This post is specially for good friend Cedric Cork, percussionist for many bands from the 60s, who experienced the Vietnam music scene when he played with Singapore bands at certain venues there to entertain the troops.
It has happened, is now happening and will happen again.
Checking out the number of popular songs that discusses war stands at more than 10,000 compositions! That's a mere trickle of the actual numbers not published... and how peaceful hearts are thumping in anger and despair everyday to realise this!
My family and I were in Danang, Vietnam, for a holiday in the Summer of 2018 and we visited the beach where the American troops landed in March, 1965. It's a peaceful place today but turn back the times and a raging war took place in Vietnam for some years and many songs were composed to stamp these terrors of time.
The number of pop songs on the topic is a nuclear blast.
Blowing In The Wind Bob Dylan 1963
Detroit City Bobby Bare 1963
Masters Of War Bob Dylan 1963
I Ain't Marching Anymore Phil Ochs 1965
We Gotta Get Out Of This Place The Animals 1965
Green Green Grass of Home Tom Jones 1965
Bring 'Em Home Bob Seegar 1965
Feel Like I'm Fixin' To Die Rag Country Joe McDonald and The Fish 1965
Ballad Of The Green Beret Barry Sadler 1966.
The Letter BoxTops 1967
Backlash Blues Nina Simone 1967
Saigon Bride Joan Baez 1967
All Along The Watchtower Bob Dylan 1967
Purple Haze Jimmy Hendrix 1967
Waste Deep In The Muddy Pete Seeger 1967
Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay Otis Redding 1968
Draft Morning The Byrds 1968
Sky Pilot Eric Burdon 1968
The Unknown Soldier The Doors 1968
Fortunate Son CCR 1969
Vietnam Jimmy Cliff 1969
Susan On The West Coast Waiting Donovan 1969
Leaving On A Jet Plane John Denver 1969
Saigon Bride: Joanne Baez
YouTube Video by: Vietnam War Song Project
Give Peace A Chance John Lennon 1969
Gimme Shelter The Rolling Stones 1969
Okie From Muskogee Merle Haggard 1969
War Edwin Starr 1970
Run Through The Jungle CCR 1970
What's Going On Marvin Gaye 1971
Imagine John Lennon 1971
Chicago Graham Nash 1971
Peace Train Cat Stevens 1971
I Want To Come Home For Christmas Marvin Gaye 1972
Happy Christmas The War Is Over John Lennon 1972
Give Me Love Peace On Earth George Harrison 1973
Search And Destroy The Stooges 1973
Billy Don't Be A Hero Paper Lace 1974
Straight To Hell The Clash 1982
Joan Baez asks in Saigon Bride:
How many dead men will it take
To build a dike that will not break?
How many children must we kill?
Before we make the waves stand still...
Gimme Shelter The Rolling Stones 1969
Okie From Muskogee Merle Haggard 1969
War Edwin Starr 1970
Run Through The Jungle CCR 1970
What's Going On Marvin Gaye 1971
Imagine John Lennon 1971
Chicago Graham Nash 1971
Peace Train Cat Stevens 1971
I Want To Come Home For Christmas Marvin Gaye 1972
Happy Christmas The War Is Over John Lennon 1972
Give Me Love Peace On Earth George Harrison 1973
Search And Destroy The Stooges 1973
Billy Don't Be A Hero Paper Lace 1974
Straight To Hell The Clash 1982
Joan Baez asks in Saigon Bride:
How many dead men will it take
To build a dike that will not break?
How many children must we kill?
Before we make the waves stand still...
Imagine [1971] - John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band
(w The Flux Fiddlers) (Ultimate Mix 2018) - 4K REMASTER
YouTube Video: by john lennon.
