Tuesday 25 February, 2025

Video chart: The top 10 songs that changed history

David Hasselhoff, John Lennon and the Sex Pistols all listed as having some of the most politically influential songs of all time.

Sep 12th 2011, 4:30 PM 1,265 Views 9 Comments

Image: Frank Carroll/AP/Press Association Images

WHICH SONG do you think most changed the course of history? Dylan’s Blowin’ in the Wind? Public Enemy’s Fight the Power?

Taking suggestions from musicians, authors, broadcasters and entertainers, Time Out London has compiled a list of 100 songs which they believe most influenced political events and world history.

The magazine’s top ten includes a song by David Hasselhoff which was hugely popular in West Germany before the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the Ramy Essam song which became an anthem for the Tahrir Square protests in Cairo earlier this year.

Are there any songs on the following top ten list you’d replace, and if so, with what? Add your suggestion for a top ten world changer in the comments below:

10. David Hasselhoff: Looking for Freedom

9. Lethal Bizzle: Pow! (Forward)

8. Phuture: Acid Tracks

7. Stevie Wonder: Happy Birthday

6. Sex Pistols: God Save the Queen

5. John Lennon: Imagine

4. Sam Cooke: A Change is Gonna Come

3. Ramy Essam: Irhal

2. Band Aid: Do They Know it’s Christmas (1984)

1. Public Enemy: Fight the Power

See the list of 100 influential songs compiled in Time Out London >

About the author:

About the author

Susan Ryan

@SusanSRyan

susanryan@thejournal.ie

See more articles by Susan Ryan

Contribute to this story:

Send a Correction

COMMENTS (9)

∞

About Us

Corrections

Report Content

Policies

TheJournal.ie supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and the Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, PH: (01) 6489130, Lo-Call 1890 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie

Please note that TheJournal.ie uses cookies to improve your experience and to provide services and advertising. For more information on cookies please refer to our cookies policy.

News images provided by Press Association and Photocall Ireland unless otherwise stated. Irish sport images provided by Inpho Photography unless otherwise stated. Wire service provided by Associated Press.

Journal Media does not control and is not responsible for user created content, posts, comments, submissions or preferences. Users are reminded that they are fully responsible for their own created content and their own posts, comments and submissions and fully and effectively warrant and indemnify Journal Media in relation to such content and their ability to make such content, posts, comments and submissions available. Journal Media does not control and is not responsible for the content of external websites.

Video chart: The top 10 songs that changed history

David Hasselhoff, John Lennon and the Sex Pistols all listed as having some of the most politically influential songs of all time.