Remembering Nelson Mandela: The 5 Most Impactful Anti-Apartheid Songs
Civil rights activist, politician and all-around inspiration Nelson Mandela passed away today at the age of 95. Those of us who were alive during the '80s will no doubt recall that both he and the anti-apartheid movement became a focal point for the musical community during that decade. His plight attracted the attention of renowned musical talents like Stevie Wonder, Elvis Costello, Peter Gabriel, U2 and more.
As a means of paying tribute to the impact that Nelson Mandela made on the world, please read along as we recall the 5 Most Impactful Songs of the Anti-Apartheid movement.
Artists United Against Apartheid, "Sun City" (1985)
The mid '80s were, arguably, the last hurrah for the music community's ability to impact widespread social change. Songs like "We Are The World," "Do They Know It's Christmas Time?" and this track were not only tremendously successful at raising awareness of injustices the world over, but were also massively popular on the charts. Little Steven Van Zandt of the E-Street Band organized a myriad of the time's most influential musical talents —people like U2, Bruce Springsteen and Run-DMC, to name but a few—to record this track, which was meant to deter others in the music community from playing gigs at a casino in a South African territory called Sun City. Though it didn't move quite as many units as the other songs mentioned above, it raised well over $1MM in donations for anti-apartheid efforts.
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Bono,Sting,Bryan Adams,and Peter Gabriel
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Mandela Concert
Amnesty Show - Wembley Stadium 1988.
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Paul Simon, "Homeless" (1986)
When Paul Simon released his landmark album Graceland in 1986, he was initially bowled over by a tidal wave of hatred. You see, Simon had refused to abide by a creative embargo of sorts, one that was meant to shun South African culture until they did away with apartheid. However, Simon responded to the criticism by working tirelessly to clarify his intentions, which he explained to be his attempt to shine a light on the tremendously talented musical community of the nation. In doing so, he introduced the world to the likes of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Youssou N'Dour, and a host of other talents. The live performance of "Homeless," from his famed 1987 Graceland: The African Concert, is so moving that it's guaranteed to give you the shivers.
Peter Gabriel, "Biko" (1980)
"Biko" was a protest song written and recorded by the former Genesis frontman about Steven Biko, an anti-apartheid activist who was tortured and killed by South African police. Originally recorded in 1980, the song regained prominence and became an MTV staple when the Biko biopic, Cry Freedom (starring Denzel Washington), was released in 1987.
The Special AKA, "Nelson Mandela" (1984)
The Specials were a British ska act who scored a minor U.S. hit in 1981 with their song "Ghost Town." However, it was their 1984 track "(Free) Nelson Mandela" that remains the group's most important work. It was a Top 10 hit in the UK upon its release, but gained even more traction when it was performed in 1988 at the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute held in Wembley Stadium. That version featured vocals from Elvis Costello and Dave Wakeling of The English Beat, and remains, to this day, one of the highlights of a concert that was broadcast to a worldwide audience of 600 million people.
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Stevie Wonder, "I Just Called To Say I Love You"
This #1 song, when it was recorded, had very little to do with the plight of either Mandela or South Africa. Rather, it first surfaced on the soundtrack to the 1984 film starring Gene Wilder and Kelly LeBrock, The Woman In Red. However, when Stevie Wonder dedicated the song to Mandela after taking home the Oscar for Best Song in 1985, the South African Broadcasting Corporation banned Wonder's entire catalog from airing in the country. This, in turn, helped raise awareness for Mandela's cause and the anti-apartheid movement as a whole.