Tunes Du Jour Celebrates Presidents’ Day

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From folk protest to funk, punk rock to hip-hop, this eclectic Presidents’ Day playlist spans decades of American political commentary through the lens of popular music. Not every commander-in-chief makes an appearance—some presidencies inspired little musical response, while others (particularly Kennedy, Reagan, and George W. Bush) sparked entire catalogs of artistic reaction. The collection moves chronologically through the office holders, though the songs themselves range from contemporary responses to retrospective reflections, capturing how each president’s legacy resonated with musicians of different eras and genres. Whether celebratory, satirical, or scathing, these tracks remind us that popular music has always served as a vital form of political discourse, holding power accountable and giving voice to the frustrations, hopes, and criticisms of the American people.

James K. Polk – They Might Be Giants
An infectiously catchy history lesson that chronicles Polk’s ambitious single-term presidency and his campaign promises to expand American territory.

Abie Baby – Hair Original Cast
This number from the groundbreaking musical Hair celebrates Abraham Lincoln’s legacy of emancipation with psychedelic 1960s exuberance.

Louisiana 1927 – Randy Newman
Newman’s haunting ballad captures the devastating Mississippi River flood during Calvin Coolidge’s administration and the government’s inadequate response.

We’d Like To Thank You Herbert Hoover – Annie Original Broadway Cast
A Depression-era shantytown chorus sarcastically thanks Hoover for the economic catastrophe that left Americans destitute and homeless.

Harry Truman – Chicago
This gentle rock ballad uses Truman as a symbol of simpler times and American authenticity before the cynicism of later decades.

Eisenhower Blues – The Costello Show Feat. The Attractions & Confederates
Costello’s cheeky cover plays with 1950s nostalgia while questioning the era’s conformity and Cold War anxieties.

Murder Most Foul – Bob Dylan
Dylan’s seventeen-minute meditation on the Kennedy assassination weaves together American mythology, cultural memory, and the loss of innocence.

President Kennedy – Eddie Izzard
The British comedian takes on the misunderstanding that President Kennedy declared himself to be a doughnut.

The Day John Kennedy Died – Lou Reed
Reed’s stark, melancholic reflection places Kennedy’s death in the context of personal memory and national trauma.

Lyndon Johnson Told The Nation – Tom Paxton
Paxton’s folk protest song sardonically captures LBJ’s escalation of the Vietnam War and the duplicity of official statements.

You Haven’t Done Nothin’ – Stevie Wonder
Wonder’s funky, cutting critique of Nixon’s broken promises and political corruption became an anthem of Watergate-era disillusionment.

Impeach the President – Honey Drippers
This funk instrumental’s famous drum break refers to Nixon, though it’s become better known as one of hip-hop’s most sampled beats.

Funky President (People It’s Bad) – James Brown
The Godfather of Soul delivers hard-hitting social commentary on economic hardship during the Ford administration.

(We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang – Heaven 17
British synth-pop warriors take aim at Reagan’s cowboy diplomacy and the early 1980s conservative political climate.

Ronnie, Talk to Russia – Prince
Prince’s Cold War plea urges Reagan to pursue diplomacy and nuclear disarmament before it’s too late.

Bonzo Goes to Bitburg – Ramones
The punk legends blast Reagan’s controversial visit to a German cemetery containing SS graves, delivered with their signature three-chord fury.

Old Mother Reagan – Violent Femmes
The Femmes’ acoustic punk assault critiques Reagan’s policies with youthful anger and folk-punk energy.

Reagan – Killer Mike
The Atlanta rapper delivers a scathing indictment of Reagan’s policies on race, drugs, and economics decades after leaving office.

5 Minutes (B-B-B Bombing Mix) – Bonzo Goes To Washington
This mashup satirizes Reagan’s notorious hot-mic joke about bombing Russia by splicing it with dance beats.

If Reagan Played Disco – Minutemen
The iconoclastic punk band imagines an absurdist alternate reality with their typically angular, political edge.

Fuck You – Lily Allen
Allen’s chipper, profanity-laced dismissal of George W. Bush was initially posted on her MySpace page under the title “Guess Who Batman.”

When the President Talks to God – Bright Eyes
Conor Oberst’s devastating critique questions Bush’s certainty and religious justifications during the Iraq War.

Mosh – Eminem
Eminem’s urgent call to political action rallied young voters against Bush’s policies in the 2004 election.

Let’s Impeach the President – Neil Young
Young’s protest rocker methodically lists grievances against Bush with straightforward outrage and rock-and-roll directness.

I’m With Stupid – Pet Shop Boys
The synth-pop duo skewers Tony Blair’s subservience to Bush’s foreign policy agenda with biting British wit.

Dear Mr. President – P!nk featuring Indigo Girls
P!nk’s open letter challenges Bush to walk in others’ shoes and confront the human cost of his decisions.

