1

Mississippi Goddam, Nina Simone

Image: Alano Oliveira

Nina Simone was an outspoken soul, and her 1963 song, "Mississippi Goddam," is considered by many to be her first song about civil rights. The tune was written as a response to the murder of civil rights activist Medgar Evers , as well as other tragedies that involved the movement during the volatile and ever-changing social dynamics of the decade.

As time went on, Nina Simone continued to send a message through her music, specifically regarding activism and social injustice issues.

2

The Times They Are a-Changin', Bob Dylan

Image: Chris Boland

Never one to keep his mouth shut when it came to topics that he found worth communicating, Bob Dylan wrote this song about the changing tide in America , where young people were voicing their displeasure on issues such as war and racism.

The song is considered one of the greatest of all time. It's also one of the most covered—thanks to the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Joan Baez, and Tracy Chapman.

3

Fortunate Son, Creedence Clearwater Revival

Image: Austin Prock

Anti-Vietnam songs were a staple of 1960s and '70s culture. However, this Creedence Clearwater Revival hit stands out as one of the more mainstream songs that continues to be heard today.

The tune enjoyed prominence in movies like Forrest Gump and has been covered countless times by such bands as Dropkick Murphys.

4

Give Peace a Chance, Plastic Ono Band

Image: Erin Song

One of the most popular anti-war songs of all time, which always makes an appearance in the event of conflict, is "Give Peace A Chance."

While this timeless classic was recorded by the Plastic Ono Band, the writing credit is actually shared between John Lennon and Paul McCartney, marking the beginning of a post-Beatles world.

5

Get Up, Stand Up, The Wailers

Image: Bill Fairs

Bob Marley wrote this classic track in collaboration with his bandmate Peter Tosh. The song was reportedly inspired by Marley’s tour in Haiti . He was taken aback by the country's high level of poverty, as well as the class system.

It has since become a long-time favorite of the band and a staple of Marley's live shows during his lifetime.

6

Ronnie, Talk To Russia, Prince

Image: DJ Johnson

Prince had many hits but this one was not among them. In fact, we can safely assume that The Purple One wrote this song for the express purpose of communicating his political feelings in the most direct possible way. And, being Prince, that had to be done through a song.

"Ronnie, Talk To Russia" is, as the name implies quite obviously**, a straight shout-out to former president Ronald Reagan**. It addresses America's relationship with Russia and the heightened tensions of the time due to the nuclear threat.

7

Born in the U.S.A., Bruce Springsteen

Image: Jose Antonio Gallego Vázquez

Having just mentioned the case of an artist who used music to speak to Ronald Reagan, we now turn to one who was very upset when Reagan spoke about him. The reason for this conflict originated from what may be the most misunderstood and seemingly patriotic song in music history.

"Born In The U.S.A." is a Bruce Springsteen classic that sounds very anthemic but is, in fact -yet another- anti-Vietnam tune.

8

Peace Sells, Megadeth

Image: Juan Di Nella

Megadeth’s frontman Dave Mustaine has never been one to shy away from political commentary, and this song is, perhaps, the most famous example. "Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying" packs his thoughts on government corruption, failing foreign policy, and more , with catchy riffs and an infectious bass line.

The song’s direct and provocative lyrics resonated with many listeners and became a defining anthem of the thrash metal genre.

9

Fight The Power, Public Enemy

Image: Nicholas Green

It is hard to think of a more straightforward political message in a song title than "Fight The Power" released as a single in 1989. Public Enemy was all about the message, and taking down the establishment, big government, and abuse of authority were usually central themes.

The song is one of the group's most famous and influential tracks, and gained additional prominence when it was featured in Spike Lee's film Do the Right Thing.

10

Killing in the Name, Rage Against the Machine

Image: Jordy

Another highly political band, Rage Against The Machine, created this song, which is fitting for the current political and social climate. Police brutality and systemic racism are at the forefront of the message , delivered with massive guitar hooks and aggressive vocals.

Most of RATM’s catalog delves into these kinds of themes with varying success but this song was a hit when it first came out and still remains a fan favorite.

