Cold War Playlist by RAHMAN ELLIS

Apr 1949 - NATO

rellis0020 — 2024-06-05 19:14:05 UTC

NATO

rellis0020 — 2024-06-05 19:14:05 UTC

NATO was an alliance of different nations during the Cold War to counter the coalition made by the Soviets with its satellite states. The song "We Are the Champions" by Queen accurately represents this as it contains the theme of unity and lyrically speaking of overcoming struggle while standing together. The lyrics: "We are the champions, my friend/ And we'll keep on fighting till the end" resonate with the commitment between these countries by collectively protecting one another against the Soviet Union and the spread of communism. To add to the idea of an alliance, the lyrics: "But it's been no bed of roses/No pleasure cruise/ I consider it a challenge before the whole human race/ And I ain't gonna lose" illustrates the NATO's existence to be the sole purpose of world peace and stability even until today's date.

June 1948 - Berlin Blockade

rellis0020 — 2024-06-05 19:14:05 UTC

Berlin Blockade

rellis0020 — 2024-06-05 19:14:05 UTC

The song "Radioactive" by Imagine Dragon represents the emotions and the tension between the Western and Eastern powers during the Cold War. After Germany's loss during World War II, Berlin was split between the Soviet, American, French, and British in their respective zones around Soviet territory. The Soviets took advantage of this and blocked the other countries from their zones. The lyrics, "This is it, the apocalypse," illustrate the Soviets giving this message to the US as this action tenses their relationship. This may also convey the feelings of the individuals in Berlin as the Soviets prevented migration between each zone, cutting the electricity, food, and coal of 2.5 million people. To carry out on this topic, the lyrics. "Welcome to the new age, to the new Age/ Whoa, whoa, I'm radioactive, radioactive," reflect the US response to the Berlin blockade. President Kennedy of the US decided to airlift food to Berlin instead of physically fighting the Soviets since starting a war could cause a nuclear war which would indefinitely result in countless casualties.

March 1947 - Containment

rellis0020 — 2024-06-05 19:14:05 UTC

Containment

rellis0020 — 2024-06-05 19:14:05 UTC

The song "American Idiot" by Green Day precisely conveys the events and whole idea of Containment during the Cold War. Throughout the song, manipulation is a recurring theme that applies to containment as the US employs various ways to convince its people that communism may end the future of the world. This idea applies to the lyrics: "Don't wanna be an American Idiot/Don't want a nation under the new media." This represents the influence of propaganda and its effectiveness in persuading groups of people. Propaganda played a huge role during this period for the US as it prevented some countries and their people from falling under communist threat. Next, the lyrics, "Welcome to a new kind of tension/All across the alienation," symbolize the alienated feeling of individuals and nations who are caught by the Cold War powers, and the struggle to side between capitalism and communism.

October 1956 - Suez Crisis

rellis0020 — 2024-06-05 19:14:05 UTC

Suez Crisis

rellis0020 — 2024-06-05 19:14:05 UTC

The song "Uprising" by Muse precisely shadowed the event during the Suez Crisis. The new Egyptian president, Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal due to the refusal of the US and Britain to financially support Egypt in constructing a dam. The lyrics, "They will not force us/They will stop degrading us/ They will not control us/ We will be victorious" reflect Egpyt's morals and resistance after France, Israel, and Britain attack the canal. They later withdrew from Egypt after the United States threatened them to leave, possibly preventing bombing from the Soviets. Despite this, Egypt kept the Suez canal and forced tolls on passing ships. this event also strained Britain and the US relationship.

February 1958 - Great Leap Forward

rellis0020 — 2024-06-05 19:14:05 UTC

Great Leap Forward

rellis0020 — 2024-06-05 19:14:05 UTC

The song "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears resonates with the struggle of the public during this huge economic change in China. The lyrics: "Nothing ever lasts forever/Everybody wants to rule the world," demonstrate the persuasive control of the government and Mao Zedong, encouraging its people to follow policies, claiming that the Great Leap Forward will transform China to surpass the UK, bringing greatness to the country. This did not happen as a famine soon occurred, resulting in the deaths of around 20 million people. Next, the lyrics: "Welcome to your life/There's no turning back," reflect the change in people's lives as China sought to modernize and improve its industrial and agricultural problems. The beating of educators also occurred during this time period by the Red Guards due to their beliefs in capitalism as China was influenced by communist ideas by Mao Zedong.

October 1945 - United Nations

isoylon0001 — 2024-06-06 21:17:53 UTC

November 1955 - Vietnam War

rellis0020 — 2024-06-06 21:18:25 UTC

United Nations

isoylon0001 — 2024-06-06 21:18:52 UTC

The United Nations is a peacekeeping organization. "Heal the World" by Michael Jackson best resembles the word "peace". The lyrics "Heal the world, make it a better place for you and for me and the entire human race" correlates to how the UN wants to spread peace among other nations. The UN was made to also prioritize to protect human rights and give human aid. Also, the lyrics "Create a world with no fear, together we'll cry happy tears, See the nations turn their swords into plowshares" can resemble on how the UN wants to end wars in order to maintain peace. Since it says "create a world with no fear" it resembles how the UN wants to create peace among nations. And by maintaining peace, wars needs to be stopped.

