Musical Truth

A Musical History of Modern Black Britain in 28 Songs

Jeffrey Boakye, Ngadi Smart

• Publisher: Faber & Faber
• eBook ISBN:
  9780571366507
• Year: 2021

Music can carry the stories of history like a message in a bottle.

Lord Kitchener, Neneh Cherry, Smiley Culture, Stormzy . . . Groundbreaking musicians whose songs have changed the world. But how? This exhilarating playlist tracks some of the key shifts in modern British history, and explores the emotional impact of 28 songs and the artists who performed them.

This book redefines British history, the Empire and postcolonialism, and will invite you to think again about the narratives and key moments in history that you have been taught up to now.

Thrilling, urgent, entertaining and thought-provoking, this beautifully illustrated companion to modern black music is a revelation and a delight.

'Engaging and accomplished . . . perfectly judged for young readers.' Guardian

Table of contents

• Landing Page
• Title Page
• Dedication
• Playlist
• Introduction
• ‘London Is the Place for Me’
• ‘Let’s Have Another Party’ – Winifred Atwell (1954)
• ‘No Carnival in Britain’ – Mighty Terror (1954)
• ‘Sweets for my Sweet’ – The Searchers (1963)
• ‘Sweet Mother’ – Prince Nico Mbarga (1976)
• ‘Sonny’s Lettah’ – Linton Kwesi Johnson (1979)
• ‘Ghost Town’ – The Specials (1981)
• ‘Pass the Dutchie’ – Musical Youth (1982)
• ‘Electric Avenue’ – Eddy Grant (1983)
• ‘Cockney Translation’ – Smiley Culture (1985)
• ‘Bad Young Brother’ – Derek B (1988)
• ‘Buffalo Stance’ – Neneh Cherry (1988)
• ‘Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)’ – Soul II Soul (1989)
• ‘World In Motion’ – New Order (1990)
• ‘It’s a Shame’ – Monie Love (1990)
• Interlude: A moment of silence (1993)
• ‘Little Baby Swastikkka’ – Skunk Anansie (1994)
• ‘Re-Rewind (The Crowd Say Bo Selecta)’ – Artful Dodger featuring Craig David (1999)
• ‘Immigrant’ – Sade (2000)
• ‘21 Seconds’ – So Solid Crew (2001)
• ‘It Takes More’ – Ms Dynamite (2002)
• ‘1980’ – Estelle (2004)
• ‘POW! (Forward)’ – Lethal Bizzle (2004)
• ‘Black Boys’ – Bashy (2009)
• ‘Azonto’ – Fuse ODG (2012)
• ‘Shape of You’ – Ed Sheeran (2017)
• ‘Vossi Bop’ – Stormzy (2019)
• ‘Black’ – Dave (2019)
• ‘Black and Ready’ – Jords (2020)
• Acknowledgements
• About the Author
• About the Illustrator
• Faber Story
• Copyright