by Michelle Cassidy
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Between the first anniversary of the uprisings in Egypt and a lunchtime demonstration in Leo’s, it’s been a tumultuous few days both on campus and throughout the world. In the spirit of this omnipresent change, this week’s Friday Fixat10ns is filled with songs about protest, revolution, freedom and change. After the jump, a list of the songs and why they made the cut on this week’s playlist.
#Jan25 – Omar Offendum, The Narcicyst, Freeway, Ayah, Amir Sulaiman Inspired by the January 25, 2011 revolution in Egypt, a group of American musicians put together this song as a message of “solidarity and empowerment.” They even use a hashtag in the title to mimic the trending topic that dominated Twitter that day.
What’s Goin’ On – Marvin Gaye A wise man once said, “the only problem with Marvin Gaye songs is that they eventually end.”
Banned (By the Man) – Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin Just a warning, you might be humming the “na na na” bit for the rest of the day.
Blowin’ in the Wind – Bob Dylan What would this list be if it didn’t include a little Bob Dylan? He’s the grandfather of protest music.
So Let Us Create – Jukebox the Ghost A song about how we learn from the mistakes that we make. Bonus points for supporting D.C. locals Jukebox the Ghost!
This is Why We Fight – The Decemberists Lead singer Colin Meloy is known for the “literariness” of his lyrics, but this song is a rare exception. The lyrics echo the title repeatedly, driving home the message of what exactly it is that makes us want to fight back.
Get Up, Stand Up – Bob Marley This is the official song of Amnesty International, an anthem that encourages fighting oppression of all kinds.
Bleeding Bells – Delta Spirit Only a guitar and trumpet accompany lead singer Matt Vasquez on this simple but powerful song.
The Old Days – Dr. Dog Worth a listen, especially for the fantastic interludes that Dr. Dog does so well.
Man in the Mirror – Michael Jackson I dare you not to sing along.
