You might have noticed that an Election is upon us. We at The Bubble Music Section wanted to get involved, so we’ve come up with a playlist for you to play at your general election party (how else would want to spend your Thursday night than in front of the television, watching David Dimbleby until sunrise, and falling out with your friends?). The playlist ranges from songs that are actually political to ones that really aren’t. I asked fellow Bubble editors, contributors and friends for their suggestions, and this is what we came up with.
For a playlist of all the songs (well at least the ones that were on Spotify), click here.
Jobseeker – Sleaford Mods
The Nottingham ‘shouted-word’ duo give a monologue from an unemployed perspective.
The National Health – Maximo Park
“England is sick and I’m a casualty”
Shipbuilding – Elvis Costello
The Fawklands war revives the Scottish shipbuilding industry, the same war that has many of its sons fighting eight thousand miles away.
Farewell to Welfare – Grace Petrie
A scathing attack on the Coalition and its record on welfare.
I Think The Answer’s Yes – The Beautiful South
“To a world where the leaders finally confess, to the burning of the Stock Exchange and bombing of the press”
Taxman – The Beatles
George Harrison bemoans the 60s 95% super tax: “There’s one for you, nineteen for me”
Talkin’ ‘bout a Revolution – Tracy Chapman
“Poor people gonna rise up and get their share. Poor people gonna rise up and take what’s theirs”
Between The Wars – Billy Bragg
“I was a miner, I was a docker, I was a railway man between the wars. I raised a family in times of austerity with sweat at the foundry between the wars”
(We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang – Heaven 17
“Brothers, sisters, we don’t need this fascist groove thang”
Darling Alistair – Little Comets
Can you guess who it’s about?…
Hold Ya Mouf – Dizzee Rascal
“I’m a problem for Anthony Blair”
This is not a Song It’s an Outburst – Rodriguez
“Public gets irate but forget the vote date”
Master of My Craft – Parquet Courts
“I didn’t come here to dream or teach the world things, Define paradigms, or curate no livin’ days. With high thread counts and staircases high, Hourly rates – high. A minute of your time? Forget about it”
Five Get Over-Excited – The Housemartins
“Feigning concern, a Conservative pastime, makes you feel doubtful right from the start. The expression she pulls is exactly like last time, got to conclude she just hasn’t a heart”
Heartland – The The
“All the bankers gettin’ sweaty, beneath their white collars, As the pound in our pocket, turns into a dollar”
Ill Manors – Plan B
“He’s got a hoodie on give him a hug. On second thoughts don’t you don’t wanna get mugged. Oh shit too late that was kinda dumb. Whose idea was that… stupid…”
Everything Counts – Depeche Mode
“The grabbing hands grab all they can, All for themselves – after all: It’s a competitive world”
Electioneering – Radiohead
“You walk forwards, and we’ll walk backwards, and somewhere we will meet”
Cunts Are Still Running the World – Jarvis Cocker
“If you thought things had changed, friend you’d better think again, bluntly put in the fewest of words, cunts are still running the world”
Bloodbuzz Ohio – The National
“I still owe money to the money to the money I owe. The floors are falling out from everybody I know”
Lies – Chvrches
“I can sell you lies. You can’t get enough”
(Can’t Get No) Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones
“And that man comes on the radio. And he’s tellin’ me more and more about some useless information supposed to fire my imagination”
You Spin Me Round – Dead or Alive
One for Mr Campbell.
Fucking Hostile – Pantera
Politics does seem to get everyone being just a little bit nasty to each other.
This Is A Low – Blur
Have we ever felt so uninspired by our voting options?
Won’t Get Fooled Again – The Who
Actually a song about Nixon, but applicable to a lot of cases: “Meet the new boss, same as the old boss”
Feels Like We Only Go Backwards – Tame Impala
“I got my hopes up again, oh no, not again. Feels like we only go backwards darling”
Mad World – Tears for Fears
“All around me are familiar faces, worn out places, worn out faces”
Greed – Stealing Sheep
Needs very little explanation…
Selfish Gene – Panda Bear
Likewise…
Ghost Town – The Specials
“This place is coming like a ghost town. No job to be found in this country”
Thatcher Fucked the Kids – Frank Turner
“And all the rich folks act surprised when all sense of community dies, but you just closed your eyes to the other side of all the things that she did. Thatcher fucked the kids”
Margaret on the Guillotine – Morrissey
“A wonderful dream: Margaret on the guillotine”
Stand Down, Margaret – The Beat
“Stand down Margaret, stand down please”
I’m In Love With Margaret Thatcher – The Notsensibles
“Oh Margaret Thatcher is so sexy. She’s the girl for you and me. I go red when she’s on the telly, cos I think she fancies me”
Common People – Pulp
“I said pretend you’ve got no money, she just laughed and said oh you’re so funny”
I Predict A Riot – Kaiser Chiefs
“Watching the people get lairy, it’s not very pretty I tell thee”
News Of The World – The Jam
“Don’t believe it all. Find it out for yourself”
POWER – Kanye West
“No one man should have all that power”
Immigrant Song – Led Zeppelin
The Final Countdown – Europe
Trans Europe Express – Kraftwerk
You keep (UKIP) me hangin’ on – The Supremes
Tubthumping – Chumbawamba
Pissing the night away…
Cigarettes and Alcohol – Oasis
Parklife – Blur
Russell Brand: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8B_Evl1fiLA
Lose Yourself – Eminem
David Miliband: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkQtnezxUF8
Lust For Life – Iggy Pop
George Osborne: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVvMlrxWaFU
I’m Sorry (The Autotune Remix) – The Poke
Nick Clegg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUDjRZ30SNo
The Clansman – Iron Maiden (SNP)
Eton Rifles – The Jam (Conservative)
Part of the Union – Strawbs (Labour)
I’d Do Anything, from Oliver! (Liberal Democrats)
(Os)born(e) To Be Wild – Steppenwolf
Hand in G(l)ove – The Smiths
(Mili)band On The Run – Wings
