Music

Articles

Singing to a different tune by Paul Campbell (August 2009)

Pop stars are swapping guitars for banners to take the power back from the record companies, writes Paul Campbell

It was 40 years ago today, John and Yoko taught the world to play by Colin Robinson (May 2009)

John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s ‘Bed-In’ at the Amsterdam Hilton in 1969 was only a part of their broad-ranging commitment to peace campaigning. Colin Robinson looks back at one of the most famous – and media-savvy – protests of all time

Something special by Laurie Penny (February 2009)

Laurie Penny speaks to Mary Wilson, the longest-standing member of Motown’s most successful group, the Supremes

Radical Motown by Fiona Osler (February 2009)

The pioneering black music label, Tamla Motown, marks its 50th anniversary in 2009. Fiona Osler assesses its impact

Led Zeppelin needs to come back in black by Mark LeVine (January 2009)

Mark LeVine says at their core Led Zeppelin were a black band and need to look outside the ‘white rock ‘n’ roll box’ if they change their mind about not reforming

Manu Chao, the neighbourhood singer by Oscar Reyes (August 2008)

Manu Chao could be the most famous singer that many English speakers have never heard of. Yet he is to the alter-globalisation movement what Bob Dylan was to peace and civil rights in the 1960s. Oscar Reyes caught up with him by a campfire at Glastonbury, where he created a little ‘neighbourhood of hope’

Making music matter by Alex Nunns, Lena de Casparis (June 2008)

The organisers claimed it as a huge success. But the BNP continued its advance in local elections and won a seat on the London Assembly a few days later anyway. So what did the Love Music Hate Racism carnival in east London in April achieve, and what is the importance of such events for the left in the future? Lena De Casparis and Alex Nunns report

Babes without spice by Laurie Penny (December 2007)

Laurie Penny explains what it means to have hopes dashed twice, first by the Spice Girls and second by Blair’s Babes

Who takes the rap? by Donald Harding (January 1998)

Hip-hop star Chuck D says black artists must fight for control of their own music and the money it earns. Donald Harding talked to him