Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Top Ten Vietnam Songs


Or songs that get an emotional response from Vietnam Vets:

1. "We Gotta Get Out of This Place," by the Animals.
2. "Chain of Fools," by Aretha Franklin.
3. "Fortunate Son," by Creedence Clearwater Revival.
4. "(Sitting on) The Dock of the Bay," by Otis Redding.
5. "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'," by Nancy Sinatra.
6. "The Fightin' Side of Me," by Merle Haggard.
7. "What's Going On," by Marvin Gaye.
8. "Nowhere to Run," by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas.
9. "I Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die Rag," by Country Joe and the Fish.
10. "Purple Haze," by Jimi Hendrix.

I have a few that make me thing of Vietnam, although I am not a vet.

"Run Through The Jungle," by Creedence Clearwater Revival.
"Bungle in the Jungle," by Jethro Tull.
"2+2=?," by The Bob Seger System.

And my favorite protest song:

"I'd Love To Change The World," by 10 Years After.

Update:

A few more....

"Closer To Home," by Grand Funk Railroad.
"American Woman," by The Guess Who.
"American Pie," by Don McLean.
"War," by Edwin Starr.

And another favorite...

"Ball of Confusion," by The Temptations.

What a horrible time for the US, but some incredible and moving music resulted. Death is the mother of beauty?

There is an interesting webpage I tracked down that has sounds of vietnam on it, including battle sounds, Hanoi Jane, the original Goodmorning Vietnam and various speeches. It is a time capsule of the era. Check it out.

14 comments:

Kim said...

Great list!
Can I add a few of my faves...
Alice's Restaurant - Arlo Guthrie
Ohio - Neil young
Bird (is the word) - ??
In the year 2525 - ??

I am realizing that most of the songs I'm coming up with now are relevant to more recent wars. Gosh, there are lots.

Anyways, I found your blog through a comment you left on E's blog (although I am NOT the Sharkbait person that always comments on his, just coincidence I guess). I am enjoying your writing/ideas. Mind if I blogroll you?
K

Timothy J said...

Please feel free to blogroll me. I will certainly blogroll yours. I enjoyed checking yours out- and that is a nice new surfboard.

As I was reading yours after your first post I was thinking, "Wow, I never realized Sharkbait on E's was a girl." I will miss E's, as I have been lurking there for over a year. I love SF and even read the SFGate every day.

"2525" is Zagar and Evans, and I used to have that album on vinyl so I should have put that down as well. A great choice. I have no idea what the "Bird" song is, but now I have "Grease" running through me head!

Anonymous said...

By the way, that 'Bird' song you're talking about is 'Surfing Bird', by the Trashmen, I believe. Good song, and nice list.

Anonymous said...

blowin' in the wind - bob dylan

Testsubjekt said...

all around the watch tower -jimi hendrix at least i think thats the name......good list

Anonymous said...

Very Good choice of songs. I enjoyed the remembering of them.

matt-matthew said...

All along the watchtower is a Bob Dylan song....then later a Hendrix...the cover is probably better, but give credit where credit is due.

Anonymous said...

Good list! I'm making a playlist to put on repeat while I play the new Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Vietnam DLC, and all the songs I had were already on here, plus a ton more. My search is over now, thanks!

Anonymous said...

Heres a song that reminds me. For What It's Worth- Buffalo Springfield.

Anonymous said...

I really like Penny Evans by Steve Goodman. Probably the best a capella song ive ever heard. You guys should definately check it out.

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Unknown said...

I am trying to find a popular song that was sung in Vietnamese during this period... I have heard it often but cannot find the artist. I sounds like a folk song sung by a female artist... I think it maybe an American song that was translated to Vietnamese.

Anonymous said...

Here's my list, 44 years later:
1. We Gotta Get Out of This Place
2. Run Through The Jungle
3. Susie Q.
4. Something in the Air
5. O Happy Day
6. Born on the Bayou
7. Satisfaction
8. Purple Haze
9. Stoned Cold Picnic
10. Spinning Wheel