Music and Revolution: Songs That Changed the World

In this episode of Music and Revolution, Rolf Straubhaar dives into Fela Kuti and Afrika 70’s 1977 Afrobeat masterpiece, "Zombie." Born out of the Lagos nightclub known as the Afrika Shrine, Fela’s extended, hypnotic grooves were created not for radio play, but as direct political critiques against Nigeria's corrupt military dictatorship. The episode traces the history of post-independence Nigeria, from the Biafran War to the oil boom, and examines how Fela used Pidgin English, traditional Yoruba rhythms, jazz, and funk to unite the working class against military authority.The episode details the extraordinary influence of Fela's mother, anti-colonial pioneer Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, and Fela's political awakening in Los Angeles alongside Black Panther activist Sandra Izsadore. Rolf provides a track-by-track evolution through Fela's earlier discography before breaking down "Zombie," a fierce satirical track that labeled soldiers as mindlessly following orders. The episode recounts the horrific 1977 military raid on Fela’s Kalakuta Republic compound, the loss of his mother, and Fela's defiant refusal to stop playing and recording. Rolf also shares some personal connections to postcolonial Sub-Saharan African music from his time living in Mozambique. Finally, the episode traces Fela’s modern legacy through his son Femi Kuti, Burna Boy, the Broadway musical Fela!, Antibalas, and Beyoncé.What You'll Find in This EpisodePost-Independence Nigeria & the Oil Boom: The historical backdrop of Nigeria's 1960 independence, the devastating Biafran War, and the rise of a corrupt military government enriched by oil wealth while Lagos slums grew.Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti's Legacy: The life of Fela’s mother, a pioneer of African feminism who organized 10,000 Nigerian women in 1946 to force a British magistrate to step down.The Birth of Afrobeat: Fela’s 1969 Los Angeles encounter with Sandra Izsadore, his introduction to the Black Panthers and Frantz Fanon, and the formation of Afrika 70 with master drummer Tony Allen.The Kalakuta Republic & The Afrika Shrine: Fela’s self-declared independent commune, complete with a free health clinic, and his legendary all-night club performances featuring political monologues.Evolution of a Discography: Commentary on Fela's classic tracks, including "Lady," "Gentleman," "Expensive Shit," and "Water No Get Enemy".Deconstructing "Zombie": How Fela turned military commands ("Attention! Fall in! Fall out!") into a chant accusing soldiers of surrendering their moral agency.The 1977 Military Raid: The brutal assault by 1,000 soldiers on Fela’s compound, the death of his mother, the official cover-up by "Unknown Soldiers," and Fela’s defiant response delivering her coffin to Army headquarters.Mozambique Personal Reflection: Rolf’s experience working on curriculum development in post-independence Mozambique and his evolving understanding of postcolonial Sub-Saharan African music, from Ziqo and Oliver Mtukudzi to Vusi Mahlasela.The Musical Afterlife: Modern continuations of Fela's work by Femi Kuti, Burna Boy, Antibalas, the Fela! Broadway cast recording, and Beyoncé's 2018 Coachella performance.KeywordsFela KutiZombieAfrobeatAfrika 70Kalakuta RepublicAfrika ShrineFunmilayo Ransome-KutiTony AllenNigerian historyBiafran WarBlack Power movementSandra IzsadorePidgin EnglishFemi KutiBurna BoyAntibalasProtest musicPublic humanitiesMusic and Revolution

