Bang! 101 Songs about Nuclear War from the 1980s

There are no words to describe what I felt


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Episode 6 of Season 2 sees us abandon our usual chin-rubbing over lyrics as we consider instrumental pieces only.


Marvin Gaye’s “Nuclear Juice” is, without doubt, the funkiest piece of music we have ever discussed, and is from the “In Our Lifetime” album. You wouldn’t know that it was recorded at a time of emotional and financial turmoil but the brilliant Matt Broughton gives us further insight into this difficult time.

We then move on to the wholly under-celebrated but brilliant Doris Norton and her electro-synth track “War Mania Analysis”. Much more needs to be send about Doris Norton. She is inspirational.

We then move on to a classical piece: “Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima” by the composer Krystof Penderecki. This is a 1988 version by the Krakow Philharmonic Orchestra and, to help us navigate its atonal complexity is musician and listener Stuart.

It would be remiss of us not to include some work by Ryuichi Sakamoto: “End of Europe” is from the hugely important and influential album “B-2 Unit”. Sakamoto’s contribution to world music is far-reaching and never forgotten.

The highly hummable “Moscow Olympics” by Orange Juice is next… it was the B-side to their debut single “Falling and Laughing”.

We end with “Moon Over Moscow” by British 80s’ favourites, Visage, from their first self-titled album. It is a complete piece of instrumental joy.

All of these pieces appear on the updated playlists on Apple and Spotify for you to enjoy.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4aHCNYfoQ2gtko5z6pwS9O?si=81bce0c59ff2470d

https://music.apple.com/gb/playlist/bang-101-more-songs-about-nuclear-war-from-the-1980s/pl.u-vxy6L76uzVzd8Zl

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Opening and closing music: (Waiting for the) Heatwave – Fay Ray,

appears courtesy of Fay Ray. Written by John Lovering

Artwork: Rachel Malbon

Assistant Producer: Shivam Pathak

Opening words: Richie Wheeler

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Bang! 101 Songs about Nuclear War from the 1980sBy Dave Malbon and Pank Pathak