Kirsty MacColl died 16 years ago today – but her music is as relevant as ever

Last Updated: December 18, 2016By

Today (December 18) I woke up to a reminder that the singer Kirsty MacColl died exactly 16 years ago.

I couldn’t let it pass without a reminder of her particular genius.

So here’s Free World, her commentary on Margaret Thatcher’s Britain, from 1989.

Listening to the lyrics, I thought of you when they closed down the school, and the hospital too. Did they think that you were better? They were wrong, This Writer can’t help but think that very little has changed.

https://youtu.be/YfvVslecjwI

We need singers like this.

They act as our conscience.

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8 Comments

  1. joanna December 18, 2016 at 2:41 pm - Reply

    Do you remember “walls come tumbling down” and “underground” they are just as relevant as well, I have them on my phone.
    I liked Kirsty she had a powerful voice though she wasn’t as well known as she could have been, it was a sad day when her light went out, and I mean that respectfully!

    • Mike Sivier December 18, 2016 at 4:11 pm - Reply

      Walls Come Tumbling Down was the Style Council.
      There are lots of songs with ‘underground’ in the title so I couldn’t identify it.

      • joanna December 18, 2016 at 4:30 pm - Reply

        Sorry that was the one by the Jam, I was quite a fan! I like music that tells how things really are, but the problem is, as you pointed out nothing happens!

      • Zippi December 18, 2016 at 10:48 pm - Reply

        My guess is Going Underground, by The Jam.
        I was thinking about Kirsty, just the other day. I’m working not far from Soho Square and I think of her, whenever I pass through it.

    • Beastrabban December 18, 2016 at 8:09 pm - Reply

      Hi Joanna – do you mean ‘Going Underground’ by Paul Weller, and which incidentally also provided p0art of the inspiration for the 2000 AD strip, Nemesis the Warlock?

  2. Joan Edington December 18, 2016 at 4:39 pm - Reply

    Youve just reminded me that Christmas is almost here. Time to dust off my favourite seasonal record of all time. It might not be as socially aware as a lot of her songs but perfect all the same.

  3. David December 19, 2016 at 2:01 pm - Reply

    Thank you for the days, Kirsty. :(

  4. sandra redden December 19, 2016 at 9:16 pm - Reply

    so sad bless her

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