In this special Labor Day episode of Music and Revolution, Rolf Straubhaar breaks down two powerhouse anthems that share a title: "There Is Power in a Union"—one written by IWW martyr Joe Hill in 1913, and the other by British folk-punk icon Billy Bragg in 1986. Beyond the backyard barbecues and end-of-summer sales, Labor Day sits on a history of working-class struggle. Rolf contrasts the federal holiday's origins with May Day and the Haymarket affair, exploring how radical organizing laid the groundwork for basic worker protections.The episode explores Joe Hill's life, his tragic execution by firing squad in Utah, and his signature strategy of setting labor lyrics to popular gospel tunes. It then crosses the Atlantic to look at Billy Bragg's 1986 anthem, set to a Civil War melody during the height of Thatcher-era anti-union politics. Rolf analyzes both songs verse-by-verse, highlights cover versions across decades, and shares a personal reflection on his own journey as a member of the Texas State Employees Union and the American Association of University Professors.What You'll Find in This EpisodeLabor Day vs. May Day: How the federal Labor Day holiday was created by Grover Cleveland to divert attention from May Day, International Workers' Day, and the legacy of the 1886 Haymarket affair.The Life and Martyrdom of Joe Hill: The story of Swedish immigrant Joel Hägglund, his organizing with the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), his conviction on flimsy evidence, and his final command: "Don't mourn — organize!"The IWW & The Little Red Songbook: How the "Wobblies" weaponized congregational music, rewriting Salvation Army hymns like "There Is Power in the Blood" to build community and organize workers.Billy Bragg & 1980s Britain: How a working-class kid from Essex repurposed the Civil War anthem "The Battle Cry of Freedom" during the UK miners' strikes to challenge corporate power and Thatcherite policy.Verse-by-Verse Comparisons: Close readings of both songs, examining their critiques of religious complacence, scab labor, dangerous workplace conditions, and imperial war.Cover Versions & Picket Line Anthems: A tour of reinterpretations ranging from Utah Phillips, Bucky Halker, and street brass bands to blue-collar punk covers and live performances during the 2011 Wisconsin Capitol protests.Rolf’s Personal Union History: Rolf's evolution from viewing unions as relics of the part to witnessing collective bargaining firsthand as a teacher and active Texas union member.KeywordsJoe HillBilly BraggThere Is Power in a UnionIndustrial Workers of the WorldIWWWobbliesLabor Day historyMay DayHaymarket affairLittle Red SongbookLabor movementUnion organizingCollective bargainingBritish miners' strikeUtah PhillipsProtest musicPublic humanitiesMusic and Revolution

In this episode of Music and Revolution, Rolf Straubhaar dives into Woody Guthrie’s 1948 masterpiece, "Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos)". On January 28, 1948, a plane carrying 28 Mexican farmworkers crashed in California, killing everyone on board. While the media reported the names of the American flight crew, the Mexican workers were left completely anonymous, labeled only as "deportees". Guthrie wrote a poem giving these unnamed victims symbolic names—Juan, Rosalita, Jesús, and María—to honor their humanity and expose an immigration system that uses foreign labor for profit while treating the workers as disposable.The episode traces the history of the poem, from its transformation into a song by Martin Hoffman in 1958 to its first recording by Cisco Houston in 1960. Rolf analyzes the track verse-by-verse, connects it to Guthrie's earlier dust bowl and labor songs, and explores its multi-decade cover history through folk, country, rock, and Tejano artists. The episode concludes with author Tim Z. Hernandez's project to recover the true names of all 28 crash victims, placing their real names on a Fresno memorial 65 years later.What You'll Find in This EpisodeThe Crash at Los Gatos Canyon (1948): The history behind the DC-3 plane crash in California’s San Joaquin Valley, the media's erasure of the 28 Mexican farmworkers, and their burial in an anonymous mass grave.Woody Guthrie's Act of Naming: How Guthrie wrote the original poem in Coney Island to give identity, dignity, and symbolic names to the nameless dead.Guthrie’s California Roots: Connecting "Deportee" to Guthrie’s earlier classics like "This Land Is Your Land," "Do Re Mi," and "Union Maid," highlighting his solidarity with Mexican and Chicano agricultural workers.Martin Hoffman & Cisco Houston: How an English student set Guthrie's poem to music in 1958, leading to Cisco Houston's debut 1960 recording.Verse-by-Verse Breakdown: A close reading of the song's critique of the U.S. agricultural economy, the Bracero Program, seasonal exploitation, and the dehumanizing language of deportation.Waves of Cover Versions: A musical tour covering six decades of reinterpretations, including Joan Baez, The Byrds, Dolly Parton, The Highwaymen, Billy Bragg, Los Super Seven, Ani DiFranco, and modern 2025–2026 releases.Personal Reflection: Rolf's memory of teaching adult ESL classes in Houston and experiencing the sudden, quiet disappearance of an immigrant student named Miguel.Recovering the Names: The story of professor Tim Z. Hernandez identifying all 28 original victims in 2013, culminating in a dedicated gravestone reading of their real names.KeywordsWoody GuthrieDeportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos)Immigration historyBracero ProgramLos Gatos CanyonTim Z. HernandezCisco HoustonMartin HoffmanPete SeegerJoan BaezDolly PartonThe HighwaymenLos Super SevenAni DiFrancoProtest musicLabor rightsFarmworker justicePublic humanitiesMusic and Revolution

