Popular music, for however much it’s worth, can say a lot about the state of the culture. Politicians, for however little they’re worth, can say a lot about the state of the nation.
I’ve always been a fan of speeches, and an even bigger fan of music. Will they blend? Let’s find out.
I just so happened to have on me a collection of great speeches on my hard drive — some from a self-descriptive collection, others from one handy Web site or another. I also had Rolling Stone magazine’s Top 500 Songs of All Time.
The biggest problem I have with Rolling Stone magazine’s Top 500 Songs of All Time — ignoring that Supertramp got outright gyped — is that the list turned out to be The Top 411 Songs Released Before 1980 Plus A Smattering of New Wave, Rap and Grunge. Flawed, but workable.
In short, my goal: To create playlists that mix speeches and music to get, for lack of a better idiom, a sense of what the decade was like in America.
What song would have been interrupted on the radio to carry the news that JFK was shot? Once Nixon finished his resignation address? When the Challenger exploded?
That in mind, I tried to keep the music more-or-less chronological and contemporary with the speeches — no Blondie during the Johnson administration — and, when needed, I edited the speeches down so that the whole playlist could fit on one audio CD. Each mix covers either two or three presidential terms; come back over the week or so to see what I came up with.
Due to copyright law and the like, I’m afraid you’re on your own for gathering the songs. There’s always iTunes, if you don’t mind dealing into the hands of an unscrupulous corporate hegemony, and if you’re unscrupulous yourself, there are plenty of other methods at your disposal.
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I neither condone nor encourage music piracy. Arrr at your own risk.
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Pingback on May 17th, 2008 at 8:40 am
[...] May 17, 2008 in Darndest ThingsTags: 1960s, bobby, disc, history, jfk, jr, kennedy, king, luther, martin, minow, mix, mlk, music, newton, sixties, speeches, tape, together Have no idea what this is all about? Check out the exposition. [...]
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Pingback on Jun 2nd, 2008 at 8:03 pm
[...] done a few that compile inside jokes. I’ve done decades of American history. My iTunes even has a playlist-in-progress that compiles good songs inspired by record producers. [...]
May 16, 2008 at 7:37 am
Just to give you a reference, I was born in the early 70’s, so the music from 1986 is the only of the three where I remember the songs when they were hits. Some songs are spot on, some would be totally tasteless given the circumstance. Considering (I assume) these would be songs played on American radio stations, I am certain that completely tasteless, inappropriate songs were played just after these events happened.
Actually on one of the top Dallas radio stations (for teenagers and pop music) “I have a boyfriend” by The Chiffrons was playing. The song was interrupted by news that shots had been fired…
Kennedy Nov. 23rd (?), 1963
Can’t Get Used to Loosing You- Andy Williams
Still by Bill Anderson
Blame it on the Bossa Nova - Eydie Gorme
Shut Down- Beach Boys
One Fine Day- Chiffons
Nixon August 8, 1974
The Joker - Steve Miller
Nothing from Nothing- Bill Preston
Put your Hands Together- O’Jays
Top of the World - Carpenters
Challenger Explosion Jan 1986
I Miss You, Klymaxx
Broken Wings - Mr. Mister
Alive and Kickin’- Simple Minds
Holding Back the Tears- Simply Red
When the Going Gets Tough- Billy Ocean
Venus- Bananarama
Danger Zone- Kenny Loggins
No One is to Blame- Howard Jones
Party All the Time- Eddie Murphy
Doubt this was what you were expecting… I love your blog, even though I might be the one where you change your “no delete” policy. ha!
I am sure I will regret this the second I hit the Submit button…
May 16, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Tasteless, hilarious.
May 17, 2008 at 6:23 am
I have not yet compiled my list, but this is a great idea for a classroom project!
May 17, 2008 at 10:55 am
Agreed. It would be hard to pull off, but very much worth it.
May 17, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Wow, dude, you are insane. I can’t even imagine putting all that together. Way to go.
May 17, 2008 at 8:20 pm
The first mix will be up tomorrow.