Welcome to 2018! Year of the woman, year of the underdogs, year of revolution. We all know that there is going to be a playlist to represent the year as a whole. I am here to help with that; here are 10 must-have songs on a revolution playlist.
1. “Salute”- Little Mix
“Salute” is a great power anthem to women everywhere. It caters to the wide range of women who inhabit the earth, referencing women who prefer boots to heels, or the later, or lipstick to bare face. It’s definitely a great song to keep in your playlist. Hey, it even doubles as a great workout song!
“Get your killer heels, sneakers, pumps, or lace up your boots, representing all the women, salute, salute.”
2. “Water Guns”- Todrick Hall and Jordan Sparks
This song is a bit difficult the first time you hear it if you aren’t fully aware of who Todrick Hall is and where this song originates from. This is from Hall’s hour long special, Straight Outta Oz, a play on a modern day Wizard of Oz with visual videos to accompany it. This song is specifically about racism and racial profiling as well as comments about gun violence. It’s amazing, and I would expect nothing less than from Hall.
“These ain’t water guns, and please save all our sons and daughters. What we fighting for?”
3. “Immigrants (We get the Job Done)” – Lin-Manuel Miranda
Lin-Manuel is a household name in America after the booming success of his Broadway musical, “Hamilton.” This song was straight off the Hamilton mixtape, describing the struggles of being an immigrant in America. He invites multiple artists to sing this piece giving it a unique and interesting spin on it all. It’s a song that hits your heart, but also gives you a sense of internal strength in fighting for others as much as yourself.
“Walk a mile in our shoes, Abróchense los zapatos.”
4. “Female”- Keith Urban
This is for all my country fans out there. It has been almost never since we got a real feminist power anthem that actually gave us power instead of tearing us down. This is exactly the song we’ve been waiting for! This is a cute song that explains the hardships of being a woman, and how each and every woman has a unique and beautiful personality to them.
“When somebody laughs and implies that she asked for it, just ’cause she was wearing a skirt, oh is that how it works?”
5. “Revolution Radio”- Green Day
This is just a fun upbeat song about righting the wrongs we have made against those we have wronged. It’s a song you can really put forward in your playlist before marching onward against all evils!
“Sing, like a rebel’s lullaby, under the stars and stripes, for the lost souls that were cheated.”
6. “Revolution”– The Beatles
The original song for change. It has been used in societal structures for what feels like forever; and yet, it’s often overlooked in modern day revolution playlists. It’s one of my favorites, speaking of love and peace rather than war and hate. Yet it still holds those accountable for their actions against a common good.
“You say you want a revolution. Well, you know we all want to change the world.”
7. “Praying”- Kesha
This song is especially emotional. Following her case against Dr. Luke falling through the cracks, Kesha wrote this beautiful piece riddled with pain, passion, and strength. One listen brought me to tears. It’s a song that I equate directly to the #MeToo movement. It’s an anthem to anyone whose voices have been unfairly drowned out, either to a mindless justice system, or unfair abuse of power. This song is a revolution in itself, and that’s why it deserves a place on this list.
“I had to learn how to fight for myself and we both know all the truth I could tell. I’ll just say this is “I wish you farewell.”
8. “Someday”- Celtic Women
This song has multiple covers and recordings. It originally comes from the musical Hunchback of Notre Dame. It’s a song that symbolizes hope for the future, and the idea that everyone who is wronged in the present, will find their peace and happiness in the future. However my favorite version of this song is performed by the Celtic Women. There’s something about the full choir in the background that gives it such a powerful performance.
“Someday, our fight will be won and, we’ll stand in the sun in, that bright afternoon….”
9. “Born this Way”– Lady GaGa
Lady GaGa has been a leader for those outcasted and rejected for being “abnormal”. When her hit song “Born This Way” came out, it was an anthem for the outcasts! It’s still extremely prominent in the music world, especially when she relates to such a wide range and variety of unique people. It’s a song that is a must have on everyone’s Revolutionary playlist.
“No matter gay, straight, or bi, lesbian, transgendered life, I’m on the right track baby I was born to survive.”
10. “We are the World”- Michael Jackson
This song has a very special place in the revolution. This song was written in hopes of rallying support for Haiti after the earthquake. Hundreds of artists got together and sang this song that The King of Pop wrote. It’s an all out amazing piece that beautifully represents unity, and family. That even across nations, and oceans, and far away lands every person on this planet should fight indefinitely for one and other.
“We are the world. We are the children. We are the ones who make a brighter day, so let’s start giving.”
These songs all will give your “Playlist for the Revolution” the right amount of willpower, emotion, and passion. Give them a listen, maybe it will become your new power anthem.