1

Elvis Presley

Born and raised in Tupelo, Mississippi, with early dreams of music stardom, Elvis lived a short life that was nothing short of a miracle for music . His first career breakthrough came in 1954 when he recorded the single "That's All Right," fusing country, blues, and gospel to create a revolutionary new sound . Elvis’s unique music and tremendous popularity led him to achieve his first No. 1 hit, "Heartbreak Hotel," in 1956.

Elvis’ catalog is packed with absolute classics known and loved worldwide, such as "Can't Help Falling in Love," "Burning Love," and "Jailhouse Rock," among many others. Elvis’ image remains one of the most recognizable symbols of Rock and Roll, and his music inspired countless artists.

2

Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan is one of those artists whose cultural influence is quite difficult to explain because of how much he has achieved. He’s been frequently credited as the creator of folk-rock and is a member of three different Halls of Fame: the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

His music is a defining element of American culture, with memorable classics such as "Blowin' in the Wind," "Like a Rolling Stone," "Knockin' on Heaven's Door," and "The Times They Are a-Changin'." And in 2016, he became the first songwriter to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature "for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition."

3

Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra is the quintessential male vocalist. Who hasn’t sung at the top of their lungs some of his legendary songs like "My Way," "Fly Me to the Moon" or "Strangers in the Night." Born in 1915, Sinatra rose to fame in the 1940s as the lead singer for Harry James and Tommy Dorsey. But he would reach stratospheric heights of fame when he launched his solo career.

Sinatra sold more than 150 million records worldwide, won 11 Grammy Awards, starred in over 50 films, and even nabbed an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for From Here to Eternity (1953) . But his greatest achievement goes beyond numbers and metrics; he shaped generations of singers through his unmistakable voice.

4

Chuck Berry

It’s impossible to talk about Rock and Roll without naming its father, Chuck Berry. With his music, he created the blueprint for the genre , delivering a number of all-time classic songs like "Johnny B. Goode," "Roll Over Beethoven" and "Sweet Little Sixteen."

Chuck Berry’s guitar riffs and his one-of-a-kind live performances went on to define some of the main elements of rock, and his signature "duck walk" became iconic and endlessly referenced in pop culture over the years. A fascinating detail about his music is that "Johnny B. Goode" was selected for the Voyager Golden Record music collection that was sent into space on NASA's Voyager spacecraft in 1977 to represent Earth's culture.

5

Dolly Parton

3,000 songs written, more than 100 million records sold, and 11 Grammy Awards are just some of the achievements Dolly Parton has racked up throughout her impressive career. Born in Sevierville, Tennessee, Parton went on to become one of country music’s greatest ambassadors .

Her music catalog is filled with gems like "Jolene," "9 to 5," "Coat of Many Colors" and "I Will Always Love You," which gained international recognition when Whitney Houston recorded it for The Bodyguard (1992). Parton famously wrote both "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You" in one day. She also had a successful Hollywood career and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

6

Bruce Springsteen

Famously hailing from New Jersey, "The Boss" rose to international fame with Born to Run in 1975 and became the voice of working-class America . Songs like "Born to Run," "Born in the U.S.A.," and "Dancing in the Dark" spoke to everyday people, their hopes, struggles, and the coveted American dream.

Springsteen has sold more than 140 million records worldwide and has won 20 Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and a Tony Award. He was added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999, and in 2016, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. To this day, Springsteen remains one of the most respected American songwriters.

7

Madonna

It’s impossible to make a list of the greatest artists in history without including the Queen of Pop . Madonna was (and is) a sensation. She took the world by storm with Like a Virgin (1984) and transformed pop music by constantly reinventing her image, her music, and her provocative performances.

We all remember her from the MTV era and how she redefined the role of music videos and used them as a platform for artistic expression and cultural commentary. Throughout her successful career, she has reinvented her musical style, transitioning between pop, dance, electronic, Latin, and R&B without losing relevance, selling over 400 million records worldwide.

8

Prince

Few artists in history could ever embody versatility quite like Prince did. An incredibly talented person, he not only revolutionized popular music but also created a whole new style that was his own .

He would write, produce, arrange, and perform much of his music himself, and though he’s best known for his guitar, piano, and vocals, Prince could play more than 20 instruments . An absolute music genius! His album Purple Rain (1984) is one of his greatest and best-selling creations, and it earned him several Grammy Awards and an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score.

