Here we are, folks. A year after the election and there is still an orange fruitcake sitting in the oval office – and I’m not talking about Great-Aunt Becky’s less than enjoyable holiday pastry.
I apologise to any Great-Aunt Beckys that may exist, it isn’t your baking, it’s the idea of what you’re baking. Let’s face it, fruitcake has lost whatever appeal it might have once had.
Much like stale fruitcake that has gone out of style, Donald Trump is also out of style – as if he ever was in style. He’s a misogynist, racist, and bigot. However, there are somehow still people who think that is the type of person who should be running our country. “Land of the Free” – yeah, okay… But hey! At least we’re not in World War III yet.
For quite a while after the race was called, this playlist is all I would listen to, particularly the first two songs. I listened to those A LOT. Very loudly. While driving around public places such as grocery store parking lots and outside of churches. You do what you have to do to let people know you hate a certain too tan, bleach blond, senile grump. It might have been annoying, but so is his fan club.
Odes to the 2016 Election
FDT by YG
FDT – Pt. 2 by YG
I Want Something More by Bad Religion
Fight The Power by Public Enemy
Testify by Rage Against The Machine
The Resist Stance by Bad Religion
Sunday Bloody Sunday by U2
Strange Fruit by Billie Holiday
Gimme Some Truth by John Lennon
What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye
Respect by Aretha Franklin
Rise Above by Black Flag
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction by The Rolling Stones
F*ck You by Lily Allen
The Empire Strikes First by Bad Religion
Another Brick In The Wall – Pt. 2 by Pink Floyd
Killing In The Name by Rage Against The Machine
World War III by Bad Religion
Black Barbies by Nicki Minaj
Another Bag Of Bricks by Flogging Molly
Requiem For Dissent by Bad Religion
It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) by R.E.M.
Of Ballots and Barricades by Ramshackle Glory
Bonus Songs:
BagBak by Vince Staples
Protest Song by Broken Social Scene
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised by Gil Scott-Heron
Behold! A short list of all the songs I thought were fitting for the election of an Oompa Loopma from the Upside Down. Clearly, more songs along this theme exist in the world, but I found these to sum pretty much everything up. There are punk songs, rap songs, pop songs, slow songs, fast songs, well known songs, and a couple of songs that are more obscure. Some of these are songs to dance to, fight to, and maybe even cry to.
More than anything, all of these songs should inspire you to think and get mad. Apathy is not going to cut it in this day and age. While you sit by, people are going to get killed, lose health coverage, be deported, and continue to be discriminated against. Even if you cannot make it out to events (such as protests and rallies) or will not be safe at one, there are small things you can do; supporting resistance movements, sharing news of atrocities, and most importantly voting in your local election. Making a large difference is extremely difficult to do on your own as one person. However, the little things do add up and the only way left to go is forward. #WeWontGoBack
If you feel like following this playlist, head on over to my Spotify page and feel free to browse.
If you would like to learn more about how to get involved with on campus activism, like and follow the University of Utah’s Students for a Democratic Society Facebook page.
The thoughts expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect those of K-UTE Radio itself.