April 1954 - Domino Theory

isoylon0001 — 2024-06-06 21:23:35 UTC

Domino Theory

isoylon0001 — 2024-06-06 21:24:49 UTC

The song chosen for Domino Theory is "We didn't start the Fire by Billy Joel. A lyric that correlates to this event is "Ho Chi Mihn, Richard Nixon back again” because Ho Chi Mihn which was the communist leader of North Vietnam. Domino theory was said to believe that if a country had fallen into communism other countries around it would as well. The US was afraid that North Vietnam would spread communism towards the southeast asian parts. Another lyric could be "North Korea, South Korea, Marilyn Manroe" which demonstrates the Korean war. And Marilyn Manroe as she represents an American ideological front during the Cold war. The US feared that communism would spread to South Korea because of North Korea. Which resembles the Domino theory.

Vietnam War

rellis0020 — 2024-06-06 21:25:02 UTC

"War" is a song written by Edwin Star about his opinion on war. In the song, he says, "War, huh (good God) What is it good for? `Absolutely nothing, ". This talks about how war is useless and a terrible way to solve conflicts. He also says "War, I despise, 'Cause it means destruction of innocent lives, War means tears to thousands of mother's eyes, When their sons go off to fight, And lose their lives". This lyric also explains how war causes other innocent people to lose their lives in a war they didn't want to be involved in.

June 1950 - Forgotten war

isoylon0001 — 2024-06-07 16:55:29 UTC

Forgotten war

isoylon0001 — 2024-06-07 16:57:34 UTC

The song "Yesterday" by the Beatles could correlate towards the Forgotten War because the lyrics “Theres a shadow hanging over me” which demonstrates on how the korean war was being overshadowed by other worldy conflicts forgetting those who had probably got lost in the korean war. Another lyric could be "Im not half the man I used to be" to demonstrate how the Korean war is split by North and South. Since North Korea invaded South Korea because North Korea wanted to spread communism throughout Korea.

March 1965 - Operation Rolling Thunder

isoylon0001 — 2024-06-07 16:58:38 UTC

Operation Rolling Thunder

isoylon0001 — 2024-06-07 16:59:23 UTC

The song "Stronger" by Kanye west demonstrates BOTH sides of how the US and Vietnam were committed to reach their goal. While the US was committed to stop Vietnam, Vietnam was committed to unify Vietnam under the Communist part. "Man, I've been waiting all night now
That's how long I've been on ya” demonstrates the commitment to how the US was trying to stop Vietnam from the spread of Communism. SO they sent an air strike in order to stop the spread of communism. "Now that dont kill me, can only make me stronger” demonstrates how North Vietnam responds to the US air strike by increasing their NVA attacks. Sadly the US did not have a chance, so their air strikes were for nothing.

May 1955 - Warsaw pact

isoylon0001 — 2024-06-07 17:00:30 UTC

Warsaw pact

isoylon0001 — 2024-06-07 17:01:13 UTC

The Warsaw pact was made in order to counter NATO. The lyrics "If you ever find yourself stuck in the middle of the sea, I'll sail the world to find you" demonstrate how they can represent that if ever one member is attacked in the warsaw pact, the other members would have to provide aid. Their rule under the Warsaw pact was that if one country was being under attacked, the other countries in the warsaw pact have to help the attacked country.

1959 - Fidel Castro/Che Guavera

rellis0020 — 2024-06-07 18:17:38 UTC

Fidel Castro/Che Guavera

rellis0020 — 2024-06-07 18:22:22 UTC

"Why Can't We Be Friends?" by War is a song talking being friends commonly repeating the phrase "Why can't we be friends". Fidel Castro and Che Guevara were friends. It also says "I know you're working for the CIA" and after "They wouldn't have you in the mafia." In 1957 apparently the CIA funded Fidel Castro with 50,000 Dollars and the Mafia also attempted an assassination on Fidel Castro.

1952 - United Fruit Company

rellis0020 — 2024-06-07 18:27:47 UTC

United Fruit Company

rellis0020 — 2024-06-07 18:31:32 UTC

"Rich Girl" a song created by Daryl John and Hall Oates is song about taking advantage of someone. This relates to the United Fruit Company because it shows how the United Fruit Company took resources from Guatemala. The lyric "Don't you know? Don't you know? That it's wrong to take what is given you" further proves the point of how United Fruit Company took resources from guatamala.

1945 - Guerrilla Warfare

rellis0020 — 2024-06-07 18:54:54 UTC

Guerrilla Warfare

rellis0020 — 2024-06-07 19:07:26 UTC

"Ain't no Mountain High Enough" a song created by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terell is a song about nothing stopping someone from getting to where they want to go. The lyrics "Cause, baby, there ain't no mountain high enough, Ain't no valley low enough, Ain't no river wide enough" relate to guerilla warfare because guerilla warfare was often made up of small units or troops and used on the fly tactics to beat their oppressors just like nothing being able to stop them no matter the circumstances like in the song.

1916 - Satellite states

rellis0020 — 2024-06-07 19:26:44 UTC

Satellite States

rellis0020 — 2024-06-07 19:27:41 UTC

"Power", a song about holding control and power relates to satellite states because satellite states were just controlled by the USSR. The lyric "No one man should have all that power" relates to how the USSR controlled multiple states around it in East Europe.