plastic Ono Band
8. Me And A Gun – Tori Amos
9. Man Down – Rihanna
10. His Story – TLC
11. Give Ireland Back to the Irish – Blackthorn
12. At the Purchaser’s Option – Rhiannon Giddens
13. Love Is Blind – Eve
14. Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots Of Money) – Pet Shop Boys
15. Hands Dirty – Delta Rae
16. Strange Fruit – Billie Holiday
17. Fortunate Son – Creedence Clearwater Revival
18. When The President Talks To God – Bright Eyes
19. Sunday Bloody Sunday – U2
20. Alright – Kendrick Lamar
21. The Pill – Loretta Lynn
22. Born in the U.S.A. – Bruce Springsteen
23. Harper Valley P.T.A. – Jeannie C. Riley
24. Say It Loud – I’m Black And I’m Proud (Pts.1 & 2) – James Brown
25. Rebel Girl – Bikini Kill
26. Fight The Power – Public Enemy
27. Fight the Power (Pt. 1 & 2) – The Isley Brothers
28. Ohio – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
29. I Ain’t Marching Anymore – Phil Ochs
30. Long Walk To D.C. – The Staple Singers
31. War – Edwin Starr
32. Mississippi Goddam – Nina Simone
33. Get Up, Stand Up – Bob Marley & The Wailers
34. Rivers of Babylon – The Melodians
35. A Change Is Going To Come – Baby Huey & The Baby Sitters
36. With God On Our Side – The Neville Brothers
37. Standing In the Way of Control – Gossip
38. The Words That Maketh Murder – PJ Harvey
39. Road To Peace – Tom Waits
40. Changes – 2Pac ft. Talent
41. Rednecks – Randy Newman
42. Rednecks, White Socks And Blue Ribbon Beer – Buck Owens
43. Be Free – AcetheSpade ft. J. Cole
44. Reagan – Killer Mike
45. That’s Enough – Thompson & Richard Thompson
46. Streets of Bakersfield – Buck Owens
47. (For God’s Sake) Give More Power To The People – The Chi-Lites
48. Rising Down – Kaia Kater
49. (We’re Not) The Jet Set – George Jones & Tammy Wynette
Via Open Culture.