Hey everyone! Quick format update for you today: moving forward, Music and Revolution is shifting to a biweekly schedule. So instead of dropping every single week, you’ll be getting a fresh episode every two weeks.Because of the new pace, there won't be a brand-new episode dropping today, Wednesday, August 12th. The next new episode will be coming out next Wednesday, August 19th.While I understand (and take as a compliment!) if any of y’all are disappointed, this change was made to make sure the show stays sustainable—I’m pretty much a one-person show here, and I want to keep doing this for a long time without burning out. My hope is that this will give y’all a good excuse to dive back into the archives!Listenership has taken off in a huge way since the Born in the USA episode, which means a lot of you might have missed some of my earlier shows.So, if you're looking for something to listen to right now, here are a few favorites from the vault that I would encourage you to give a spin.You could pour yourself a cup of ambition and check out my episode on Dolly Parton’s "9 to 5," or queue up the show on Tracy Chapman’s "Talkin’ ’Bout a Revolution". She wrote this four-chord classic as a teenager, zeroing in on Reagan-era economic inequality and the quiet conversations happening in unemployment lines. If you missed my pride month episodes, there’s one on Diana Ross’s "I’m Coming Out," with an unbelievable back-story about Nile Rodgers getting inspired to write the track while in a queer club bathroom full of queens dressed as Diana Ross. There’s also shows I really enjoyed putting together on Sylvester’s "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)," George Michael’s “Freedom ’90,” and Bronski Beat’s “Smalltown Boy.” If you want to learn about the role music played in the civil rights movement, there’s an episode I really enjoyed on Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions’ anthem "People Get Ready."If you want to step into the late 60s, there’s episodes on Sly and the Family Stone’s "Everyday People," Creedence Clearwater Revival’s "Fortunate Son,” and James Brown’s “Say It Loud (I’m Black and I’m Proud).”If you want to dive into the revolutionary politics of reggae, there’s a show on Bob Marley and the Wailers’ "Get Up, Stand Up."If any of those sound like a good time, take a scroll back through the feed, queue up a few of these classics tomorrow, and I’ll be back in your ears in two weeks with a brand-new episode. Thanks for listening, everybody!

In this episode of Music and Revolution, Rolf Straubhaar dives into Stevie Wonder’s 1973 masterpiece, “Living for the City.” This seven-and-a-half-minute centerpiece from Innervisions is a devastating, cinematic compression of the Black experience in 20th-century America.To orient the discussion, we travel back to the historic backdrop of the Great Migration, exploring how six million Black Americans fled the Jim Crow South only to encounter deindustrialization, redlining, police profiling, and a expanding criminal justice system in Northern cities. Rolf traces Stevie’s evolution from Motown child prodigy covering Bob Dylan protest tunes to a 21-year-old visionary who fought Berry Gordy for complete creative control, unlocking one of the greatest sustained creative runs in pop history.Rolf breaks down the track’s narrative architecture, from its empathetic family portraits in hard-time Mississippi to its shocking mid-song radio play featuring real street sounds, an abrupt arrest, and a slammed cell door. Finally, we trace the song’s powerful afterlife through covers across genres, including a tribute to rock legend Bonnie Tyler, and end with a live duet between Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles.In this episode you’ll find:The Great Migration: How the promise of Northern factory jobs gave way to redlining, unemployment, and systemic barriers in the 1970s city.From "Little Stevie" to Creative Freedom: Wonder’s early political covers of Dylan and labor anthems, culminating in his historic contract fight with Berry Gordy at age 21.The Genius of Innervisions: How a near-fatal car accident, a solo multi-instrumental recording style, and a home studio birthed a Grammy-winning classic.A Verse-by-Verse Lyrical Breakdown: Analyzing the song's humanizing family portrait, structural critiques of employment discrimination, and its jarring, four-second courtroom sentencing drama.Five Decades of Covers: A tour of reinterpretations by Ramsey Lewis, Bonnie Tyler, Ian Gillan, Sylvester, Jonny Lang, Project Soul, and Dirty Loops.KeywordsStevie WonderLiving for the CityInnervisionsMotown RecordsBerry GordyThe Great MigrationProtest musicCivil Rights MovementRay CharlesBonnie TylerSylvesterSystemic racismMass incarcerationPublic humanitiesMusic and Revolution