Classic Pop Icons

The UK’s New Statesmen magazine has published a list of the top 20 political songs, as voted for by their readers and members of the Political Studies Association.

Not surprisingly, the list contains some of the most famous protest songs of all time, including John Lennon’s “Imagine,” Bob Dylan’s “The Times They are a-Changin'” and Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land,” which takes the top spot. However, the list isn’t entirely predictable. Yes, Lennon’s peace anthem is there, but only at number 18. The far less high profile “Shipbuilding” by Robert Wyatt/Elvis Costello made number eight and Nina Simone’s “Mississippi Goddam” made number 12.

Top: Billie Holiday, Bob Dylan Bottom: John Lennon, Nina Simone

Clearly, many voters took the question seriously and didn’t simply go for the most obvious choices.

The profile of Rage Against the Machine’s “Killing in the Name” was raised greatly after a Facebook campaign led to it becoming the UK’s Christmas number one last year, so it’s no surprise that this song was the number 12 pick.

Top 20 political songs

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. Eugene 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

These type of lists rarely satisfy anyone, as they reflect the diverse tastes of those who have voted. It’s an interesting selection though and pleasingly eclectic. If nothing else, these polls do prompt us to reconsider and listen to songs we haven’t heard in a while. Here’s a selection from the top 20.

Woody Guthrie – “This Land is Your Land”

Nina Simone – “Mississippi Goddam”

Bob Marley – “Redemption Song”

John Lennon – “Imagine”

The excellent New Statesmen article provides a commentary on each of the tracks and a link to a podcast where you can listen to them.