9

Michael Jackson

A single white glove, a black fedora, military-inspired jackets, and the moonwalk: Michael Jackson’s visual identity is one of the most recognizable images in music history . From his beginnings as a child in The Jackson 5 to conquering the world as the "King of Pop," Michael’s career is marked by an unparalleled string of hits.

It’s no surprise that his most massive album was Thriller (1982), which still holds the record as the best-selling album of all time , with more than 70 million copies sold worldwide. And his total record sales are over 500 million worldwide.

10

Aretha Franklin

Often hailed as the greatest singer of all time, "The Queen of Soul" started singing gospel music in her father’s church before achieving international fame in 1967 with the release of "Respect," her signature song. Aretha’s powerful voice is unmistakable, and her energy on stage will forever be remembered .

Some of her most famous songs are "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," "Chain of Fools," "Think," and "Freeway of Love." On top of her Grammy Awards and millions of records sold, Aretha became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005.

1

87 steps

In case you haven't counted them, there are exactly 87 steps leading up to the Lincoln Memorial. But why does that number matter? Although the National Park Service says it wasn’t intentional, many people connect it to the opening line of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address: "Four score and seven years ago...", a coincidence that's hard to ignore.

2

Hidden underground chamber

The Lincoln Memorial is more than what you see at first glance; there’s an entire hidden world beneath it. That’s right! Underground lies a large chamber built as part of the monument’s foundation. Giant concrete columns support the structure above, and there are also narrow corridors where workers once walked. You can even find graffiti and markings left by those builders in the early 1900s. Although the public can’t visit this space yet, the National Park Service has said it hopes to open it in the future.

3

A pyramid?

Can you imagine a giant pyramid rising over the landscape of Washington, DC? It’s hard to picture, but it could have happened. Among the many design proposals for the Lincoln Memorial were some extravagant ideas, including a huge pyramid. In the end, the Greek temple design we know today won out.

4

The typo

To err is human, and the Lincoln Memorial is no exception. As you may know, Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural Address are engraved on the interior walls. But the carver made a small mistake when transcribing the Second Inaugural Address, writing "euture" instead of "future" in the line "high hopes for the future." Although the error was corrected, people say that if you look closely enough, you can still see it.

5

Lincoln's friends made it happen

For years, several proposals to build a memorial to Abraham Lincoln failed in Congress. Fortunately, Senator Shelby Collum and Speaker of the House Joseph Cannon joined forces to get the final bill approved. These men had known Lincoln and felt that a memorial to Honest Abe was both fitting and necessary.

6

Who is Thomas Jefferson looking at?

It’s well known that the statue of Thomas Jefferson inside his memorial faces north toward the White House and the Washington Monument. But there’s another interesting interpretation. Also to the north is the statue of Alexander Hamilton on the south side of the US Treasury Building. Since Jefferson and Hamilton were once colleagues who later became political rivals, some like to imagine that Jefferson’s bronze likeness is keeping a cautious, almost "watchful eye" on Hamilton.

7

FDR specifically requested the Jefferson Memorial

Since the early 20th century, there had been talk of building a memorial to honor Thomas Jefferson. But nothing moved forward until Franklin D. Roosevelt took office in 1933. An admirer of Jefferson, FDR pushed tirelessly for the project until Congress approved it. But he was not only the one who requested it; he even delivered the dedication speech when the memorial was completed in 1943.

8

10,000 pounds

We all know Jefferson was a great man, but do you know how big his statue is? It stands around 19 feet tall and weighs an astonishing 10,000 pounds; that’s a lot of bronze! Originally, the statue was a painted plaster model because, when it was dedicated in 1943, metal shortages from World War II made bronze unavailable. Four years later, in 1947, the bronze statue we see today was installed.

9

Once a popular beach

Before becoming the site of the Jefferson Memorial, the Tidal Basin Beach was a popular beach in Washington. That's right; at the beginning of the 20th century, the area was used for swimming, boating, and picnics. This, coupled with the need to cut down some cherry blossom trees for construction, sparked controversy and turned some people against the project.

10

Created by a landfill

Before the Jefferson Memorial could be built, the area had to be transformed. The Tidal Basin was originally shallow and surrounded by marshland, so workers filled it with material dredged from the Potomac River to create a stable foundation. Definitely a big effort.