Five years ago we published a list of the 20 greatest political songs. We had everything from Dylan and Marley to Billie Holiday and U2. We took a look at the stories behind each and the reasons for their success. You can take a look and listen to the list below.
Next month we are publishing an updated list – and new ones on the most political novels, films and works of art.
We want to include your choices. Should any of these 20 songs make this year’s list? Or is the greatest piece of political music missing?
You can vote and comment here.
1. Woody Guthrie – “This Land is your Land”
2. The Special AKA – “Free Nelson Mandela”
3. Bob Dylan – “The Times they are a-Changin'”
4. Billie Holiday – “Strange Fruit”
5. Claude de Lisle – “La Marseillaise“
6. U2 – “Sunday Bloody Sunday”
7. Eugène Pottier – “The Internationale”
8. Robert Wyatt/Elvis Costello – “Shipbuilding”
9. Sex Pistols – “God Save the Queen”
10. William Blake – “Jerusalem”
11. The Who – “Won’t Get Fooled Again”
12. Rage Against the Machine – “Killing in the Name”
13. Tracy Chapman – “Talkin’ ’bout a Revolution”
14. Nina Simone – “Mississippi Goddam”
15. Marvin Gaye – “What’s Going On?”
16. Gil Scott-Heron – “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”
17. Bob Marley – “Redemption Song”
18. John Lennon – “Imagine”
19. Pete Seeger – “Where Have All the Flowers Gone”
20. Tom Robinson – “Glad to be Gay“