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The Specials’ Ghost Town is 30 Years Old

June 18th, 2011 | Posted by John Powles in Jerry Dammers | UK News - (0 Comments)

A fusion of ska, reggae and new wave, Ghost Town, written by Jerry Dammers, and performed by The Specials was released just over 30 years ago, on 12th June 1981; it was performed on Top of the Pops, and on July 10th hit number one in the pop charts. Perhaps no other song so evocatively captured the mood of the time – the Thatcher government (which had only been in power for a few months, and which would prove to be an unmitigated disaster) was already deeply unpopular, employment was high, economic hardship was widespread, and divisive elements were growing in a troubled society. Ghost Town became the soundtrack to the riots that would erupt in many cities across England in July 1981, following on from the Brixton riots in April. The lyrics dramatically articulate  bleakness and desperation:

This town, is coming like a ghost town
Why must the youth fight against themselves?
Government leaving the youth on the shelf
This place, is coming like a ghost town
No job to be found in this country
Can’t go on no more
The people getting angry

30 years old it may be, but the song still resonates, and as another unpopular Tory (or ConDem, whatever) government holds power, is it possible that Ghost Town will come to again capture the mood of the times?

Murandak – Songs of Freedom

June 12th, 2011 | Posted by John Powles in Asia-Pacific | First Nations Activism - (Comments Off)

Murandak means Alive in the Woirurrung language, and this documentary film, released a few weeks ago, brings together some of Australia’s finest Aboriginal musicians performing as the Black Arm Band. To quote from the makers Daybreak Films

Murundak charts one of the most significant events in Australian music history as the Black Arm Band sing up the country’s troubled past through their stories of sorrow, anger and hope.

To get an idea of the power and emotion of The Black Arm Band check out Is This What We Deserve.

Dave, Gideon, and The Common People

June 12th, 2011 | Posted by John Powles in AHMT / STUC Schools | UK News - (Comments Off)

Released just before the general Election in 2010, so not brand new, but unfortunately this version of The Common People is still as relevant as ever, and just too good to let go. Also a brilliant example of the way campaign songs can appropriate and adapt existing well-known songs, in this case Pulp’s Common People.

The Scottish “National Anthem” Debate Returns – Again

June 5th, 2011 | Posted by John Powles in Scotland - (Comments Off)

The recurring debate about whether Scotland should have its own national anthem and, if so, what it should be has been raised again following reports that First Minister Alex Salmond said he favoured Scotland Will Flourish, a songs written by the Corries in 1985.

Another Corries song – Flower of Scotland, written in 1967, has long been regarded as Scotland’s unofficial national anthem, and is used extensively at international sporting events. Whereas Flower of Scotland could be seen as backward looking (like many national anthems including God Save the Queen of course) and being anti-English in as much as it dwells on the times of Edward the second and the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, Scotland Will Flourish, despite being pedestrian and fairly uninspiring in parts, is at least forward looking and positive – as demonstrated by the chorus:

Scotland will flourish by the sweat of labour
The strength of our will and the force of our mind
Forget the old battles, those days are over
Hatred corrupts and friendship refines

And especially from two lines which are as relevant to Scotland today as when the song was written in 1985:

And let us be rid of those bigots and fools
Who will not let Scotland live and let live

U2 at Glastonbury – and a Tax Protest

June 5th, 2011 | Posted by John Powles in Anti Tax Avoidance - (Comments Off)

Art Uncut, a group with strong links to UK Uncut, is organising a weekend of protest to spotlights the group U2’s convoluted and controversial tax affairs. On Friday 24th June there will be a protest during U2’s headline performance at Glastonbury, whilst on Saturday 25th June there will be a night of song, music and comedy at the Bull and Gate pub in Kentish Town.

A statement from Art Uncut stress that this is not just a protest against Bono and his band colleagues, as a quote from the statement makes clear:

This is not just about having a dig at Bono. It is crucial to get people thinking about the ethics of taxation, and the relationship between tax and development. So far, UK Uncut actions have been incredibly successful at getting tax dodging into the public consciousness as a moral issue. If we can pull it off, this action will spread awareness of the suffering tax dodging causes to the developing world.

Art Uncut protest flyer

Fracking Provokes Rush of Protest Songs

June 2nd, 2011 | Posted by John Powles in David Rovics | Folk | North America | Rap - (Comments Off)

Songs have been released protesting against the practice of fracking, described by one anti-fracking group thus : “Hydraulic fracturing, or “Fracking”, is using over 500 toxic chemicals to shatter rock to extract more natural gas from wells, driving profit up. It pollutes our groundwater and the air and is killing us. It is putting profit over the planet. It is time we ban this toxic practice that is harming our planet”.

For example NYU Studio 20 students have created a very creative and informative video to explain fracking complete with backing rap My Water’s On Fire Tonight (The Fracking Song).

Meanwhile singer Dave Rovics has written No Fracking Way, which concludes with a very clear message!

As if the situation weren’t sufficiently unattractive
We tested the water and found it was radioactive
Now my property is worthless and there’s a tumor in my brain
Half of my neighbors are sick, the rest are just in pain
Maybe I should take the money, move off to live somewhere
But all the places I look at, they’re fracking there
Our choices now are simple, lose that which we hold dear
Or communicate the message in a way that’s unstoppably clear
…Tell these frackers to frack off, both tomorrow and today

“Freedom for Palestine” Song Promoted by Coldplay

June 2nd, 2011 | Posted by John Powles in Middle East - (Comments Off)

British group Coldplay have posted a message on the band’s Facebook page inviting fans to listen to the song “Freedom for Palestine”, a musical collaboration initiated by the OneWorld organization. The message reads “Some of our friends are involved in OneWorld’s new ‘Freedom for Palestine’ single – find out more at http://www.waronwant.org/freedomoneworld/.” The song features musicians Maxi Jazz from Faithless, Jamie Catto from 1 Giant Leap and other musicians and singers from around the, and shows images of the security fence, Palestinian residents and the different artists performing the song, and organizations involved in the project include The Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Jews for Justice for Palestinians, A Just Peace for Palestine, Friends of Al Aqsa, Stop the War Coalition and War on Want. All proceeds from the single will go to War on Want for projects in the Palestinian.