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Vote for Change
Make sure to go out and vote on Tuesday, November 4th. I hope, like many others, that come Tuesday BARACK OBAMA will be elected President of the United States. So, with this in mind, here is a list of songs about change, echoing his campaign’s central message.
Sam Cooke – “A Change is Gonna Come”
From The Man and His Music, this was the last single Cooke released before he his death in 1964. An anthem for the civil rights movement, it also feels appropriate in this day and age as well.
Bad Religion – “Change of Ideas”
From their landmark 1989 Lp No Control, this song proclaims that change comes when we change the way we think, no matter who is in charge.
David Bowie – “Changes”
From 1971’s Hunky Dory. I should note that I have a t-shirt with Obama’s image superimposed on the Aladdin Sane album cover and the word “Changes” written on top. It was made during the primaries but is of course just as relevant now!
Steely Dan – “Change of the Guard”
This is from their debut Can’t Buy a Thrill.
Sugar- “If I Can’t Change Your Mind”
This is from their debut Copper Blue.
The Notorious B.I.G. – “Things Done Changed”
From his debut Lp Ready to Die, this song concerns the violence that was all too prevalent in predominantly poor, African-American communities in the early ‘90s as a result of the crack epidemic and other reasons. This time, though, hopefully the title will indicate a change of course for the country.
The New Pornographers – “The Laws Have Changed”
This is from their 2003 album Electric Version.
The Flaming Lips – “Suddenly Everything has Changed”
This is from their landmark 1999 album The Soft Bulletin.
Fela Kuti – “Black President”
This is from his 1981 album of the same name. It’s also the name of an exhibition I attended back in 2003 at the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York.
Extra Golden- “Obama”
This is from their more recent album Hera Ma Nono. This song was written about as a thank you to Obama since helped the Kenyan members of this group get into the U.S. to record that album and to tour as well.