Below is a list of postings found on this blog pertaining to the same topic:
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2009/05/vietnam-war-protest-songs-60s-music.html
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2016/04/us-troops-from-vietnam-plays-motown-on.html
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2016/06/les-miz-miss-saigon-singapore-to-london.html
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2009/05/elvis-presley-dont-cry-daddy-vietnam.html
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2009/09/singapore-f1-formula-race-and-beatles.html
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2022/03/vietnam-war-with-singapore-music-maker.html
Seriously, let's just remember John Lennon's words:
I wonder if you can,
No for greed or hunger,
A brotherhood of man.
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one.
Let's hope for a more conclusive summit this time around and another singer songwriter can compose a new peace treaty melody. Perhaps from a Singaporean composer?
Creedence Clearwater Revival -
Fortunate Son [HD] (Highest Quality)
YouTube Video: EagleStudiosHR
I wonder if you can,
No for greed or hunger,
A brotherhood of man.
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one.
Let's hope for a more conclusive summit this time around and another singer songwriter can compose a new peace treaty melody. Perhaps from a Singaporean composer?
John Lennon's: 'You may say I'm a dreamer...' from song 'Imagine'.
This poster was taken by Anni Taylor [FB] at
St. Kilda's Beach, Victoria, Melbourne, Australia.
Google Images.
This posting is an edited version of a past one.
11 comments:
Wow, what a list of songs, thank you for sharing this awesome list.
Many of them I am familiar with.
EVE OF DESTRUCTION.
A classic one, Andy.
By Barry McGuire.
Can things get worse than blood being spilled in the holy land on Christmas Day?
Good post!
Andy Young:
Have you sung FORTUNATE SON by CCR on stage?
Jerry Fernandez:
Brother Andy, sang this song way back in the early 70's.
I like this song along with GREEN RIVER, HAVE U EVER SEEN THE RAIN,
RUN THRU THE JUNGLE and SUZIE Q.
Andy Young:
Yes, Jerry.
Your kind of voice
Suitable.
Must not stop singing now.
War.
Protest song.
Thanks to all the above who answered fast and cool, without hesitation.
The songs have very clear and strong lyrics about the destructive elements of war and its sad consequences.
Do we have composers today who still write about the ravages of wars?
Excellent content on your Blog.
All the best!
Thank you BLUES HENDRIX for the offer to join your group of
music bloggers from all over the world.
It is indeed an honour.
I shall think about it but not at the moment...
Mine is non-advertorial nor sponsored and done for fun
In appreciation of Singapore's pop music community.
As a free spirit, I'd just go it alone.
Appreciate your kindly gesture.
Matt Jsl Tan
it won't be ww3 it would be more or less the rapture in accordance to revelation.
Michael Lee
History repeats it self and the world is none the wiser. Real peace is unlikely to happen as long there are greedy and power hungry politicians.
Hiroshi Deguchi
I would like to add "Nineteen" "Where have all the flowers gone" "Teach Your Children" "Eve of destruction" Wow sick world.
Michael Lee
Hiroshi Deguchi *Sick world* This is the way it has been and is now and the way it will likely to be in the future.
Andy Young
Thank you all who wrote in to comment. It is a 'sick world' as Hiroshi puts it. And likely to be in the future, Michael. Again appreciate the wise words from everyone.
Matt Jsl Tan
dont forget WAR EDWIN STARR A LOUD COMMENTARY.. AS WITH COME AWAY MELINDA. TIM ROSE.
Matt Jsl Tan
probably the most insightful social commentary of the war by the most underrated social commentator of rock and jazz. rober lamm.. DIALOGUE PT1 AND 11
Daniella Ang
Hello there, how are you doing today, I like your post and I tried to send you a friend request but didn’t go through, if you don’t mind add me up let’s be friends
Andy Young
Thanks to all who replied and made comments. Do write in anytime to view the music posts but I do not write to each one specifically, not out of rudeness but more out of awareness. Keep the correspondence. You are welcome... Thanks to HIROSHI, CELESTINE, DANIELLA, ANNA, NINA and SER KIONG for your LIKES. Never knew ladies love war songs. 🙂
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