It's the last 6 songs of the season - numbers 95 to 101 of Season 2 of ‘101 more songs about nuclear war from the 1980s'. All of these songs are loosely based around the theme of nuclear science.
We kick off the final countdown with one of the decade’s catchiest songs: ‘Einstein a Go-Go’ by Landscape. It’s been a recurring theme of the podcast that the jolliest tunes often hide the darkest lyrics and this track is the ultimate proof! .
Next we look at a more obscure track : Soma Holiday’s ‘Shake Your Molecules’ is another great dance track combing Gallic synth cool with an exuberant American New Wave vocal . It’s rather wonderful.
Third up is an absolute favourite of both Pank and Dave . We’d hoped to get a Propaganda song in earlier but nothing from the flawless ‘Secret Wish’ album was nuclear enough. Luckily Claudia Brucken’s next project - Act - produced ‘Absolutely Immune’ which fits the bill perfectly.
Our next song started life as a poem but ‘Uh-Oh Plutonium ‘ by Anne Waldman works just as well as an 80s pop single complete with video . Anne is a prolific anti- nuclear activist as a well as a superb wordsmith.
One of Dave’s favourites next - ‘Uranium Rock’ by the Cramps . The song covers the brief craze for family friendly uranium hunting in America in the 1950s and is typical of the Cramps’ rockabilly and B-movie horror aesthetic.
Finally, what else could we end on but ‘The Future’s So Bright,I’ve Got to Wear Shades’ by Timbuk3? Another big hit and another deceptively jaunty tune that’s not nearly as optimistic as the title would suggest.
Our playlists are complete! Download and enjoy all 101 songs.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4aHCNYfoQ2gtko5z6pwS9O?si=81bce0c59ff2470d
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Opening and closing music: (Waiting for the) Heatwave – Fay Ray, appears courtesy of Fay Ray. Written by John Lovering
“Why Don’t You?” Fay Ray, written by John Lovering. With thanks to Tony Travis.
Artwork: Rachel Malbon
Assistant Producer: Shivam Pathak
Opening words: Richie Wheeler
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