Pop song about history?

Question

I'm making a review for my AP world class. The idea is that I will play a song and they will brainstorm all of the things they can think of that are associated with the event. For example: Istanbul by They Might be giants. (they can take obout the end of the byz. empire in 1453, etc.) The only other song I think of is Henry the 8th by Herman and the Hermits. Any Ideas????

Answer 1

The Obvious one is "We didn't start the fire" by Billy Joel.

Check Iron Maiden, they do a lot of story - songs.

'The Trooper' is about the Charge of the Light Brigade, and
'Die with your Boots on' is about World War I
'Aces High' is about the Battle of Britain

Answer 2

We Didnt Start the Fire by Billy Joel would be great...also Its the End of the World As We Know IT by REM would be a a great one...the songs the other people suggested are all great ideas but these 2 will give a greater amount of events to brainstorm on, if that is what you would be interested in doing (it would be kinda cool if you played one of those 2 songs and had people pick different events through history to brainstorm about, that way you could "cover more ground" with the same project

Answer 3

Some good ones have been suggested: "Ohio" written by Neil Young and recorded by CSNY; "We Didn't Start the Fire" of course by Billy Joel; one I really like is "Street Fighting Man" by the Stones (which is about the 1968 student riots in France"; "I Just Shot John Lennon" by the Cranberries; Warren Zevon wrote some great biographical tunes like "Boom Boom Mancini" and "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner" which is about a mercenary from Scandinavia. The Boomtown Rats have a song call "Eva Braun" which is about Adolf Hitler's wife. Sex Pistol's "God Save the Queen deserves mention, too, as does Gordon Lightfoot's "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald". Sounds like a good assignment - mixing a little pop culture with history and learning.

Answer 4

"Ohio" by CSN that someone else mentioned would be a GREAT one- I don't think a lot of people actually know what it's about.

Anything off of Bruce Springsteen's post 9/11 album would be perfect- for one, it's more relevant to the students. You could also get into all kinds of literary elements with the song, especially with voice/perspective and imagery.

You could challenge your students to find their own song and write about it for extra credit after you've done the assignment with the whole class.

PS- I think what you're doing is great. It's simple but relevant, and there are so many things you can do with it.

PS again- "Blackbird" by Paul McCartney or "Strange Fruit" (Billie Holiday's version)

Answer 5

Battle of New Orleans by Johnny Horton

Sink the Bismarck by Johnny Horton

The Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald by Gordon Lightfoot

The Night they Drove Old Dixie Down by J.R. Robinson

Throughout the 60s there were tons of songs that were either directly or indirectly about war and peace. Look up Bob Dylan.

Prior to that there were folk singers who sang about unions.

Sounds like a fun project!

Answer 6

Rent the video of the musical "1776". There are several good songs in there about the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

A pop song could by the 60s or 70s song: In the Year 2525

Answer 7

Fortunate Son- Vietnam war song by C.C.R.
Ohio- Song about the 4 college students shot by Neil young
Bombs over Baghdid- Self-explanatory song by Outkast
Sunday Bloody Sunday- Northern Ireland troubles by U2
War- Metallica
Travelin Soldier- Vietnam song by Dixie Chicks

Answer 8

Ohio-CSN

Alice's Restaurant-Arlo Gutherie

The indians-King Missle

Answer 9

That song War i forget who its by (you know War--huh---what is it good for)

You can use that to talk abouta ton of different things.

You could do Jesus walks by Kanye West and talk about biblical times

Look at the vietnam era a lot of the music reflected the times

Answer 10

In addition to these other fine responses, may I recommend Bob Dylan's "The Hurricane"?

Oh, and "Southern Man" by Neil Young perhaps?