Obama – ANOHNI
This haunting piece wrestles with disappointment in Obama’s continuation of drone warfare despite his hopeful campaign promises.

Fuck Donald Trump – YG & Nipsey Hussle
The West Coast rappers deliver an unfiltered denunciation of Trump’s rhetoric and policies with raw urgency.

The President Can’t Read – Amy Rigby
Rigby’s folk-rock takedown questions Trump’s competence and intellectual curiosity with pointed observations.

Streets of Minneapolis – Bruce Springsteen
The Boss’s response to the killings of American citizens by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement under directions from President Trump.

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Tunes Du Jour Celebrates Black History Month

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Music has always been more than just a backdrop to history; it is a living, breathing part of it. It’s the coded message in a spiritual, the roar of protest in a soul anthem, and the unshakeable pride in a hip-hop verse. This playlist was curated with that spirit in mind. It is not just a collection of songs by Black artists or about Black experiences, but a deliberate sonic journey where each track serves as a chapter in the long, complex, and powerful story of Black history. From the harrowing journey of the Middle Passage in The O’Jays’ “Ship Ahoy” to the defiant celebration of identity in Beyoncé’s “BROWN SKIN GIRL,” every song here is a direct link to a person, an event, a movement, or some combination of the three.

The running order is intentional, designed to guide the listener through a powerful emotional and historical arc. We begin in the depths of oppression, bearing witness to the brutality of slavery, the terror of Jim Crow, and the pain of foundational betrayals. From that bitter root, the playlist pivots to the fire of resistance. It chronicles the fight for Civil Rights in America and the parallel global struggle against apartheid, honoring the heroes who led the charge and the anthems that fueled their movements. The narrative then moves into the modern era, where the fight for justice continues in the face of new challenges, chronicled with unflinching honesty by artists from Bruce Springsteen to Janelle Monáe.

This journey through pain and protest ultimately leads to a place of empowerment, joy, and hard-won hope. The final act of the playlist is a celebration of contribution, a lesson in self-love for future generations, and a recognition of monumental triumphs. It culminates in the profound resilience of Aretha Franklin’s “A Change Is Gonna Come”—a final, stirring testament to an unshakeable faith in the future. This Black History Month, we invite you to not just hear these songs, but to truly listen. Follow the stories, look up the names, and feel the weight and glory of the history they carry. Let the rhythms move you, but let the histories change you.

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Tunes Du Jour Presents Crosby, Stills & Nash

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The term “supergroup” gets thrown around a lot, often describing a short-lived project more notable for its lineup than its output. But with Crosby, Stills & Nash, the label felt different. This wasn’t just a collection of famous musicians; it was a genuine fusion of distinct, fully-formed artistic voices. Listening to a playlist of their work is like tracing a map back to its origins. To truly understand a song like “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” you first have to appreciate where its creators came from: David Crosby’s expansive, harmony-rich work with The Byrds, Stephen Stills’s fiery folk-rock with Buffalo Springfield, and Graham Nash’s pristine pop sensibility with The Hollies.

Before they ever sang a note together, each member had already left an indelible mark on the 1960s. The playlist gives us a clear picture of the ingredients they brought to the table. From The Byrds, you can hear Crosby pushing boundaries with the psychedelic exploration of “Eight Miles High” and the moody, jazz-inflected atmosphere of “Everybody’s Been Burned.” From Buffalo Springfield, Stills emerges as a formidable guitarist and a writer of anthems, penning the definitive protest song “For What It’s Worth” and the intricate, multi-part “Bluebird.” And from The Hollies, Nash provided the soaring high harmony and pop craftsmanship evident on tracks like “Carrie Anne” and “On A Carousel,” a perfect, bright counterpoint to the others’ more rugged styles.

When these three voices first combined, the result was an entirely new chemical reaction in popular music. The intricate vocal arrangements became their signature. A song like “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” isn’t just a long track; it’s an ambitious, multi-movement piece that relies entirely on the interplay of their voices. This new entity could accommodate Nash’s breezy travelogue “Marrakesh Express” on the same album as the haunting, allegorical “Wooden Ships,” a song that feels heavier and more complex. It was this ability to contain different perspectives within one cohesive sound that defined their initial success.

Of course, the story soon expanded. The addition of Neil Young, Stills’s former bandmate, added a darker, more unpredictable edge to the group, a change you can hear immediately in the raw vulnerability of “Almost Cut My Hair” or the generational power of “Woodstock.” Yet even as a quartet, they could produce moments of profound gentleness, like Nash’s portrait of domestic bliss in “Our House” or the timeless advice of “Teach Your Children.” The solo efforts included on the playlist further highlight their individuality: Stills’s direct, blues-rock command to “Love The One You’re With,” Crosby’s ethereal musings in “Laughing,” and Nash’s political rallying cry in “Chicago.”

Decades later, what endures is the sound of those voices. It’s a sound that could carry later hits like the reflective “Wasted on the Way” and the nautical, evocative “Southern Cross.” Crosby, Stills & Nash—with or without Young—was a remarkable convergence. It was a project born from friendship and a shared desire to create something that none of them could have achieved alone. Their legacy isn’t just in the hit singles, but in the creation of a sound so specific and intricately constructed that it remains instantly recognizable from the very first note.

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Tunes Du Jour Presents Pearl Jam

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Pearl Jam’s debut album, Ten, dropped like a thunderclap in 1991, marking the band, along with Nirvana, as torchbearers of the burgeoning grunge movement. Tracks like “Jeremy,” “Alive,” and “Even Flow” introduced a raw, emotionally charged sound that resonated deeply with listeners navigating the angst of the era. “Alive” in particular became an anthem of resilience, while “Jeremy” showcased the band’s ability to channel societal issues into compelling narratives. The soaring guitar work of Mike McCready and Eddie Vedder’s visceral vocals remain unforgettable.

Over the years, Pearl Jam evolved beyond grunge, displaying a restless creativity. Vs. and Vitalogy expanded their sonic palette, producing standout tracks like “Daughter,” a haunting meditation on miscommunication, and “Better Man,” which blends poignancy and pop sensibility. Meanwhile, songs like “Spin the Black Circle” and “Corduroy” spotlighted their punk-rock influences, proving the band’s versatility. Vedder’s lyrics often straddle the personal and political, giving their music a timeless relevance.

Pearl Jam’s commitment to artistry extends beyond their studio albums. Their live performances, exemplified by their electric cover of Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World” and the soulful fan favorite “Yellow Ledbetter,” capture the band’s dynamic energy. “Last Kiss,” a surprise hit, has a unique backstory: Vedder discovered an old 45 of the early 1960s version, and the band initially recorded the song as a Christmas gift for fan club members. After its inclusion on a charity album, it unexpectedly became their biggest single, underscoring the unpredictable nature of their career.

Vedder’s solo work, particularly “Hard Sun” from the Into the Wild soundtrack, reflects the introspective side of Pearl Jam’s ethos. Meanwhile, quirky tracks like “Bugs” reveal a band unafraid to experiment with sound and subject matter. Their activism is woven into their art, from the anti-war anthem “World Wide Suicide” to their environmental and social justice efforts.

For over three decades, Pearl Jam has maintained their fiercely independent spirit while forging a deep connection with their fans. A key to the band’s enduring appeal is that they have never wavered on their commitment to intimate storytelling, emotional intensity, and staying true to their creative muse.

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Tunes Du Jour Presents Neil Young

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Distilling Neil Young’s half-century-plus career into a mere 30 songs is, to put it lightly, a tall order. For an artist who’s explored nearly every facet of American and Canadian folk, rock, country, and grunge—not to mention electronic and experimental music—each track here offers just a glimpse of his expansive vision. Yet, even within this condensed selection, Young’s restless creativity and refusal to be pigeonholed shine through, capturing a legacy that continues to grow with each decade.

Take “Heart of Gold” and “Old Man,” two of his most well-known songs from the early 1970s. Both tracks reflect Young’s introspective side, a man grappling with aging, relationships, and the very nature of wisdom. These are songs that echo across generations, carrying lyrics that balance tenderness with the weight of lived experience. “Harvest Moon,” recorded over two decades later, feels like a companion piece to these earlier reflections—a seasoned, bittersweet look at enduring love that feels both familiar and fresh.

Young’s power isn’t limited to gentle musings, though; he’s just as revered for his biting social commentary and unflinching political anthems. “Ohio,” recorded with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, is a visceral response to the Kent State shootings and remains one of rock’s most searing protest songs. “Rockin’ in the Free World,” with its stark verses and raw energy, reminds listeners of Young’s willingness to confront societal issues head-on, even when they’re uncomfortable. These songs reflect Young’s complex relationship with his North American roots, a deep love for the land tempered by a sharp awareness of its faults.

Then, there’s Young’s bold experimentation—what he once referred to as a desire to avoid becoming a “human jukebox.” Tracks like “Like a Hurricane” showcase his noisy, distorted electric side, tapping into the rawness that inspired later generations of grunge and alternative rock musicians. He’s unafraid to explore darker themes, as seen in “The Needle and the Damage Done,” a haunting portrayal of addiction’s impact. Meanwhile, songs from his Buffalo Springfield days, such as “Mr. Soul” and “Broken Arrow,” highlight his knack for introspective storytelling, even at the beginning of his career.

Whether he’s singing about broken dreams, love, social justice, or life on the open road, Neil Young brings an authenticity that’s hard to match. The tracks on this playlist, though just a small slice of his work, reflect the remarkable range of one of rock’s most fearless and unpredictable artists. For Young, evolution isn’t a phase—it’s his way of life, one that keeps his fans and listeners perpetually guessing and undeniably engaged.

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